Ayla's POV
"Do you always have to hold people like that?"
Her voice sliced through the air, low and sharp, the moment she stopped at the corner. "Do you not understand how inappropriate that was?"
I blinked, genuinely confused. "I was just helping her. After all, we're a team, aren't we?"
Her lips pressed into a thin line, eyes narrowing like knives. "Teammates? Helping her? Or showing off? Holding her waist because you're a team? Is that what teamwork looks like now? Can you just hold anyone that way because you are playing teammates?"
I stared at her, torn between laughter and disbelief. For a second, I wondered if something might actually be wrong with her. All that power and proudness must have finally short-circuited something upstairs.
She stomped her foot like an angry cat whose favorite nap spot had been stolen.
"You…" I tried to speak, but she cut me off again.
"I guess you're getting too comfortable with me," she said, her tone cold enough to freeze glass. She took a slow, measured step toward me. "Maybe you're thinking she can back you up. That you can now do whatever you want."
Her voice dropped lower, dangerous and calm.
"Don't ever forget what I'm capable of. When I tell you I don't want something, you listen, or you pay a price too costly for you."
Then she turned sharply and walked away, her heels echoing like a threat that would keep ringing long after she was gone.
I wanted to scream after her. Am I not allowed to smile? To help someone? To be happy? Are you isolating me from others?
But I couldn't. Because even in her absence, I could still feel her gaze watching me.
The questions stayed locked in my chest because one look at her face had stolen the courage from my tongue.
I watched her back until she disappeared around the corner, until the tears I'd been fighting slipped down without permission.
I didn't go back to the sports celebration.
What if I smiled again, laughed again, or got too close to someone that I had to pay a costly price for it? No, I couldn't risk it. I found a quiet corner behind the bleachers instead and cried until the sky turned orange.
I just wanted my two years in Solaria to fast-forward.
I'm sure by graduating, by leaving this glittering hell, all this would finally end.
Even at dinner, I didn't return to the cafeteria. I went straight to the dormitory and curled up on my couch, my one safe place, and drifted into a restless sleep.
The next morning came in a blur.
The wake-up bell rang loudly, reminding me I had somehow survived another night at Solaria Academy.
One night down. Who knows how many more like this?
As I stepped out from my dorm, I assured myself maybe, just maybe, today would be kinder.
But luck never seemed to remember my name.
When I walked into the classroom, Eden's voice was the first thing I heard.
"Hey, Ayla," she said cheerfully, rushing over with her usual bright smile. "Why didn't you come back yesterday? Did she do anything bad to you?"
I wanted to reply, but my eyes caught Elena sitting at the corner of the room, staring straight at me.
I didn't even give Eden a second look before walking past her and heading to my seat.
For a while, everything was quiet. I didn't speak, didn't move, just kept my head down, pretending to focus on my notebook.
Maybe if I stayed small enough, invisible enough, my life here would be a little bit easy.
Because that's exactly how someone wanted me to live, invisible.
Then, right around half past two, the peace shattered.
"Look! Our Solaria Star is here!" Annabel shouted from her window seat.
Instantly, the room exploded with noise. Chairs scraped. Laughter echoed. Everyone crowded around the windows.
"Eh! Sophie's back, the Solaria Star!" another student yelled. Even people from the next class were rushing to see her.
Sophie?
Who was she? And why did her name sound like a legend everyone already knew?
Curiosity pulled at me, but I didn't dare move. Not when the queen of this realm sat beside me and wasn't moving.
A peasant like me couldn't dare to move unless given permission.
"Oooh, she's even prettier than before! She must be heading to the teacher's office," someone said.
"The love of Solaria is back!" another squealed.
Vivienne turned from the window, smirking directly at me.
"Guess it's time for someone to be reminded of their place," she said, flipping her hair and walking back to her seat.
A chill ran through me.
I didn't know who this Sophie was, but the way everyone looked at me said enough.
My days in Solaria were already hard.
Now, they were about to become unbearable.