The morning felt different at Ravenwood High.
Not quieter. Not calmer. Heavier.
Jade walked through the front doors with her usual quiet steps, gaze fixed on the floor. Avoiding contact. Avoiding being seen.
Blake noticed immediately.
He'd been leaning against a locker across the hallway, phone in hand, pretending to scroll. But the second she entered—nothing else existed.
She looked exhausted. Like she hadn't slept. Shoulders tight, movements slower, hands shaking slightly as she reached for her locker handle. Blake's jaw tightened. He knew why.
Amber.
"You're staring again."
He didn't turn. "Nikki."
She leaned against the locker beside him with her standout outfit, shoulder length dark brown hair and brown eyes, arms folded. "You've been watching her since yesterday."
"I'm not watching her."
Nikki gave him a look.
He exhaled. "Fine."
Across the hallway, Jade's fingers slipped on the handle. She tried again. Blake noticed.
Nikki noticed him noticing. "So what's the story?"
He didn't answer. Eyes still on Jade.
"Didn't you say she betrayed you?"
His expression darkened. "That's what I thought."
"And now?"
A pause.
"Now…" His voice lowered. "I was wrong."
Nikki blinked. "Okay. Now I'm definitely interested."
Laughter echoed down the hallway.
Amber.
Blake's focus snapped. She walked with her usual confidence—smiling, untouchable, surrounded by people who followed like gravity demanded it.
Then she saw Jade. And her smile shifted. Sharper. Predatory. Blake felt something twist in his chest. He knew what came next.
Amber stopped beside Jade's locker. "Morning, sis."
Jade stiffened.
Nikki shifted. "Uh oh."
Amber leaned casually against the metal. "You look terrible."
Jade didn't respond. Stared straight ahead.
"Still upset about yesterday?"
Jade turned. "What do you want, Amber?"
Blake caught it immediately—the anger beneath the exhaustion, barely controlled.
Amber's smile widened. "Relax. Just checking on you." Her eyes flicked across the hallway. Landed on Blake. Returned to Jade. "Wouldn't want you embarrassing yourself again."
Blake's hands curled into fists.
Nikki leaned closer. "You're about to do something."
Amber tilted her head. "You know… Blake and I were talking earlier."
Jade's head snapped up.
Blake went still.
Amber smiled. "He seems a lot happier these days."
The colour drained from Jade's face.
Nikki leaned toward Blake. "Okay… now I'm invested."
He barely heard her. Something inside shifted. Anger—not at Jade. At himself. At what he'd believed, what he'd done, what he'd let Amber orchestrate without ever questioning.
Amber leaned closer to Jade. "You should stay away from him," she murmured. "He deserves someone better."
That was it. Blake pushed off the locker.
Nikki blinked. "Oh. We're doing this."
He didn't respond. Just walked. Straight toward them.
Amber noticed first. Her smile brightened—performative, triumphant. "Blake—"
He stepped between them. Amber stopped. Jade froze. Blake didn't look at either of them initially. His voice came out calm. Too calm.
"Amber."
It didn't sound like her name. It sounded like a warning.
She laughed lightly. "What?"
He finally looked at her. "Leave her alone."
The hallway went quiet.
Amber blinked. "What?"
"You heard me."
She forced a smile. "I'm just talking to my sister."
Blake didn't move. "You're done talking."
For the first time—Amber hesitated.
Nikki's voice came faintly from across the hall. "Oh wow… something definitely changed."
Amber looked between them. Then stepped back. "This isn't over," she said quietly to Jade. She turned. Walked away.
Blake didn't move immediately. Jade stared at him—confused, guarded, something else he couldn't name.
Because this wasn't the Blake she'd met yesterday. Not the Blake who hated her.
Something else entirely.
And she had no idea why.