XLI

The next morning, Danielle woke up to the sound of her alarm blaring. She groaned, rolling over and burying her face into her pillow before eventually forcing herself to sit up. Another day, another performance to put on.

After getting ready—opting for an effortlessly stylish outfit as always—she grabbed her bag and headed downstairs, where Izzy was already making coffee in the kitchen.

"Morning, kid," Izzy greeted, raising an eyebrow as she leaned against the counter. "You look... extra today."

Danielle smirked. "Gotta maintain the image."

Izzy hummed knowingly before handing her a travel mug. "Long day ahead?"

"Aren't they all?" Danielle took a sip of coffee before heading for the door. "See you later, Iz."

---

Walking into school, Danielle instinctively straightened her posture, her confidence slipping into place like armor. She strolled through the halls, ignoring the small groups of students who stole glances at her.

She knew Riley and Maya would be somewhere nearby, but today, she wasn't sure she was ready for that interaction yet. Instead, she turned the other way and headed toward her locker.

As she reached it, Lilianna and Brooklyn were already waiting for her, leaning casually against the lockers.

"Oh, look who finally decided to show up," Brooklyn teased.

Lilianna smirked. "Late night tutoring session with a certain blonde and brunette?"

Danielle rolled her eyes, opening her locker. "You two need a hobby."

Brooklyn nudged Lilianna. "She's avoiding the question."

"I'm not avoiding anything," Danielle replied smoothly, grabbing her books. "And for your information, yes, I tutored Riley last night. Maya was just there for emotional support."

Lilianna grinned. "Right. Emotional support. Sure."

Danielle gave them both a look. "I hate you."

Brooklyn laughed. "No, you don't. You love us. Almost as much as you love tormenting Maya."

Danielle shut her locker with a smirk. "Torment is a strong word. I'd say... keeping her on her toes."

Lilianna and Brooklyn exchanged a look before bursting into laughter, following Danielle down the hall as the morning bell rang.

Danielle walked into her first class of the day, sliding into her usual seat with effortless ease. Lilianna and Brooklyn flanked her, chatting idly about their weekend plans, but Danielle only half-listened.

She was hyper-aware of the fact that Riley and Maya weren't in this class, which was a relief. She needed a moment to breathe, to just exist without having to navigate whatever complicated thing was going on with Maya.

As the lesson dragged on, Danielle found her mind drifting, tapping her pen against her notebook absentmindedly. She should probably focus—she never let her grades slip, despite the image she put on—but her thoughts were elsewhere.

By the time the bell rang, she was grateful for the distraction.

"Cheer next," Brooklyn reminded her as they packed up.

Danielle nodded. "Yeah. Good. I need to move."

Lilianna smirked. "To work off all that pent-up tension?"

Danielle gave her a warning look. "You're about to get benched."

Brooklyn laughed as the three of them made their way toward the gym.

---

Cheer practice was exactly what Danielle needed. As head cheer captain, she thrived in the structured chaos of it. The routine, the movement, the control—it was something she could hold onto.

She led the squad through warm-ups, calling out instructions with ease, her confidence radiating through every motion. The squad followed without question, used to her sharp but effective leadership.

From the corner of her eye, she noticed a group sitting on the bleachers—Riley, Maya, Lucas, Zay, and the rest. Watching.

She forced herself to ignore them.

She had a reputation to uphold.

Focusing back on the routine, she pushed the squad harder, perfecting their formations, keeping herself occupied. She refused to let her mind wander—to let herself wonder why Maya was watching her so closely.

She wouldn't let herself care. At least right now.

As practice wrapped up, Danielle wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, exhaling deeply.

"Good work today," she called out to the squad. "Same time tomorrow. Be on time, be ready."

There was a chorus of agreements before the team scattered, some heading to the locker room, others lingering to chat. Danielle stayed back, stretching out her muscles, letting the energy from practice settle in her body.

She could still feel eyes on her.

Turning her head slightly, she saw that the group on the bleachers hadn't moved. Riley was talking animatedly to Lucas, and Zay was laughing about something, but Maya—Maya was watching her.

