The morning sun was barely peeking over the horizon when Jillian stepped through the school gates. The familiar sight of students milling about, chatting, and preparing for class felt strangely distant to her. It had only been two weeks, but to Jillian, it felt like she had been gone for a lifetime.
Whispers followed her as she walked toward the main building. Clara and Chloe, who had been waiting near the entrance, spotted her immediately. Their eyes widened in relief as they rushed toward her.
"Jillian!" Clara called out, grabbing her arm. "Where have you been? We've been worried sick!"
Chloe nodded, crossing her arms. "You just disappeared. No calls, no messages. What happened?"
Jillian hesitated. She couldn't exactly tell them she had been training, fighting, and planning revenge against Victor Holloway and Camilla Robbinson. Instead, she forced a small smile.
"Family matters," she said vaguely. "I had to take care of something."
Clara frowned. "Are you okay, though? You look... different."
Jillian knew what she meant. She wasn't the same girl who had left two weeks ago. The old Jillian had been hesitant, unsure. The new Jillian was sharper, stronger, and far more determined.
"I'm fine," Jillian assured them. "Really."
Chloe sighed. "Well, whatever happened, we're just glad you're back. You have no idea how much drama you've missed."
Jillian raised an eyebrow. "Drama?"
Clara and Chloe exchanged a look before Chloe spoke. "Margaret's old crew... they've been stirring things up since she got expelled. There's been fights, rumors, and a lot of tension. It's like they're waiting for someone to take control again."
Jillian clenched her jaw. She had no time for school politics, but she also knew that if she didn't take control of her own narrative, someone else would.
"I guess I'll just have to remind them who they're dealing with," Jillian said, her voice carrying a quiet confidence.
As they walked into the school together, Jillian could feel the eyes on her, the curiosity, the anticipation.
She had returned.
And this time, she wasn't backing down.
Jillian's return to class was anything but quiet. As she stepped into the room, the usual hum of chatter faded, and all eyes turned toward her. Some were surprised, others curious, and a few looked downright hostile. She could feel the weight of their stares, but she ignored them, walking straight to her seat with Clara and Chloe close behind.
Margaret might have been expelled, but her influence still lingered. A few of her former followers, emboldened by Jillian's absence, had been stirring trouble, spreading rumors, and trying to reclaim control. Jillian knew that by returning, she had disrupted whatever fragile power balance they had created in her absence.
As the teacher walked in and began the lesson, Jillian focused on her notes, but she could feel the occasional glances from across the room. Then, halfway through the lesson, a folded piece of paper landed on her desk.
She glanced around before unfolding it.
"You shouldn't have come back."
Jillian's fingers tightened around the note. A challenge, then.
She exhaled slowly and tucked the note into her notebook, deciding to deal with it later. But she wouldn't let this slide. If someone thought they could intimidate her, they were wrong.
After class, as Jillian exited the room, a familiar voice stopped her.
"Jillian," a boy named Ethan—one of Margaret's former supporters—leaned casually against the wall, blocking her path. "We thought you were gone for good. Guess we were wrong."
Jillian met his gaze evenly. "You were."
Ethan smirked, but there was a sharpness in his eyes. "Things changed while you were gone. You don't belong here anymore."
Clara stepped forward. "She belongs wherever she wants."
Ethan ignored her, focusing only on Jillian. "Watch your back, Smith. Some people aren't happy to see you here."
Jillian tilted her head. "Is that a threat?"
He chuckled. "Just a warning."
Jillian gave him a cold smile. "I don't scare easily."
Ethan held her gaze for a moment before shrugging and walking away.
Chloe huffed. "Unbelievable. He acts like he owns the school."
Jillian remained silent, but inside, she was already preparing. If they wanted to test her, she was ready.
Because this time, she wasn't just going to survive.
She was going to win.
Later that afternoon, as Jillian, Clara, and Chloe made their way home, the sky was painted with hues of orange and pink. The peaceful scenery did little to ease Jillian's mind. She was still thinking about Ethan's warning when a familiar voice called out behind them.
"Well, well, look who decided to show up again."
Jillian turned to find three of Margaret's former friends standing a few feet away. Mia, Sandra, and Tessa—the same girls who had supported Margaret's bullying for so long—were blocking their path with smug expressions.
Chloe rolled her eyes. "You again? What do you want?"
Mia smirked, flipping her long braid over her shoulder. "Oh, nothing much. Just wanted to welcome Jillian back properly. You've been gone for so long; we were hoping you'd stay gone."
Jillian crossed her arms. "Sorry to disappoint."
Sandra narrowed her eyes. "You might have gotten rid of Margaret, but don't think that means you've won. People don't forget so easily."
Tessa sneered. "You should have never come back. You're just an outcast, a disgrace—"
Before she could finish, Jillian took a step forward, her presence enough to make them hesitate. "I don't have time for your nonsense. Move."
Mia let out a dramatic gasp. "Oh, look, she thinks she's tough now. Just because you hung around some gang members doesn't mean you're one of them."
Jillian's eyes flashed with irritation. So, they knew about her time with Dante and Leo. The rumors must have spread faster than she expected.
"I don't need to be in a gang to stand up for myself," she said firmly. "And I don't need to fight you to prove anything. You're wasting my time."
Chloe scoffed. "Seriously, you're still trying to act like you're on top? Margaret's gone. You don't have a leader anymore."
Mia's expression darkened. "Margaret may be gone, but we're still here. And trust me, Jillian, we'll make sure you regret coming back."
Jillian held her gaze without flinching. "You can try."
The tension thickened in the air. For a moment, it seemed like Mia might actually lunge at her, but then Sandra grabbed her arm. "Not here. Not now."
Mia clenched her jaw before letting out a slow breath. "Fine. But this isn't over, Smith."
With that, they turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd of students heading home.
Chloe sighed in frustration. "They're so predictable."
Clara looked at Jillian worriedly. "Are you okay?"
Jillian nodded. "I'm fine. But I have a feeling this is just the beginning."
As they continued walking, Jillian knew one thing for sure—Margaret may have been expelled, but her influence wasn't gone yet.
And Jillian wasn't about to let her legacy haunt her any longer.