NINA
Getting to the oak tree, where I parked my car. I saw Gracie running toward me, her breaths coming fast and uneven.
"Hey, girl!" she called out, stopping a few feet away and crouching slightly, hands on her knees as she caught her breath. "I've been calling your name for a while now. Didn't you hear me?"
I shook my head, flustered. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't hear you."
She straightened, waving it off. "It's fine. I just wanted to say sorry for what happened today at lunch with Zane. It's crazy that you both ended up paired together for Biology! Ugh, I wish there was something I could do." She pouted, her sincerity clear.
"It's okay," I replied, trying to sound braver than I felt. "I can handle it. I'll just try to stay out of his way."
Gracie tilted her head, her eyes softening. "I know he can be intimidating, but don't let him get to you, okay? And starting today," she declared, grinning, "you're my best friend!"
"What?" My eyes widened. The word 'best friend' felt foreign to me. I'd never had one before—well, except for Reid, but he didn't really count since he was my brother.
Gracie giggled at my shocked expression. "I'm serious. I wanted to ask you at lunch, but…well, you saw how that went. You're like the sweetest person ever, and I'd really like for us to be best friends. Plus, you seem like you need someone to pull you out of your shell. That's kind of my specialty."
I felt my throat tighten. I wasn't used to people like Gracie—so open, so unapologetically kind. "I… I don't know what to say."
"Relax, girl," she teased, pulling out her phone. "Here, give me your number. That way, I can bug you whenever I want."
Her playful energy was contagious, and before I knew it, I was reciting my number. Gracie quickly typed it in, her fingers flying over the screen.
"There!" she announced with a triumphant grin. "Now you officially can't ditch me. Don't worry—we're going to have so much fun together. You'll see."
I couldn't help but smile, even as anxiety bubbled beneath the surface. "Thank you, Gracie. This means a lot."
"See you tomorrow!" she said with a wave before walking off.
For the first time in a long while, I felt a flicker of something I hadn't in ages—hope.
The front door creaked as I stepped into the house, my backpack weighing heavily on my shoulders. The faint smell of something burning wafted from the kitchen, making me wince.
Walking into the kitchen, I found Dad by the stove, poking at something in a pan.
"Hi, Dad," I said, leaning in to give him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek.
"Hi, honey. How was school?" he asked, his brow furrowing as he wrestled with the oven timer.
"Yeah, school was fine," I replied, setting my bag down on a chair.
Dad turned to study my face, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to decipher whether I was being honest.
"Dad, I promise," I reassured him, smiling. "School was fine. I even made a best friend today!"
His face lit up. "That's great, honey! I'm proud of you." He patted my shoulder gently. "Go freshen up, and I'll call you when dinner's ready."
Passing through the living room, I spotted Reid lounging on the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table as he flipped through TV channels.
"Hey, there's the senior of the house," he greeted with a wide grin, tossing the remote aside. "How was your first day?"
I shrugged, setting my bag at the base of the stairs. "It was…fine, I guess."
"Fine?" Reid raised an eyebrow. "Come on, give me something. Any drama? Annoying teachers? Weird cafeteria food?"
A small smile tugged at my lips as I sat down beside him. "Not really. Although…I got paired with a rude guy for a project."
Reid's face darkened into a grimace. "Want me to handle him?"
"Reid, it's fine," I said, shaking my head. "I can handle it."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Listen, if he gives you a hard time, you tell me. I'll deal with him. And remember, you don't have to take crap from anyone. You're stronger than you think."
I nodded, forcing a smile. But his words, as comforting as they were meant to be, didn't ease the weight pressing on my chest.
Later that night, I sat cross-legged on my bed, my textbooks and notes spread out around me like a fortress. The warm glow of my desk lamp was the only light in the room.
A soft knock at the door made me look up. Lisa peeked in, wearing her Taylor Swift pajama bottoms and a blue cardigan.
"Hey," she greeted, flopping onto my bed and staring up at the ceiling. "How was school today?"
I sighed, closing my notebook. "Not great, but…I made a new friend."
Lisa's face lit up. "That's amazing, Nina! Now you have someone to drag you to parties!"
"Lisa!" I laughed. "No parties for me, thank you."
"Any cute boys in your classes?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
I felt my cheeks heat up instantly. "Uh…no. Not really."
Lisa narrowed her eyes. "You hesitated. Spill!"
"There's nothing to spill!" I insisted, though the image of Zane's piercing gaze and smug smirk flashed in my mind.
"Mm-hmm," Lisa drawled, unconvinced. "Well, I'll get it out of you eventually. Goodnight!" She smirked and left the room, leaving me shaking my head with a small smile.
I brushed my teeth, changed into my pajamas, and climbed into bed, but sleep wouldn't come.
Images of Zane kept creeping into my mind. His cold glare, the way his smirk curled just enough to be infuriating. Why did he hate me so much? I hadn't done anything to him. He didn't even know me, yet he seemed to despise me.
Pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes, I groaned softly. "Just stop thinking about him," I muttered.
But I couldn't. Tomorrow, I'd have to meet him for the project, and the thought filled me with dread.
I'll just try not to make him angry, I thought to myself. I'll finish the project as quickly as possible and avoid him after that.
With a sigh, I whispered, "Just get through senior year. Keep your head down. Stay invisible."
It was what I'd always done—stay out of the way, avoid drawing attention, and be the quiet girl who didn't cause any problems.
As my eyes closed, I clung to the hope that maybe, just maybe, this year could be different.