Swinging my legs back and forward underneath the table, I flipped a page in one of the books I found in the classroom. Unfortunately, I couldn't read yet, but I enjoyed looking at the pictures that were drawn. Sometimes when I have dreamt something and still remembered it in the morning, I would tell Luca and she would try to draw it for me. Just for the fun of it.

Gary always said it was creepy when Luca tried to draw a dream he had told her about. He said it was so accurate that he could practically hear the people from his dream talk in real-life. I never found it creepy though. Quite the opposite. It was fascinating. Bringing something that has been in your head to life. Nothing could be any cooler.

"You can't sit here. This is my spot and only 1st graders are allowed to sit with me".

I briefly glanced up from the colorful pages, my attention being captured from a few feet away. The same girl who sat next to me today was standing beside a table with her lunchbox, timidly looking at the same red-haired girl who spoke to me on my first day here. The same girl whose mom wants to marry Nate.

"There aren't regular seats in the cafeteria and all the seats are almost taken", the timid girl mumbled. From my spot, I could see how she shifted from one foot to the other.

"So?" The red-haired said with a raised brow. "I always sit here. Leave!" She demanded, her nostrils starting to flare.

I was sitting too far away to hear what the other girl responded but by the look the red-haired one wore, she didn't seem pleased.

"Are you deaf? I said leave!" She squinted her eyes together giving my classmate a nasty glare. "Maybe if you weren't so stupid it would be easier for you to understand English. Is that what you are?" She questioned patronizingly. "Are you stupid?"

Frowning, I discreetly looked around. Why wasn't anyone doing anything? Where were the adults who were supposed to help us? Maybe I should go find someone.

"No, I'm not". I had to strain my ears to be able to hear what she replied. I was impressed that she answered at all. That must have taken courage.

"Yes, you are", the mean-girl laughed. "You're so stupid I bet no one here is willing to share their table with you". Her eyes sparked with a certain evil as she stood up turning to face some other students behind her.

"Hey guys". She directed herself at a small group of people. "Would you let this dork sit with you?"

"Heck no!"

The red-haired girl turned to another table. "How about you over there?"

Some students shared looks between them, fearfully shaking their heads no.

This girl had the ability to bring out a level of rage I didn't even know I possessed as she loudly asked more people the same question, achieving a freaky kind of satisfaction from it.

"See, no one here would ever sit with you", she concluded with a cruel laugh. "Can't blame them. You're so disgusting to look at that I feel like puking". She pretended to start gagging in her direction and used a hand to forcefully knock the blue lunchbox out of her victim's hands, food going everywhere. "Ew, your food is even as gross as you!"

I silently gasped at her insult, scanning the other students in the cafeteria as they just sat by and watched or simply ignored the bullying right in front of them.

"Look! She's crying. Such a baby".

My gaze fell on the poor girl who stood in the middle of the cafeteria with tears streaming down her face, her lunch ruined, and her feelings wounded. Something touched my heart, making it quiver from the image in front of me. All those hurtful words, the humiliation, and the feeling of being completely on your own stirred memories and emotions inside me that I wished I could forget.

"Mine!" I wailed. My three-year-old hands did all they could to pry my beloved Mr. Benny out of the arms of one of the other kids in the nursery school.

"Mine now", the boy laughed, running away with my stuffed animal in his dirty hand.

I couldn't see where I was running through my blurry vision, but it didn't matter. I wouldn't even be sad if I fell. All that mattered was getting Mr. Benny safely back in my arms. Chasing the boy around the playground, I kept glancing to where the grown-ups were. Why didn't they help me?

Finally catching up with the boy, I saw in horror how he smeared Mr. Benny in a puddle full of mud.

"Stop!" I cried, my throat hurting from how much I had been crying the last weeks. It seemed like I hadn't been able to stop since mommy vanished and we moved in with Carol and... him.

The boy laughed cruelly, dangling my stuffed animal in front of my eyes while pushing me away from getting it back.

"You want it?" He taunted.

"Give it back!"

