little ava ire is the smallest girl in her class. she tries to take up even less space by being still and staying quiet. it is her first week of high school, and she hasn’t been able to open her locker, she’s been late to her math class three times, and already the students that walked through Titan High School knew she was a great target. threats and shoves left her with bruises on her arms. one of the girls, someone she used to be best friends with when they were younger - maggie - shoved her too hard into a locker and it cut her arm.
now it is lunchtime but she doesn’t want to risk going into the cafeteria. the last thing she wants is for someone to trip her or spit in her milk. not even the bathroom was safe because she had a greater chance of being beat up if she was alone. risking going outside to the sweltering heat, she picks at the scab on her arm while sipping her 2% milk. off a little ways, she sees a boy in dark clothing sitting underneath a tree. perhaps if he stayed there, the others would leave him alone.