CHAPTER 42The house was swathed in stillness when Lila finally trudged through the front door that evening. Despite the warmth of the setting sun filtering through the curtains, an inescapable chill seemed to permeate every nook and cranny. She raised her hands and signed, _"Dad?"_ more out of rote instinct than any real expectation of response. The lack of an answer only confirmed her suspicions - Ethan must have been pulling another graveyard shift down at the cannery to make ends meet.Lila sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly as the silence pressed in all around her. While she tried not to dwell on it too often, there was always an undercurrent of melancholy that came with being home alone these days. Almost like the walls themselves were haunted by specters of better times when her mother had still been around to imbue their humble dwelling with warmth and levity.Shuffling towards the kitchen, Lila's eyes were immediately drawn to the collage of old family photos Blu-Tacked

CHAPTER 44By the time Julia and Caleb made their way downstairs, their usual squabbling had subsided into an uneasy truce. Caleb marched ahead in sullen silence, while Julia trailed slightly behind, giving her brother tense back furtive glances every few steps.She couldn't resist the nagging suspicion that Caleb's obvious animosity towards this scholarship competition originated from more than just his normal rebellious behavior. There was an apparent undercurrent of worry and dread in his statements, which felt out of character for her generally calm sibling.Of course, making such observations openly would only invite Caleb's scorn. He had little regard for any hints that he was straining under the tremendous expectations that weighed heavily on their privileged family. Julia knew better than to poke that particularly territorial bear without a verifiable reason.Instead, she merely let the tense silence to stretch between them as they approached the huge circular driveway where C

CHAPTER 46As the first class finished, a commotion of voices and banging lockers reverberated through Willow Creek High's hallways. Lila clasped her books securely to her chest, her gaze fixed on the rough linoleum floor. She flinched when a bunch of noisy boys swept by her, their loud laughing grating on her ears.Caleb swaggered down the corridor, accompanied by his ever-present sidekicks Maddie and Trent. Miranda, his lover, trailed behind them, her painted lips curved in a continuous scowl."Can you believe I got stuck with that mute freak for the group project?" Caleb spat, his voice full of scorn.Maddie snickered. "Dude, it is rough. How are you expected to work with someone unable to speak?Trent interjected with a mocking tone. "Maybe she'll just sit there and stare at you the whole time, like the creep she is."Caleb's face broke into a nasty grin. "Nah, I've got a better idea."His gaze focused on Lila's hunched posture, and a vicious glint appeared in his eyes. He walked

CHAPTER 48*** THE NEXT DAY ***The corridors were alive with activity as the last bell rang, signaling the conclusion of another long school day. Dylan made his way through the throng of students, his backpack slung over one shoulder, his thoughts immediately turning to the forthcoming group project.As he neared his locker, he noticed Caleb and his gang lounging close, their loud laughing booming off the metal doors. Dylan steeled himself, stiffening his shoulders and preparing to confront the aggressor."Hey, Caleb," he cried out, his voice rising above the clamor of the busy hallway.Caleb turned, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Dylan with a mixture of disgust and contempt. "What do you want, loser?"Dylan took a deep breath, unwilling to let Caleb's taunts penetrate his skin. "I wanted to talk to you about the group project we're working on together."Maddie snickered and elbowed Trent in the ribs. "What about a group project?" What's with the mute freak? "This should be good.

CHAPTER 50*** MONDAY MORNING ***Caleb's weekend passed swiftly. The possibility of meeting Mrs. Wilkins hung heavily on his mind, like a persistent itch he couldn't scratch.He had attempted to remain calm, dismissing the incident in the library as insignificant. But deep down, he knew he'd crossed a line, and this time, there might be consequences.As Monday morning arrived, Caleb found himself lingering outside Mrs. Wilkins' office, his fingers beating an uneven pattern against his thighs. He could hear students' muted voices coming through the closed door, and his stomach tightened into an uneasy knot.Taking a deep breath, he drummed his knuckles against the wood, bracing himself for the upcoming showdown."Come in," Mrs. Wilkins said in a clipped and authoritative tone.Caleb pushed open the door and stepped inside, his gaze drawn to the stern-faced woman sitting behind her desk. Her lips pursed into a thin line, and her eyes narrowed as she looked at him, disappointed and frus