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.

cut," Justin

the spot. It stung, but she shook her head, refusing

insist. He just offered a polite smile. "I'm Justin. Everything's okay now. You should head home and let your family take care of your neck. I'll make things right with you for Layna-I'll

tucked his name away in her

and she didn't mind the quiet. But now, for the

to tell him her name was

should you give her anything?

me, or

hate her. He was, after all, the most beautiful boy she'd ever seen. Her aunt always said that one

glared at Pattie, then

every scrap of torn paper off the ground and carried them

after everyone had gone did Pattie finally lower her

Pattie's neck, their worry and anger flared.

I fought back, Mom. I can

feel worse. Pattie

Monica whispered, “Is Pattie being threatened? Why won't she

growing up, she's proud," Anastasia replied. "And Layna's a

grinned. "Well, so