"Hey there, cutie! What on earth are you doing spending time with this loner?" Mandy chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Griffin appeared completely bewildered, his expression a clear picture of confusion. "I don't get it," he responded, as if he were attempting to unravel an enigmatic code.

Mandy carried on with an exaggerated flourish, "Let me introduce myself-I'm Mandy Williams, undoubtedly the coolest and most stunning girl you'll ever meet at this school. And standing next to me is, well, the school's resident loner. Fun fact: her father is currently behind bars for stealing a priceless jewel! So here's my advice? Keep your distance from her, or you might find your possessions disappearing without a trace. You know what they say-stealing is apparently a family trait!"

At that precise moment, Harper reached her limit. "I really need to leave," she declared, her voice quivering on the verge of tears. "Wait!" Griffin called out after her, but she was already racing into an empty classroom, unwilling to hear another word. Confusion overwhelmed her as she wept; Mandy's jeers had never affected her this deeply before. Why was she feeling so utterly miserable?

As her tears began to subside, she caught sight of a shadow drawing near. "Hey, um, I'm sorry for scaring you. Are you alright?" Griffin asked, genuine concern evident in his tone. She remained silent, putting on a mask of indifference. Harper brushed him off, unsure of how to process her emotions. With only five minutes left before lunch concluded, she hurried toward her next class, where she unexpectedly bumped into Brianna, one of Mandy's devoted entourage.

"Aww, look who it is-the little loser! Were those tears I spotted?" Brianna remarked, adopting a babyish tone that made Harper cringe in discomfort. "Just leave me alone, Brianna," Harper retorted, irritation creeping into her voice. "Ugh, honestly, you look absolutely hideous," Brianna snapped, her face contorted in disgust.

Rapidly losing her composure, Harper impulsively exclaimed, "Fine! I'll admit it-I am revolting, unattractive, a failure, loner, and nobody will ever love me! Are you satisfied now? You were right; I'm hopeless!" Her words lingered heavily in the air, like a lead balloon, as Brianna sauntered away, pleased with the chaos she had sown, likely imagining how proud Mandy would be of her actions.

Sinking down into a seat at the back of the classroom, Harper rested her head on the desk, feeling utterly defeated. She shook with quiet sobs, choosing to remain despite her inner turmoil. Just then, Miss Emma, the art teacher, entered, ready to stir the pot even further.

She began pairing students for an upcoming assignment, and, unfortunately for Harper, she found herself grouped with none other than Mandy, Brianna, and a girl named Bailey. Harper immediately braced herself for trouble, fully aware that Mandy and Brianna would be a handful. However, she had never met Bailey before and automatically assumed she'd dislike her too. But that assumption couldn't have been more misguided! Bailey radiated positivity, her joy and energy illuminating the room like sunshine breaking through the clouds. At times, Harper questioned if Bailey was under some kind of spell, but no-this was simply her vibrant nature, present all day long.

Bailey's bright smile illuminated the room as she approached Harper. "Oh my goodness, I love your hair!" she exclaimed, eyes widening in admiration. "Those gorgeous brown curls are stunning! You should totally wear it down more often."

Harper shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to respond to Bailey's sudden interest. She tried to brush it off with a polite smile, but Bailey wouldn't let up.

"I mean, seriously, your hair is amazing," Bailey continued, her enthusiasm infectious. "And your eyes! They're like the deepest shade of brown I've ever seen. You should smile more often, Harper. It lights up your whole face."

Harper's cheeks warmed as Bailey's words made her feel self-conscious. She hadn't expected this level of attention, especially not after Mandy's cruel remarks earlier.

"Thanks," Harper muttered, attempting to deflect Bailey's praise.

Undeterred, Bailey plopped down beside Harper, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, what's your favorite hobby? Do you have any pets? I have two adorable pomeranian puppies at home."

Harper found herself opening up despite her initial reservations. Bailey's genuine interest and warm demeanor put her at ease.

"I love art," Harper said, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I used to have a goldfish named Chris, but...he passed away."

