The Sub-team

Time never healed Ciara’s hurt. Each day gave her heart a fresh wound because every morning she had to wake up and see Scott. He avoided her and didn’t talk to her, and the happiness she felt before now turned to pain.

She had been training with the rest of the patrol team and she was making rapid progress that made Scott’s friends smile. Even Maila was a little soft on her, though she still frowned whenever she spoke to her, and never smiled when she greeted her.

The friendliness that the people of Silvercrest had slowly shown lightened her heart a bit, though not by much. That was enough for a start.

And Ciara knew not everyone in this place could accept her. For example Hayley and her friends.

“Bitch,” muttered a girl named Bianca, one of Hayley’s closest friends, when Ciara passed in front of them.

One of Hayley’s friends even deliberately extended a leg for Ciara to trip over, but she dodged at the last moment and she didn’t fall. This led to mutters of annoyance and derision tha