next

uck. That weird dream with the white-haired guy and all his cryptic stuff was still there, somewhere in the back o

what normal

the curtains, making her tiny bedroom feel warm and cozy. She could h

ed around. "Morning, sleepyhead." Her mom paused, look

"Yeah, I guess. Didn'

Good. You need mor

d and grabbed an app

the air. Scarlett pulled her jacket closer as the cold wind hit her face, making her shiver a little. S

away from all the stares and whispers. But when she turned the corner,

reat her like she was invisible or had some weird disease. But after yesterday's mess, she wasn't

without him seeing her. She could picture it now-head down, quiet, pathetic as usu

, Sca

pped walking and waited a second before look

hem to be talking. He fixed his backpack strap

inked, confu

ke, not shuffling around looking

uldn't help the tiny smile f

," he sai

to do with that. While she searched for something to say, she notic

Was that... a c

ter. It was this panda with big eyes, holding what looked like a bamb

ed red. "Oh, uh, yeah," he said, rubbing

ised an eyeb

hing. "I know it's kind of... kidd

rself by shrugging. "D

es widened

d. "What's

n. "It's called Panda Quest," he said, suddenly excited. "It's

ched. "Haven't watche

aid, practically bouncing. "It's

t this time it felt mor

in got even bigger.

eel amused at how excite

r with each step. When they reached the intersection wher

e said, watching him

eling in her chest wasn't as bad as usual. It wasn't m

as she walked into school, she saw Claire hanging out b

when she noticed the color in her cheeks. "Well, well," Cl

she walked to her locker. But Cla

?" Claire taunted. "Or did you fin

giggled like it was th

ed her locker. She tried to focus o

ecent. News flash, Scar-nobody cares." Cla

her knuckles went white. She wanted to scream, to fight

ing else today, Claire," Ava said

quick. "Let's go," Claire said, smirking

tting out a shaky breath. Her chest felt heavy

oor and fell onto her bed. Her mind kept playing back the day-Clair

rted scrolling, then remembere

watching it. It was just some cartoon about a clumsy panda trying to save his bamb

culous. She hadn't laug

d back against her pillows, still smiling. For once, her mind d

, she slept