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,"

stung, but she shook her

He just offered a polite smile. "I'm Justin. Everything's okay now. You should head home and let

his name away in her

mute. She didn't mingle much, and she didn't mind the quiet. But now, for the first time, Pattie desperately wished she

him her

you give her anything? She-" Layna

me, or I'll tell Scott

her. He was, after all, the most beautiful

at Pattie, then trailed

up every scrap of torn paper off the ground

after everyone had gone did Pattie finally lower

saw the cut on Pattie's neck, their worry and anger flared. “Pattie, was it

back,

make her feel

understood right away. As Pattie walked ahead, Monica whispered, “Is Pattie being threatened? Why won't she

Anastasia replied. "And Layna's a

grinned. "Well, so