August 21st 2020
- lilah -
"And that, everyone, is Shakespeare's 'merchant of Venice' and for this time next week I want you to complete an assignment from one of the questions on the handout in front of you." There's an audible groan through the classroom as we're given our first assignment of the term.
My first week here has been overwhelming and a lot different than I expected. When Fliss told me it was cliquey, I half expected a scene out of Mean Girls where a trio of bitchy popular girls rule over everyone. However, I quickly realised it was almost the opposite. There are distinct cliques, but every clique seems to have its own leader and nobody is really bothered by anyone outside of their little circle.
"Hey, we were gonna go to the mall after school, do you wanna join?" Lucia is packing her things back up at the desk next to me as we're dismissed and I hesitate - it's not like I don't want to, I just don't know if I'd be able to. "Urm, I'm not sure, can I get back to you?" She gives me a warm smile as she nods, "sure."
Fliss, Lucia and Arlo have been so great, I honestly don't think this week would've been anywhere near as okay if I hadn't had them showing me where to go and explaining things.
None of them are in my next class so I keep my head down and make my way there, blending into the background seems to have worked well enough so far. I sit at the back desk in the art studio where I've managed to pass unnoticed for the last week. The teacher came up to me when she noticed me at first and she was really sweet, she didn't make me introduce myself and helped me figure out what I'm doing and she checks in with me periodically. I appreciate it a lot.
The class hasn't started so I quickly grab my phone to text Taylor and ask her about the mall thing. I know my life can't just be normal now and I don't know what my limits are, so I wanna check in before I agree to anything.
"Oh, hi," I look up when I hear a voice, not at all anticipating the blue haired girl who's standing there. "I usually sit here, do you mind?" She references to the empty seat at the desk facing mine. "Sure, of course," she smiles sweetly as she thanks me and takes the seat. "I'm Antonia," she smiles as she pulls her things out and I nod, "I'm Lilah."
- Karlie -
Taylor came to me when she got Lilah's text earlier on. Neither of us knew exactly how to handle it, but ultimately we decided that we can't keep Lilah safe if she thinks we don't trust her. She's told us all about her friends and if we wanna give her the normal childhood that she's fell behind on in the last few years, we need to let her have normal teenage experiences.
"And you'll pick me up?" Lilah looks over to me and I nod, "just text me or call me and I'll be right over when you want me." She nods as I pull up to the kerb, I can tell she's a little nervous but it's really important to her that she fits in here and these friends seem like good kids. "And Li?" She turns back before she opens her door to get out, "have fun, okay? You look beautiful." She was fussing over her outfit and her hair and everything for ages before we had to go, and it was nice to see the only things stressing her out are the things millions of other teenage girls are stressed about.
"Love you, Karlie," she leans over to hug me and I kiss her cheek, "I love you too, see you later on." She jumps out of the car and I watch her as she rushes over to a group of kids standing nearby. I wait until they head inside and then I pull away again.
I dropped Taylor and the little ones at her parents' before dropping Lilah off, so I'm heading over there to join them. We've had dinner plans with them all week, but luckily it's closer to the mall than our house so when Lilah calls it shouldn't take long to get to her.
