Every year there's a dance on the first night for Year Nine students only because school administrators think it's the best way for students to meet one another. 614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyiVGx5t9I
I didn't go to my Year Nine dance. Instead, I found a crabapple tree outside and huddled under it, hugging my legs to my chest and burying my face in my knees. I needed no more proof that Dad and The Stepmother really didn't care about me.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqb6gzXnWyq
I could faintly hear an older Janet Jackson song playing from the direction of the dance. I imagined my batchmates shyly and awkwardly introducing themselves. They would all probably be fast friends by the time this night was over, and I would be an outcast again--just like I was at my old school and even within my family.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HT3WikjeO
"It isn't so bad here," a male voice said from above me.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrFDrwLQOS
I shifted my head slightly to see who was talking. A guy stood there, his legs slightly apart, hands clasped behind his back. I turned my face into my knees.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQPUYnsErC
"Sorry, but can you leave me alone?" I said, my voice coming out muffled.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzGPGQYCFY
The grass hardly rustled as he sat down beside me, despite what I'd just said. I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of riling me, so I kept quiet. Still, I tilted my head just enough to the right so I could see who this guy was.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFaWIWA4T6
He looked to be around my age. His dark hair was slicked to the side, as if he'd just washed up. Perhaps he had. He whistled softly, leaning back on his hands with his face turned up to the sky. It definitely wasn't his cutting cheekbones or hazel eyes that made me decide not to punish him because my dad had abandoned me here.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPz4TLY20mX
"How long have you been here?" I asked.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bvt7ozBaV
"A year," he said, his gaze still on the darkening sky. So he was a Year Ten student, then.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoVWzGV8jp
"I'm Cami," I said.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtG5xJyDXI
"That's an odd name."614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFk5qMwpjp
I fought the urge to scowl. "It's short for Camellia."614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFCr8wxBL5
I cringed, thinking about the name my mum gave me as a baby before abandoning me to Dad and The Stepmother.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2W23sUedEw
"I'm William," he said.614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtx6OkNF7P
"William," I repeated. "That sounds so stiff and formal. How about just Will?"614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrK3fWMno5
He smiled. "All right. Just Will."614Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBq4CrMmusA
