Chapter One: The New Girl
The first bell of the day screamed through the halls of West G High.
Lockers slammed, sneakers squeaked, and teenage voices filled the air. Somewhere in the crowd, Anngalena moved like a ghost—wrapped in a large, faded hoodie and baggy jeans that swallowed her figure. Her dark afro sat unbothered by trends, unpressed, unstyled, and free. But even in her silence, eyes followed her.
> Lauren (snickering to Ashley):
“Why she hiding all that with them baggy clothes? Girl shaped like a whole Coke bottle and wanna look like a trash bag.”
> Ashley (whispering, glancing sideways):
“I heard she just moved here… her daddy broke or somethin’. Probably only owns that one outfit.”
> Keisha (mocking loud enough to be heard):
“Where you get them clothes from? Glad Bag Couture?”
Laughter. Loud. Cruel. Targeted.
Anngalena’s hands tightened around her backpack straps. Her face stayed forward, but her cheeks burned red hot. She kept moving—fast—heading to her locker, heart pounding.
> Narrator (soft, grim):
“She was different. And different? That gets hunted.”
This wasn’t home. Not yet. Just another battlefield with prettier walls.
