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And it was only then that the pretty girl, whose name I caught as Sabrina, met my eyes.

Even her name was pretty, like a Disney princess.

“Hey,” Sabrina whispered, smiling.

Joy elated my heart, and I grinned. “Hey, I’m Katy.”

“Nice to meet you, Katy,” she mumbled before turning back to class.

There, just like Mom said, it was easy to make a friend.

I just had to be myself.

And before I knew it, it was lunch break. I hated lunch breaks because I had to eat by myself.

My brother didn’t do well in crowded places, so he got special permission to eat in the teacher’s room. I wished I could join him. I even begged Mom, but she chided me, saying I needed to eat with my friends.

But I didn’t have any friends.

Although now it was different, right?

“Hey, Sabrina.” I poked a finger at her shoulder, and she twisted, her brows raised in question.

“Do you want to have lunch with me?” I asked, my heart thudding in my chest at what she had to say.

Her bow-shaped lips pressed into a small smile. “Okay.”

“Amazing,” I replied, grinning.

God, I was so happy. “So are you new to Bellevue?” I asked as I walked beside her.

“Yes,” she said softly. “My mom and dad grew up here, and they wanted to come back to their hometown.”

“I have lived here all my life. It’s my home, and I love it. Also, you’re the first friend I ever made in school,” I blurted out. I just couldn’t help myself; I was so excited. Having a girlfriend was going to be so much fun. I was already planning on making us matching friendship bracelets and having fun playdates at my house.

I couldn’t wait.

Over the next few weeks, Sabrina and I became the best of friends. Although it was hard to get her alone because everyone was fighting for her attention for some reason.

Even at lunch, our table was filled. All the boys and girls in our class wanted to know everything about her. I sat by her side, keeping my head down while she focused all her energy on them.

But over the past few days, the crowds thinned, and only Cassandra and Fiona remained, the two other popular girls in our grade.

I didn’t like them.

They never spoke to me, and I tried for a while before giving up. I just didn’t understand why they had to ruin my lunchtime with her.

“Sabrina, we are baking cookies at Cass’s house this weekend,” Fiona chirped. “Chocolate chip. It’s going to be yummy. You should come.”

“I would love that,” Sabrina replied with an overly sweet smile that made her eyes glow. Almost as if they made her happy.

It stung when I looked at them expectantly and they didn’t even bother inviting me out of courtesy. I knew it was a mean thing to do, but I didn’t say a word.

How could Sabrina even like them?

But it wasn’t her fault, right? They invited her and if they didn’t like me, what could she do?

During the entire break, they carried on talking about a new TV show and Cass’s new pet, as if I didn’t even exist. It only dug the hurt more in my chest.