Chapter 7

"What went on with you two? I thought today was meant for relaxation, not a seawater cleaning marathon," he joked.

"I'm going to prepare dinner. Everything will be fine, sweetheart," Bella comforted, giving me a hug.

"I know," I whispered. She kissed my head gently before leaving the room.

"You shared everything with her, and she did the same."

It wasn't a question; our appearance made it clear. He sat on my bed and embraced me, offering solace as my emotional floodgates remained open.

I’d look like a swollen fish on my first day of school.

"Mom's right, you know? Everything will turn out okay," he sighed, trying to reassure me.

"I know," I answered.

No further words were needed. In the span of two and a half days, I found myself appreciating this new family. After five long years, I felt a flicker of hope that things could indeed improve for me.

Still, I was incredibly anxious!

We pulled up to school, yet I hesitated to leave the car. Despite my attempt at blending in with my 'incognito' outfit, I worried I'd still stand out. The weather was slightly cool, so I dressed in simple blue jeans, a royal blue cashmere top, black Uggs, and a white scarf featuring a black and royal blue leopard print.

Makeup and accessories were kept to a minimum.

But even so, I felt as if stepping out of the car would suddenly cast me under an invisible spotlight.

"Are you planning to get out of the car any time soon? The first bell is almost here," Brady grumbled.

"Not a chance! I'm comfortable right here," I insisted stubbornly.

"Having issues?" a new voice asked. I looked up to see a girl with beautiful brown eyes and rich, dark hair.

"She refuses to leave the car," Brady informed her.

Sunny turned to me. "Hi! I'm Sunny."

"Lillian," I responded.

She turned back to Brady. "You go ahead; I'll handle this." Brady shot me a wary glance before passing her the car keys.

"Make sure to lock up when you do get out," he said before walking away as the first bell sounded.

"You don't have to wait," I told Sunny.

She shrugged, leaning against the car. "I know, but I want to."

"So why are you?" I questioned.

"You seem like you could use some company," she replied.

"Is it that noticeable?" I sighed.

"As Student Body President, it's my job to notice these things," she laughed.

I raised an eyebrow. "So this is part of your official duties to welcome the new student?"

"Not at all. We have a team for that. I came here because I genuinely want to be your friend. Despite my position, I don't have many close friends. I know most people, but I'm not particularly close to them. Besides my boyfriend, I only count three other guys as close friends," she revealed.

Wow!

"So why me?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"I'm getting great vibes from you, and since I always trust my instincts, I see no reason to stop now," she smiled warmly.

She honestly didn't seem bothered by waiting there for me to muster the courage to get out of the car. Fear had gripped me tightly; I couldn't let this school turn into what my old one was like. I just couldn't go through that again.

"And here I thought I was the only one in our relationship who got to bend the school rules," Sunny joked.

Looking up, I saw three incredibly handsome guys approaching. One had dark skin, another was blonde, and the one who spoke had brown hair. From his closeness to Sunny and his comment, I assumed he was her boyfriend.

"I'm waiting for Lillian to find the courage to leave the car," Sunny explained.

"Who's Lillian?" the dark-skinned guy asked. Sunny pointed to the car, and it was amusing watching all three of them lean down to look inside, bumping heads in the process.

"Ouch!" they exclaimed in unison, which made Sunny and me laugh.

"Hey there, Lillian! This is Cash, that's Wesley, and I'm Landon," the brown-haired boy introduced us. The blonde is Cash, and the dark-skinned one is Wesley.

"Cash? As in the guy who kicked everyone out on Saturday?" I asked, surprised.

"You were there?" they all echoed, including Sunny.

"Yeah, I went with my brother," I nodded.

"Brady?" Sunny realized.

"Brady Izzy? He's your brother? I didn't know he had any siblings," Wesley commented, clearly taken aback.

"We're step-siblings. I moved in over the weekend," I found myself explaining.

"Welcome to West Point Academy, then," Cash smiled warmly.

"Thanks," I replied with a smile of my own.

"So, what's keeping you from getting out of the car?" Lillian asked again.

"I'm scared," I admitted softly.

To my surprise, Wesley grabbed my hands and gently pulled me out of the car. "Come on!"

"Hey!" I protested.

"Unless you want me to toss you over my shoulder and carry you in, you might want to conquer that fear fast, missy," he teased, crossing his arms.

I scowled at him. "Why do all of you keep treating me like a sack of potatoes?"

"What?" the guys echoed, while Sunny laughed.

"Never mind," I sighed.

"So, are you coming inside or not?" Cash prompted.

"Now that you're all insisting on it!" I huffed.

"Who's a brave girl?" Lillian said in a babyish tone. I could only glare at him, though I was fighting a smile.

After locking Brady's car, the five of us headed into the building. They escorted me to the office where I picked up my books and other essentials before guiding me to my locker. It turned out we all had homeroom together, and I shared all my classes with Sunny, while having a few with the guys. For today, our first period was together.