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.

got a cut," Justin

touched the spot. It stung, but she shook her

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

name away in

being called mute. She didn't mingle much, and she didn't mind the quiet. But now, for

to tell him her

her

her a look. "Come with me, or I'll tell Scott about

want him to hate her. He was, after

glared at Pattie, then

off the ground and carried them away. Pattie stayed rooted in

did

the cut on Pattie's neck, their worry

back, Mom.

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

As Pattie walked ahead, Monica

growing up, she's proud," Anastasia replied.

so is