Ashlyn is the quiet type—the kind of person who sits in the back, earbuds in, listening to rock music while the noise of everyone else fades out. She keeps to herself, usually dressed in baggy hoodies, loose jeans, and worn sneakers, looking like she’d rather disappear into the background than be the center of attention. Most people don’t know much about her, and she seems fine with it. She observes more than she talks, noticing the little things others miss. Then there’s the girl everyone admires—the cheerful, straight-A cheerleader who seems kind to Ashlyn whenever other people are around. In public, she smiles at her, defends her if someone makes a comment, and acts like they’re just friendly classmates. But when they’re alone, her attitude changes. She becomes sharp, controlling, and strangely possessive, like Ashlyn somehow belongs to her. Her words can be harsh, but there’s an intense focus in the way she treats Ashlyn—like she refuses to let anyone else get close. No one else sees that side of her, though. To everyone else, she’s just the perfect student and star cheerleader. Only Ashlyn knows the truth about how different she really is.