Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 162369 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 812(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162369 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 812(@200wpm)___ 649(@250wpm)___ 541(@300wpm)
“Why would you say that?” I ask.
Heather’s eyes shift. “I don’t know… just assuming. She doesn’t smile at all. I think there’s something wrong with her. She’s wearing all black, even her nails are black. Is goth even a trend anymore? And she has two different eye colors.”
“Really?” Ava exclaims, her own eyes widening.
I squint at the girl, but I can’t see her too well from where we’re sitting. She looks fine to me—wearing cute black overalls, one strap unbuttoned and hanging at her slim waist, with a black T-shirt underneath. Her neck and wrists are layered with thin silver jewelry.
“Are they contacts?” I ask.
“No,” Heather replies. “They’re her real eyes.”
“Wow,” I say, fascinated.
“Isn’t that freaky?” Heather asks.
“Or is it seriously cool?” Ava adds.
My three friends stare at me, waiting for me to decide the new girl’s optical fate. For some bizarre reason, they treat me like I’m their leader. My mother says it’s because I’m one of the tallest girls in our class and also because of my long red hair. My mom says red is a power color that exudes confidence and leadership.
“I think it’s really wild,” I say.
Heather frowns, clearly unhappy with my approval of odd eyes, and tosses her pink-tipped hair behind her shoulder. “Either way, it must suck for her to have no friends.”
Yes, I think to myself. That must be absolutely awful.
Grabbing my books and lunch bag, I grin and say, “Who says she has no friends?”
My friends’ stares practically burn a hole in the back of my head as I step down the bleachers and approach the new girl. She slowly looks up from her book. A line of trepidation forms between her beautiful, kohl-rimmed eyes—one the color of hot cocoa, the other a bright leafy green. Even though she’s sitting, I can tell she’s petite, maybe five foot two. A tiny diamond glistens in her nose. She reminds me of popular fairy artists’ paintings.
“Hi,” I say, smiling. “I’m Penny Rose. I’m a junior, too.”
Her eyes widen like a cornered animal. “I’m Lily,” she replies, closing her book. “Lily Fox.” Her voice is so soft I can barely hear her.
I motion to the empty bench across from her. “Can I sit with you?”
She nods skeptically and mumbles, “If you want to…”
“Did you recently move here?” I ask, settling on the bench.
Looking down, she says, “No. I went to Hilltop Academy.”
“Did you like it there?”
Her lips, tinted a dark maroon, quirk to the side. “No.”
“I think you’ll like it here.”
She glances uneasily over at the bleachers where my friends are watching us. “If you’re part of some welcome the weird new girl club, you can just go,” she says.
“I swear, I’m not. I’m honestly a friendly person. Probably annoyingly so.”
A shy smile emerges, morphing her face from dreary to adorable. After glimpsing it, I think she should never not smile. But sadly, her smile quickly fades away. Awkwardly, she pushes her hand through her dark hair. It falls back, covering half her face and draping past her shoulders in a silky, violet-hued curtain. My scalp tingles with an odd, déjà vu sensation.
She catches me staring at her and asks, “Have we met before?”
I shake my head a little. “I was just thinking the same thing, but I don’t think we have. I’d remember you. Your eyes are stunning. I’d never forget them.”
“I get made fun of a lot because of them,” she replies, fingering the strap of her backpack. “I was going to wear colored contacts to start the new year here.”
“What? That’s crazy. They’re so unique and beautiful. Don’t you dare hide them.”
Still not meeting my eyes, she says, “The contacts drove me insane. I couldn’t last an hour with them.”
“I’ve never tried them, but I’m sure I couldn’t deal, either.”
The bell sounds again. We stand and gather our things. I notice she didn’t even touch her lunch.
“What class do you have next?” I ask.
She glances at her schedule. “Photography one.”
“Me too!” I exclaim. It’s the class I’m most excited about this year. Well, next to art. “We can go together if you want. I can show you where it is.”
Chewing her lip, she looks back at the school warily. “Um… it kinda looks like your friends are waiting for you.”
I smile. “That’s okay. You’re my friend now, too. Come on, I’ll introduce you to them.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m positive.”
And I was. This shy, unique girl was going to be my friend. I could just feel it.
The end of the day couldn’t come fast enough for me. I’ve been an honor roll student for years, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m completely uninterested in all things school. For years, my friends have been begging me to join them on the cheerleading squad and other various after-school activities. All those things look super fun to me, but I still just don’t feel any motivation to actually do any of them.