Lenore rifled through the fridge, searching for her usual breakfast—yogurt and a protein shake. There weren't any other options. Everything in her mother's fridge was pre-made and packaged.

"You're up early."

Tearing her gaze away from her yogurt options—vanilla or peach, as they were out of her favourite, mixed berry—Lenore peered around the edge of the fridge door.

Her mother was standing there, dressed head-to-toe in matching activewear. "And here I thought I was going to have to drag you out of bed again."

"Why?" Lenore grumbled, going back to the fridge. "I've gotten to school on my own just fine for the past two weeks."

"That's true. I guess I was expecting you to put up more of a fight."

Lenore shrugged and selected the vanilla yogurt. Peach tasted weird with her chocolate protein shake, anyway. She took her meagre breakfast to the table. It was too early to get into it with her mother. Ever since her mother had disappeared on her after her first day of school, Lenore had been keeping her distance. They lived like roommates, more strangers than family.

Her mother didn't seem to get the hint, or maybe she didn't care because she sat down across from her. "I'm glad to see you settling in."

"Mhm," Lenore said, unscrewing the cap of her shake.

"How's school been?"

"It's been fine," she said with another shrug. And it had. After the initial shock of her appearance wore off, the stares and whispers that followed her for the first few days quickly disappeared. Most of her classmates had resigned to simply avoiding her—including Reese, thankfully. But avoidance was better than the alternative, so she'd take it.

At least she had Victor.

He always waved at her in the hall. Sometimes he'd even stop to talk between the classes when they ran into each other at the lockers. It was starting to feel like they were friends. Almost.

Working with him had been the first slice of something good she'd had since she'd arrived. She was grateful for it, though she didn't know what she was going to do when their project was over—

The instant she thought of him, her mother's blue eyes narrowed. Her icy blue eyes were piercing as she studied her daughter's features as if she could see straight through them. Lenore did her best to keep her expression from giving anything away. Instead, she looked away and focused on chugging back her shake. It was gross, but it was all there was.

"You know, if I didn't know any better," her mother continued, "I'd think you were enjoying yourself."

Lenore nearly spat out the chocolate shake. She managed to swallow it back, but not without a coughing fit. "Not really," she sputtered quickly. "I just want to get it over with."

But it came out too defensive and made her mother raise an eyebrow.

"I see," she said and then gave a smug smile. "I told you it wouldn't be so bad."

"I guess." Lenore glanced around the kitchen, looking anywhere but at her mom as if she could find an excuse to end this conversation in the wallpaper. She debated abandoning her yogurt.

Her mother straightened up as if she had just thought of something. "Hey! Since it's Friday, why don't we get take out for dinner tonight?"

Lenore was glad for the change in subject, but she fought a grimace. Takeout wasn't much of a treat when you had it several times a week, punctuating the usual spread of boring salads, bland chicken, or something made in the microwave. Her mother had never been much of a cook; her grandmother and her father had been the ones who managed the meals. Yet another thing Lenore missed.

"Your choice," her mother offered when Lenore didn't answer. "Anywhere but sushi. Ever since Delilah got food poisoning from that place, I don't trust it." She shuddered at the thought.

"I'll think about it," Lenore muttered. She couldn't think of anything she would want to order. They'd already gone through the rotation of options, and nothing had impressed her.

"Well, you've got some time to decide," her mother said with a grin, glancing at the clock. "Do you want a ride to school? The wind is pretty bad today."

When wasn't the wind bad? Lenore wondered. But the last straw was the idea of being stuck in a car with her mother. She picked up her unopened yogurt and carried it back to the fridge.

"No thanks," she said, putting it back. "I like the walk."

Lenore did not like the walk. By the time she got to school, she was half-frozen and her hair was a rat's nest, even after being tied into a ponytail. Her mother had been right about the ferocity of the wind, but Lenore knew she had been right about avoiding a ride with her mother. She couldn't bear any more awkward conversation.

There were a few bright spots to her day, though.

First, since she'd left early, she made it to school with enough time to fix her hair. After dropping off her coat at her locker, she hurried to the bathroom. As she caught sight of herself in the mirror, she found herself smiling.

Because second, the class rotation of the day meant her first class was a double block of Biology... which meant she'd get to see Victor.

With a new ponytail freshly in place, Lenore headed off for the library. As she walked inside, she searched the various tables for her partner. Well, partners, technically, though Brad rarely showed his face. She doubted he'd show up today, either... Not that she minded. With no Brad, she and Victor could work and talk freely without worrying about any of his boneheaded interjections.

Their presentations were due next week. As she searched the tables, she saw a few of the other groups were in a panic to finish up and avoid any extra homework on the weekend. She wasn't as concerned; she and Victor were pretty much done. All they really needed to do was rehearse their presentation but once that was over with, they could just hang out for the rest of class.

What better way to start her weekend?

But her excitement fizzled as her search came up empty. Victor was nowhere in sight. Where was he? Usually, he beat her here... But she was early, she reminded herself. He'd probably arrive soon enough.

