Dear Lucy

Chapter 1: The Beginning

Lucinda Maxwell stepped off the bike, her long, curly brown hair bouncing with the movement. She took off her helmet, revealing her bright hazel eyes and smattering of freckles across her cheeks. Her gaze fixed on the imposing Oakwood School building, its stone façade gleaming in the morning sun.

Her brother, Lucas, looked at her with concern.

"You nervous?" he asked, his bright blue eyes sparkling with warmth.

Lucinda chuckled nervously, handing over the helmet to her brother.

"Hell no," she replied, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm.

Lucas raised an eyebrow, his chiseled features and strong jawline accentuating his skeptical expression.

"Don't think too much about it, BB. Everything will be fine. Just believe in yourself and trust yourself," he said with a reassuring smile.

"Thanks," Lucinda said, giving her brother a warm hug. But he winced, causing worry to etch on her face.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

"Yes, I'm fine. Now come here," Lucas said, gently caressing her hair with his rough, calloused hands.

"Good luck on your first day in school, BB."

Lucinda rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

"Hey, stop calling me that! I'm 18, not a baby."

Lucas smiled warmly and winked, his bright blue eyes sparkling with encouragement.

He proceeded to start his bike, the engine roaring to life. "I'll see you later, BB" he said, driving off with a wave.

Lucinda knew something was wrong with her brother, which he didn't want to talk about. Lucas, her brother, had been working tirelessly for her and their family, taking on part-time jobs to gather money for their father's hospital bills and their blind mother's care. Their mother, despite her disability, always tried to make them happy. Now, all Lucinda had to do was make them proud and avoid all obstacles.

She shut her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them again as she entered the school.

The hallway was crowded with students, laughing and talking, as Lucinda walked, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. She bumped into a girl with blonde hair, adorned with various accessories, who seemed to radiate confidence. Lucinda's instincts hinted that this girl might be the popular and feared bully in school.

"And who do we have here?" the blonde girl asked, her voice dripping with superiority.

"Lucinda, but Lucy for short," Lucinda replied, trying to sound confident.

"New girl?" the blonde girl asked, raising an eyebrow.

Before she could proceed, another girl intervened, "Oh, you must be the new scholarship student. Follow me."

The blonde girl objected "Xena, you can actually see that I'm in a conversation with the new girl."

Xena firmly replied, "Well, I'll have to steal her from you at this moment because it's almost time for the first lesson, and she needs to know some things in this school."

Xena looked at Lucinda and said, "Follow me."

The blonde girl clenched her fist, visibly annoyed, as Xena led Lucinda away.

~~

Xena walked alongside Lucinda, offering advice. "You should try to avoid girls like that in school."

Introducing herself, Xena said, "And my name is Xena."

Lucinda smiled, feeling a connection. "My name is Lucinda."