CHAPTER 3

Group Chat: CHAOS QUEENS

Fay: Ari, spill.

Ari: Huh?

Blair: Don't act clueless. Fay said you have tea. Spill it.

Ari: Ugh. Fine.

I exhaled and started typing, telling them everything—from running into "trash dude" Zayn at the grocery store to our moms acting like long-lost sisters.

Fay: Ooooh. Zayn, huh? 😏

Blair: Bet he's hot.

Ari: Shut up!

Fay: Nah, this is gold.

Blair: So, are we crushing already?

Ari: NO.

Fay: Suuuure.

I groaned and flopped onto my bed, staring at my screen.

Blair: Anyway, more important question—what about Cleo? She pulled anything lately?

The teasing vanished. My stomach twisted. I really hadn't wanted to talk about it, but keeping it in was exhausting.

Ari: Yeah... Yesterday, after class. She cornered me, grabbed my notebook, and threw it in the trash.

Fay: She WHAT?

Blair: I swear, I will end her.

Ari: There's more.

I hesitated. Then I typed the rest.

Ari: She said I'd never be good at anything. That I should just stay out of everyone's way.

Three dots appeared. Then disappeared. Then came back.

Fay: Oh, hell no.

Blair: We're reporting her. I don't care what you say.

Ari: No! You can't.

Fay: Why the hell not?!

I sighed. They were right—I could stand up to Cleo, but what then? If I caused a scene, everyone would talk. And I was done with people talking about me.

Ari: I don't want the attention.

Fay: So you're just gonna let her walk all over you?

Blair: Ari, she's been doing this for months.

Ari: I know.

Fay: Then do something about it.

Ari: I'll handle it. Just... not like that.

Fay: Fine. But if she tries anything again, we're stepping in.

Blair: Agreed.

I smiled a little.

Ari: Thanks, guys.

Fay: Always.

Blair: Now back to Zayn—

Ari: Good NIGHT.

I shut my phone off before they could start again.

Between Cleo's drama, my mom, and whatever the hell was happening with Zayn—things were getting way too complicated.