PARTY PREP

ELLIANA'S POV

I stiffen, my hands trembling slightly as I grip the book in front of me. Kora glances at me, her expression concerned.

"What's wrong?" she whispers, her voice barely audible.

I shake my head, my lips pressed into a thin line. "They're talking about us," I whisper, my voice choking with fear. "They think we're weird."

Kora's eyes flash with anger, her hand reaching for mine. "Ignore them," she says, her voice firm. "They're just jealous."

I nod, my heart still racing, as Kora and I move to a new table, farther away from Stacy and her gossipy friends. The conversation from the other table fades into the background, the library's hushed silence enveloping us once again.

"Better?" Kora asks, a teasing smile on her lips as she tries to lighten the mood.

I let out a small sigh of relief, my body relaxing slightly. "Thanks," I whisper, my voice filled with gratitude. "I was starting to think I was going to have a panic attack."

We turn our attention back to our books, the fami