The hallway felt different the next morning.
Tessa noticed it immediately.
Not because anything had changed.
But because everything had.
People looked.
Not quickly.
Not secretly.
Openly.
Whispers followed her steps.
Soft.
But constant.
"That's her…"
"She actually showed up like that…"
"Did you see her last night?"
Tessa kept walking.
Head up this time.
Not high.
But not down either.
Lily walked beside her, watching everything.
"They're obsessed," she muttered.
Tessa let out a small breath.
"I don't like it."
"You don't have to," Lily said.
"But you're not shrinking because of it."
That made Tessa pause slightly.
Then continue walking.
—
At her locker
It got worse.
Not louder.
Just closer.
A group of girls stood nearby, glancing over more than once.
One of them smiled slightly when Tessa looked up.
Not mean.
Just… interested.
That was new.
"Hey," the girl said casually.
Tessa blinked slightly.
"…Hi."
"I like your outfit last night."
Tessa hesitated.
"Thanks."
The girl nodded, then turned back to her friends.
Like it was nothing.
But it wasn't.
Because that had never happened before.
—
Across the hallway
Adrian saw it.
The looks.
The attention.
The way people noticed her now.
His gaze followed her without meaning to.
Every movement.
Every reaction.
It was subtle.
But it was there.
"She cleaned up nice," one of his friends muttered.
Adrian didn't respond.
His eyes stayed on her.
Because something about it
Didn't sit right.
Not the attention.
That part made sense.
But the way she handled it
Calm.
Unaffected.
Like she wasn't trying anymore.
That was different.
And he didn't like that he noticed.
Didn't like that it mattered.
—
Tessa turned slightly
And for a brief second
Their eyes met.
Just for a moment.
Then she looked away.
Like it meant nothing.
And kept talking to Lily.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
Again.
That feeling.
That same sharp, unfamiliar feeling.
Stronger now.
Because this time
It wasn't just about what happened.
It was about what was happening.
Right now.
And he wasn't part of it.
Not anymore.