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. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaszOc1ZZP
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.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXGyjicvgU
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.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWDNgnnK2e
"It isn't so bad here," a male voice said from above me.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYRh9STmKY
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.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4RnCJBYIc
"Sorry, but can you leave me alone?" I said, my voice coming out muffled.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe0FZ7pTMi
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.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMgNrlUiGe
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.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOdwQziI8Y
"How long have you been here?" I asked.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEP2Eu2n1uP
"A year," he said, his gaze still on the darkening sky. So he was a Year Ten student, then.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBmlINqB6X
"I'm Cami," I said.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEBJWg6NQ8
"That's an odd name."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yEK40T4cU
I fought the urge to scowl. "It's short for Camellia."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDfT3DnDbH
I cringed, thinking about the name my mum gave me as a baby before abandoning me to Dad and The Stepmother.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAkHypZ010
"I'm William," he said.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYBAtlyB2H
"William," I repeated. "That sounds so stiff and formal. How about just Will?"696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP8OoB0hbB
He smiled. "All right. Just Will."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIchjp0QGM
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