Chapter 1. Kiley
It was my second Monday at my new school. Moving the summer before grade eleven sucks. As I walk down the hall I am jostled on all sides. When I finally reach my locker I shove my backpack in carrying only what I need. Secret
When I get into the quiet classroom I sigh in relief, as I slide into my seat I accidentally bump into Jayce (the boy who sits beside me)
“Sowy.” I say damn it, maybe he didn’t notice, I hope he didn’t notice I really want to be friends with him.
“It’s okay,” he says smiling
“I’m Kiley.” I say
He smiles again, “Yeah I know, your grade eleven right?”
I nod. “Yeah, your grade twelve?”
“Yup,” he says, “You must be super smart to be in a grade twelve math class.”
I smile shyly, “Technically I should be in grade ten right now. I’m only fifteen, but I skipped grade five, so I’m in grade eleven.”
“Really? Wow,” he says, sounding impressed “Your parents must be super proud of you.”
I wince shrinking inwardly “I guess” I say “they just kind of expect me to be perfect all the time, my mom is always super mad if I get less than eighty five on a rest.”
“Jeez!” Jayce says “that’s harsh.”
I nod about to reply when the bell rings and Mr.Huxley tells us all to quiet down.
Class is fairly easy, and my interaction with Jayce at the start of class calmed me down enough that I could focus during class.
At the end of the class I pack up and am back in the noisy hallway
As I walk towards my locker some run into knocking me to the ground. I was already partially in little space from the back stress and the sensory overload, and now I’m fully in little space huddled on the floor crying.
I hear someone close by say “Hey that’s completely uncalled for!”
I curl even smaller thinking he means me, I soon realised he meant the person who ran into me as he bends down beside me “Hey Kiley,” Jayce says “Are you okay?”
I sniffle and reach for him, he’s the only thing here that isn’t completely unknown to me. He loops his arm around my shoulders and helps me stand “What’s your next class?” he asks
“Fwee” I mumble.
“Great,” he says, “Me too. Which way is your locker?”
