The door handle moved.
Maya's heart slammed so hard it felt like it would betray her.
The girl on the floor gripped her wrist tighter, her fingers shaking, eyes wide with panic.
"Please," she whispered again, barely breathing. "Don't let him see me."
The handle twisted further.
Maya didn't think, she moved fast.
She grabbed the girl's arm and pulled her up, pushing her toward the far corner behind the half-broken shower curtain. The girl stumbled, biting back a sob as Maya yanked the curtain across.
"Don't make a sound," Maya breathed.
The door opened.
Silence dropped heavy.
The teacher stepped in slowly.
His shoes echoed against the tiles, calm, controlled, like he owned the space.
Maya stood near the sink, forcing her face blank, her back straight, her hands steady even though her pulse was screaming.
He looked at her, not surprised, not confused just watching.
"You again," he said quietly.
Maya swallowed. "I needed the bathroom."
His eyes didn't leave her.
Then they shifted, scanning, listening.
The faintest sound came from behind the curtain, a breath too sharp, a movement too slow.
Maya's chest tightened.
He heard it, of course he did.
He stepped forward.
One step.
Two.
Maya moved without thinking again, grabbing the tap and turning it hard. Water burst out loudly, splashing into the sink.
"I think the pipe is broken," she said quickly, louder than necessary.
His gaze snapped back to her.
The noise filled the room.
Covered everything.
He paused watching her, measuring, then slowly, he smiled.
"You should be careful," he said.
Maya's fingers tightened on the tap.
He stepped closer, too close.
His voice dropped.
"Some problems are better left untouched."
Her stomach twisted.
He reached out, for a second she thought he would touch her again, but he didn't.
His hand brushed past her, turning off the water.
Silence returned, heavy, then he stepped back.
"Go back to your room," he said.
Maya didn't wait.
She walked out, fast, not running but close.
The hallway felt too long, too empty.
Her breathing uneven, her hands still shaking.
She didn't stop until she reached the end of the corridor.
Then she leaned against the wall, closed her eyes just for a second.
"You look like you just escaped something."
Maya opened her eyes.
A girl stood in front of her.
Not familiar, not hostile.
Just… there.
She had a soft face, messy braids, and eyes that looked like they noticed everything.
Maya straightened. "I'm fine."
The girl tilted her head. "You keep saying that."
Maya frowned slightly. "Do I know you?"
The girl smiled a little. "No. But I know you."
Maya's chest tightened.
"That doesn't sound good."
"It's not bad either," she said lightly. "You're the new girl. The one they keep targeting."
Maya didn't respond.
The girl stepped closer.
"I'm Nia."
A pause.
"Your groupmate didn't mention me because I'm not in your group. But I've been watching you."
Maya's guard went up immediately. "Why?"
Nia shrugged. "Because you don't break."
That caught her off guard.
Maya looked at her properly now.
"You don't know that."
Nia smiled again, softer this time. "I do. People like you don't cry in front of others."
Maya looked away.
That hit too close.
"I'm not here to bother you," Nia added quickly. "Just… don't walk alone at night."
Maya almost laughed.
Almost.
"I don't think I have a choice."
Nia's expression shifted slightly. Serious now.
"You do. You just haven't realized it yet."
Before Maya could respond, footsteps echoed from the other end of the hallway.
Nia glanced past her.
Then back.
"Just be careful," she said quietly and walked away.
Maya stood there for a moment.
Something about that felt… different.
Not threatening, not fake, just real.
But she didn't have time to think about it.
"Looking for trouble?"
The voice came from the shadows near the staircase.
Low, rough, unfamiliar.
Maya turned slowly.
A boy leaned against the wall, half-hidden in darkness.
Tall, relaxed.
Dangerous without trying.
"I wasn't," she said carefully.
He stepped forward.
Now she could see him clearly.
Sharp jaw, Dark eyes, A small cut on his lip like he'd been in a fight recently.
He looked at her like he already knew something about her.
"You were in the wrong place earlier," he said.
Maya's chest tightened.
"How do you know that?"
He smirked slightly. "This school talks."
That didn't feel right.
It wasn't just that.
"You should mind your business," she said.
He laughed softly.
"I could say the same to you."
Silence stretched between them.
Not comfortable, not safe.
Then he stepped closer, too close.
But not like the teacher.
Different, controlled.
"You don't belong here," he said.
Maya's jaw tightened. "I'm starting to hear that a lot."
"Not like that," he said.
His voice dropped.
"There are things happening here you don't understand."
Her heart picked up again.
"I don't need to understand everything."
He studied her longer this time.
Then nodded slowly.
"Yeah… you're going to be a problem."
Before she could ask what he meant, voices echoed again.
Students coming closer, he stepped back like he was never there.
"Stay away from the wrong people," he said.
Then turned.
And disappeared down the stairs.
Maya stood still.
Her thoughts racing.
Something about him felt wrong.
And yet, not entirely.
"Who was that?"
Maya turned.
Kai.
Standing a few feet away watching her.
Again.
"No one," she said quickly.
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.
He didn't believe her.
"That didn't look like no one."
Maya shrugged. "Just someone talking."
Kai stepped closer.
His voice lower now.
"You should be careful who you talk to."
The same words, different tone, same warning.
Maya's patience snapped slightly. "Everyone keeps saying that. Maybe you should explain why."
Kai held her gaze.
Silent.
Then
"Because not everyone here is just a student."
Her chest tightened.
Before she could respond, Liam's voice cut in.
"There you both are. Planning something without me?"
Tessa walked in behind him, arms crossed. "If you are, at least make it interesting."
Zina followed, her eyes moving between Maya and Kai.
Reading the tension.
"Nothing's happening," Maya said quickly.
Liam smirked. "That's exactly what someone planning something would say."
Tessa rolled her eyes. "Ignore him."
Then her gaze landed on Maya's face.
Her expression shifted.
Slightly.
"She hit you again."
It wasn't a question.
Maya looked away. "It's nothing."
Liam's jaw tightened. "It's not nothing."
Zina didn't speak.
But she didn't look away either.
Kai said nothing.
But his silence felt heavier than anything else.
"Let's go," he said finally.
And they moved.
Maya followed but her mind wasn't with them anymore, it was split between the girl in the bathroom, the teacher, Nia and him (that boy).
Something was starting, she could feel it.
Something she didn't understand, something she couldn't stop and for the first time since she came to Crestview High, Maya realized something clearly.
The danger wasn't just around her anymore.
It was starting to pull her in.