Uninvited

Poppy Thorne left her house without telling anyone where she was going.

She didn't need to.

She already knew what she was about to do.

Her phone was in her back pocket, fully charged. Her lip gloss was fresh. And her plan was simple: show up, shake things up, and remind everyone she was still in control.

She drove down town. She'd never been to James Maddox's house before, but she knew the address. She'd found it easily—she had her ways.

When she reached the quiet street, she smiled. His house was smaller than she expected. A little red-bricked thing at the end of a cul-de-sac. Trees, trimmed grass, a quiet front porch. Boring. Normal.

She didn't knock.

She rang the bell once, just for fun, then tried the door.

It opened.

She stepped inside like she'd been there a hundred times before. No one was in the hallway. She could hear music upstairs—low and soft. James.

Before she could move, someone stepped out from the kitchen.

It was Jade.

He wiped his hands on a towel, staring at her with a cold, unreadable face.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

Poppy tilted her head. "Just came to visit James."

Jade didn't smile. He didn't move. "You shouldn't be here."

Poppy raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

"Our parents aren't home," Jade said. "And if you try anything funny, I won't be nice about it."

She laughed. "Are you threatening me?"

"No," Jade said. "I'm warning you."

Poppy looked at him for a second, then shrugged. "Relax, Maddox. I'm just saying hi."

She walked past him like he wasn't even there, heels clicking on the floor as she climbed the stairs. She already knew which room was James's. She found it without knocking.

She pushed the door open.

James was standing near his desk, notebook in one hand, headphones on. He looked up, startled.

"What the hell—Poppy?"

She smiled and walked in like she owned the place.

He stepped toward her. "How do you even know where I live?"

She just grinned. "Magic."

"Get out! No I meant stay" He said awkwardly. What should he do? the girl he likes so much is inside his room and he looks a little messy.

Instead of answering, Poppy pulled out her phone, turned slightly so his room was in the background—bookshelf, desk lamp—and took a selfie. She looked at it, liked it, and posted it to Instagram without thinking twice.

She tagged Sabrina in the caption.

> "Visiting the poet 💋 @sabrinajones you were right, his room's kinda cute."

James's face changed. "What are you doing?," He asked.

Poppy smiled. "I'm just good at reminding people where they stand."

James took his phone and went online to see how she tagged Sabrina. He dropped his phone and stepped closer to her "Delete the post." he scoffed.

Poppy blinked innocently. "Why? It's a compliment."

"You humiliated Sabrina."

"She humiliated me," Poppy snapped, eyes narrowing. "She hit me, remember? In public."

James shook his head. "So this is revenge?"

She shrugged. "Call it what you want. It's fun."

Without warning, she raised her phone and took another photo—this time with James in the background, unprepared, mid-sentence.

"You're insane pop, delete it."

Poppy smirked. "Insanely good at social media, maybe. And I'm definitely not deleting the pic." poppy shrugged.

Just then, Jade appeared in the doorway, arms crossed, a quiet threat in his stance.

"I said don't try anything didn't I?. Get Out!" Jade said sternly looking dangerous.

Poppy sighed. "Wow. You two really are the same. All drama."

Jade didn't answer. He just stared.

Poppy rolled her eyes. "Fine. I'm leaving."

Before she walked out, she turned to James and smiled again. "You could've had me, you know. All you had to do was ask."

Then she walked down the stairs and out the front door like nothing had happened.

Her perfume stayed behind.

So did the damage.

James didn't say a word.

Jade looked at him. "She pulls that again, I won't just stand there."

James only sighed and said nothing. He knew his brother meant it.

What exactly was she trying to prove by doing that?

*

*

The next day.

By the time school started the next morning, everyone had seen the photo.

It was all over Instagram. Reposted. Screen-recorded. Commented on.

Poppy Thorne in James Maddox's bedroom.

Sabrina tagged in the caption.

It wasn't just a picture. It was a message.

And everyone got it.

In the hallways, students whispered behind lockers. They looked at Sabrina as she walked past, some with pity, some with curiosity, and others with pure excitement. Drama like this didn't happen every day.

Sabrina kept her head down. She didn't say anything. She didn't need to. Her eyes said enough.

Nancy Jones, on the other hand, was furious.

She stormed into school like a warning bell, her backpack hanging off one shoulder, curls bouncing, fists clenched.

She spotted Poppy by the lockers with her usual crew, laughing like nothing had happened.

Nancy didn't wait.

She walked straight up to her.

"Hey."

Poppy turned. "Oh look, it's the louder Jones twin."

Nancy didn't flinch. "Stay away from my sister."

Poppy smirked. "Why? Did she cry?"

"You think this is a game," Nancy said, stepping closer. "You don't get to mess with people just because you're bored."

"She hit me," Poppy replied, voice sharp now. "Your precious sister punched me in front of the whole school."

"And you humiliated her online. On purpose."

"I posted a picture," Poppy said with a shrug. "Big deal."

"You tagged her."

"So what?"

"So next time you try something like that," Nancy said, her voice low and even, "you're going to regret it."

Poppy blinked, just once. The smirk faded slightly. "Is that a threat?"

"It's a promise," Nancy said.

For a second, no one said anything. Poppy's crew stayed quiet, waiting to see what she'd do.

Then Poppy rolled her eyes and turned back to her locker. "You people are obsessed with me."

Nancy didn't reply. She just walked away.

She didn't look back.

Whispers kept floating through the halls. Everyone had their version of the story. Some said James invited Poppy over. Some said she broke in. Some said Jade caught her and kicked her out.

No one really knew the truth. But one thing was clear:

Things at St. Augustine's weren't quiet anymore.

And with Poppy and the Jones sisters on opposite sides...

They wouldn't be quiet for a long time.

---

The next day came like a storm. Very fast.