Bailey's expression softened. "I'm so sorry, Harper. Losing a pet is heartbreaking. But hey, we should totally start an art club! I'd love to discuss some of my favorite artists with you."

As they chatted, Harper discovered they shared a love for fantasy novels and romantic comedy. Bailey's bubbly personality was contagious, and Harper found herself laughing, feeling a sense of belonging she hadn't experienced in a long time.

For the first time that day, Harper's thoughts drifted away from her troubles for a while, and she allowed herself to enjoy the simple pleasure of conversation.

As the day unfolded, Harper made a determined effort to avoid both Mandy and Griffin, yet despite her best intentions, they seemed to pop up in nearly all her classes. A pang of guilt tugged at her for ignoring Griffin, yet the overwhelming embarrassment weighed heavily upon her, making it impossible to engage him, especially after everything Mandy had said. It was clear to her that steering clear of him was the best option-like avoiding a virus she didn't want to contract. It wasn't like he thought of her as a friend, right?

This day was proving to be the most dreadful one imaginable. First, it marked the anniversary of her father's arrest, and on top of that, Mandy had humiliated her in front of the new guy. Now, here she was, stuck waiting for thirty long minutes for her mother to pick her up from school. Why couldn't her life resemble something normal? she pondered dejectedly. With those heavy thoughts swirling in her mind, she made her way to the bleachers outside the school, enveloped by a sense of isolation while she waited.

As she drifted deeper into her dark reflections, a cheerful voice pulled her back to reality. "Hey, locker ninja," greeted Griffin, his tone bright and engaging. The nickname took her by surprise. Locker ninja? she asked, genuinely puzzled. "Oh, sorry! I called you that because you kicked my locker open earlier today," Griffin explained, a hint of sheepishness in his demeanor. "I won't call you that if you don't like it."

Harper paused for a moment before responding. "No, it's fine! It's actually a pretty cool name," she replied, managing to conjure a faint smile that lit up her face, even if just a little.

She noticed that Griffin appeared nervous, fidgeting slightly as he continued, "Um, I was wondering-since I see you're obviously waiting for a ride-maybe you'd like to catch a lift with me? My mum is here to pick me up, but if you'd rather wait, that's totally okay." His stammering revealed his unease, yet there was also a sincere offer embedded in his words.

Harper contemplated the proposition. Her mother was most likely busy at the café, and the idea of making the trek home alone was daunting due to the distance. Topher had it easier, attending a school only a short walk from their house and having the spare key. He wouldn't be finished with his lessons until 4:00 PM, but the clock read only 2:34 PM. Her own key lay forgotten on her bed that morning, leaving her options few and far between. It soon became evident that accepting Griffin's offer was her best course of action.

"I suppose so," she finally replied, a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "I think I should call my mom to let her know where I'm headed." With determination, Harper asked, "Could you share the address with me?"

Griffin provided the details, and soon they found themselves climbing into his mother's car, a cozy and welcoming environment. Griffin's mother greeted them with a warm smile, which Harper returned politely as she expressed her gratitude for the ride and the chance to spend some time in their home. As they pulled away from the school, a flickering ember of hope ignited within her; maybe, just maybe, this day wouldn't conclude on such a dismal note after all.

When Harper and Griffin arrived at what she expected to be a familiar house, she was taken aback to discover it was not a residence but rather the Tremont hotel, a place brimming with memories from her childhood. This was where she had spent several formative years before her life took an unexpected twist following her father's arrest. The realization struck her like lightning, sending waves of emotion crashing over her as she bit her tongue, unwilling to divulge the inner turmoil churning within.

She had been trying desperately to reach her mom, but each attempt ended in silence. Even efforts to reach Topher proved fruitless; his phone was turned off. Worry gnawed at her mind, deepening with each passing moment. Stepping inside the hotel, she was greeted by the same enchanting beauty she had adored as a child.

