The transition back to school wasn't hard. It started out slow with barely any homework and little tests. I enjoyed the break from labor and used the time to catch up with reading and spend more time with Isabelle.

"Lucia, Isabelle!"

I twisted around to see Kaya walking towards me from the cafeteria door. I put down my sandwich in surprise.

"I was wondering if you wanted to join my Easy Readers Club." She took a breath. "Since I have dyslexia as you probably know."

"You do?" I never did notice. Thinking about it, I did remember her missing reading class. I always thought she was working on something harder.

Her bangs bobbed up and down as she nodded. "Yeah I've had it for a while. It was found in third grade. Mine is like pretty, um, bad."

"So what will we be doing?"

"Well, Summer and Ayana got me some, uh, books and we can take turns reading. It'll be a good break from homework."

I looked at Isabelle who sat next to me.

"I think I'll do it. What time?" Isabelle looked at the black-haired girl with interest.

Kaya looked uncomfortable. "Ask Summer or Ayana."

~~~

"Lucia will you be kind enough to find pictures for the slides? Mckenzie, please take notes on this book and Isabelle, this book will assist in accomplishing our goals," Arya said. She slid two Henry Hudson picture books at Mckenzie and Isabelle.

"I am not reading a kid's book," Mckenzie said. He slid a book back at Arya.

Her eyes glinted and she tossed her light brown hair over her shoulder with ease. "Well, then, Lucia, along with finding pictures, you'll read this book for homework."

Of course I got to work with Arya. Of all the people my new seat could've been next to, it had to be the big head, too-good-for-me, annoyingly smart Arya. I took the book from the girl and flipped through it. Good, it was short. But what gave her the right to tell me what to read?

"Meanwhile, I'll be reading this college-level tome my dad bought me." She held up a thick, worn brown book. "Let's begin."

I looked past Arya and Isabelle at the rest of the class. On the table to the left, Kaya led her group with ease. I wasn't sure what I should think about her. She was so smart and awesome. I found myself lingering on Avani's table. She talked and waved her arms around at the three boys sitting around her, Celio, Horst, and Pavel. I jerked away and returned my attention to the group. I could've sworn Pavel was looking at me.

"You're setting us up for failure," Mckenzie was saying. "How can you, a fifth grader, read and understand a college-level book?" Personally, I agreed with him, but I didn't dare say that to Arya.

Arya huffed. "I've got practice and when have you cared about failing school?"

It was Mckenzie's turn to huff. "I just have to get a good grade for this term. My mom'll kill me if I don't." For once, I felt sorry for the boy.

"Welcome to my life every single day," Arya said. "Start reading."

Without question, we began. I wondered what it would be like to be Arya. I spent so long worrying about myself and who I would be friends with, I didn't stop to think about the people I didn't know. I saw Mckenzie and Arya every day, but I only knew half of them.

~~~

A collection of library books lay in the middle of the bedroom. Three bookcases leaned against the walls on different sides of the room. On the farthest side, a twin sized bed stood to the right of a bookcase.

Kaya looked at the rest of us, her gaze like a stone. She stepped to the side letting everyone come in. I walked into the room. The soft rug tickled my feet. I sat down just below the bed and leaned my back against it. The room was a tight fit for nine girls and I found myself sliding over multiple times.

Eventually we were all placed in a circle and were ready to begin.

"Welcome to Easy Readers Club," Kaya said, smiling. I expected her to be nervous like she was when she invited Isabelle and me, but she seemed past that.

"We're going to be reading Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo," Summer said. She sat directly across from me, beside Kaya. "Ayana managed to sign out a book club bag with fifteen copies of this book. Exciting." I smiled. I loved how Summer captured people with her words. She even convinced the headstrong Ayana to do something for her.

Kaya leaned forward and slid the books to everyone.When I received my copy, I snatched the book. The hardcover felt great under my skin. The coolness of the book refreshed my body and the raised letters of the title tingled under my hands. I brought it to my nose and took a little wiff. Pure delight soared through me. I felt I was floating in the sky, no longer having to worry about anything. It had been a while since a book made me feel so free.

"Uh, Lucia?" Avani said from beside Kaya. "What are you trying to do?" Of course it had to be her to notice me. Anger mixed with embarrassment boiled inside of me.

With a dramatic thump, I fell back onto Earth, dropping the book on the ground. "Uh, sorry. Let's get started?"

Kaya read first and she really was slow. I remember towards the end of October, Ms. Isola had her read to the class Maniac Magee. She read exactly like this, but I hadn't thought twice about why she read slowly. At her house, I seemed to notice every stumble and relate it to her dyslexia. Why was this any different? Because I know her disability, I thought.

"Could you hurry up a bit?" Mia said from my left. "We all have homework and we can't be spending the whole day here listening to you turtle read." Anger flashed in my eyes.

We all glared at the girl. Her brown eyes narrowed and she stood up and paraded out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

"Why did I invite her?" Summer said, shaking her head.

A part of me felt like a waste of space. I didn't do anything spectacular when Mia said that comment. Heat flickered in my body.

The eight of us continued to read until we were more than fifty pages in. The bright light that shone on my back was replaced by the cool touch of night. The other girls were putting their books back in the pile. I took one last look at my copy, feeling the edges with glee, then I laid down the book.

"Do you need a ride home?" Isabelle asked. She walked over to me. Most of the other girls were heading out of the room.

I nodded thankfully and followed her downstairs. Even though I did read, I felt I didn't help Kaya at all. I felt I came there just to be part of the group. When Mia made that rude comment, I didn't say anything. I didn't read that big of a section either.

"Thanks for coming," Kaya said as we trudged out of the room.

"Thanks for inviting us," Isabelle said. I smiled at the black-haired girl, but inside I felt Kaya said that only to be nice.