The classroom was empty when James walked in and saw her. Sabrina, sitting near the window, notebook open but untouched. Her hair was tied up, one strand falling across her cheek. She didn't look up when he entered.

James hesitated for a second before walking over. The chairs creaked beneath him as he sat in the seat beside her.

She finally glanced at him, but her face was unreadable.

"I just…" he started, then sighed, rubbing his hands together like he could wring the right words out of them. "I'm sorry. For what happened yesterday."

Sabrina looked at him fully now. Her eyes were calm, but tired. "You didn't do it."

"No," James said. "But I didn't stop it either. I should've. Poppy… she crossed a line. And I let her. You're my friend"

Sabrina gave a small nod. "It's okay."

"No, it's not," James said, softer now. "You didn't deserve that."

Silence stretched for a moment. Sabrina looked down at her notebook. Her lips parted slightly like she was going to ask something. She even turned a little toward him.

But then… she stopped. "Never mind," she said.

James tilted his head. "What?"

"Nothing," she replied, scribbling on her page even though the pen wasn't moving.

She had almost asked. Almost said, Do you still like her? But what was the point?

---

Outside, by the art wing, Nancy was grabbing her water bottle when someone grabbed her wrist.

Too tight. Too familiar.

Her ex, Marcus.

"Still ignoring me?" he sneered.

Nancy yanked her arm, but he didn't let go.

"Let go," she snapped.

"I just want to talk." Marcus smirked trying to touch her face but...

But before it got worse, Jade appeared, like some kind of storm in a black hoodie.

"Let her go," he said, voice like steel.

Marcus scoffed, but when he saw Jade's eyes, he backed off.

"Whatever, man." He walked off fast, muttering something no one cared about.

Nancy looked at Jade, shocked but thankful. "You didn't have to..."

"I know," he cut in, already turning to leave.

"But thank you."

"I don't need it," he said over his shoulder.

Nancy stood there for a second, watching him disappear down the hallway. A beautiful smile escaped her lips.

---

After school, people were scattering—buses honking, cars revving, voices echoing. The big field was where most students parked, especially the seniors.

Sabrina walked ahead, headphones in, eyes low. Poppy was just a few steps away, looking at her phone, hair perfect as always.

She was still walking when poppy walked closer to her, she saw it but decided to ignore it.

Then two boys came out of nowhere.

They weren't from St. Augustine's. That was obvious.

"Hey, pretty," one of them said, grinning at Poppy.

The other looked at Sabrina. "Both of you look sexy and beautiful, Wanna hang out tonight?"

Sabrina rolled her eyes. "No thanks."

Poppy smiled but said nothing.

Then the first boy reached for Sabrina's wrist. "C'mon, don't be like that."

PAKK!!

Sabrina slapped him hard.

The boy stumbled back, shocked. His friend looked at Poppy and reached out to grab her too but she slapped him first, just as sharp. It happened fast.

The boy who got slapped by Sabrina raised his hand back...

And then James was there, grabbing his arm mid-air, shoving him hard enough that he almost tripped.

"Don't touch her!" James barked. he wasn't talking about Sabrina, he stood in front of Poppy.

Sabrina stood there, frozen. The boy she slapped had already hit her. Right across the cheek. Her face was red. Her eyes watered.

James didn't see it. He was still in front of Poppy, checking her arm, making sure she was okay.

Sabrina turned slightly. And that's when she saw it.

Poppy. Smiling. Not wide. Just a small, sneaky smirk.

Like everything had gone exactly the way she planned.

Sabrina blinked. One tear rolled down.

Then—

"Nobody touches my sister."

It was Nancy. She stormed up from the school steps, fire in her eyes. She stepped between Sabrina and the boy. Before anyone could conclude what she was about to do, she kneed the boy directly on his groin.

"F*ck, it hurts " the boy kneels dropped on the floor as he held his díck in pain.

"You get that for messing with her" Nancy growled, hands clenched.

The boys backed off fast this time. Too much attention. Too much heat.

They mumbled something and walked off, disappearing into the parking lot like cowards.

Sabrina wiped her cheek. Still quiet. Still shaken.

James finally noticed her then. He opened his mouth to say something—but it was too late. The moment was already broken.

Poppy stood close to him, clinging to his arm like she needed it.

Sabrina looked at Nancy, and Nancy looked back with that look that said: Don't let her win.

No one said a word.

But the field? It felt like a battlefield.

And Poppy?

She walked away with James beside her.

Victorious.

*

The car ride home was silent.

Nancy didn't ask. Sabrina didn't speak.

But that silence wasn't quiet—it was full.

Sabrina touched her cheek once. It still stung.

She could still feel the moment. Not the slap. Not even the boys.

The look Poppy gave her.

That smirk. That satisfaction.

She knew. And James… he didn't even see it.

Sabrina looked out the window the whole ride.

When they got home, Nancy slammed the door a little harder than usual.

"You wanna talk about it?" she asked, dropping her bag on the couch.

Sabrina shook her head.

Nancy stared for a second, then crossed her arms. "I know what you're doing."

"What?" Sabrina said, voice low.

"You're pretending it didn't hurt. That it doesn't matter."

Sabrina blinked. Her voice cracked just a little. "It does matter. But what do you want me to say?"

"I want you to stop letting her win." Nancy half yelled.

Sabrina looked up sharply. "I didn't let her! I didn't ask James to ignore me. I didn't plan anything. I just stood there and—he saved her."

Nancy took a breath.

Sabrina finally broke. Her eyes went red. "He doesn't even see me."

Nancy sat beside her. She didn't speak for a long second.

Then—quietly—she said, "He will. One day. And when he does, he's gonna feel awful."

Sabrina didn't reply. But she leaned her head against her sister's shoulder. Just for a moment.