Jessa

The hallways of Ridgeview High were already alive with noise when I walked in that morning, the usual Monday chaos mixed with extra excitement buzzing through the air. Everyone was talking about two things — the bonfire tonight at Schneider’s Field and Friday night’s game.

I kept my head high as I made my way to my locker, refusing to slouch or skulk like I used to. It wasn’t that I didn’t hear the laughter, the whispers, or the way conversations sometimes shifted when I ...