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Chapter 10

The moment we stepped out of the cafeteria, I felt it—the heat of people's eyes on me. Or, well... on Jenna's body.

It wasn't one stare.
It was dozens.

Guys leaned against lockers, standing in groups, walking past us—every single one of them seemed to glance at me. Some subtle. Some obvious. Some downright shameless.

Each stare made my stomach twist tighter.

"Don't look at them," Jenna murmured beside me, walking in my body like she owned the hallway. "Just keep your head up and walk."

"I am walking," I whispered nervously.

"You're speed-walking like you're late for a dentist appointment."

"Because they're staring."

"That's normal," she said simply. "It sucks, but it's normal. You get used to it."

"I don't want to get used to it."

"You won't have to if we switch back," she said softly. "But for today—just breathe."

I tried.

But then I made mistake number one:

I took too big of a step.

Just one.

And the skirt swished way higher than I expected.
I gasped and stopped dead in the hallway, hands flying to hold the hem down.

Two guys behind us whispered something and started laughing.

Jenna facepalmed.

"Jaden," she said under her breath, "small steps. SMALL."

"It moved!" I hissed.

"It's a skirt. That's what they do."

"This thing is evil."

"No. You're just bad at wearing it."

"That doesn't make me feel better."

"Wasn't trying to."

⸻

We barely made it twenty more steps when suddenly—

"Jennaaaa!"

Makayla waved wildly from down the hallway, sprinting toward me like she was running a marathon. She was Jenna's closest friend... which meant she was about to talk to me like I was Jenna.

I froze.

"Oh God," I whispered. "No. No. Jenna. Help."

But Jenna didn't have time to say anything before Makayla wrapped an arm around mine.

"There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!" she said, smiling wide. "Girl, you look SO cute today—what is this outfit??"

"This?" I squeaked. "Uh... clothes?"

Makayla blinked. "Well, yeah, but you don't usually wear skirts on Fridays. And your hair! It looks really soft today."

I panicked.

My brain scrambled for the most basic girl response.

"Oh! Uh... thanks. I... used... shampoo."

Jenna, five feet behind me, silently mouthed:

WHAT ARE YOU DOING??

Makayla laughed loudly.
Girl , you're so silly  today."

Then she leaned closer.

"Okay, tell me what happened. I saw Tyler talking to you earlier and you looked seriously freaked out. Did he say something weird? Did he try something? You KNOW that boy has an ego bigger than the football field."