The Girl that No-one See

The Corridor

The first bell echoed through the hallways of Windlong Hart Academy.

Students flooded the corridors, laughing, chatting and hurrying to their lockers before registration.

Sienna quietly made her way through the crowd.

As usual, she kept her head down.

She reached her locker, turned the combination dial, and opened the door.

Before she could take out her books, she heard the familiar click of expensive heels.

Willow.

She was flanked by Laura and Lizzy, any boys that was following although they lingered a few steps behind as Willow approached her younger sister.

Willow folded her arms.

"I bet you loved all that attention this morning."

Sienna looked up.

"What do you mean?"

"You arriving with Kristopher."

Sienna shrugged.

"He just gave me a lift."

"Of course he did."

Willow's smile didn't reach her eyes.

"You know, people are talking."

Sienna quietly placed a textbook into her bag.

"I don't mind."

Willow took a step closer.

"You should."

There was a pause.

"You'll never be good enough for someone like Kristopher."

The words landed like a stone.

Sienna remained silent.

Willow continued.

"He's captain of the wrestling team."

"He's on the Student Council."

"Everyone likes him."

She looked Sienna up and down.

"And you're..."

She hesitated.

"...you."

Sienna lowered her eyes.

"He deserves someone confident."

"Someone interesting."

"Not someone who's too scared to speak above a whisper."

Laura Laughing and sniggering beside Willow.She was sure she liked where the conversation was going.

Willow didn't notice.

"Sooner or later," she said quietly, "Kristopher will realise how pathetic and weak you really are."

For a moment, the corridor seemed to disappear.

Sienna swallowed hard.

Then she looked up at her sister.

Her voice was calm.

"I never asked him to like me."

Willow blinked.

….

"I never asked him to defend me."

"He chooses to."

Willow's expression hardened.

"You're naïve."

"Maybe."

Sienna gently closed her locker.

"But he's my friend."

"And that's enough for me."

Without another word, Sienna picked up her books and walked away.

Willow watched her go, frustrated that she hadn't managed to provoke the reaction she expected.

From further down the corridor, Kristopher had witnessed enough of the exchange to know something had happened.

He hadn't heard every word.

But he had seen the hurt in Sienna's eyes.

And he knew exactly who had caused it.

Something made her glance back over her shoulder.

Standing a few metres down the corridor was Kristopher.

His school bag rested over one shoulder, his hands tucked into his blazer pockets. He had clearly been there for a while, waiting for the right moment to step in.

His expression was calm, but his eyes were fixed on Willow.

He walked towards them.

"Everything alright, Sea?"

Sienna forced a small smile.

"I'm fine."

Kristopher looked at her for a moment before turning to Willow.

"I heard enough."

Willow folded her arms.

"Oh? Then you should know this doesn't concern you."

"It does when you're bullied.

Kristopher shook his head.

"You've been putting your own sister down for years." Kristopher directed his comment to Willow louder enough for people around hear

Several students slowed to watch.

The corridor grew noticeably quieter.

Willow lifted her chin.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"I know exactly what I'm talking about."

Kristopher's voice remained steady.

"Not everyone likes a stuck-up bully, Willow."

A ripple of whispers spread through the corridor.

"And the worst part?"

He looked her straight in the eye.

"You're bullying your own sister, Do you not have any shame."

Willow's cheeks flushed red.

For once, she had no clever comeback.

She glanced around and realised dozens of students were watching.

Without another word, she spun on her heel.

"Come on," she snapped to Laura and Lizzy.

The three girls disappeared into the crowd, Willow walking much faster than usual.

The whispers followed her down the corridor.

Kristopher waited until she was out of sight before turning back to Sienna.

"You okay?"

She nodded, although her eyes betrayed the hurt she was trying to hide.

"I will be."

He smiled warmly.

"I know you will."

He adjusted the strap of his backpack.

"Come on."

"Where?"

"I'll walk you to class."

"You don't have to."

"I know."

He grinned.

"I want to."

For the first time that morning, Sienna smiled without forcing it.

Together, they walked side by side through the busy corridor.

Students continued to stare.

Some whispered.

Some looked confused.

Others simply watched in silence.

Kristopher didn't care.

He matched his pace to Sienna's, making sure she never felt left behind.

As they disappeared around the corner, one of Year Ten student quietly said to his friend,

"I wish someone looked out for me the way Kristopher looks out for her."

For the first time in a long while, Sienna didn't feel like the invisible girl walking alone through the corridors.

She had someone beside her.

And somehow...

That made all the difference.

Kristopher walked beside Sienna until they reached the art corridor.

The familiar smell of paint, clay and varnish drifted through the open classroom door.

Inside, Miss Bullmastiffs was arranging blocks of clay onto one table while setting out fresh paints and clean brushes on another She looked up as the two students entered.

A warm smile spread across her face.

"Good morning, Sienna."

"Good morning, Miss Bullmastiffs."

"And good morning to you, Kristopher."

"Morning, Miss."

Kristopher glanced down at the timetable folded in his hand.

"Maths first period," he said with a grin. "Mr Pea will have my head if I'm late."

Sienna laughed softly.

"I suppose you'd better get going."

He adjusted the strap of his sports bag over his shoulder.

"Looks like it."

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then Kristopher smiled warmly.

"I'll see you at lunch, Sea."

"You don't have to wait for me."

"I know."

He shrugged.

"I want to."

Sienna smiled."Okay."

"It's a lunch date then."

She laughed.

"A lunch date between best friends."

"The best kind."

He gently nudged her shoulder.

"And good luck in art."

"I'll need it."

"No," Kristopher replied confidently. "You've got talent. Luck has nothing to do with it."

Her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Thanks, Kris."

With one final smile, he turned and jogged down the corridor towards the wrestling changing rooms.Miss Bullmastiffs watched him disappear before looking back at Sienna.

"He's a wonderful young man."

"He really is," Sienna replied quietly."And a very loyal friend."

"He always has been."

Miss Bullmastiffs walked over to her desk and picked up a clipboard.

"Now, before everyone else arrives, I wanted to remind you about something."

Sienna nodded attentively.

"The final submission for the Windlong Hart County Young Artists Competition is Wednesday, the 9th of December."

She pointed to the notice pinned to the board.

"That's exactly three days before the winter break begins.", "competition is on friday."

"My painting is almost finished," Sienna said.

"I thought it would be."

Miss Bullmastiffs smiled proudly.

"You've won this competition for the last four years."

Sienna looked down modestly.

"I've been lucky."

The teacher shook her head.

"No, Sienna."

"Luck might win once."

"Talent wins four years in a row."

She folded her arms.

"I've watched you grow as an artist since Year Seven."

"You have a gift that can't be taught."

Sienna smiled shyly.

"I just paint what I feel."

"And that's exactly why your work touches people."

Miss Bullmastiffs rested a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Never let anyone convince you that being quiet means your voice isn't important."

Sienna thought back to the whispers in the corridor.

Then she remembered Kristopher's words.

"You've got talent. Luck has nothing to do with it."

For the first time that morning, she believed it might actually be true.

Outside, the bell rang.

Students began filling the art room, chatting excitedly as they took their seats.

Sienna quietly unpacked her sketchbook and pencils.

Here, surrounded by canvases, clay and colour...

She finally felt like she belonged.