EVELYN

CHAPTER 26

Evelyn's POV

The sunlight streaming through my curtains was harsh, piercing through the remnants of my restless sleep. I groaned, shifting onto my side, but it was no use. My mind was already awake, cruelly replaying the events of last night.

I sighed heavily, running a hand down my face. My heart ached with the weight of regret. Deleting the video. My father’s words. Luke saving me. Everything swirled in my head, a chaotic mess that refused to quiet.

I dragged myself out of bed, each movement heavy and sluggish. My head was spinning slightly, and the thought of facing the day felt unbearable. Still, I forced myself to get dressed, throwing on my school uniform without much thought. My reflection in the mirror was a sad one—puffy eyes, dull expression, and a shadow of the person I used to be.

When I finally arrived at school, I kept my head low, avoiding eye contact with anyone. The hallways felt suffocating, every glance in my direction burning into my skin.

The first class of the day was History, a subject I usually enjoyed, but today, I couldn’t focus. The teacher droned on about the causes of the French Revolution, but the words barely registered. My notebook remained blank as I stared at the board, my mind elsewhere.

By the time lunch break rolled around, I felt completely drained. I stood outside the cafeteria, unsure if I even wanted to go in. I spotted Amber, Jasmine, and Maya standing at a corner, chatting animatedly. For some reason, the thought of facing them felt overwhelming. I turned to walk the other way, but Amber spotted me.

“Evelyn!” she called out, waving me over.

I hesitated but eventually walked toward them, forcing a small smile.

“Hey, are you okay?” Jasmine asked, her eyes full of concern.

I nodded quickly, hoping to brush it off. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Amber raised an eyebrow. “You sure? You’ve been acting a little off.”

“I’m just tired,” I said, dodging their gaze.

Jasmine grinned mischievously. “So, how was the date with Luke? Spill the tea!”

The memory of how I’d left him last night hit me like a punch to the gut. I half-smiled, trying to mask my unease. “It was okay,” I said softly.

“Just okay?” Amber pressed, her curiosity unabated.

I shook my head. “I’m tired, guys. Can we talk about it later? I really need to eat something.”

They exchanged glances but didn’t push further. Together, we walked into the cafeteria. I headed toward the food counter, trying to blend into the crowd. But as I stepped forward, I accidentally bumped into someone.

I froze as I realized who it was—Perla Davenport, the principal’s daughter and arguably the most popular girl in school.

She turned around, glaring at me with fiery eyes. “Watch where you’re going!” she snapped.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, lowering my gaze.

“Sorry?” she scoffed, her voice loud enough to draw the attention of the entire cafeteria. “What’s the matter, Evelyn? Did your little assault make you blind, too?”

Her words hit me like a slap to the face, but before I could respond, she stepped closer, towering over me. “You think you can just go around bumping into people like me? Know your place, trash.”

“Perla, I didn’t mean to—”

She cut me off with a sharp slap to my face, the sound echoing in the now-silent cafeteria. “Shut up! You’re nothing but assaulted garbage. Remember that before you try to act like you belong here.”