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. 590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqO2MS7VKuN
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.590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxN49vprII
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.590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDT2bIMZwl
"It isn't so bad here," a male voice said from above me.590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKTD68T6Ia
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.590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgtzKEVVcJ
"Sorry, but can you leave me alone?" I said, my voice coming out muffled.590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnxtZTVrC3
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.590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOf8QGEtax
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.590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mtggrOtLd
"How long have you been here?" I asked.590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJH08R9HLL
"A year," he said, his gaze still on the darkening sky. So he was a Year Ten student, then.590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFxonqlGdm
"I'm Cami," I said.590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx0skcTkOs
"That's an odd name."590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSf5924RC2
I fought the urge to scowl. "It's short for Camellia."590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSNC7dQ7I6
I cringed, thinking about the name my mum gave me as a baby before abandoning me to Dad and The Stepmother.590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuE0HFmjnV
"I'm William," he said.590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGw4hzXNAS3
"William," I repeated. "That sounds so stiff and formal. How about just Will?"590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJKh63yfC4
He smiled. "All right. Just Will."590Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbJTInZHjV
