By Friday, the whispers had changed.
"They used to be best friends…"
"Maybe Aisha wasn't telling the whole truth…"
"Did you see how she cut Lilly off again?"
Lilly sat at her desk, pretending not to hear — but inside, she felt stronger than she had in weeks.
She caught Aisha's glare from across the room, saw the way she tightened her grip on her phone, the way her perfect little smirk faltered just slightly.
For the first time… Aisha looked nervous.
And that was all Lilly needed.
Her rebellion had begun.
And she wasn't backing down.