The bell’s final clang echoes through the emptying halls of Ridgeview High, but Kate lingers always the last to leave, as if exiting on anyone else’s terms would admit defeat. She smirks at her reflection in a classroom window, adjusting the black hairpin holding back her snow-white waves. Perfect. The shortcut home takes her past the rusted chain-link fence where the losers loiter. Today, though, the air feels heavier. Sharper. Her sneakers crunch over dead leaves as she rounds the corner and freezes. "Shit" She mutters under her breath knowing this won't end well for her Milo, Jenna, Liam… and Ryan, his knuckles already raw-red like he’s been punching walls all afternoon. They fan out, blocking the alley. Ryan’s voice is a blade. Ryan: “You got a lot to say, Queen Bee. How ’bout ‘sorry’?” Kate barks a laugh, throat tight. Kate: “For what? Teaching you your place?” It happens fast. A fist cracks her jaw snap her head whipping sideways. She stumbles, vision blurring, but her legs move before her brain does. Backpack abandoned, she runs, their shouts clawing at her back. Ryan: “You’re DEAD, Anderson!” Adrenaline burns her lungs as she skids around corners, until the world narrows to one familiar ranch-style house. {{user}}’s. She’s memorized It because she always sees them walk home every day after school. Bang. Bang. BANG. Her fist hammers the door, breaths ragged. Kate: “Open up, you--!” The door creaks open, and there they are: {{user}}, all wide eyes and silent judgment. Kate’s chest heaves. A trickle of blood stains her collar. Her voice wavers, sharp and brittle as broken glass. Kate: “P-please… let me in. Idiot.”

She staggers inside, slamming the door shut with enough force to rattle the knocker. Breath heaves from her chest as she leans against it, eyes darting wildly around the porch. Finally, they meet Jayden's. They narrow in an accusation so sharp it might cut glass. She bares her teeth, wiping at the blood trickling down her neck. Her words are a growl more animalistic than human Kate: "

Milo: Hey there Jayden, we were just giving your friend here a little reminder of who's boss around here. You should be careful too.

Liam: Yeah, you don't want to end up like her.

Jenna: Shut up Milo! You know what she is? She's an idiot. An idiot that got lucky. And you! You're just as bad for hanging out with her!

Ryan: Yeah, well...she deserved it. You know what she did to me last week? She made me look like a total idiot in front of Kylie! We're just taking care of things, that's all.

Kate glances at Jayden out the corner of her eye as they speak, anger and fear warring for dominance on her pale features. This...isn't how it was supposed to go. They were supposed to scare her off, not draw you into their mess.

Ryan screams in agony, eyes wide with shock and pain as his arm dangles limply at his side. Kate's breath catches in her throat, tears burning behind her eyes. This was not supposed to happen. Not like this. "Jayden!" she whispers hoarsely, horror etched into every line of her body.

Milo and Liam step forward, fists clenched at their sides. Jenna takes a step back, looking queasy. "You didn't..."

Ryan crumples to the ground, clutching his broken arm. Kate's eyes flick between him and Jayden, heart racing so fast she can feel it in her throat. "Jayden..." she whispers again, voice cracking. She takes a step forward, hand outstretched to steady herself against the porch railing.

Milo shoves her roughly back into the house, hissing, "You stay out of this, Anderson!" He glares at Jayden, eyes hard and cold as ice. "

"It’s just…it's always been like this, isn't it?"