"Is everything alright?" Nadia asked, her voice gentle but laced with concern.
Zara barely looked up. Her hand trembled slightly as she slammed her phone onto the table, the thud louder than necessary.
"Yeah," she muttered, tone clipped, eyes glued to the spot in front of her. A lie dressed in apathy.
Nadia glanced at her, hesitant. The tension and frustration simmering off Zara was undeniable, but after being scolded yesterday, she knew when to keep her lips sealed.
Zara leaned against the desk, her cheek sinking into her palm as her thoughts spun like a carousel on fire.
'There has to be something I can do.'
The situation had backed her into a corner, one that— one that made her helpless, but desperate.
She shoved her chair back and stood abruptly, the legs screeching faintly against the tiled floor.
Nadia looked up briefly, then lowered her gaze just as fast.
