Chapter 44 Chapter 44
Monday felt off from the second Cass stepped out of her car. There was a different atmosphere around the school not tense exactly, but charged, like everyone was buzzing about something she hadn’t heard yet.
Lena appeared at her side almost instantly, wearing sunglasses like she was dodging paparazzi. “Don’t panic,” she whispered, “but Zayelle is trending.”
Cass blinked. “What?”
“Yeah. She apparently threw a mini party over the weekend with the popular girls. Half the squad was there. And this morning she strutted into school acting like Beyoncé on tour.”
Cass sighed. “So she finally embraced her true form.”
“Girl, she didn’t embrace it. She launched it.” Lena wiggled her eyebrows. “Honestly, I’m proud. But also confused. And mildly betrayed. But mostly proud.”
Cass laughed despite herself. “She’s allowed to have her own people.”
“Of course,” Lena nodded dramatically. “But she better not ditch us when things get spicy.”
They walked into the hallway just in time to see Zayelle herself glossy hair, perfect lashes, surrounded by girls who were usually allergic to new faces. She glanced their way, gave Cass a small wave, and went straight back to her audience.
Cass felt something strange settle in her chest. Not jealousy. Not sadness. Just… distance.
“Whatever,” she mumbled.
But the morning didn’t stay peaceful for long.
Jacinta found them by the lockers, mascara smudged, voice cracking. “Cass… Lena… please tell me you’ve seen Marvin.”
Lena muttered under her breath, “Here we go.”
Jacinta grabbed Cass’s sleeve. “He’s ignoring me again. He didn’t pick my calls the whole weekend. And today he walked past me like I was a ghost. He didn’t even look at me!”
Cass exchanged a helpless look with Lena. “Jacinta… I don’t know what’s going on with him.”
“But he listens to you!” Jacinta cried.
Lena snorted. “Girl, does it look like Marvin listens to anyone?”
Jacinta sniffed, wiping tears with the back of her hand. “I’m scared he’s going to break up with me. I swear he’s changing. It’s like he’s angry at the whole world.”
Cass thought of Jace… and the way he looked at Marvin lately, the distance widening between them like someone had cut a rope that used to hold them together.
“Just breathe,” Cass said gently. “Talk to him later. Not now.”
Jacinta nodded miserably and trudged off.
Lena whispered, “That girl is a walking soap opera.”
“She’s hurting,” Cass whispered.
“That too.”
The rest of the morning dragged and twisted with drama. Zayelle was everywhere and laughing loudly in the cafeteria line, sharing gum with the soccer captain, posting stories every ten minutes. People adored it. She seemed to shine brighter with every pair of eyes on her.
But Cass kept catching these tiny flickers in Zayelle’s expression… little cracks that didn’t match the loud energy she showed off. Something guarded. Something pretending.
Cass wasn’t the only one who noticed.
Jace kept watching.
Not in a creepy way. More like someone trying to decode a puzzle he didn’t trust.
During break, he found Cass near the stairwell.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
Cass nodded. “Just… trying to adjust. People change fast.”
“People don’t change fast,” he corrected. “They just stop hiding faster.”
She looked at him curiously. “Talking about Zayelle or Marvin?”
“Both,” he said simply.
Cass opened her mouth to respond, but the loudest scream erupted from the cafeteria.
They ran.
Kids were crowding around a table. Phones up. Shouting.
Marvin and Jacinta were in the center.
Marvin was red with anger, chest heaving. Jacinta looked like her heart had been ripped out. She kept pushing him, crying loudly.
“You cheated on me!” she yelled. “Just say it!”
Marvin clenched his jaw. “I didn’t cheat. Stop embarrassing yourself.”
“You called me Zayelle!” Jacinta screamed.
Silence.
Cass froze.
Lena whispered, “Oh damn.”
Even Jace blinked like he’d been slapped.
Jacinta burst into sobs. “You don’t even see me anymore!”
Marvin hissed, “Because you keep acting like a child.”
“Because you don’t love me!”
Marvin shoved his chair back, stood sharply, and stormed out of the cafeteria.
The entire room watched him leave.
Jace muttered under his breath, “This is going to explode.”
And he was right.
Because the whispers started instantly.
Marvin likes Zayelle.
He called Jacinta by her name.
Did he cheat?
Is that why he’s been different?
Did you see his face?
Is he obsessed with her?
What about Cass?
What about Jace?
Cass squeezed her books. She suddenly felt dizzy.
Lena grabbed her arm. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
But Cass couldn’t look away from Jace.
And Jace couldn’t tear his gaze away from her.
Not from Zayelle.
Not from Marvin.
Not from the chaos erupting around them.
Just Cass.