~

I think I'm in love.

Not in a romantic way, but I felt a passion to protect Chuck at all costs.

When Jorge let us go sit wherever we wanted, I'd searched for Chuck's mop of curly brown hair, and found him at the front. I'd sat down next to him, and we introduced ourselves. I asked him how it was like being the youngest, and he answered, saying it was alright, and everyone treated him fine.

That little chubby, short boy took my heart. I felt a need to protect him at all costs, like a mother does with her children. I knew I would fight anyone who dared hurt him.

He was so adorable. Not to mention, way smarter than me.

Currently, we are colouring our fact-files for each other. I glance at Chuck. He's colouring my hair in a picture he drew, his tongue peeking out as he concentrates.

I felt like I wanted to spam the red heart emoji, with the bandage on it.

Chuck catches me looking. He flashes a grin at me. "Does it look good?" He says proudly, showing me his work. I take it from his hands, smiling at him. I see he's drawn a picture of me, yet to colour in my clothes, and written random facts about me around.

"It's amazing." I tell him, beaming at the boy. Is this what Olivia felt? Smiling all the time? Pure happiness?

Chuck's grin grows wider. "What colour should I do your clothes?" He asks, putting the red colouring pencil down.

"Black and purple." I answer, giving the sheet back to him. Randomly, I get the urge to know what the time is, so I turn around in my seat, looking at the clock hanging at the back of the classroom.

15 minutes left.

I'm happy and sad at the same time. Happy because I could get food, which I desperately needed. Sad because I didn't want to leave Chuck. Although, I assume he might sit with us.

As I look down from the clock, my eye catches Minho's. His face goes hard, staring coldly at me. I reflect the expression back at him, and look at Harriet, nearly laughing at how awkward she looks.

I then look at Olivia and Thomas. They're laughing happily together, although Olivia's seems a little forced. And it's obvious, since she's always happy.

Fawn and Newt are also working together. They haven't been very loud, but I haven't exactly seen them stop working.

Maybe they were just very interested in the work. Especially since it was about each other.

Smirking a bit to myself, I turn back around. I look at the work I've done about Chuck: his name is in bubble writing at the top, different pieces of information about him in clouds, filling the page.

I was proud of my work. It was probably the most effort I've used in a while.

While meaning when I stopped caring.

~

The moment I enter the front door, she grips my wrist, digging her nails into it. I cry out in pain.

"Mom!" I gasp, trying to remove her arm from my wrist, as she drags me into the kitchen.

"Be quiet before I slam your head into the counter." She hisses at me, pulling her phone out and ringing him. She didn't actually want to call him, it was just a sign to let him know he can come down now.

He enters the kitchen, storming down the stairs.

"Dad?" I whisper my voice shaking. I glance at my wrist. I see a drop of blood snake it's way down my arm.

"What the fuck is wrong with you." He walks over to me, and slaps me in the face. The sound echoes in the room, the noise ringing in my ears.

I scream.

"BE QUIET!" He punches me in the stomach and I collapse to the floor, using my free hand to cover my mouth so I don't make any noise. I hear her cackle, still gripping my wrist.

"That's for telling your stupid teacher about your so-called 'abuse.'" She snorts, finally letting go of my arm. It collapses next to me, and I whimper quietly, hugging myself on the kitchen floor as they walk away.

"Oh, and Lyra?" She trills, turning back to look at me. I slowly lift my head up and see a wicked grin plastered on her face. "I know what you're doing. You're going to that boarding school whether you like it or not. Even if you don't bother working hard." She then walks away, leaving me sobbing on the floor.

Maybe she was right. Maybe I should just accept my fate.

~

I gulp. No. These flashbacks couldn't be coming back. I'd need to take more pills later.

I did stop bothering in my normal education. But I found a talent in Art, especially on the fashion side of things.

That's how I got my scholarship. So I basically set myself up. However, I don't think I regret it now.

I wipe my eyes harshly, refusing to let tears come out of them. To my luck, a clapping noise distracts me.

"Alright, niños!" Jorge claps, shouting above everyone. "You may now go to Lunch. I'll see you here afterwards." He waves at the door, and sits back down.

I get up, along with Chuck, and exit the classroom. I lean against the wall opposite the classroom, and wait for everyone to come out.

Fawn comes out first. She's beaming happily; I can see the happiness radiating from her face.

"Good time?" I raise my eyebrows at her, smirking.

"Very." She grins, tucking a stray piece of her chocolate-brown hair behind her ear.

Olivia then exits, Thomas literally bouncing behind her, although he gives her a concerned look as he makes his way over to his friends.

She reaches us, and Thomas' concern is immediately shared with me. Her face looks pale, and her eyes are wide and round.

She looks at me and smiles, but I can tell it's fake.

"Are you alright?" I ask her, the smirk leaving my face.

Olivia hesitates. "Mhm." She eventually hums.

