The Bound Between Us

Layna watched Justin step in to shield Pattie and immediately turned indignant, flipping the blame. "Justin, she started it! Just look at my forehead—she hit me last time. I came here to ask for an apology, but she won't even say sorry. If you don't believe me, ask those four."

Layna's four friends, loyal as ever, jumped in to back her up.

"Yeah, it was the mute girl who picked on Layna first," they chimed in.

Mute?

Justin finally turned to Pattie. Her hair was a messy cloud, but her face was striking-delicate, almost unreal, like she stepped out of an animated movie. Even computers couldn't design someone like her, yet here she was, flesh and blood.

Her skin looked impossibly soft, her hair wild, a fresh scratch streaked with blood on her neck. There was a fierceness in her eyes—a strange mix of strength and fragility that fit her perfectly.

Justin had never met a girl quite like her. Before he could stop himself, he asked, "What's your name?"

Pattie didn't reply-she just studied him in silence.

And that's when Justin remembered: Pattie couldn't speak.

He noticed the cut on her neck, pulled a Band-Aid from his pocket, and reached out to help.

Pattie instinctively stepped back.

a cut,"

but she shook her head, refusing

You should head home and let your

his name away in

gotten used to being called mute. She didn't mingle much, and she didn't mind the quiet.

wanted to tell him her

should you give her

with me, or I'll tell Scott about

was, after all, the most beautiful boy she'd ever seen. Her aunt always said

glared at Pattie,

he left, Justin picked up every scrap of torn paper off the ground and

after everyone had gone did

the cut on Pattie's neck,

I fought back, Mom.

adults getting involved-it would only make her feel worse. Pattie had her pride

Pattie walked ahead, Monica

growing up, she's proud," Anastasia

so is our