"Hey, let me show you to a room so you can rest," Griffin suggested, attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere as they ascended the staircase. To ease the discomfort between them, he casually mentioned, "By the way, I still don't know your name." A wave of embarrassment washed over Harper; here she was, in the home of a guy who didn't even know who she was. "I-I'm H-Harper Dunn," she managed to stammer out. Griffin chuckled lightly, "Hmm, I think I prefer 'Locker Ninja.'" His playful remark drew a soft giggle from Harper, a sound that felt foreign to her after years of sorrow. She kept this newfound joy to herself, cherishing the moment without burdening it with her past sorrows.

Just then, her mother's call interrupted her thoughts. Panic surged within her as Jess exclaimed, "Oh my God, Harper, where are you? Are you alright? I'm so sorry, baby!" Harper's heart raced, but she steadied herself, responding, "I'm fine, Mother." Relief flooded through Jess's voice. "Thank goodness! I feel terrible for not picking you up; my phone was acting up! Oh no, are you still at school?" Harper reassured her, "I'm at the Tremont; a guy from school gave me a ride." Jess's voice trembled with confusion, "You're where? Harper, I can't hear you. Just text me!" When the line disconnected, Harper quickly sent her mother a message detailing her whereabouts. Moments later, Jess replied, urgency lacing her words: something troubling had occurred, and she needed to pick her up the following day.

Continuing the conversation, Jess called back, asking to speak with Griffin's mother. "Hi, I'm Sarah Campbell, Griffin's mum," came the warm, friendly response. Jess introduced herself and expressed her gratitude for looking after Harper. However, she then relayed unsettling news and earnestly pleaded with Sarah to allow Harper to stay for the night at the Tremont. With compassion evident in her gaze toward Harper, who stood nearby, Sarah quickly agreed. "What's going on?" Harper asked, sensing an underlying issue. But Jess, who had implored Sarah to keep the truth hidden, simply replied, "Your mom is really busy right now, so she asked if you could stay here for one more night." A flicker of doubt crossed Harper's mind as she scrutinized Sarah suspiciously but chose to set it aside for the moment, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her.

As Harper entered the room designated for her, she remained blissfully unaware that curious eyes were upon her. Griffin's younger siblings, Wyatt and Zoey, mischievous twins, had decided to take it upon themselves to secretly observe her. Intrigued by the unfamiliar face that had just stepped into their lives, they resolved to follow this newcomer, eager to uncover her story.

"Griffin, how could you possibly permit the daughter of a convict to set foot in our home?!" Bennett Campbell, Griffin's father, exclaimed, anger palpable in his voice. Griffin, defensive yet protective, replied, "I get your worry, Dad, but she was out there all alone, waiting for her mum to pick her up from school. I couldn't just leave her hanging like that." Sensing the tension thickening in the air, Sarah interjected gently, "Ben, please try to remain calm. We have a guest upstairs."

Bennett sighed, running a hand through his hair, frustration etched on his face. "Fine, fine, but Griffin, I'm just extremely worried about you. As your father, the last thing I want is for you to be in any danger. I'm telling you to keep your distance from that girl; she's nothing but trouble."

Griffin's voice rose in indignation as he retorted, "She's not a troublemaker! Her name is Harper, and there's no way I'm going to keep my distance from her just because of her dad's status." In a moment of defiant passion, Griffin stormed out, leaving his father speechless for the first time.

Meanwhile, from her perch upstairs, Harper strained to catch fragments of their conversation, her heart sinking with every word she caught. It became painfully clear to her: she wasn't welcome here; she felt unwanted everywhere she turned. As the scene unfolded below, a swell of emotions built up inside her.

Who's the new girl, Wyatt whispered, eyes wide with curiosity. Zoey grinned. "Let's go find out!"

The feelings of isolation and fear clung to Harper like a second skin, and she yearned for acceptance. With each muffled sound drifting up from below, Harper's flickering hope dimmed, growing uncertain and fragile. Tears began to stream down her cheeks as despair consumed her, when suddenly, two figures burst into the room, shattering her sorrowful solitude.

TOODLES!!!