The morning didn't feel right.
Not in a dramatic way. Not in a loud, obvious way.
Just… wrong.
I woke up with that quiet heaviness sitting in my chest again, like something was waiting to happen. The room looked normal—sunlight slipping through the curtains, the faint hum of movement outside—but inside me, nothing felt settled.
I sat up slowly, brushing my hair back, letting my eyes adjust.
Mia was still asleep, curled up on her side.
Marvel wasn't.
She was already awake, sitting on her bed with her legs crossed, scrolling through her phone. The soft glow lit up her face, and for a second, she looked peaceful.
Then she looked up.
And our eyes met.
Her lips curved into a small smile.
"Morning, Nuella."
Something about the way she said my name made my stomach tighten.
"Morning," I replied, trying to keep my voice neutral.
I got down from my bed, grabbing my toiletries. I could feel her gaze following me as I moved around the room, and it made my skin feel… watched.
Like she knew something I didn't.
By midday, the dorm had filled with noise.
Girls coming in and out. Laughter. Complaints. Conversations overlapping.
Normal.
But beneath it, there was something else.
Something off.
I was arranging my things when I heard it.
"Wait… where's my purse?"
The voice came from the doorway.
Diana.
My heart dropped instantly.
Not again.
"I left it here," she said, stepping inside, her brows already furrowed. "I'm sure I did."
Gabrielle followed behind her, arms folded. "Check properly."
"I am checking," Diana snapped, moving toward the beds.
The room shifted immediately.
Mia sat up, confused. "What's wrong?"
"My purse is missing," Diana said, her voice sharper now. "And it had money inside."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
And then—
Marvel spoke.
"Maybe someone moved it," she said lightly.
Her eyes drifted slowly across the room… and landed on me.
That was all it took.
My chest tightened instantly.
"Nuella," Diana said, turning to me. "Did you see it?"
My throat went dry. "No… I didn't."
"Are you sure?" Gabrielle asked, her tone already suspicious.
"I said I didn't," I replied, trying to stay calm, even though my heart had started racing.
Marvel stood up slowly, stretching like she wasn't in any hurry.
"I mean…" she said casually, "things have been going missing lately."
Cassie froze.
I noticed.
And that scared me more than anything else.
"What are you trying to say?" I asked, my voice sharper now.
Marvel shrugged, completely unfazed. "Nothing. Just… patterns."
Mia frowned slightly. "Guys, relax. Let's just look for it."
But the damage had already been done.
The suspicion was there now.
And it was sitting right on me.
"Let's check everywhere," Diana said.
My chest tightened.
Everywhere?
That meant bags. Beds. Personal spaces.
I stepped back slightly as they began searching.
Drawers opened. Bags were checked. Pillows lifted.
My hands felt cold.
I hadn't taken anything. I knew that.
But still…
Fear crept in.
Because what if something appeared where it shouldn't be?
"Check there," Marvel said suddenly.
I followed her gaze.
My bag.
My heart dropped.
"No—" I started, stepping forward. "You don't need to—"
But Diana was already reaching for it.
Time slowed.
My breathing felt uneven.
She opened it.
Searched.
One second.
Two.
Three…
Then she paused.
My heart stopped.
"…It's not here."
I blinked.
"What?" Gabrielle asked, stepping closer.
"It's not in her bag," Diana repeated, frowning.
The tension didn't disappear.
It just… shifted.
"Wait."
Mia's voice cut through the room.
All eyes turned to her.
She sat up straighter, her expression no longer confused—but firm.
"Nuella didn't take it."
My heart skipped.
"Mia—" Diana started.
"I'm serious," Mia said. "I saw someone near her bag earlier."
Silence.
"What do you mean?" Gabrielle asked.
Mia took a breath.
"When Diana came to drop her purse earlier, Nuella wasn't even here. She went out. She told me before she left."
I nodded quickly. "Yes… I just got back not long ago."
"And when she wasn't around," Mia continued slowly, "someone was standing close to her side."
A pause.
Heavy.
"Who?" Diana asked.
Mia hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then her eyes shifted—very briefly—
Toward Marvel.
It was quick.
But I saw it.
And so did Marvel.
Marvel let out a soft laugh.
"Are you trying to imply something?" she asked, crossing her arms.
Mia shook her head immediately. "I'm just saying what I saw."
The room went quiet again.
Different this time.
Not accusing.
Not settled either.
Just… uncertain.
Diana sighed. "Let's just keep looking."
But something had changed.
The attention wasn't fully on me anymore.
"I need air," I muttered, grabbing my phone.
No one stopped me.
I stepped out quickly, my heart still racing.
The moment I got outside, I breathed in deeply, like I had been holding everything in for too long.
My hands were shaking as I dialed Sami.
He picked up almost immediately.
"Nuella?"
"They think I stole something," I said, my voice breaking slightly. "Sami, I didn't… I swear I didn't…"
"I know," he said instantly.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
"Where are you?"
"Outside… near the block."
"I'm coming."
When he got there, I didn't think.
I just walked straight into him.
And held on.
"I didn't do it," I whispered.
"I know," he said again, holding me tighter.
I pulled back slightly. "It just… it keeps happening. The tension, the looks… Marvel—"
His expression hardened at her name.
"She's doing something," I continued. "I can feel it."
Sami's jaw tightened. "Then she's going to regret it."
I shook my head quickly. "No, don't… don't confront her yet. It'll just make things worse."
He exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself.
"Okay," he said finally. "But I'm not going to let her mess with you."
I nodded, leaning into him again.
For a moment, everything felt quiet.
Safe.
But back in the dorm…
Nothing was settled.
The purse was still missing.
The suspicion hadn't disappeared.
And somewhere in the middle of it all—
Someone knew exactly what they were doing.