BEHIND HER SMILE

CHAPTER THREE

The next day dawned with a dull monotony that contrasted sharply with the vibrant anticipation I had felt the day before. The once-hopeful buzz of excitement had fizzled into an oppressive silence as the students largely avoided me. The reasons were glaringly obvious—my abrupt exit, the whispers, and the newness of my presence were all conspiring against me.

I arrived early to organize my locker, something that had been a dream of mine ever since I devoured high school fiction novels. The prospect of decorating it with stickers and magnets was a quaint fantasy I'd nurtured, and now it was finally becoming a reality. This opportunity to be in school felt like a precious gift, a chance to reclaim some semblance of normalcy. I was determined not to let a single day slip by in regret.

"Oh my god! You and Jeremy skipped yesterday after lunch, and you literally have no idea of the chaos you left behind. Hailey was so tense!" Maddie's voice cut through my reverie as she arrived, spinning me around with a dramatic flourish.

"Why? Did something happen to her?" The concern was immediate, and my heart twisted at the thought that my personal turmoil might have led to her suffering, but what has to be done had to be done. I had left in a rush, obvious to the potential fallout for her.

"No... well, not yet. But you're definitely in the red zone now. Everyone's avoiding you like the plague. They're scared of catching the Glitters' bad side or the Mafia Boys' wrath. Not exactly the ideal way to start your school journey, huh?" She said, pouting slightly, her fingers drumming absentmindedly on the locker door.

My gaze flicked over the sea of students avoiding eye contact. "What about you? Aren't you worried about being seen with me?" I asked, my voice tinged with genuine curiosity.

She met my gaze with a small, uncertain smile. "I am scared, yes. But I know Hailey, and she speaks so highly of you. Jeremy calls you guys platonic soulmates, and you seem really cool. I want to be friends with you and see for myself who Allison Wild really is." Her blue eyes were earnest, her blond curls falling across her face as she looked down at her feet. There was something endearing about her faith in a stranger, a touch of innocence that reminded me of my younger self.

"I'll do my best to be a really great friend to you, Madeline Haysville," I promised, the sincerity in my voice matching the warmth in my smile.

Just then, a boy appeared, wrapping his arms around Maddie with a possessive ease. His gaze fell on me, and a flicker of disapproval crossed his face before he leaned in to whisper something in her ear. Maddie responded with a gentle elbow to his side, and with a forced cheerfulness, she introduced us.

"This is my new friend, Allison. Allison, this is my boyfriend, Tyler."

Tyler gave me a curt nod before leading Maddie away, leaving me to ponder my place in this intricate web of social dynamics. The difficulty of fitting in was becoming increasingly apparent.

I turned to my locker, gathering the books for my first three classes before lunch to avoid the hassle of frequent trips back and forth. Jeremy had texted me that he and Hailey were running late and that I should go ahead without them. Jeremy's morning routine involved picking up Hailey and her younger sister Bailey, dropping Bailey off at her elementary school, and then heading to high school. I contemplated asking Jeremy if he could pick me up as well; I didn't want to feel isolated from their routine.

As I walked to my first class, the weight of my new reality settled heavily on my shoulders. This was going to be a lot harder than I had anticipated. But then nothing was really hard enough for me ever.

I settled into the seat I'd occupied yesterday, pulling out my Criminal Law book. The glossy cover felt reassuring in my hands—an emblem of my aspirations. I'd always dreamed of having a locker, decorating it with mementos of my life, and now that dream was one step closer to reality. If I made it into law college, this book would be a symbol of my determination and future. Key word-IF.