"Then take it". He threw Mr. Benny in the bushes, running away while laughing at my disastrous state. Somehow, I managed to find my most valuable possession clutching it tightly to me as I stood in the middle of the playground sobbing hysterically.

Wobbling to where some of the adults were, I hoped for one of them to comfort me and maybe clean up Mr. Benny. Standing in front of a woman who worked there, I raised my arms, wanting to be consoled.

She only shook her head at me, continuing to sip her coffee.

"That's how it goes Estella, when you bring your own toys outside", one of the grown-ups said a bit further away, only lifting a shoulder in an indifferent shrug. "You're bound to learn at some point".

"Is it Estella again?" Another one grumbled, her back facing me.

"Yeah, you should be able to tell from the sound of her crying by now".

"True", she snickered. "That child never stops crying".

"It's getting exhausting to listen to in and day out".

Their words only made me feel worse. My arms fell down to my sides as I wobbled away, going toward the fence where I could see the parking lot.

"Momma", I whimpered multiple times, gazing between the gap in the fence, hoping for her to show up. I wanted my mommy.

It must have been minutes, maybe even longer, and then finally I saw the long honey blonde hair swirling through the wind as she walked in my direction.

"Momma!" I sobbed upon her opening the gate, my vision was so blurry that I could barely see her while she bent down to lift me onto her hip.

"Shh, I'm here now", she hushed, rubbing my back tenderly.

"Momma", I whimpered again, exhaustion washing over me as I at last calmed down, feeling safe and protected.

"Little cub. It's Luca". She kissed my forehead, rocking me in her arms, only to pull back when she ran a soothing hand on my leg.

"Did you have an accident?" Luca asked, examining further. I didn't feel the need to talk, I was drained. Both physically and emotionally.

"What the fuck is this?" I heard my sister growl at one of the employees at the nursery school.

"Don't play stupid!" Luca bellowed, getting furious. "Why hasn't anyone taken care of my sister's needs? Her pants are soaked and she is freezing cold. This is neglect!".

That was true. I had been cold for a while now and my pants had been wet since lunch. I couldn't reach the door handle to the restroom and no one wanted to help me. Snuggling closer to Luca, I enjoyed the warmth she provided me with.

"We have a lot of children here. We can't have our attention everywhere at the same time", the woman replied.

"Well, don't worry". Luca shifted me in her arms, holding me tightly as she shielded me. It made it easier for me now to twirl my fingers through her waist-long hair. The soft strands are always calming me down. "From this day on you will have one less child to care for".

"Luca sweetie", the grown-up tried to pad my sister's shoulder, only to withdraw herself when my sister took a defensive step back. "You can't do that. You're not her guardian and only fifteen years old. Stop making such a fuss. You don't know what you're talking about", she said, tilting her head to the side. "Besides, children at this age have the tendency to wet their pants. It's normal".

"Bullshit!" Luca yelled. "Since my sister started here, she's come home with wet pants every day, without being changed into some of her spare clothes. She's gotten the worse rash I've ever seen, and each and every time I have addressed this with whoever the fuck is here, I've gotten the same reply; 'We'll keep an eye on her. Don't worry'. I'm done with your lame excuses!" She shook her head. "This is the last time we will ever sit our feet here again; I can promise you that". With those words, my sister collected all of my things and true to her word, we never returned.

I could peacefully sleep on her shoulder all the way back to the house without any worries because I was safe. Luca came to my rescue and saved me. Just like she did when we got home. She defended me from Trevor too. Always.

"You can sit with me if you want".

The mean girl's eyes snapped to me. It wasn't until I had spoken that I realized that I had left my seat, now standing right behind her.

"You want to sit with... her?" She asked completely baffled

"Yes". I was surprised my voice kept being even as I spoke. I wasn't a confrontational person at all. This was rather new to me. Usually, I would hide a way and avoid any conflict I came across.

"Why?" Her eyes filled with skepticism while wrinkling her nose at the other girl as if she was a worm-infested rat. "She's not as pretty as any of us nor smart".

