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Henrietta was nervous. Meeting new people was always a bit nerve-wracking but today was different. She was meeting her partner. Bernadette? She checked the paper again. Bernadette. She’d have to try to remember that. She was so bad with names.
She hated that it was the basically the second thing people thought about you. Sure, the first thing was what you looked like, the way you carried yourself, that sort of thing. But then introductions happen and you say your name and ugh, everyone has thoughts when they hear it. She was so used her name being used with disdain, when the teachers were upset with her or when the bullies made fun of her. A few moments with her fists and they stopped saying it.
Sighing, she relaxed her hands which had clenched without her noticing. She couldn’t afford to give a bad impression today. This would be her partner, her teammate. They had to watch each other’s backs.
Not a minute later, a dark-skinned girl with white hair turned the corner. Henrietta waved without thinking, then put her hand down.
“Hey.”
The girl walked over and nodded. “Yo. You my partner?
Henrietta nodded.
The girl held out a hand. “Bud.”
Henrietta looked confused. Had she misremembered the name? No, right there, it said “Bernadette” clear as day. She looked the other girl in then eyes and asked, “Bud?”
“Yeah. I think it suits me better. You?”
Henrietta looked at the outstretched hand and smiled. She didn’t know this girl at all. But that meant she didn’t have to be anything she didn’t want to be. No past to hang her up on.
“Harley.”
“Nice to meet ya, Harley. Shall we?” Bud gestured over her shoulder. “I hear they got something special for lunch today.”
Henrietta – no, Harley – smiled. “Sounds great.”