the trees at all costs. The bear warning was put out, but Grandma said this mor

f bricks and doors and windows and cars. The people in the front office are nice and walk me to my first class. It's like ripping off a banda

re too preoccupied with their own lives to notice my existence—wh

arm. I spill a sound of confusion as she takes me to a table. Gri

saw you standing over there alone, so I thought

o you

t around here. That's a pretty name, though. P

d make another n

and and pull me down. "You don't have to

he table. "Sorry, I just, y

like it, others don't

I'm just su

se. Vivian smiles and something about it makes my hea

It's really different

ttling down at the table. His eyes don't l

glares at Vivian. My insides grow heavy

doing, Viv?"

lub person? I'm in the student body government as the secretary. We already had our

ay. It's not r

s. "So what i

e to read an

presence as well. Vivian perks up. "Wrenley, this is my other friend, Elara.

hen turns to Eli. They face

"It was nice meeting you guys. I actually ha

h, okay. We'll se

see you g

ch them argue. Relief washes over me in the hallway,

nyway. The clouds aren't as dark as yesterday, so I don't have to worry about it raining when I walk home. The rest of lunch, I th

head back and Grandma a

People were

about your classes?

too. The teachers are nice. T

t any other sightings. I think it we

h. At least

a ball and shake as noises become louder and louder. Leaves and dirt cling to my body, and I stay still, hearing something heavy approaching. Holding my breath, the dark

The night pours through

made waffles and gives me an extra one, believing my sickly-ness to be from a lack of food. I pass my mom

ol. I close my umbrella be

ack as my hand slaps my chest. "Oh! Vivian,

i. I realized that I may have scared you away yesterd

d say, "No, it's okay. At least

other used to be friends with your mother. That's why I w

out her old friends, so... Uh, what's your

alisa, but she goes by Tali. Yo

l, I'll le

Grandmas property, I see my mom outside. "

she says while finishi

and sit across fro

ks up at me. "What?

h Tali Smith's d

hand through her hair. "Oh my god. Tali

ughter found me at

I haven't talked to Tali since I

. Just thought you w

ets up and disappears inside. Alone, I turn around and look over the rail. With my arms resting on top of it, I wat

to tear me apart, it licked me—which is less frightening and more puzzling. It

of the dark thing against the forest. My eyes squeeze shut, shoot open, and it's gone. When it starts to come back, I repeat. Squeeze shut, shoot open, it's gone. Squeeze shut, shoot open, it's gone. Then the painting becomes more deta

decide to sleep. Tossing and turning results in an hour or two of shut-eye here and ther

ter my ala

me an extra

g on with yo

m having a hard

e with her coffee and laptop ready to go. "Still not sleeping?" I shak

nods in

" She gets up and retrieves her purse, handing me a twenty-dollar bill. "

. I cross the street and enter the building, my twenty dollars tucked in my pocket. It's smaller than the regular CVS or Walgreens that I'm used to, but I find t

ble in a booth. I sit down in a booth myself and place my b

strawberry

ey must be from the private school. All three sit at the bar and order sodas and burgers and fries. When one glances my way, I swiftly t