Safya tied her hair up and put her backpack on. She was with Nick and Harper. Lily was already in the car.

"Do you both understand the plan?", asked Harper, putting a few things in her bag.

Safya nodded.

"I think so. Can you run through it one more time though?", asked Nick.

Harper nodded. "Right so, it's quite late right now and people will be leaving. They don't usually have people doing night shifts apart from a couple so we'll deal with them first. I'll tell them why I haven't been coming and then when they leave you'll both come in with Lily. We'll fix her up and then leave"

Nick nodded, grabbing his stuff. "Ok, I got it"

Everyone was in the Car and Harper started driving.

Lily didn't speak at all, instead, she looked at her hands.

Nick frowned and moved closer to her, gently nudging her. "What are ya thinking?"

Lily looked up at him, a blank expression on her face. "I can't can I?"

Nick furrowed his eyebrows, confused. "Can't what?"

"Think", said Lily. "I'm wires. Wires and cables. That's all I'll ever be"

Nick was shocked. "Y-You heard what Miss C said yesterday?"

Lily nodded. "I could hear everything. I just couldn't respond. Nothing's changed there, then"

Nick looked at her, still confused. "What do you mean?"

"I can hear everything. I hear people outside talking about the world around them, sharing their opinions. I can't do that. I can't talk back. I'm stupid, Nick. Totally stupid", said Lily, the pain clearly showing in her voice.

Before Nick could respond, Harper called him. "Nick, come in the front with me please! We need to talk"

Harper stopped the car so that Nick could change seats. It was just Safya and Lily in the back now.

Safya hadn't spoken to Lily for a good 10 minutes after Nick moved. She broke the silence.

"You're not stupid", said Safya, simply.

Lily looked up at her, a little surprised that she spoke to her.  "I am"

Safya shook her head. "Why do you keep saying that? You know, you're really lucky"

Lily furrowed her eyebrows, confused. "How?"

"You've got beauty, Lily! You don't have to worry about putting on makeup or about what other people think of your appearance. I'd give anything to be beautiful, just like you, Lily", said Safya.

Then came the deafening silence.

It was Lily that broke it this time. "I've been reading a few books and stuff on the Internet after Miss C taught me how to use it. I've been brushing up on a few different things, to try and understand how everyone else thinks. I've been watching you, Safya"

"Not going to lie, the last part seems a little creepy", admitted Safya, though she let out a small laugh.

Lily smiled and shook her head. "Not in that way. I just happen to see you and Nick sometimes, when you go to school. The things you talk about, they sound incredible. All the places you want to visit, places I didn't know existed. From the really small amount of intellect that I have...I've made my own definition of beauty. And I always thought that you were it"

Safya didn't know what to say. No one had ever called her beautiful before. Only her mother but Safya always thought that she had to say that, because she was her daughter. It didn't stop her insecurities but it certainly warmed her heart and she started to break away at her insecurities a little more.

"I know you hate me but I-", started Lily.

"-What? Who said that? I don't hate you", said Safya, taken aback.

"I thought you did. You always seem upset when Nick talks to me", said Lily.

Safya looked down at her hands. "I'm sorry if you felt like I hated you. I don't actually think I'm capable of hating someone. It's just...well it's always been the two of us. He's always been there when I needed him and I've always been there when he needed me. When you came along, I guess I felt like I was losing him."

Lily, though she hadn't experienced much of life and every emotion, she seemed to understand. She put her hand over Safya's. "I'd never do that. I just wanted a friend. I only have Miss C"

Safya shook her head. "No. You have Nick...", she said. She placed her other hand over Lily's. "... and you have me too", she said with her bright smile.

Lily seemed genuinely touched. She reached forward, as much as she could in her seatbelt, and smiled when Safya did the same. They both hugged.

The car stopped and the girls pulled away, exchanging nervous looks.

"I'm scared", admitted Lily.

"You're going to be fine Lily, we won't let anyone hurt you anymore than they already have", said Safya.

Lily trusted Safya because it was clear that Safya meant every word.

Harper made her way into the building. She was surprised to see that no one was there. She expected atleast one person would be there. She went in the lift, checking all 5 floors. When she saw no one, she made her way back down.

Lily, Nick and Safya, all stood outside, watching the building. It was quite dark so people probably wouldn't recognise Lily.

Safya looked down and saw that Nick and Lily's hands were touching. She gave Nick a gentle nudge, which made him grip on to Lily's hand for stability. Lily didn't move away, instead she held his hand. Safya smiled to herself, pleased. To her surprise, Nick used his  left hand to hold Safya's right one. She smiled and squeezed his hand gently.

Harper walked out, gasping for air.

"What's wrong?", asked Lily, worried.

Harper gently shook her head, taking a minute to regain her breath. "Nothing, I just looked inside all rooms, minus the bathrooms, I'm a little tired."

Nick, Lily and Safya couldn't help but laugh, making Harper to laugh as well.

Harper then looked at her phone. "It's 9pm. Let's get you all inside"

They nodded, reality fully hitting them.

- - -

Any new characters that are significant will be put in the Cast as they appear so keep an eye out for them!