As the girl who had been bullied peered at me with her doe eyes, my heart sank with sympathy. Tears coated her flushed cheeks as her lips trembled profusely, the ends of her lashes glistening in the sunlight.

"That's very mean", I said, still standing my ground.

"Why do you even care?" The mean girl challenged, crossing her arms over her chest in what I assumed to be an intimidating pose. "Maybe you are just as stupid as her?"

Her stare made my stomach knot together with nerves, fearing something bad might happen to me. There still wasn't a teacher in sight and my gut was telling me that this could end badly. All I wanted was to run to Luca for help and protection. She would keep me safe.

Luca. I dwelled on that thought, recalling all of the times she had come to my rescue no matter what, always standing up for me. What if... I tried to do that.

Straightening my neck, I copied how my sister normally would square her shoulders, pushing her chest out and lifted her chin. Never bowing her head. Not once.

"Maybe you're the stupid one?" I retorted, finding an odd pleasure from seeing her arrogant face morphing into one of shock. "Look". I tilted my head at the table where her lunch stood as the only one. "No one here is sitting with you either. Maybe that would change if you weren't so mean to other people".

"How dare you?" She growled, her head turning the same color as a boiled lobster.

"I dare because I can". Narrowing my eyes at her, I stood my ground. "Unlike you who dare because you must. It's the only way for you to feel the slightest bit of respect from others. By putting them down".

Brushing past her, I kneeled down to pick up the blue lunchbox, putting the things that were wrapped back into place. Carefully, I handed it back into the shaking palms of its owner. Giving her a comforting smile, I laid a soft hand on her shoulder and started to guide her over to my empty table.

"Oh, and by the way". I paused mid-stride, looking over my shoulder at the now open-mouthed bully who had lost her voice. "Next time you feel the need to bring someone else down to feel better about yourself, remember; beauty doesn't matter if you have an ugly heart", I stated, allowing my gaze to scan her up and down. "Just thought you might want to keep that in mind as beauty seems to be a big deal for you".

Sitting back down, I felt the adrenaline that had inflamed my body, making my heart pump fiercely. My chest rose and fell faster than normal as I inhaled a shaky breath, wiping some of the sweat that had formed in the palm of my hands on the skirt of my uniform.

As a few glances kept appearing in my view, the stress hormone that had been my weapon in this battle also retreated to its safe hiding space. Leaving me vulnerable for a different kind of stress that made my mind go into overdrive.

Did I really just do that?

What did people think when the new kid made a scene like that?

Would I get in trouble? Oh God no! That can't happen.

Maybe no one saw?

As I made eye contact with one of the many students present in the cafeteria, that idea was knocked out of my head faster than you could say 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'.

"Thank you", a small voice whispered from beside me.

My attention was drawn to the girl who was sitting right next to me. Her chocolate milk brown eyes were still glossy and a little red and she would sniffle from time to time.

It took me a moment to register that she had spoken to me.

"You're welcome", I replied also in a low voice, making it very hard to believe that it was me that had sounded so confident earlier.

"It was really brave of you to stand up to Nancy. To stand up for me...", she added, lowering her gaze to her lap.

I licked my dry lips as I suddenly felt so lost for words.

"I only did what I wished someone would have done for me once", I told her, meaning every single word as I reached for a napkin. She murmured a small thank you as she wiped away her tears.

"Are you okay?" She asked after a few moments of silence.

I squinted my eyes at her, smiling slightly. "I'm pretty sure I'm the one who's supposed to ask you that?" I tried to joke, giving her a wry smile.

The girl quietly chuckled as a few pieces of her auburn hair that framed her face fell into her eyes, sticking to her tear-stained skin.

"Well, I guess I beat you to it", she shot back, earning a small giggle from me.

I shrugged my shoulders, not really being able to tell how I felt.

"I have never done something like that before", I admitted after a moment. "It felt good, but I guess I just fear what other people might think. I hope I haven't made anyone mad", my voice dropped to a whisper in the end.

Silence fell between us until my new companion broke it.

