school, though her anxiety made it feel like the leaves were falling inside her stomach. Moving to a new town and starting at a new school was nev

lways were abuzz with the sounds of lockers slamming and students chattering animatedly about their summer vacations. Despite the bustling activ

w job, and the abrupt change had left her feeling like a stranger in a new land. She clutched her schedule tightly, scanning th

on caused her to drop her books, scattering them across the floor. One of the girls, a tall, slender blonde with

a sneer. "Fresh meat. An ugly one at that. Loo

to pick up her books, avoiding eye contact. The blonde girl, whose name Autumn soon learned was

er said as she turned to her friends. "We

her English class. She tried to push the encounter out of her mind, but the

urking in the hallways, waiting for any opportunity to strike. It was as if they had made it their mission to make Autumn's life miserable. S

hey would exchange glances and stifled giggles, clearly mocking her from a distance. Autumn had tried to ignore them, but their presence wa

ch in peace. She had grown tired of being constantly reminded of how ugly she was and wanted nothing more than a moment of solitude. Un

mn?" Summer taunted. "Do

i and tipped it over Autumn's head. The gooey pasta and sauce slid down her face

mess!" one of them shouted, her v

escape from the cruel and mocking laughter that surrounded her. The cafeteria fell silent as student

cutting. "Maybe this will help you fit in better,"

ter ringing

ch in peace. She had grown tired of being constantly reminded of how ugly she was and wanted nothing more than a moment of solitude. Un

nted, a predatory smile stretching acro

i and tipped it over Autumn's head. The gooey pasta and sauce slid down her face

mess!" one of them shouted, her v

escape from the cruel and mocking laughter that surrounded her. The cafeteria fell silent as student

better," Summer sneered. "Now y

sed in around her, the walls of the cafeteria towering ominously as their laughter echoed in her

mind, haunting her. She spent the remainder of lunch in the bathroom, scrubbing away the remnants of her meal and try

growing more inventive. If Autumn wore a sweater that day, Summer would declare loudly, "Nice sweater, Autumn! Did you st

Autumn, why don't you just stand there and let us do all the work? You wouldn't want to embarrass yourself any further, would you?" The others would laugh, jo

with her entourage, pretending to browse the shelves while they whispered loudly about her. "Look at her, sitting there like a lost

e the house, she was greeted by the silence that filled the Smith Mansion, a stark contrast to the chaos of her day. Her mother, Elizabeth, was often absorbed in her own w

voice laced with disappointment. "She's so accomplished, and

onged for a word of encouragement, a hint of affection, but all she received were reminders of her perceived

eat to her room, curling up on her bed with a book. The fictional worlds provi