The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

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.

"You've got a cut," Justin said gently.

Pattie touched the spot. It stung, but she shook her head, refusing his help.

Justin didn't insist. He 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 with you for Layna-I'll send you a drawing, okay?"

Pattie tucked his name away in her heart.

She'd gotten used to being called mute. She didn't mingle much, and she didn't mind the quiet. But now, for the first time, Pattie desperately wished she could speak.

She wanted to tell him her name was Paradise.

"Justin, why should you give her anything? She-" Layna started to protest.

Justin shot her a look. "Come with me, or I'll tell Scott about what just happened."

Layna hesitated. She was scared of Justin, mostly because she didn't want him to hate her. He was, after all, the most beautiful boy she'd ever seen. Her aunt always said that one day, she'd marry him.

Layna glared at Pattie, then trailed after Justin.

Before he left, Justin picked up every scrap of torn paper off the ground and carried them away. Pattie stayed rooted in place, not moving a single step.

Only after everyone had gone did Pattie finally lower her eyes.

That's when Anastasia and Monica hurried over. When they saw the cut on Pattie's neck, their worry and anger flared. “Pattie, was it Layna who did this?"

Pattie signed quickly: I fought back, Mom. I can handle it.noveldrama

She didn't want the adults getting involved-it would only make her feel worse. Pattie had her pride now. Kids' business should stay between kids.

Anastasia understood right away. As Pattie walked ahead, Monica whispered, “Is Pattie being threatened? Why won't she tattle?"

"She's growing up, she's proud," Anastasia replied. "And Layna's a handful."

Monica grinned. "Well, so is our Pattie."

She was right-Pattie wasn't the type to back down. When she got home, she went straight to Dailey, determined to train harder.

If she got stronger, no one could mess with her.

That night, a painting arrived at Pattie's door-just like Justin had promised.

He'd carefully pieced together her torn drawing and recreated it from scratch. It looked exactly like hers, even unfinished.

She hadn't finished the original, and Justin hadn't dared to complete it for her.

A rare smile lit up Pattie's face when she saw it.

Just then, Herman walked in and caught her grinning at the half-finished painting.

He had come to talk, but stopped in the doorway.

"Pattie?"

She quickly slid the painting aside. Dad.

Herman pretended not to notice and sat down. "Your eighth birthday's coming up. Your mom and I want to throw you a party-invite family and friends really celebrate. I want everyone to know you're ouro daughter, the eldest of the Salstrom family. What do you think?"