Emily adjusted the last of her books inside her locker, stacking them neatly beside a worn-out copy of her favorite book. She liked things in order, even if her life wasn't. Around her, students buzzed through the hallways like bees in a garden of privilege. Loud. Confident. Expensive.
Her hoodie hung loosely over her frame. Her glasses slid down her nose. The Converse on her feet were scuffed. Everything about her screamed 'out of place,' and the passing glances made that fact crystal clear.
She heard the whispers again.
"Did she seriously come dressed like that?"
"She must be in the wrong school."
"That's the new girl, right? What a downgrade."
She ignored it all. She was good at that now.
Just as she shut her locker and turned to walk away, two girls stepped in front of her, blocking her path like a wall she couldn't move around.
One stood with her arms loosely crossed, phone in hand, her face unreadable but cold. Her makeup was flawless, her hair tucked behind one ear.
Another stood beside her, smiling like she was about to offer a compliment. "You know…" she started sweetly, tilting her head, "I think it's so brave of you to walk into Silvergrove looking like that. Very… nonconformist homeless chic."
Emily opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
She continued, smile widening. "It's honestly refreshing. Most girls would be embarrassed, but you? You really don't care what people think, do you?" She gave a tiny mocking clap. "That's kind of inspirational."
The first girl didn't smile. She didn't need to. Her eyes locked onto Emily's like she was studying a problem she already had the solution to. "Let's keep it simple," she said coolly. "You stay out of my way, you follow instructions when given, and maybe, maybe, your school life won't be a nightmare."
the second girl leaned in slightly, still grinning. "And if you ever think about stepping out of line or, God forbi, trying to get noticed... well, let's just say Fiona has a way of making people regret it."
Fiona gave a small nod to the second girl, then looked back at Emily one last time. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be." with a pause "let's go Terra."
And with that, they walked off. Terra tossed a playful wink over her shoulder as they vanished into the crowd.
Emily stood frozen, her heartbeat drumming in her ears. Her first real conversation at Silvergrove High wasn't a welcome.
It was a threat.
---
The bell rang sharply, breaking the hallway buzz like a slap to the face.
Emily flinched slightly, clutching her book to her chest as the students around her moved with purpose. She swallowed the lump in her throat and began walking, her shoes tapping softly against the polished floors of Silvergrove High.
Each hallway looked the same, flawless walls, students with flawless faces, walking in groups, laughing like they belonged here. She didn't. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
After a few turns and second-guesses, she finally found her classroom. The door was already open.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside.
The teacher, a man in his mid-thirties with kind eyes and a neatly trimmed beard, glanced up from the attendance sheet. He gave her a polite nod. "Ah, you must be our new transfer.. Emily Calloway?"
She froze in place, her grip on her book tightening.
"Would you like to introduce yourself to the class?" he asked, gesturing toward the center.
Emily looked at him like a deer caught in headlights. Please don't make me do this. Please.
There was a long pause. A quiet one.
The teacher seemed to pick up on her silent plea. He cleared his throat awkwardly and smiled. "Or not. That's fine too. Why don't you take a seat?"
Emily's shoulders sagged just slightly in relief.
She stood still for a moment longer, her eyes scanning the classroom. No one offered her a smile. No one waved her over. Some students just stared. Others returned to chatting, uninterested. She felt like furniture no one wanted in the room.
And then—
A small wave from the back corner.
Emily's eyes snapped toward it. A girl looked at her with a calm, unreadable face. She tilted her head and nudged the seat beside her.
Emily blinked. Then she nodded, walking over quickly before someone else could change their mind.
She slid into the seat beside the girl, breathing out in quiet relief.
"Thanks," she murmured under her breath.
The girl glanced sideways at her, chewing gum without expression. "No problem," she said casually, then looked back at the front of the room like nothing had happened.
Emily opened her notebook, and focused on the empty page in front of her. It felt safer than looking around.