Lenore almost had everything she wanted.
In just a few short months, she'd graduate early from high school, start an internship at her father's new startup in San Francisco, and then head off to college in the fall on a full scholarship. Everything...
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The other students all turned to look as Lenore walked into the Biology classroom behind Victor and Fiona. Their eyes lingered a little too long as things clicked together in their heads. Lenore dropped her head and pretended not to notice, wishing she could just slip into a spot at the back, out of sight, without talking to anyone—but that wasn't an option.
Victor and Fiona gave her a wave as they went to find their own seats, but she went to the wide lab table at the front of the class, where the teacher sat.
According to the timetable still stuffed into the pocket of her hoodie, the teacher for this class was Mr. Platz. He was seated at the front of the classroom, the whiteboard at his back, slashing at a stack of worksheets with a red pen. He was well dressed and wore stylishly thick-framed glasses that hung low on his large, hooked nose.
Lenore hovered at the edge of the desk, waiting for him to notice her.
"Just a moment," he said, not even looking up.
Lenore swallowed hard, wishing she was anywhere but here. She could feel the eyes of the other students. Whispers scattered around the room, and Lenore wondered if they were talking about her. Probably. She began to shake, and a small voice in the back of her head told her to turn and run and forget it all—screw Biology, screw school, and screw Eden.
But then she noticed Victor, who was sitting in the second row next to some guy who was resting his head on his arms. As if he could tell she needed the encouragement, he gave her a thumbs up.
It helped. She flashed him a quick smile, shook off her shakes, and stood her ground.
Finally, Mr. Platz put down his red pen and looked up. Before she could introduce himself, his watery blue eyes widened in recognition, and she knew there was no reason to bother.
"Ah," he said. "So, you've finally decided to join us."
Lenore swallowed. She didn't know how to respond to that.
He didn't need her to. "Since you've missed the first week and a half, you're a little behind," Mr. Platz continued, turning to the cupboards that ran along the wall beneath the whiteboard. He dug out a textbook and handed it to her. "But I can find some extra credit work if you want to make up the marks, so just let me know. Now," he dropped his voice, "I'm not going to make you introduce yourself. Not much point in that, I figure."
Lenore could still feel the press of stares on her. "P-Probably not."
Mr. Platz nodded knowingly. Lenore was starting to like him.
"Unfortunately," he said, "you make the class an odd number so you won't have a lab partner," he said, his mouth tightening into a line.
"I can manage." Not having a partner didn't bother her. Biology wasn't her best subject, but she expected it'd be a cakewalk after her previous school.
