Chapter 23
Sapphire
Estood right in from of the school with my
chest
my alarsa pounding violen
violently. My lands felt claim, and my heart med as if it was trying to escape my
People trooped in and out, chatting, laughing, and moving with purpose, while I remained rooted in the spot, gripped by an overwhelming sense of
Was coming here the right decision?
Someone lumped unto me, muttering a quick apology, ban Harely noticed. My thoughts spiraled downwards, each one more anxious to the last What if I didn’t fit in? What if 1 became the buglingstock? The idea alone was enough to send another wave of punir washangoverme, Trond feel the anxiety tightening its gripan my chest, making it hard to breathe Tonk a shaky step backward, Inlf–turning, ready to bolt and forget I’d ever
Juit m 1 was about to leave, arms wrappedantadine from behind, pulling me into a log. I instantly knew who it was: trah’s baracht voice broke through the storm of thoughts in my head
“Good, you’re here! I was staring to think you clicked “She tugged at my hand and spon me around to face the entrance. Her wide grin was infectious, and despite my nerves, I found myself relaxing a hit. “Comar on, let’s go miside. We don’t want to be late on the first day!”
1 let out a shaky breath, trying to shake off the lingering dread. I resigned myself in it, knowing that if myone could make this whole experience beamble, it was Leth
She practically dragged me inside, weaving through the throngs of studeins like it was real nature to her. We de aur way to the administrator’s office, where she helped me get registered for college. The process felt like a blur forms, sigiatures, hincf instructions everything passed an a harr as I focused on beeping my breathing steady. Leal ilid most of the talking
so no worries about
“See Easy peasy,” Leah said with a wink once erything was finalized. “And guess what? We’ve got most of our classes together, so no being left on your
Thank God for that.” I muttered, the knot in my stomach loosening ever so slightly. “I was seriously freaking out.”
“I could tell,” Leah teased, mudging me with her elbow. “You looked like you were about to bolt.”
I managed a small high “Talmost didTM
“Hur you idn’t, and that’s what maten. You’re stronger than ni you think, trust me.” Leal’s words were light, Jan there was a genuine warmth behind them that I appreciated more than Lenulil express
converstines, laughter, and the
filled with With everything soned out, we made our way tour first class. The hallways were bizzing with energy.
ccasional shout. I kept close to Leal, sticking to her side like glue as we navigated the sea of students When we finally entered the dassroom, 1 monctively found a seat next to her, not wanting to stray too far from the one familiar for in this whole iniziating environment…
fidgetedwith my antebook, trying to seem necupied while glancing arcand.
The room filled up quickly, studeius daiting way as they sended in nerously Lesh leaned over, nudging me lightly
“Hey, relar E’s just a class, not a battlefield.”
“Feels like one,” I mumbled under my breath, earning & soft laugh from her,
The professor walked in soon after, and the room ipsieted down as everyone burned ducir atention to the front. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to form. The lesson itself wasn’t too bad. Once I got into it, the material was interesting enough to distract me from my nerves. But every so often, I’d catch myself glancing around, wondering what everyone thought of me. Did 1 seems weird‘ Out of place! The thoughts bubbled up despite my best efforts to shove them down
Leal noticed my wandering gaze and leaned over. “Stop worrying so mich. Nobody’s judging you!
“Eny for you to say “I whispered back. “You’re confident and outgoing. I’m just trying not on lurve a full–on meltdown.”
Leal’s eyes softened with understanding, “Listen, everyone’s too wrapped up in their own stuff to be focusing on you. Just be yourself, and you’ll be
g reassurance. I decided to cling to
Ther
Foodded, even though her words were easier said than done. Still, it was comfurting to have her there, offering reassurance. optimaan for now, evenal lenuldn’t fully believe it yet.
When the class finally ended. I let out a breath Ildn’t realized I’d been holding, Leah stretched and turned to me with a grin
“keet Survaved mir find class without a lurch. We’re practically pros now.”
“Yeah sure,” 1 replied with a shaky simile, still trying to calm any racing heart.
“Let’s grab some lunch before our next class. You’re eating, right? Or are you too nervous to keep food slow?” Leali teased.
“Tim eating.” I said quickly, I wasn’t going to len my nerves ges ile better of me, not when I had Leals by my side.
We headed to the cafeteria, and I was grateful to see that it wasn’t as chaotic an Terugned. Leah led the way, confidently picking out a spot while I followed her lead. Siting with her made everyalung feel a bit more manageable. We ducted about random things, mostly her doing the talking while I listened, and by the time we were done, I fch more at case,
1501
We started rating and Hindiarireil myself by knowing a few facesibai stood out to me. I was about to take sonder spoonful when anally voice.
“Oh my God, who is th
I mutally thought she wasn’t talking to me since flew no one bene so I just showed the food in my math, Deli the cafeteria po quiet and I looked sap, the food still in my month as I chewed slowly
I saw the blonde gal, plastic looking standing in front of me with a gher in her eyes. All decked out in designers.
Hey Lana talking to you” she said as she pointed at ime
I chewed really slowly, taking my time in sallive before Laremiller.
“Whe
“Your new here so I will go ahead and uninduce myself. 1. ■ Tyla and i nam things around her
Twas confused, Edidly realize people were the welcomig
“You obviously look like you don’t belong here,”
My blood can coll, she walked over here just for tell nur ihat. My hand gripped my fork line Leah sons quick to resprind,
“Go away, Tyla
“Why It’s clear you are stuck withaloser.”
Felurkled, the sound so foreign to my ears, her attention snapped to me,
“Thank you for such a lovely welcome. Taylor,“
Ties Tyla,” she stoppril.
“That’s what babi”
