MINI SHORT STORYS

The new girl

Chapter 1: The New Girl

The first thing Lyla noticed about Riverview High was how ordinary it looked. Its faded brick walls and squeaky locker doors didn't exactly scream "fresh start," but it was all she had now. Her family had moved to this sleepy town after her parents' divorce, and she was still trying to figure out how to breathe through the cracks left behind.

She walked into her first-period English class a few minutes early, clutching a notebook to her chest. The room was already half-full, students chatting in clusters or scrolling through their phones. Lyla scanned the rows of desks, looking for a quiet spot where she wouldn't draw too much attention.

Then she saw her.

A girl sat by the window, her long blonde hair catching the morning light like it was spun gold. She had her chin propped on one hand, her blue eyes fixed on the world outside as if the classroom didn't exist. There was a calm defiance in the way she held herself, like she didn't care about fitting in or being noticed.

Lyla found herself staring longer than she should have.

"Hey, new girl!" someone called, breaking her trance.

She turned to see a boy in a varsity jacket grinning at her. She didn't bother responding, sliding into an empty seat instead.

The bell rang, and the teacher began roll call.

"Aveline Reed," the teacher said.

The blonde girl by the window raised her hand without looking up.

Chapter 2: An Unlikely Start

The next few days passed in a blur of awkward introductions and trying to learn her way around the school. Lyla had always been quiet, but here, she felt invisible.

It wasn't until Friday afternoon that she found herself crossing paths with Aveline again. Lyla was sitting under a tree in the courtyard during lunch, reading a book, when she heard a voice above her.

"Interesting choice," Aveline said, nodding toward the novel in Lyla's hands.

Lyla looked up, startled. She hadn't expected anyone to notice her, let alone talk to her.

"It's... just something I picked up," she said, closing the book quickly.

Aveline raised an eyebrow. "You don't strike me as the type to read just anything."

Lyla blinked, unsure how to respond. Aveline tilted her head, studying her with a smirk that made Lyla's heart race.

"I'm Aveline," she said finally, holding out a hand.

"Lyla," she replied, shaking it.

"Welcome to Riverview," Aveline said. "It sucks, but you'll get used to it."

Chapter 3: The First Connection

Over the next few weeks, Lyla and Aveline began to cross paths more often. It started with brief conversations in class, then sharing a table in the library, and eventually, sitting together during lunch.

Aveline was nothing like anyone Lyla had ever met. She was bold, sarcastic, and unapologetically herself. But beneath her confident exterior, Lyla could sense there was more to her—a quiet sadness she didn't talk about.

One afternoon, they were sitting under their usual tree when Lyla finally worked up the courage to ask.

"Do you ever talk about your family?" she asked carefully.

Aveline's expression shifted, her smirk faltering for just a moment.

"Not really," she said, her tone guarded.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine," Aveline interrupted. "There's just not much to say. My parents aren't exactly... present. I live with my sister. She's great, but it's not the same."

Lyla nodded, unsure what to say. She wanted to comfort Aveline but didn't want to push too far.

"What about you?" Aveline asked, changing the subject.

"My parents just got divorced," Lyla admitted. "That's why we moved here."

Aveline tilted her head, her blue eyes softening. "That sucks."

"Yeah," Lyla said with a weak smile. "But it's getting better. I mean... I have you."

The words slipped out before she could stop them, and her cheeks flushed. But Aveline didn't tease her. She just smiled, a genuine smile that made Lyla's heart flutter.

Chapter 4: Late Nights

It wasn't long before Lyla started spending time at Aveline's house. It was small but cozy, filled with mismatched furniture and shelves lined with books.

One night, after a particularly long day at school, Lyla found herself lying on Aveline's bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Do you ever think about leaving this place?" she asked.

"All the time," Aveline replied without hesitation.

"Where would you go?"

Aveline was quiet for a moment. "Somewhere I can be myself. Where no one cares about who I'm supposed to be."

Lyla turned her head to look at her. "You're already yourself. That's one of the things I like about you."

Aveline smiled faintly, her eyes meeting Lyla's. "Thanks."

They fell into a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes with trust. Lyla didn't know when it had happened, but Aveline had become more than just a friend. She was the one person who made Lyla feel like she belonged.

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