The promise.

New student- Avery.

The next day I went back to school, I moved in with Jace, starting on a new school in a new state. When I just came here, I wished no one knew what happened to me and Jace. But people do know my story here, and somehow this makes me the perfect target for them. As I entered my classroom, I noticed a new girl standing in front of the class.

"Class we have a new student, can you introduce yourself?" My teacher looked at the girl. Well, Hi I am Harper, Harper Reynard. I am fifteen years old, and I just moved here"
"Thank you Harper, welcome. You can sit next to Avery."

My heart raced a little faster. Would she look at me the way everyone else did? Would she avoid sitting down, like most people did?
Harper looked around the room, her eyes pausing at Emma and her friends, who were already exchanging looks, whispering among themselves. I didn't need to hear what they were saying to know it wouldn't be good.

As Harper walked toward the empty seat next to mine, I braced myself for the usual comments. Sure enough, Emma's voice cut through the quiet.
"No way she's gonna sit there," Emma said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Avery? Really?"
I didn't look up. I'd heard it all before. Emma and her friends had a way of making you feel like you didn't belong just by looking at you.

Harper paused mid-step, clearly uncomfortable. Emma's voice was a little louder now, like she was speaking directly to her.
"Seriously, don't sit next to her, Harper," Emma said, her tone dripping with fake concern. "Avery's... well, you don't want to be stuck with her."

The group of girls giggled, and I felt my stomach turn. I didn't have to look up to know they were staring at me, dissecting everything about me like I was something to be judged.

"Actually, I do want to sit here," Harper said, her voice firm and unshaken. "You don't know anything about her, so maybe you should keep your opinions to yourself."
She gave me a small, reassuring smile before sitting down.
"I'll sit here," she repeated, more to herself than anyone else, but the tone left no room for argument.
Emma scoffed, clearly irritated.
"Thanks," I muttered, my voice quieter than I intended.

She glanced over at me and smiled, her expression soft. "No problem, this seat's way better."
Harper glanced over at me, her eyes softening.
"You okay?" she asked quietly.

I shrugged, "Yeah, I'm fine. It's not that bad. I've gotten used to it."
Harper raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.
"Well, Avery. If you want, we can sit here together all year. You don't have to be alone. I'm not about to let people get away with making you feel like crap."
"I'd like that," I said, finally meeting her gaze. For once, I didn't feel so invisible.