I'm not convinced, and neither is Fawn, when I look at her and see all her previous happiness has completely vanished.

"So tell me about you and Newt." Olivia starts as we walk, following the boys. The comment makes a bit of her usual shine return to her face, which is an improvement, but isn't how she usually is.

Fawn gives me a quick glance and then begins to speak. "It was actually good. I learnt a lot about him." Fawn smiles a little.

Olivia snorts, slowly returning to her old self. "I bet. Anything he didn't tell you?"

"How he got his limp." Fawn shrugs, but Olivia's face changes quickly. Her happy face transitions to face of sadness, sympathy and shock.

"Did I not say before?" She says, a bit of a harsh tone coming to her voice.

Fawn also picks up on it. "Oh, y-yeah! I just remembered!" She stutters, embarrassed.

Olivia shakes her head and then looks at Fawn, giving her an apologetic smile. "Sorry." She smiled weakly.

"It's fine." Fawn smiles back, adjusting her clip.

Thomas suddenly finds his way over towards us.

"Where are we going for lunch?" Thomas smirks, an evil glimmer in his eyes. He was planning something. Minho and Newt also end up walking next to us.

"Why?" Olivia asks suspiciously, looking at the boy. "Don't we eat at the lunch hall?"

"Cafeteria." Thomas clears his throat. "And yes, but me and Minho want to sneak out and get some good food."

"I'm up for it."
"Bad idea!" Me and Fawn say at the same time.

"You. Sneak out?" Minho mutters, looking at me.

"I know, so shocking." I roll my eyes, ignoring him. I hated him so much.

"Bet you're just saying it to look cool." Minho snorts, crossing his arms.

"I already have a good reputation, and, for your information, I've sneaked out multiple times in my life." I snort back, refusing to look at his biceps, where his muscles were protruding-

I fail.

"How many times?" Minho smirks.

I look down. "You wouldn't know." I say quietly, but he hears me. I know, because he gives me a curious look. At least he leaves the topic alone.

"I don't wanna get in trouble." Fawn speaks up, a little tremble to her voice.

"You won't." Thomas assures. "Right, Newt?" Thomas smirks at the boy.

"How the bloody hell am I supposed to know?" Newt grumbles, ignoring the looks everyone's giving him. I look at Fawn. She's biting her lip at an attempt not to smile.

"Actually, I don't think I'm in the mood to go out. Not today." Olivia says wearily, rubbing her temples. Thomas turns around immediately and looks at her.

"Then let's go to the cafeteria." Thomas says simply.

Minho opens his mouth to protest, but Thomas elbows him in the stomach, to which he has no reaction.

I wonder why.

Or maybe I knew why.

Eventually, we reach the cafeteria. All the other girls and boys in our group, along with Chuck, are seated at their dorm arrangements, eating and talking happily. I watch Chuck laughing, and then he turns around and sees me. He gets up from his seat, runs towards me, and then attacks me with a hug.

I think my heart will physically melt.

I wince a little as his head touches my stomach, but after I embrace the hug. Out of the corner of my eye I see Minho raise his eyebrows in shock.

Chuck breaks the hug away. "How are you, Chuck?" I ask him.

"Good!" He jumps happily. In some ways, he was a lot like Thomas. "I need to go now, bye!" He says abruptly, running back to where he was sat.

My face definitely looks shocked. No one's ever hugged me like that before.

"Looks like the red-head can actually be nice." Someone says next to me, and I turn around furiously.

Minho. Of course it was. Always has to ruin the good moments.

"What the heck is your problem?" I whisper-shout at him. I didn't want to cause a scene in the middle of the cafeteria.

Minho opens his mouth to speak, but then Thomas physically pushes him to our table at the back corner, and I groan in frustration, following them.

I find a seat next to Olivia and Fawn, however not without pushing Minho out of the way. To my surprise, he doesn't say anything sarcastic, just gives me a look.

Something which doesn't surprise is the fact that he's seated opposite me. Luckily, Thomas speaks up, and I realise he's the only one standing up.

"What does everyone want?" Thomas asks, looking at everyone. After we answer him, he gives us a nod, and then walks off.

I sigh in my seat as I watch Chuck talking with his friends. I recognise Aris, Teresa and Rachel sat with him, along with a brown-skinned boy I don't know. As I watch, I notice Teresa and Aris, continuously glancing at each other, and then quickly looking away. In the middle of the cycle, my eye catches Teresa's, and I raise my eyebrows at her, smirking. The smirk deepens as I watch her blush, and mouth the words 'I hate you', at me. I roll my eyes at her, and then bring my attention back to the table, where Thomas has arrived with the food.

"Pasta!" He announces, handing everyone a pot of it. I snort, and accept the one he gives me, beginning to eat, as everyone else does the same.

Content with my food, I'm happy overall. First day, and it was going well.

~

A/N

Thank you all for reading my story! I really appreciate it! Ever read, vote, comment makes my day, so thank you! 🤎