My Mate's Love

Chapter 1

**Chapter 1: Twelve Years Later**

The first day of school. Well, for me, at least.

Moving to a new city in the middle of my senior year wasn't exactly part of my plan, but my uncle decided it was time to leave. He claimed he was tired of our old house, but I knew better. It had more to do with him losing his job and everyone in town knowing who he really was. Honestly, I didn't care why we left. All that mattered was that we did.

That house was a prison—broken, like everything else in my life. This new place wasn't much different, though. He still drinks. He still destroys everything in his path, including me. The abuse hasn't stopped. He doesn't... violate me as often, since he found work, but the scars are still there, hiding under the surface.

I don't know where he works, and I don't care. All I know is he leaves at 10:30 and gets home around 6:30. That's my window of freedom. After school, I head to the park, staying there until it's time to go home and start dinner. It's my little escape, brief as it is.

Right now, I'm standing at the bus stop, waiting to head to Burnett High School—home of the Wolves. The bus pulls up, its brakes screeching as it stops in front of me. I climb aboard and find a seat by the window. The ride is quiet, just ten minutes to take in my new reality.

When we pull up to the school, I'm hit with the size of it. Kids swarm the entrance, already in their cliques. I head to the office to pick up my schedule, a list of classes that reads like a map to a world I don't belong in.

**Homeroom - 320 
1st Elective: Art - 320 
2nd Advanced Reading - 101 
3rd Advanced History/Lunch - 351 
4th Advanced Math - 222 
5th Advanced Science - 123 
6th Advanced Language Arts - 149 
7th P.E. - 700**

I glance around, trying to figure out where room 320 is, my homeroom and first class. My head spins as I check the paper again to make sure I've got it right.

"Hey!" A voice pulls me from my thoughts. I look up to see a girl with black hair, her smile warm and easy. "You look lost. I'm Madison. Need some help?"

I hesitate for a second. "Uh, yeah... I'm Jojo. I'm looking for room 320."

"Great, we've got the same homeroom. I'll take you there. We can sit together if you want." She glances at my schedule and grins. "Looks like we have a bunch of classes together, too. Oh, and your locker's right next to mine." She gestures to a group of kids hanging by some lockers. "Come on, I'll introduce you to my friends."

I nod, following her, trying to shake the feeling of being the new kid in a world that already has its own rhythm.

When we get to her friends, she introduces them like she's done this a hundred times. "These are Arleen and Arlene, twins. Arleen's the older one, and the only way to tell them apart is Arlene's beauty mark on her lip."

"Hey," they say in unison, giving me small waves.

"Hi," I reply, managing a smile.

Madison points to the two boys standing with them. "This is Jake and James, the twins' boyfriends. Jake's with Arleen, and James is with Arlene."

"Sup," Jake says, nodding. James just waves.

I give them the same awkward smile, still feeling like an outsider.

"And this," Madison says with a grin, "is my brother, Mike."

The moment I see him, something shifts. It's like the world slows down for a second. Mike looks at me, and for a moment, he seems just as thrown off as I am, but then he smiles—a slow, crooked smile that feels... familiar.

"Hey," he says, his voice low.

"Hey," I reply, but this time, it's not the same shy smile I gave the others. This one feels... different.

Mike's gaze lingers on me, then drops to my schedule. "Mind if I take a look?" he asks.

"Sure," I say, handing it to him. When his fingers brush mine, a strange spark jolts through me. He feels it too, I can tell, because his smile widens just a little.

"You've got a lot of classes with me and Madison," he says, handing the paper back. "Should be a good year."

I nod, turning back to my locker to grab what I need. The bell rings, cutting through the noise around us, and Madison, Mike, and I say our goodbyes as we head to our first classes.

When we reach room 320, I see a guy waving to Madison. He's cute, mixed-race, with a warm smile.

"Who's that?" I ask, feeling a bit curious.

"That's my boyfriend," Madison says with a grin. "Would you mind sitting with my brother? I usually sit with him."

I glance at Mike, who's already walking toward an empty table. "I don't mind if he doesn't."

Mike looks over his shoulder, giving me another one of those easy smiles. "Not at all."

We sit down just as the late bell rings. The teacher stands at the front of the room, explaining that today's art assignment is a project due by next Monday. "You'll be working with your seat partner," he says, "and the goal is to get to know each other. Create a poster about your partner—highlight who they are, their interests, anything important."

My stomach tightens. There's nothing good about me to share. My parents died when I was little. I live with an abusive uncle. What could I possibly say that doesn't sound like a tragedy?

I glance over at Mike, who's already looking at me, as if he can sense my hesitation. He smiles, leaning in a little. "Guess we'll be spending some time together, huh?"

I force a smile, but inside, I wonder how long I can keep the truth hidden.

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