Seat on the table target on the backII

Elara stared at her phone long after the message disappeared from the screen, the words burned into her mind:

> "I know who you are, Elara Blake. Better watch your back."

Her heart pounded in her chest, hands trembling as she set the phone face-down on the bed.

No one was supposed to know.

Not here. Not in this place where she was finally starting to breathe without cameras in her face.

"Everything okay?" Savannah's voice came softly from the doorway, her arms crossed, brows furrowed in concern.

Elara glanced up quickly, forcing a smile. "Yeah. Just... school stuff."

Savannah gave her a look — the kind that said I know you're lying, but I'll let it go for now. "You sure? Because Mom's already in full dragon mode about Milan, and I don't need you crashing on me too."

Elara nodded, but the pit in her stomach didn't go away.

"Alright," Savannah said, backing away, but before she left, she added quietly, "You know I'm here, right? No matter what."

Elara's throat tightened. "I know."

When the door closed, she let out a shaky breath, lying back on her bed.

But sleep didn't come easy that night.

---

By morning, Elara was running on maybe three hours of sleep, her nerves raw.

Leah was waiting for her by the gate, as usual, arms crossed. "Wow, you look like you fought a war."

"Didn't sleep," Elara admitted.

Leah raised a brow. "Why? Ryder's smirk keeping you up?"

Elara managed a weak laugh, but her stomach twisted tighter.

They started walking toward class when Nora waved them down, Jonah trailing behind her, nose already in a new sketchbook.

"Hey, Ellie!" Nora beamed. "We saved you a seat at lunch, by the way."

Elara smiled, something in her softening. "Thanks. That's... really nice."

"You're one of us now," Jonah said, glancing up and offering her a small grin.

It was the first time anyone had said that to her in what felt like forever.

For a moment, she almost felt normal. Almost.

Until Savannah Chase and her crew walked past.

"Aw, look, she found her people. The freak squad," Savannah sneered loud enough for half the hall to hear.

Elara stiffened but said nothing.

Leah, though, wasn't about to let it slide. "Better a freak than a plastic Barbie knockoff."

Gasps and muffled laughs rippled through the hallway.

Savannah's eyes narrowed, but she smirked. "Whatever. Enjoy it while it lasts, Ellie. This school chews people like you up."

Elara didn't respond. She wasn't about to give Savannah the satisfaction.

Instead, she turned to her new friends and asked, "Where's our first class?"

"History," Nora said, smiling like nothing had happened.

They walked off together — Elara's head held a little higher.

---

In History Class...

Elara slid into her seat, grateful to be out of Savannah's orbit.

But her relief was short-lived.

"Alright, class," the teacher — Mr. Davis — called out, clapping his hands. "Big news. We've got a partner project coming up, and guess what? You don't pick your partner. I do."

Groans filled the room.

Mr. Davis smirked. "Pairing you up now. First... Leah and Nora."

Leah fist-bumped Nora.

Elara crossed her fingers. Please let it be Jonah. Please let it be Jonah.

"Jonah and…" Mr. Davis looked down the list. "Travis."

Jonah groaned but didn't argue.

Elara's stomach sank.

"And... Ellie Brown." Mr. Davis looked up, eyes scanning the room. "You'll be working with..." He trailed off as he looked directly at her, then across the room.

"Ryder West."

Every head turned.

Elara's heart dropped.

Ryder raised an eyebrow from where he slouched in his chair, a smirk already forming.

"Seriously?" he muttered.

Mr. Davis nodded. "Seriously. Ryder, move."

With a sigh, Ryder stood and strolled over, dropping into the seat beside her like he couldn't care less.

"Guess you're stuck with me, Mystery Girl."

Elara swallowed hard. "Guess so."

---

Elara walked into the cafeteria, her mind still spinning from getting paired with Ryder.

Nora waved her over eagerly, Jonah already sitting and doodling in his sketchbook.

"Survived the morning?" Nora asked cheerfully.

"Sort of," Elara said, sliding into the seat.

Jonah looked up. "You okay? You seem... off."

"I'm fine," she said too quickly.

But her friends weren't buying it.

"Did Savannah say something?" Nora asked, her smile fading.

Elara shook her head. "No. It's nothing."

They let it go — for now.

---

Elara walked up to her house, the weight of the day pressing down on her.

Inside, her mom was waiting. "Elara, we need to finalize Milan. Stop avoiding me."

"I told you I'm not doing it!" Elara snapped before she could stop herself.

Her mom's eyes flashed. "You can't just run away from this life. You're a brand, Elara. People expect things from you."

"I don't care what they expect," Elara said quietly. "I want to live my own life."

Her mom shook her head like she didn't recognize her. "You'll regret this."

"Maybe. But at least it'll be my choice."

Before her mom could respond, Savannah (her sister) came down the stairs, headphones around her neck.

"Hey," she said, eyeing them both. "Everything okay?"

"No," their mom snapped, walking away.

Savannah looked at Elara, her brows raised. "What happened?"

Elara shook her head. "Nothing. Just... Mom being Mom."

Savannah sat beside her. "Ignore her. You're doing what's right for you. And when you're ready to talk... I'm here."

Elara leaned on her shoulder, grateful. "Thanks, Sav."

---

That night, Elara lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, heart heavy.

Her phone buzzed again.

She picked it up, expecting it to be Nora or Leah.

But it wasn't.

Blocked Number:

> "Did you think you could hide forever, Elara Blake?"

"Wait till Ryder knows who you really are."

Elara's blood ran cold.

Who was this?

How did they know?

And why bring up Ryder?

Her heart pounded as she realized one thing — her secret wasn't safe anymore