She grabbed the table in the far corner, where it was nice and isolated, good for chatting without anyone listening in.

Opening her bag, she laid out her school laptop, pulled up the presentation, and then leaned back to wait. Her eyes fixed on the library entrance, taking in the rush of students that followed the ring of the first bell. Fiona was amongst them, and Lenore sat up straighter, hoping that Victor was close behind...

But he wasn't.

She was alone.

Either he was running very late, or something had happened.

Was he sick or something?

As if she could feel her stare, Fiona looked up. When she spotted Lenore, she smiled and gave her a short wave. Lenore gave a stiff wave back. Like Victor, Fiona had been kind, but Lenore hadn't warmed up to her like she had Victor. When Fiona was around Victor, Lenore felt eclipsed.

Fiona and Victor had formed a quick closeness that was clearly beyond whatever group project politeness Lenore had with Victor. They seemed so at ease when they were together, always laughing, teasing, or jabbing at each other. She often wondered if they were something more than friends. Or maybe they were just on the verge of it. Either way...

Lenore felt an empty gnawing inside and looked away from Fiona. Hunger pangs, she figured. She regretted not eating her yogurt.

By the time the second bell rang and Mr. Platz stepped in, Victor still hadn't shown up. Lenore sighed and sank lower in her seat. So much for a nice start to her weekend. Now the day felt endless as it stretched out in front of her.

"Alright, attention, everyone," Mr. Platz called out from the middle of the library. The librarian shot him a warning look. "I don't know how you would've missed this, but today is your last bit of class to work on your projects. You'll be presenting first-thing—well, no, it's the second block, so it'd be second-thing—on Monday. And unless you want to waste your weekend, I suggest you use this class time wisely to finish up." He pointed at a few of the more frantic-looking groups, which did little good to calm their shared looks of panic.

Lenore flopped over onto the table. She had little to worry about—she could rehearse without Victor—but she felt just as lost as them.

"Don't look so grim!" Mr. Platz continued. "Once this project is done, you're all getting a reward... A field trip!"

When this did not get the fanfare Mr. Platz was hoping for, his beaming smile fell into a frown.

"Don't get too excited now," he muttered as he held up a thick stack of paper. "These are your permission slips. And since the field trip is next week, I need you to get them back to me AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Now come up here and grab 'em."

With nothing else to do, Lenore pushed herself off the table. She kept her eyes on her feet as she headed to where Mr. Platz had taken a seat at the last empty table. When she finally looked up, she realized she had arrived at the same time as Fiona. Lenore half-considered turning around, but it was too late. Fiona spotted her, too.

"Hi, Lenore," she chirped, giving her another broad smile. Her smile was perfect, and for some reason, it irritated Lenore.

"Hi," Lenore muttered back.

"Here you go," Mr. Platz said, handing a single sheet to Lenore. As he turned to Fiona, he stopped. "Oh, Fiona! Before I forget... The office let me know that Victor's out sick for the day. Could you stop by his place and give him his copy?" He gave her an extra sheet. "I know you two are close."

For some reason, hearing that landed like a punch in Lenore's stomach. So, it wasn't just her who had noticed how close Victor and Fiona were. Even Mr. Platz could see it.

There was definitely something there.

"Sure," Fiona said, taking the papers. "I'll drop them off after school—"

Not wanting to hear more, Lenore spun around and marched back to her table. Her mind was reeling.

Why had that off-hand comment bothered her so much? She and Victor were friends. Sort of. And he had other friends.... but not like Fiona.

But what did that matter?

What do I care? she thought. It's not like I...

As the realization hit, her breath caught in her throat.

Wait. No... No...

"Lenore?"

Fiona had followed her back to her table. She was the last person Lenore wanted to see, but she couldn't exactly send her away.

Instead, Lenore forced a smile onto her face. "Yeah?"

"I have a small favour to ask," Fiona said, grimacing as she tilted her head. Even making a face, she was pretty.

Lenore felt a flare of hatred, but she kept smiling. "Oh? What?"

"I totally forgot I had to do something this afternoon," she said, pouting her lip out. "Could you please take the permission slip to Victor for me?"

She held out the form to her.

Lenore just stared at it. She had heard the words, but they weren't making any sense.

If they were so close, shouldn't Fiona want to take it to him?

Is this some kind of trap? A prank to embarrass me or something? But she couldn't imagine Victor playing along with something like that.

And when she looked back at Fiona, she appeared to be genuine. She answered Lenore's silence with a long, drawn-out, "Pleeeeease?"

"I-I..." Lenore's brain struggled to come up with an excuse. "I can't! I d-don't even know where he lives." That was true, at least.

"Sure you do!" she said like it was obvious. "You live really close to him!"

"I do?"

"He's just on the other side of the forest! You know, where he met you."

She knows how he met me? Lenore only felt more confused. He told her that?

"Please?" Fiona added again, pushing the paper at her. "It's just a quick thing. And I'm sure he'd love to see you."

Lenore didn't know about that.

But she took the paper.