Chapter Text
It's my first morning of high school. I let out a small grunt as I shift my heavy backpack over my shoulder. My sister stands beside me at the bus stop, nodding along to a song blaring through her earbuds. We both slept through our alarms and had to get ready in a frenzy—I can still feel my wet hair clinging to the back of my neck.
My stomach grumbles. Not just from skipping breakfast.
I was adopted as a baby by Richard and Leslie Bennett, who already had a daughter—my sister, Nicole. When the chance to adopt came along, they were ecstatic. They'd already settled on the name Lori if they were to have another girl, so that's what they named me. I don't know anything about my biological parents or where I came from—other than that I was born in Beach City, Delmarva. Keystone is the only home I've ever known.
For as long as I can remember, I've known I was different. My hair is naturally brown with a single faint blue streak running through it. My eyes are bright blue with oddly shaped pupils. And then there's the gem—a strange blue stone embedded in my chest that doctors have been stumped by since birth. Mom says I've always been a sensitive soul. On my first day of kindergarten, I was so scared I cried. Weirdly enough, every other kid in the class started crying, too. But that’s not all. Sometimes I can feel the emotions of people around me, like they're seeping into my own skin. Sadness. Fear. Anger, especially, which got me into a lot of fights I never wanted to be in.
People avoid me. I was an outcast all throughout elementary and middle school. Bullied, called a freak. My sister has been my only friend through all of it. But Nicole is way cooler than me—popular, charming, confident. I love her to death, but watching her breeze through life while I stumble has left me with some feelings I'm not proud of.
She asked me once, while we were watching trash TV and splitting a family-sized bag of Chaaaaps, whether I wanted to find out who my bio parents are. "Aren't you even a little curious about where you came from?"
I shrugged and popped a chip into my mouth. Crunch, crunch. "You think that's a good idea? I mean, they gave me away for a reason."
The topic was never brought up again. Why would I want to find out why they didn't want me?
The school bus wheezes to our corner. The door opens and I step up first. We're the first pickup of the day. The driver pulls away from the curb as I slide into a seat near the front and lean against the window, my cheek pressed to the cool glass. Nicole plops down next to me and takes one earbud out.
"Cheer up, sis. High school isn't nearly as bad as you think it is."
I keep staring out the window. "If you say so."
She reaches over and squeezes my shoulder. "You just keep being your cool, smart, funny, compassionate self and don't get mixed up in any drama, and you'll be fine."
I lift my head to look at her. "But what if everyone at this school hates me, too?"
"Then that's their loss." Her voice is firm. "But no matter what, I'm here for you."
The bus picks up students in groups of four or five. As they walk down the aisle, some of the kids I recognize from middle school give me the side-eye. I close my eyes and sink lower in my seat.
Nicole puts her earbud back in, but I can feel her watching me. The bus hums steadily as we continue the route. I hear a snicker behind me—not even subtle, like whoever it is wants me to hear it. Heat crawls up my back. I don't turn around. Instead, I watch the autumn leaves drifting across the sidewalk outside.
My fists clench in my lap without me meaning to. Nicole notices and leans in closer. "I know it's a big change," she says quietly, "but you're not alone in this. You'll make friends, I promise."
I nod, but my chest feels tight.
The bus slows at the next stop, and a few more kids file in. A couple of them nod at Nicole. None of them look my way. A guy with a messy mop of hair and a black hoodie sits across from us, glances at me briefly, then hunches over his phone. His headphones are as big as his head.
Nicole starts scrolling through her phone, probably looking at memes. I wish I could be more like her.
When the bus starts moving again, anxiety twists through me. The next stop is the high school. I almost wish I could stay on the bus, just keep going and never get off.
But then Nicole's hand is back on my shoulder, warm and steady, and I force myself to take a deep breath.
"Hey, we've got this," she says, her voice softer now. "I'll be right there with you. We'll figure it out together."
I try to smile. It's small, just a curve of my lips. "Thanks."
The bus pulls into the school parking lot. Time seems to slow down. I can see the other kids getting off, laughing, pushing each other, all of them in their groups. I'm watching from the outside.
Nicole nudges me. "Come on, let's go."
I take another deep breath, grab my backpack, and follow her out. The doors close behind us with a loud whoosh.
The sign above the entrance reads: Welcome to Keystone High School: Home of the Warriors.
The building looms ahead, like a mountain. Everyone else walks in like they belong. I just follow.