streaks through the slats of her blinds, painting the walls of her room with a quiet warmth. It was a ne

uestions he never answered aloud. There was something about him that both unsettled and fascinated her,

kitchen. The comforting smell of toast and

said without turning around.

mily replied, reaching for a sl

. Moving towns, new school, new people-it's a lot for

"It's... interesting. The school, I

nds yet?" Clar

n a good way. And there's this guy-Adrian. N

slightly. "Different goo

ust... quiet. Intense. He helped me

open heart, but don't rush things. Pe

r bag and headed out, her aunt's a

laughter and conversation bouncing off the lockers. Emily found Rachel at their reg

g another girl during third period. Honestly

can't believe how fast

wirling a pen. "But if you keep your head dow

ets, his pace unhurried. He didn't glance at them t

what his story

h. Everyone does. He's like a locked b

people

't let anyone in. He used to be close with someone-Elliot-but they ha

hy people

notices everything. It's intimidating. And some peo

for someone to see too much? And why did she feel like Adria

ect on character development in modern fiction. The gro

ith a grin that said he knew exactly what he was do

sheet without much thought, already dreadin

es and... A

up, heart

eated, flipping a page in his note

repare a presentation on the character arc of your chosen protagoni

drian. He stood, slinging his backpack over his shoulder, and walked

ter school," he sai

more words than she'd

ing the space in nostalgia. Adrian was already there, seated at the

oached slo

. "You're

"You expected

people

e, just observation. His eyes

notebook, "character arcs. An

d, thinking. "What ab

. "The outsi

her. "You r

New people. Trying

eeply, then nodded. "

herself surprisingly comfortable. Adrian listened intently, challenged her ideas

ch in class," she

k when there's some

en I realized silence can sometimes make peo

ian said with

ked. Was t

es filled with notes and sketches of Holden's evol

ftly, "you're not as un

first time, there was something

er are

drian or the project-but because, for the first time since arriving in Oakview, she felt like she

all it took to begin u