Chloe looked up, surprised. "Thanks. It's vintage. You actually have good taste, Elara. I didn't know you existed."

Target: Leo. Threat Level: Low. Suggested Action: Ignore. Current Social Hierarchy does not benefit from this interaction.

She walked down the hallways of Northwood High, and the Bestmod contacts scanned the crowd. Target: The Popular Table. Risk: High. Reward: Social Ascension.

The Bestmod choker tightened, nudging her to say something cutting to dismiss him, to maintain her hierarchy.

At the dance, the gymnasium was a sea of flashing lights. Elara moved through the crowd like a celebrity. Everyone wanted to talk to her.

The relief was instant. The artificial confidence vanished, replaced by a terrifying, cold anxiety. But it was her anxiety.