Chapter 72. Heartbeats And Headaches

Lila’s POV

Okay, so technically, It wasn’t silent. In fact Blackridge High can never be quiet for once and the corridors always look like an 18th century Italian market.

There was the usual chaos. Lockers slamming like someone was mad at metal, sneakers squeaking down the hall, some girl laughing way too loud about something dumb, probably.

But underneath all that noise, there was this weird stillness.

Like this thick, heavy silence had just curled itself around the whole building and refused to leave. The kind of silence that doesn’t care about sound. It just sits there watching.

And for once—for once—it wasn’t about me.

There were no stares,no hushed whispers. No “Did you hear about Lila?” floating behind cupped hands like curses or whatever.

For the first time since I came to Blackridge, I wasn’t the headline anymore. No one even looked at my shadow and I bet my monthly allowance that I could walk around in a bikini and no one woul