It's talks about the new girl named "Maria "
---
The first day of seventh grade felt different to Olive. Maybe it was the sharp smell of freshly waxed hallways or the way the sun bounced off the lockers like it had something to prove. Or maybe it was the whisper that fluttered down the corridor before homeroom even started—There's a new girl.
Olive Jenkins wasn't the type to get overly excited about new students. Her life was already stitched together with reliable threads: her sketchbook, her cat named Biscuit, and her best friend Zoe. But something about the buzz in the hallway tugged at her curiosity.
"Did you hear?" Zoe leaned in close as they strolled to their lockers. "She just moved here from Spain or somewhere like that. Her mom's a scientist. Or a spy. Depending on who you ask."
Olive rolled her eyes, grinning. "A scientist or a spy? That narrows it down."
Zoe shrugged. "Either way, she has a cool accent. And she wears black. All black."
"Sounds mysterious," Olive said, trying not to sound too interested. But a flicker of something lit in her chest—maybe excitement, or maybe the quiet hope that the new girl wouldn't be just like everyone else.
And then, as if summoned by the conversation, she appeared.
The girl was walking slowly down the hall, flanked by the assistant principal. Her clothes were simple—black jeans, black hoodie, and black sneakers—but she wore them like armor. Her dark hair was swept into a messy braid, and her eyes scanned the hallway like she was measuring every person she passed.
"Maria," the assistant principal said as they paused near Olive's locker. "This is your locker. Right between Olive Jenkins and Ethan Reese. Olive, would you mind helping Maria find her classes today?"
Olive blinked. Her?
"Uh, sure," she said quickly, then turned to face Maria. "Hi."
Maria gave her a small nod, not quite a smile. "Hi."
It wasn't awkward, exactly. But it wasn't easy either. There was something guarded in Maria's expression, like she'd already learned not to trust too quickly.
As the bell rang and the hallway erupted into chaos, Olive wondered if helping Maria would be more than just pointing out classrooms. She had a strange feeling—like today was the start of something she couldn't quite name yet.
But she'd find out soon enough.