The first thing she heard wasn’t applause. It was laughter. Backstage at the school arts festival, lockers rattling, music thumping through the walls— and a voice sneering right behind her. “Look at her costume,” the school’s pop princess scoffed. “All that practice for that?” Before anyone could stop it— rip. Fabric tore. Threads fell to the floor. “You’re not singing tonight,” the girl whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Without auto-tune, you’re nothing.” Phones were already up. Som