The next day, I dragged myself back to school, every muscle in my body screaming in protest. The soreness from the boxing session with Giacomo, coupled with the emotional and physical exhaustion from beating Matt the day before and messing around in the tub, made every step feel like a Herculean effort. As soon as I walked through the doors, I could feel the shift in the atmosphere. People were now visibly keeping their distance, their gazes lingering on me. The whispers followed me down the halls, not even bothering to hide themselves.
"Again with the theatrics?" Coraline's voice cut through the noise as she appeared beside me, her expression unimpressed as she rolled her eyes.
"It's because it's Matt they're acting like this," I told her, the bitterness in my voice barely hidden.
"And? What is he? Levitating above the rest of us? He can't get hit too? Geez!" Coraline scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief.