Rebel Hearts

Unspoken Histories

Brooklyn leaned against the cold stone wall of the courtyard, feeling the late afternoon sun filter through the trees. Despite the warmth, a familiar sense of isolation settled over her. St. Augustine's Academy wasn't home, but after bouncing between schools, she knew this might be her last option. Her stepmom had made that much clear. Brooklyn had always been labeled as a troublemaker, but her last incident had been the tipping point.

It wasn't the fights or the talking back that got her sent here, though that had been part of it. It was the night everything unraveled—the night she stormed out of the house, slamming the door so hard it shook the walls. Her stepmom had been yelling at her for yet another suspension. Brooklyn's dad had barely said a word, just sat there in silence like he always did when things got tense. Brooklyn hadn't been able to take it anymore, so she left. She stayed out until 3 a.m., roaming the streets of her old neighborhood, not caring what kind of trouble she might find.

When she got home, her stepmom was waiting. Brooklyn's dad was still sitting in the same chair, staring at the floor like she wasn't even there. That was when her stepmom decided St. Augustine's was the solution.

"It'll straighten her out," she'd said, not bothering to hide the disappointment in her voice.

Brooklyn had been shipped off the next week.

---

Pushing the memory aside, Brooklyn walked through the ancient halls of St. Augustine's, the stone walls feeling both claustrophobic and endless. She hadn't expected much when she arrived, but the place was growing on her in small, annoying ways. Maybe it was because she hadn't had much choice. She was still the new girl, but she could feel the curiosity of the other students wherever she went.

As she passed a group of girls near the stairwell, she felt their eyes on her, a mix of interest and wariness. The group was laughing about something, but Brooklyn didn't care enough to listen in. Just before she could slip past, Sophia, one of the more popular girls, caught her eye and waved her over.

"Hey, Brooklyn!" Sophia called out, flashing a bright smile. "You wanna sit with us later?"

Brooklyn hesitated. Normally, she wouldn't bother getting involved with anyone's clique, but something about St. Augustine's was different. These girls were different. And maybe, just maybe, she was tired of always being on the outside.

"Yeah, maybe," Brooklyn replied, trying to sound indifferent. She crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. "Depends on if you guys are actually fun."

Sophia laughed, clearly enjoying the challenge. "Oh, don't worry. We can handle you."

Brooklyn gave a small smirk and continued on her way, feeling just a bit more comfortable than she had a few days ago. There was something freeing about starting over, even if she wasn't ready to admit it.

---

Brooklyn headed back to her dorm room, her thoughts wandering to Taryn. They'd barely spoken since their detention clash, but that brief encounter lingered in her mind. There was something about Taryn that was... familiar. Not in the way she looked—though her dark waves and sharp green eyes were hard to forget. No, it was more than that. Taryn had an energy that Brooklyn recognized, a kind of defiance, like she didn't owe anyone anything. Brooklyn had seen that look in the mirror plenty of times.

When she opened the door to her dorm, she barely had time to toss her bag on the floor before there was a knock.

It was Taryn.

Brooklyn's pulse quickened, though she would never admit it. Taryn leaned casually against the doorframe, that same lazy smile on her face, her uniform slightly disheveled in a way that said she couldn't care less about the rules.