Lily lowered her head as she made her way through the school corridors.
Anyone looking at her would just be able to see the black hoodie swamping her. If they looked closer they might be able to see the holes. If they examined it intensely they would be able to the see the threadbare sleeves which couldn't possibly keep her warm.
She ducked her head, held her books tight to her body as the sleeves covered both of her hands.
Not a single centimetre of skin was visible.
That's how Lily liked it, because it made people turn a blind eye to her.
She kept her eyes on the floor and analysed with her other senses.
The minute she heard the voices in the corridor dim, she stepped to the side, walking with one shoulder brushing the lockers. She felt the wind brush past her when the 'IT' boys of the school walked past.
Everyone stopped what they were doing to look and admire them. But, Lily kept walking.
She finally arrived at the Biology lab and found her place in the back corner. She readied herself for class - not that there was much to do, and started doodling away on the corner of her paper.
Zoning out, she allowed her hand to draw what it desired. Circling and drawing and shading. She lost herself in her art passing away the minutes.
She was jolted out of her actions by the door to the classroom bursting open.
"Oh, I'm sorry Lily, I didn't realise you were in here already," Mr Warren apologized, offering her a warm smile. The corners of her lips tilted up in answer, in forgiveness.
"I have something for you though, here, another immaculate exam. Are you sure I can't put it up on the class results sheet? You're an amazing student!"
Lily took his exam back, smiling at the A+ and 100% written in red. She looked back up at her teacher shaking her head in denial.
Mr Warren frowned perplexed, "well, if you're sure."
She nodded in agreement thanking Headmaster Waters for his decision to allow her to be discrete in her academics.
Just then the door opened loudly again as a stream of students filed in. Mr Warren smiled comfortingly at her before walking to the front of the classroom to begin his lesson.
Lily looked down at the picture she had casually been drawing and had to contain her gasp as she ripped it out of the copy and crumpled it up.
It was the picture of a girl, cowering in the corner of a dilapidated room.
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She hoped with everything inside her that Mr Warren hadn't seen her drawing.
She stuffed it into her pocket and took out her pen, ready to take notes on photosynthesis in biology.
