Rebirth: Love me Again

[EVE]

This wasn't just about proving a point to Sophie or Lily. It was a chance to reshape my image, to bridge the gap between me and the rest of the class.

I needed to start building relationships, planting seeds for the future.

After all, these people weren't just schoolmates; they were potential allies, future clients, and contacts that could be valuable in the business world I intended to conquer.

The last thing I wanted was to be the girl everyone whispered about in corners, the one people dismissed before they even got to know her.

So yes, I would go. I would take this opportunity and make it work for me, turning a simple study session into the first step toward fixing my social life and building a reputation I could be proud of.

I watched as Lily's expression twisted, just for a moment, into a mask of barely concealed annoyance. She wasn't used to being overridden, especially not in front of her entourage. Her lips pressed into a thin line, the mask of sweetness she wore cracking slightly as she struggled to maintain her composure.

"Fine," Lily managed to say, her voice clipped as she forced another smile. "The more, the merrier."

Riri beamed at me, oblivious to the venom that had just passed between us.

"Thanks, Eve!" she chirped, linking her arm with mine.

I gave her a reassuring squeeze. "No problem."

Riri was oblivious to the undercurrents, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "We'll have so much fun!"

Lily took a deep breath, her jaw clenching subtly as she fought to maintain her composure. I could see the storm brewing behind her eyes, the way her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.

It was obvious she hated this—hated that I'd upended her little plan. But she wasn't about to let that show in front of the others and Daniel.

No, Lily Ashford would never let herself be seen losing.

Forcing a sweet smile onto her face, she flicked her hair over her shoulder with a practiced ease. "Great," she said, her voice tight but honeyed. "We'll see you this Saturday morning then, Eve, Riri. And you too, Daniel."

She shot me one last look, a brittle smile that didn't reach her eyes, before turning on her heel, flipping her hair with a sharp motion as she stalked off, her followers trailing behind her like a gaggle of disgruntled ducks.

Sophie lingered for a moment, though, her eyes narrowing as she regarded me with a condescending smirk.

She leaned in slightly, her voice low enough that only I could hear. "Try not to embarrass yourself, Eve," she sneered. "This isn't your kind of crowd."

Her words were dripping with malice, like venom hidden behind a pretty face. I met her gaze, unflinching, a smile tugging at my lips. "Oh, don't worry about me, Sophie. I'm sure I'll fit right in."

Her smirk faltered, but she quickly masked it with a scoff before turning to follow Lily.

I watched them leave, their laughter echoing down the stairs.

"I thought they'd never leave," Daniel muttered, wrinkling his nose in distaste. "Their perfumes are overpowering, like a cloud of poison gas."

I snorted. "Seriously, what was that all about? And why the hell did you drag me into this?" I shot him an exasperated look, feeling a mix of annoyance and confusion.

Daniel turned to me, his face serious, almost too serious for the situation. He didn't even blink. "I thought you might need help with the exams. You're absent most of the time, after all."

My eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, what? You think I'm going to flunk the exams?" I felt a sting of offense in my chest.

Was that really what he thought of me? An idiot who couldn't pass?

Daniel raised a brow. "Are you confident you can pass the tests on your own?" He didn't sugarcoat it, just stared at me with that infuriatingly calm expression of his.

I opened my mouth to argue, but nothing came out. The truth was, I wasn't confident. I'd missed so many classes, skipping school whenever I felt like it, that if Victor hadn't intervened with the principal on my behalf, I probably would've been expelled by now.

"Fine," I muttered, refusing to meet his eyes. "But don't expect me to thank you."

Daniel smirked, but said nothing more.

Meanwhile, Riri bounced on her heels, practically vibrating with excitement. "Oh, this is going to be so much fun!" she exclaimed. "It's like we're going on a mini vacation! A sleepover study session!"

I shot her a flat look. "Riri, we're going there to study. It's not a vacation."

Riri's laughter was like a chime, bright and carefree. "Of course, it's a study session," she agreed, then grinned. "But doesn't part of studying include a slumber party?"

I paused, narrowing my eyes at her. "Wait . . . slumber party? Sleeping session?" I echoed, suspicion creeping into my voice. "It's not just a study session?"

Riri pulled out her phone excitedly. "Take a look at this." She tapped on a screenshot, zooming in for me to see.

It was from a group chat titled

[Lily's Group Study GC]n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

. I blinked, wondering how on earth she had gotten her hands on that.

"Where did you even get this?" I asked.

Riri waved her hand dismissively, like it was no big deal. "I have my ways," she said. "See here? The study is going to be in Lily's vacation house in a lake. They're planning to study all day Saturday, then have an overnight stay until Sunday afternoon. It's definitely a slumber party!"

My mouth dropped open. "You're kidding." I whipped my head to Daniel, who looked just as surprised as I was. His calm facade cracked for a moment, his eyes widening in confusion.

"Overnight?" he repeated, clearly caught off guard.

We stared at each other, the realization sinking in. We had just agreed to a full-blown overnight gathering with Lily's clique and some of our classmates.

"This is going to be a disaster," I groaned, rubbing my temples.

Daniel looked equally regretful, letting out a heavy sigh. "Why did I even agreed to this?"

Riri, on the other hand, was absolutely thrilled. "Oh, come on! It'll be fun! Think of it as a chance to bond!" She clasped her hands together like she was about to embark on the best adventure of her life.

I, on the other hand, was already regretting every life choice that had led me to this moment.