Never Just Friends

Shadows of Jealousy

So, I was heading to class, minding my own business, trying to figure out if I could survive the rest of the day without embarrassing myself further, when I saw her—Ciara. Of course, she was leaning against the lockers like she was posing for some fashion ad, totally uninterested in the rest of us mere mortals.

I tried to avoid eye contact, but it was too late. She spotted me.

“Well, well,” she said, flashing that fake smile I’d come to despise. “Jacob’s little sister.”

“Great,” I thought, “Just what I needed.”

I tried to walk past her. You know, just keep my head down and avoid drama. But no, Ciara never lets that happen.

“Wait up,” she said, stepping in front of me, blocking my escape like some kind of reality TV villain. “You think you can just waltz into high school and everything’s gonna be perfect? Think again, Hanna.”

I blinked, trying not to let my voice shake. “What’s your problem, Ciara?”

She gave me that smile—you know the one, the type that says, “I’m pretending to be nice, but I’m actually plotting your doom.” “Just a friendly reminder,” she said, flipping her hair. “Finn? He’s mine. Don’t even think about it.”

“I’m not—” I started, but she cut me off with a dramatic flip of her hair.

“Oh, I know what you’re thinking. But let me save you the trouble: It’s not happening.”

Before I could even figure out how to respond, I saw Finn and Jacob heading our way. Great. Just great.

Of course, Ciara’s whole demeanor did a 180. She plastered on a huge smile and waved at them like she hadn’t just been trying to verbally slap me across the face. “Hey, Finn! Jacob!” she chirped, like she was some sort of Disney princess.

I rolled my eyes so hard, I’m pretty sure I saw my brain. How could no one else see how fake she was?

“Hey, Hanna!” Finn greeted me with that smile that made my heart do a weird little somersault. “How’s your first day going?”

“Uh, fine,” I managed, but my eyes flicked to Ciara, who was glaring at me behind Finn’s back like she was ready to rip my head off. Awesome.

“Catch you later, then,” Jacob said, giving me a quick wave as they walked off. The second they were out of sight, Ciara’s fake smile dropped faster than my confidence.

“I’m serious, Hanna. Stay away from Finn,” she hissed, her voice dripping with venom.

I didn’t even respond. I just walked away, wondering what fresh hell I had just stumbled into.