Danielle arched a brow, tilting her head slightly in question.

Maya didn't look away.

Danielle rolled her eyes and grabbed her water bottle, slinging her bag over her shoulder before making her way off the gym floor. She didn't have time for whatever that look meant.

She pushed through the gym doors and into the hallway, heading toward the locker room when she heard footsteps behind her.

"You always this bossy?"

Danielle didn't need to turn around to know it was Maya.

"You always this nosy?" Danielle shot back, pushing open the locker room door.

Maya followed without hesitation, leaning against the lockers as Danielle grabbed her things.

"You looked good out there," Maya said casually.

Danielle paused for a fraction of a second before smirking. "I always do."

Maya huffed a laugh, crossing her arms. "So modest."

Danielle shut her locker, turning to face her. "Did you follow me in here just to compliment me, princess?"

Maya's lips twitched. "Nah. Just curious."

"About?"

Maya shrugged, eyes flicking over Danielle's face like she was trying to figure something out. "You tell me."

Danielle narrowed her eyes slightly, but before she could respond, Brooklyn and Lilianna entered the locker room, immediately noticing the two of them standing together.

Lilianna smirked. "Interrupting something?"

"Nope," Danielle said smoothly, grabbing her bag. "Maya was just leaving."

Maya snorted but pushed off the lockers. "See you around, Duchess."

Danielle didn't watch her leave.

But she definitely felt it when she was gone.

Danielle let out a breath, turning back to her locker, but she could feel Lilianna and Brooklyn staring at her.

"What?" she asked, not even bothering to look at them.

"Nothing," Brooklyn drawled, exchanging a look with Lilianna. "Just... didn't realize you and Maya were on such friendly terms."

"We're not," Danielle replied flatly, grabbing her hoodie from her locker and pulling it on.

Lilianna smirked. "Uh-huh. Sure. And yet, there she was, lingering."

Brooklyn leaned against the lockers, grinning. "I mean, she did follow you in here, Dani. That's not nothing."

Danielle rolled her eyes, shutting her locker with a little more force than necessary. "She was just being annoying."

Lilianna gasped dramatically. "Oh my god, you like her."

Danielle scoffed. "What? No, I don't."

"You totally do." Brooklyn nudged Lilianna, both of them looking way too entertained.

"I don't," Danielle insisted. "And even if I did, which I don't, it wouldn't matter. She's—" She cut herself off, shaking her head. "It doesn't matter."

Brooklyn crossed her arms, watching Danielle closely. "You broke things off with William, and now Maya's suddenly hovering more." She hummed in thought. "Interesting timing, don't you think?"

Danielle frowned. "That has nothing to do with her."

Lilianna smirked. "If you say so, babe."

Danielle huffed, throwing her bag over her shoulder. "I do."

But even as she said it, she couldn't quite get the image of Maya's lingering gaze out of her head.

The bell rang, signalling the start of the next period. Danielle exhaled, shaking off the conversation as she started down the hallway.

"We have history next, right?" Lilianna asked, falling into step beside her.

"Unfortunately." Danielle muttered. "Another hour of Matthews being Matthews."

Brooklyn chuckled. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

"It is," Danielle deadpanned. "He looks at me like I'm some kind of puzzle he wants to solve."

"Well, maybe if you didn't barge into his class demanding answers about his wife, he wouldn't be so curious about you." Lilianna teased.

Danielle rolled her eyes, but before she could reply, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, glancing at the screen. A text from an unknown number.

Unknown: Meet me after school. We need to talk.

Her brows furrowed as she typed back.

Danielle: Who is this?

She didn't have to wait long for a response.

Unknown: Maya.

Danielle stared at the screen for a moment, debating whether or not to answer.

Lilianna leaned over her shoulder. "Ooooh, what's that?"

Danielle locked her phone before she could see more. "Nothing."

"Didn't look like nothing." Brooklyn smirked.

"Just drop it." Danielle sighed, pushing open the classroom door.

But as she sat down at her desk, she couldn't stop glancing at her phone, wondering what exactly Maya wanted to talk about. And why it said unknown number.