Orphan.
The voices whispered in her head, illusive echoes of the wind.
Foster care...
Delinquent.
They set her mind adrift and into the past. Adolescents without guidance fell under merciless criticism, often under the wrong pair of eyes. The difference between peer pressure and parents was that peers lacked the luxury of hindsight, and hindsight was never a luxury.
"It will loosen you up..."
Thanks to a white slit between the leaves, Jessica maintained a clear view of the sidewalk. She stood between classmates, incognito under shaded bushes, one among a group of four teenagers in red skirts and white sleeves. Every shirt pocket bore a distinct gold and red triangle, School of Albion stitched above. Far behind the evergreen nook lay the academic terrace: three classroom floors and
