day of s

ming for my usual spot at

I saw

esk in the front row, talkin

ed Northwood Academy, the most pres

eyes met mine, and she smiled. That sam

le down. We have a new student joining us today. This is Sophia

transferred from Northwood. I'm rea

drifted b

the bo

fident. "Is it possible for me to sit next to Lia

ectly at the de

is was not avoidance.

, louder tha

ed to stare. Ms. Eva

there a

one," I stammered, feeli

hed to the most undesirable desk in the room – right next to the noisy cafeteria e

here," I

silence fil

idn't ev

"Actually, Ms. Evans, t

at down in the desk next to the one I had just cl

in, as if we were sh

e neighbors," sh

d at her, my

istence. This was som

idea what t