Empire of Nothing

Nova stepped onto campus like she'd never left.

But everything was different now.

Not her clothes — still jeans, hoodie, sneakers.Not her face — still bare, still beautiful, still unapologetically her.It was the way she walked.

The way her eyes didn't flick to corners anymore.The way she didn't shrink when passing crowds.

There was something untouchable about her now.

Like she'd been somewhere else, survived it, and come back with invisible armor.

People noticed.

Whispers. Stares. Confused glances from girls who once mocked her for being "the new girl with rich shadows." From boys who used to ignore her completely.

Some stared longer than they should have.

Nova didn't care.

She walked with her two best friends on either side — Troy juggling two iced coffees, Jules already recapping weekend gossip too fast to keep up.

"You missed the drama on Saturday," Jules said. "I almost broke a heel kicking Jared in the shin. No regrets."

Nova grinned. "I'm sad I missed that."

"You were off living your best rebel life," Troy smirked. "You've gone viral in our group chat, by the way."

"Wait—what?"

"Girl, you vanished and came back glowing? There are theories."

Nova rolled her eyes. "Tell them I ascended. Levitated off-campus and found peace."

They all burst into laughter.

But across the quad, four pairs of eyes noticed her return.

Max was the first to spot her, slouching behind a bench, trying not to be obvious.Darian leaned against a wall like he didn't care — but his gaze never left her.Ryder was sitting on the steps, fidgeting with his headphones, jaw tight.And Ethan stood farther back… unreadable.

Nova saw them.

She didn't stop.

Didn't wave.Didn't smile.Didn't care.

Let them watch.

Let them feel what it was like to be outside her world for once.

Later that day, in the girls' restroom, Nova stared at her reflection.

Same girl.

New fire.

She adjusted her hoodie, brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, and whispered to herself:

"I don't need a mansion to feel powerful."

And as she walked out, head high, the world tilted just a little in her favor.