I walked into the school restroom, relieved to have a few minutes to myself. But as I approached the sink, I saw Tiffany standing in front of the mirror, staring at me with a smirk.
"Well, well, well," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look who's here."
I tried to ignore her and wash my hands, but she wouldn't let up.
"You think you're so special, don't you?" she sneered. "Just because you're new, everyone's fawning all over you."
I felt my face heat up with anger, but I tried to stay calm.
"I'm not trying to be special," I said, my voice firm. "I'm just trying to fit in."
Tiffany laughed, a cold, mirthless sound.
"Oh, you'll fit in all right," she said. "You'll fit in with the losers and the outcasts."
I felt a surge of anger, but before I could respond, Tiffany took a step closer to me.
"You know, I heard you're living in the old Johnson house," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "That house is, like, totally creepy."
I shrugged, trying to play it cool.
"It's not that bad," I said.
Tiffany raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, really?" she said. "Well, I heard it's haunted."
I rolled my eyes, but Tiffany just kept going.
"Yeah, people say that anyone who lives in that house is cursed," she said, her voice full of drama.
I felt a shiver run down my spine, but I tried to brush it off.
"That's just a silly rumor," I said.
Tiffany smiled, a mean glint in her eye.
"We'll see about that," she said.
Just then, Raya burst into the restroom.
"Hey, leave her alone, Tiffany," she said, her voice firm.
Tiffany rolled her eyes, but backed off.
"This isn't over," she sneered, before flouncing out of the restroom.
Raya turned to me, concern etched on her face.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
I nodded, still feeling shaken.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said. "Thanks for standing up for me."
Raya smiled.
"Anytime," she said. "We're friends, right?"