The first day

Morning crept in grey and cool, a thin mist clinging to the street like it didn't know where to go. Amy sat curled on her bed, knees drawn to her chest, watching through the window. Downstairs, a kettle hissed. Chloe's laughter floated up the stairs, light and careless. The smell of toast twisted something deep in Amy's chest—warm, familiar, and wrong all at once.

A normal morning, she thought. And Mum's not here.

Chloe burst through the door, half-dressed in her school jumper, her braid crooked and streaked with blue. "Come on, slowpoke! We're going to be late!"

Amy glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her uniform was too crisp, sleeves hanging past her wrists like it belonged to someone else. Someone braver. Someone different . "I'm coming," she said, surprised her voice didn't shake.

The last time she'd walked to school, her mum had been beside her. Now there were strangers filling the gaps she left behind.

Downstairs, Mrs. Carter pressed lunches into their hands, her smile soft but careful, like she was afraid of doing something wrong. "Good luck today, girls. The teachers know you're new, so don't worry if it feels strange."

Strange felt like an understatement.

Jamie stood by the door, backpack slung over one shoulder. Hugo hovered beside him. "We can all walk together," Jamie said.

Outside, the pavement was damp, the sky a dull silver. Chloe and Hugo ran ahead, racing and laughing. Amy walked slower, her shoes heavy against the ground with the feeling she never walked this way before. Jamie matched her pace without saying anything at first.

"First days are weird," he said eventually. "You hate it for ten minutes. Then it gets better."

Amy swallowed. She wanted to believe him. "Promise?"

"Promise."

They turned the corner, and the school came into view—tall red-brick buildings looming under the grey sky. Older students crowded the gates, laughter loud and sharp. Amy's stomach tightened.

Among them stood a red-haired girl, flanked by two others.

Jamie stiffened. "That's Kelsey. She isn't just my ex-girlfriend but she is also the queen bee of the school, she acts like everyone should worship the ground she walks on. And the two girls next to her are her twin sister Mackenzie, ignoring the kind look on her face as she is just as mean as her sister. And the other one is Clara, she has known Mackenzie her whole life and is treated like Kelsey's servant. Kelsey, Mackenzie and Clare are known at the school as the terrible 3, Mackenzie is the head cheerleader of this school and Clara is the head of the school newspaper and is in charge of the drama and gossip."

Amy didn't need an explanation. Kelsey's eyes swept the crowd, landed on Jamie, and hardened before her smile snapped back into place—bright, sharp, practiced. Something cold settled in Amy's chest. She knew then that whatever was about to happen had nothing to do with her alone. It was tangled up in Jamie, in things she didn't understand yet.

Inside, the corridors buzzed with noise and movement. Chloe waved and disappeared into a group of kids her age without looking back.

Jamie reappeared holding timetables. "We've got maths together."

Relief flickered through Amy. They sat halfway down the room. Jamie filled the margins of his book with sketches of camera lenses while Amy tried to focus on the board. Numbers blurred. Everything felt too loud, too fast.

The door opened.

Kelsey sauntered in late, blazer hanging off one shoulder. "Sorry, Miss," she said sweetly, slipping into the empty seat behind Amy. with Cherry perfume filling the air.

Amy felt eyes burning into her back. Kelsey leaned forward, whispering to the girl beside her—Clara. They giggled. Amy stared at her book, wondering if she was imagining it, if maybe she was already too sensitive.

Break time didn't help.

Amy and Jamie sat on the low wall outside the canteen. Chloe and Hugo swapped snacks nearby. The sun had pushed through the clouds, but Amy's hands stayed cold.

"So," Jamie said, nudging her lightly, "how's it been?"

"Confusing," she admitted. "Everyone already knows where to go. Who they are."

"You'll work it out," he said. "You're smarter than half of them."

She laughed—then stopped when Kelsey appeared, Clara and Mackenzie trailing behind her.

"Well, if it isn't Jamie," Kelsey said, her voice syrupy and sharp all at once. "Didn't think I'd see you babysitting."

Jamie's jaw tightened. "Hi, Kelsey."

Her eyes slid to Amy. "You must be one of the foster kids Mrs. Carter took in." She smiled without warmth. "Settling in okay?"

Amy swallowed. "Yeah."

Kelsey leaned closer. "Just be careful. Not everyone here is as nice as they pretend to be."

Amy already knew. Deep down, she knew Kelsey wasn't who people thought she was.

Clara snorted. Mackenzie whispered something, and they laughed. Kelsey straightened. "See you around, Jamie." She brushed past him, perfume trailing like smoke.

Amy stared at the ground, her face burning. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Jamie said quickly. "She's just... like that."

"But she used to—"

"Yeah." He cut himself off, embarrassed. "A long time ago. It doesn't matter."

The afternoon dragged on. Kelsey seemed to be everywhere—never cruel enough to be reported, just present enough to make Amy feel small.

In English, Kelsey whispered, "Guess they'll take anyone these days."

Jamie shot her a look. She rolled her eyes.

When the final bell rang, Amy didn't wait. Clouds thickened, bruising the sky. Chloe and Hugo waited by the gate.

"You okay?" Jamie asked quietly.

Amy nodded, though her throat ached. "Just tired."

They walked home slowly. Rain slicked the streets. Jamie kicked a pebble ahead of them. "She's not your problem," he said. "She just likes feeling important."

"I don't want to cause trouble," Amy said. "Mrs. Carter's been so kind. I don't want her to think I'm—"

"She won't," he said firmly. "I'll make sure of it."

Amy glanced at him. "Why do you care so much?"

He hesitated. "Maybe because I know what it feels like to not belong."

Something softened inside her.

Dinner was loud. Mrs. Carter told a story about a cake disaster. Hugo laughed so hard he nearly choked. Chloe talked nonstop about her new friends. Amy joined in when she could, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Kelsey.

Later, she slipped outside, pulling the photo from her pocket. She traced the boy's smile with her thumb.

"Hey."

Jamie stood in the doorway, holding two mugs of hot chocolate. "Thought you might want one."

"Thanks." She wrapped her hands around it, warmth sinking in. For a moment, she thought, He's all I've got.

They sat quietly.

"She's not going to stop, is she?" Amy asked.

"Probably not straight away," he admitted. "But she will. She always does."

"She doesn't like me."

"She doesn't even know you."

"That's the point."

He smiled. "Then she's missing out."

Amy looked at him—how he stood close enough to feel safe but not trapped. Her heart stumbled. She looked away.

"I drew something last night," she said.

"Can I see it?"

"Maybe later. It's not finished."

"Neither are you," he said, grinning. "That's what makes people interesting."

She rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself. "You're weird."

"You'll get used to it."

Mrs. Carter called them in. Amy dreaded going to bed, but she didn't move right away. She stared into the mug, feeling something unfamiliar settle in her chest.

Hope.

"See you in the morning?" Jamie asked.

"Yeah."

He hesitated. "Don't let her get to you. You're braver than she'll ever be."

After he left, Amy listened to the quiet hum of the street. She slipped the photo back into her pocket and whispered, "I think I'm going to be okay."

The mist had lifted. Stars flickered faintly above her. For the first time in a long while, she didn't feel lost beneath them.

She felt seen.

And as she climbed into bed, she wondered what tomorrow would bring—knowing, somehow, that this was only the beginning.

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