The mirror in my room had never been an enemy. I glanced at it only to make sure my hair was brushed or my blouse wasn't crooked. This morning though, I paused. The bright yellow top I'd bought on vacation glowed against my pale skin. My dark hair, thick and soft as silk, fell perfectly without much effort. I blushed at my own reflection, then shook it off. I'd never liked staring at myself.

At school, I walked straight to Eveline’s locker, like I always did. She was already there, flanked by Bianca and Mara. Eveline's compact mirror glittered in her hand; she checked her lipstick even as she looked me over. “Where did you get that outfit?”  she asked, voice coated in sugar but sharp underneath. “A boutique in the Caribbean,” I said, careful to sound casual. “Do you like it?” “ It's fancy,” Bianca murmured. “Too fancy,” Eveline corrected smoothly. Her eyes never left her reflection. “Careful, Aria. Some people might think you're trying to outshine them.” I just smiled politely. I'd heard remarks like that before. My whole life, people told me I was ”pretty,” but I’d never seen it as something to compete over. 

By second period, Mara ignored me. At lunch, Eveline beamed as if nothing were wrong. “Hey, could you grab me a fruit punch?” she asked sweetly. Relieved, I agreed. But when I returned, I saw Eveline’s phone pointed straight at me.The tile floor glistened- water that hadn't been there a moment ago. My feet slipped, and I went crashing down, fruit punch staining my blouse a vivid, blood-red. Eveline’s laugh sliced through the cafeteria. “This is going straight on Insta! Oh no- did I forget to warn you about that puddle?” 

Humiliated, I called my mom. She couldn’t leave work. “Ask the nurse for clothes,” she urged. “And Aria…You need better friends. You're too kind to be around people like that.” Hanging up, I noticed a short, bright-eyed girl watching me. Her name was Wren. “I saw what happened,” she said softly. “Are you okay?” “I'll survive,” I whispered. “I've got extra clothes,” she said. “Want them?"  I changed in the bathroom into her fitted black top and low rise jeans. When I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. “You look amazing," Wren said with a grin. “Better than I ever did in that outfit. Keep it." Wren introduced me to her seven friends - each one different, loud, funny, awkward but all kind. They treated me like family. They called Eveline "the evil queen" behind her back. But Eveline didn't let up.

 One morning, I opened my locker to find a note:  "Mirror, mirror in the hall - Aria thinks she's fairest of all. Watch yourself."  Evelines' obsession only grew. I caught her more than once checking her phone camera, smoothing her hair as though she needed it to confirm she was the most beautiful girl in school. At Friday's football game, she approached me with a perfect Crimson candy apple. "Peace offering," she said with a too-bright smile. "No hard feelings?" I reached for it, but Wren grabbed my wrist. "Don't," she murmured. Later, Mara - clueless as always - snatched the Apple for herself. Within seconds, she doubled over coughing from the pepper extract Eveline had hidden inside. Phone's captured everything - Eveline’s perfect mask cracking as she panicked, her voice sharp and ugly as she tried to hush everyone.