"I don't know what others will think but for me it meant a lot. No one has ever done something like that for me. I'm an easy victim because I'm too self-conscious to tell them of", she explained with so much gratitude that small prickles of happiness bobbled in my chest.

Her words caused my lips to curl into a known smile. I could easily recognize myself in what she shared.

"I'm glad to hear that", my voice whispered, as my heart swelled. I was so glad that my little stunt had made a good impression, especially on the kind girl next to me. She was after all the most important one for me to make an impression on.

"What's your name?" I asked, being unable to read the long-lettered name on the blue lunchbox.

"I'm Madelyn Walsh". She smiled brightly, showing two gaps in the top of her mouth where a set of front teeth were missing.

"Estella Cifuentes'', I introduced myself with a big smile, quite liking how my new or 'real' last name rolled off my tongue. It felt right.

Madelyn grinned at me. "Pleasure to meet you Estella Cifuentes".

I giggled. "You too Madelyn Walsh".

When we were done laughing, I scooted some of my things to the side, creating more room for both of us.

"How bad is it?" I asked, gesturing to the food in her lunchbox.

"I think it's edible". Taking a bite, she hesitantly chewed a few times before swallowing it down. "Tastes fine", she concluded. "I don't think the same could be said about my grapes though".

"You can have some of mine", I offered, sliding my bag with fruit to lay in the middle of the table.

"Thanks". Madelyn chewed before continuing. "Are you new here?"

Nodding, I closed the book that I had left on the table. "I moved here from Texas a little while ago".

"That's pretty cool". She reached out for her water bottle. "My family and I moved here from Cape Town last year", she said.

"What country is that?" I wondered with interest. Since Embry told me about his map, I've started to find traveling fascinating.

"It's in South Africa".

"Isn't that far away?"

"It is", she confirmed. "But New Zealand was much further. My grandparents didn't come visit us as often back then".

"You've lived in New Zealand too?" Raising my brows, I leaned in with curiosity.

"Yeah, my dad is in the Air Force, so we have moved around a lot", Madelyn explained.

"So, you've lived in a lot of different countries then?"

"About four different ones, yes".

"Which ones?" I couldn't help but ask as I got more engrossed in my new acquaintance's life.

"South Africa, New Zealand, Portugal and of course America", Madelyn listed, using a hand to count out the countries with her fingers.

With every country she named my eyes grew wider as my intrigue spiked, longing to know more. Thankfully she didn't mind sharing some of the experiences she had from living in different countries around the world.

"You're so lucky. It must be so exciting to see so much of the world", I said, being a bit envious since I had only been in two different states in the US, without Connecticut included.

Madelyn shrugged her shoulders.

"I guess", she mumbled uncertainty. "It's hard to adjust to a new environment and culture all the time. Even though my entire family packs up and leaves so we can stay together, my dad still has to travel a lot", she told me, looking a little sad. "He isn't home much".

That thought hadn't really crossed my mind. I knew from personal experience that it wasn't nice when a parent wasn't around. No exciting country could make up for that.

Madelyn shook her head, shrugging it off.

"So, how did you end up here?" She questioned as she rested her elbows on the table.

A knot formed in my stomach.

The question I had feared was suddenly thrown at me. My situation was complicated, and I didn't really know how to put words to it. There was also the slight detail that I didn't quite feel comfortable yet to talk about all that had happened. Especially if it was with someone outside of the family.

"It's a long story but because of family issues I had to move in with my older brothers".

"I see. So how do you like it here?" Her answer hit me like a curveball, surprised she didn't mind me not sharing too much. I had expected the opposite. This only made me like Madelyn much more.

I told her about how overwhelming everything had been for me, which she understood because of all the times that she had moved around.

"Shut the front door!" She exclaimed. "How many was it again?" Astonishment coated her features when I told her about my newly discovered relatives.

"Six. All older", I repeated, sipping my water.

"Jesus Christ. I thought two was a lot but six brothers!?" Madelyn looked exhausted just from the thought of it. "Would've been better if it was sisters", she added underneath her breath as she digested the news, I just told her.

I couldn't help but giggle at the last part.

"Well, I got one of those too.