Chapter 3

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~CHAPTER THREE~


TUESDAY,AUGUST 27,2024

    The morning sunlight filters through the curtains of my bedroom, casting a warm glow across the room. I groan and stretch, reluctant to leave the comfort of my bed. Today marks my second day at this new school, and while yesterday was a whirlwind of new faces and awkward introductions, one person stands out in my mind—Lyla.

   After getting dressed and grabbing my backpack, I head downstairs. Mom is in the kitchen, already bustling about with breakfast.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” she says, smiling warmly. “How are you feeling about day two?”

I shrug, grabbing a piece of toast.
“It’s okay, I guess. Just trying to find my place.”

She looks at me knowingly. “You’ll find it. Just be yourself.”

As I head out the door, I can’t shake the feeling of unease. I think about her again and how her classmates treat her. Something about it bothers me more than I want to admit.

...

The alarm blares, pulling me from a restless sleep. I reach over to silence it, feeling the familiar dread of another school day settle in my stomach.

    After getting dressed, I head to the kitchen to find a note from Mom on the table again.

“𝐻𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘. 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑍𝑖𝑎 𝑔𝑒𝑡𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒. 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒, 𝑀𝑜𝑚.”

  I sigh and start making breakfast for Mia, who shuffles into the kitchen rubbing her eyes.

“Morning, Sissy,” she mumbles.

“Morning, Zia. Let’s get you ready for school,” I say, forcing a smile.

   After I drop her off at her school, I put on my headphones and walk to my own, letting the music drown out my thoughts.

   The walk is my only quiet time, a brief reprieve before facing the whispers and stares of my classmates.

   As I approach the school, I steel myself for another day of pretending not to care. I catch sight of Carl with his new friends, laughing and fitting in effortlessly.

  A part of me envies him, but I push the feeling aside. I’ve learned to rely only on myself.

...


  The morning bell rings, signaling the start of another school day. Students mill about the hallways, chatting and laughing as they make their way to their respective classrooms. Carl walks alongside his new group of friends, trying to fit in with the loud and boisterous group.

“Did you see the game last night?” Billy asks, his voice animated.

“Yeah, it was epic!” Jake chimes in, high-fiving Billy.

   Carl smiles and nods, but his mind is elsewhere. He spots Lyla walking through the door, her headphones on, clearly in her own world. Violet, one of the “badass” girls in the group, notices her too.

“Look who decided to grace us with her presence,” Violet sneers. “Lyla the recluse.”

Emily giggles. “Probably listening to some weird, emo music. She’s so strange.”

    Carl feels a pang of guilt as he listens to their mocking. He remembers the quiet strength and intelligence Lyla displayed in the library and feels a growing discomfort with his so-called friends' behavior

      As Violet and Emily continue their snide comments, Carl can’t help but feel bad for Lyla.He already saw her always holding a headset everywhere she goes since yesterday, walking in with her headphones on, trying to block out the world. There’s a resilience in her that he admires, but it’s clear that the constant bullying takes its toll.

“Why do you guys always pick on her?” Carl asks, trying to keep his tone casual.


Violet shrugs. “She's just so weird and antisocial. It’s like she thinks she’s better than everyone else.

Emily nods in agreement. “Yeah, she’s always alone. She probably thinks she’s too good for us.”

   Carl shakes his head slightly, disheartened by their pettiness. He glances at Lyla, who’s now sitting at her desk, seemingly oblivious to the cruel remarks. She’s focused on something only she can hear, shutting out the negativity around her.

The professor enters the room, and the chatter quickly dies down. “Good morning, class. Today, we’re going to study about stars and the constellations.”

Carl notices Lyla perked up at the mention of stars. He watches as she sits a little straighter, clearly interested in the topic.

The professor poses a question to the class, “Can anyone tell me what the term ‘circumpolar stars’ means?”

The room falls silent, with most students avoiding eye contact. Carl glances around, feeling the tension. Then he sees Lyla’s hand go up.

“Yes, Miss Smith?” the professor says, nodding encouragingly.

“Circumpolar stars are stars that, from a given latitude on Earth, never set below the horizon. They appear to move in a circular motion around the celestial pole,” she explains confidently.

“Correct, Miss Smith. Well done,” the professor says, clearly impressed.

As Lyla lowers her hand, Carl feels a surge of admiration for her. But then Violet leans over and mutters, “What a nerd.”

Carl's stomach twists. He turns to Violet, frowning. “Seriously Violet? Give her a break.”

Violet rolls her eyes. “Oh, come on, Carl. It’s just a joke.”

Carl doesn’t respond, feeling increasingly out of place among his so-called friends. He looks at Lyla again, who seems unfazed, though he can tell she heard Violet’s remark. He wishes he could do something to make things better for her.



   I exited my last morning class, clutching my books to my chest. The hallway buzzed with chatter and laughter, but I moved through it like a shadow, my thoughts elsewhere. My mind wandered back to the one conversation I had with Carl in the library.

   It was brief and unexpected, but it lingered in my mind. I couldn’t understand why he even bothered to talk to me. Most people didn’t. I liked it that way.

“Why did he have to be so nice?” I muttered under my breath, making my way to my locker. I replayed our conversation over and over, trying to decipher his intentions. He seemed genuine, but I was wary.

  As I twisted the combination lock, I saw him down the hall, leaning against a locker, talking to Billy. He glanced my way, his eyes lighting up with recognition. I quickly turned away, my cheeks flushing.

   “Stop it, Lyla,” I scolded myself. “You don't have time for distractions.” I wanted to forget about him, to focus on my studies and my goals. Yet, there was a small, rebellious part of me that was curious about him. Who was he, really? And why did he seem to care?


    I slammed my locker shut and headed towards the library, hoping the quiet would help me clear my head. As I walked, I couldn't shake the feeling of his eyes on me, even though I knew it was just my imagination.

   Reaching the library, I found my usual spot by the window and settled in. I pulled out my notebook and tried to focus on my homework, but my thoughts kept drifting back to him. I remembered the way he smiled, how he seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say.

  “He's just a boy, Lyla,” I reminded myself, echoing my mother's harsh words. “You don't need anyone.” But as much as I tried to convince myself, the truth was clear. Carl had sparked something within me, a curiosity I couldn't easily extinguish.

   As I stared out the window, watching the clouds drift lazily across the sky, I knew I was at a crossroads. I could continue to fight against my feelings, to push Carl away. Or I could allow myself to be curious, to see where this unexpected path might lead.

  For now, though, I decided to focus on my studies. There would be time to sort out my feelings later. I opened my textbook and tried to immerse myself in the comforting world of facts and figures, hoping it would silence the conflicting emotions swirling within me.


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