Her unseen beauty

The school bell rang, signaling the end of yet another monotonous day at Northwood High. As students poured out of their classrooms, laughing and chatting about their weekend plans, I slipped my books into my worn-out backpack and silently made my way toward the door. Northwood High was a typical suburban high school, bustling with cliques and hierarchies, and I—Nina Roberts—was somewhere at the bottom of that social ladder. My inability to speak had made me an easy target for bullies throughout my school life. In a place where your value was often determined by your ability to make your voice heard, being mute made me invisible—or worse, a subject of ridicule. Today was no different. As I walked down the hallway, my eyes cast downward to avoid any potential confrontations, I felt the familiar sting of whispered insults. "Hey, mute girl! Need a voice to go with that ugly face?" a voice jeered from behind me. I didn't need to look to know who it was. David Peterson, the school's most notorious playboy and a relentless tormentor, stood with his usual entourage of sycophants. My heart pounded in my chest as I quickened my pace, desperate to escape the humiliation. "Leave her alone, David," a new voice interjected. I glanced up, my heart skipping a beat. It was Ethan Harris, the handsome school heartthrob who seemed to float above the petty squabbles of high school drama. He stood tall and confident, his piercing blue eyes fixed on David with a look of disdain. David sneered but backed off, muttering something under his breath. His friends laughed awkwardly and followed him down the hall, leaving me and Ethan standing there in the relative silence of the now-empty corridor. Ethan turned to me, his expression softening. "Are you okay, Nina?" he asked gently. I nodded, unable to meet his gaze. Ethan had always been kind to me, but I never understood why. We moved in different circles, and he had every reason to ignore my existence, just like everyone else. "Good," he said with a small smile. "If you ever need anything, just let me know, okay?" He walked away before I could even attempt to respond, leaving me with a sense of gratitude and confusion. As I reached my locker, I found a note slipped through the vent. My heart sank as I unfolded it, expecting another cruel joke. Instead, it was a simple message written in neat handwriting: "Meet me at the library after school. It's important. – Mr. Hughes" Mr. Hughes was my history teacher, a kind man who had always shown a special interest in my academic progress. Puzzled but intrigued, I decided to follow his request. The library was quiet, as usual. I found Mr. Hughes seated at a table in the back, surrounded by stacks of history books and papers. He looked up as I approached, offering a warm smile. "Ah, Nina, thank you for coming," he said, motioning for me to sit. "I wanted to talk to you about something important." I sat down, curious but also slightly anxious. Mr. Hughes had always been supportive, but this felt different. "I've noticed how hard you've been working, despite the challenges you face," he began. "Your dedication is commendable, and I believe you have great potential. That's why I've recommended you for a special study group. It's a new initiative aimed at helping students like you to excel and gain confidence." I stared at him, processing his words. A study group? The idea was both exciting and terrifying. I'd always been a solitary learner, partly out of necessity and partly because of the fear of ridicule. "I know it might seem daunting, but I believe this could be a great opportunity for you," Mr. Hughes continued. "The group will meet once a week after school, and I think you'll find it beneficial." I nodded slowly, still unsure but willing to give it a try. If Mr. Hughes believed in me, then maybe I could believe in myself too. Sitting at the back of the classroom during the last period, David tried to focus on anything but the nagging feeling that something had shifted today. Ethan's interference was unexpected, but what bothered him more was the look on Nina's face. She was always so quiet, so easy to mock, but today... there was something different about her. She seemed more... determined. As the bell rang, he gathered his things and made his way to his locker. His friends, Mark and Jason, were already there, laughing about some stupid prank they planned to pull on Mr. Hughes. "Yo, David, did you see the look on mute girl's face today?" Mark snickered. "Priceless." "Yeah, yeah," David muttered, barely paying attention. His thoughts were elsewhere. For some reason, he couldn't shake the image of Nina's determined expression from his mind. Shaking it off, he shoved his books into his locker and made a beeline for the library. He had no intention of studying, but the library was always a good place to hang out and avoid any unnecessary drama. The library was unusually quiet, even for this time of day. David wandered the aisles, pretending to look for a book but really just killing time. He couldn't get Nina out of his head, and it was driving him nuts. As he turned a corner, he saw Ethan sitting with a book. Typical. The guy was always studying, always doing the right thing. It annoyed David how perfect he seemed. But today, he wasn't in the mood for a confrontation. Instead, he walked to the back of the library, where he knew he could find some peace. Or so he thought. As he settled into a chair, he saw Nina leaving, her face flushed and her eyes bright. She looked... different. There was a spark in her that he hadn't seen before. And then it hit him—what if Ethan was the reason for that spark? The thought made his blood boil. He wasn't used to feeling this way, but the idea of Ethan getting close to Nina, of him seeing something in her that David had missed, was unbearable. He needed to do something, but he had no idea what. The next day, I found myself feeling a mixture of anticipation and dread. The idea of joining a study group was still daunting, but Mr. Hughes' words had given me a glimmer of hope. Maybe this was my chance to prove that I was more than just the "mute girl." As I walked to my first class, I noticed David watching me from across the hall. His gaze was intense, almost curious, but I quickly looked away, focusing on my goal for the day: surviving my classes and making it to the study group. I made my way to my locker, thinking about the upcoming study group. Mr. Hughes had mentioned it to Ethan as well, and I was looking forward to it. Not just for the academic benefits, but because it meant spending more time with Nina. I wanted to help her, to be there for her in ways that no one else had been. As I approached my locker, I saw David leaning against his, staring intently at something—or rather, someone. Nina. I felt a surge of protectiveness. David had always been a bully, and I wasn't going to let him mess with Nina anymore. "Hey, David," I called out, trying to keep my tone light. "What's up?" He glanced at me, his expression guarded. "Nothing much. Just thinking." "About Nina?" I asked, unable to hide my curiosity. David's eyes narrowed. "Why do you care?" "Because she's a good person," I replied evenly. "And she deserves better than to be treated like she's invisible." David didn't respond, but the look in his eyes told me that my words had struck a nerve. I couldn't figure out what was going on in his head, but one thing was clear: Nina was at the center of it. Ethan's words echoed in David's mind as he made his way to class. Nina deserves better. What did that even mean? And why did he care? She was just a girl, a mute girl who had never stood up for herself. So why was he suddenly so fixated on her? He couldn't shake the feeling that something was changing. Something inside him. He didn't like it, but he couldn't ignore it either. And as much as he hated to admit it, Ethan was right. Nina did deserve better. And maybe, just maybe, he could be the one to give her that. The study group meeting was scheduled for after school, and I spent the entire day in a state of nervous anticipation. When the final bell rang, I gathered my things and made my way to the library, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and excitement. As I entered the library, I saw Ethan already there, sitting at a table with a few other students. He looked up and smiled warmly when he saw me. "Hey, Nina," he greeted. "Glad you could make it." I nodded, feeling a little more at ease. Ethan's presence was comforting, and I was grateful for his support. Mr. Hughes soon arrived and began the session, explaining the goals of the study group and how it would work. As he spoke, I noticed David lingering near the entrance, watching us with a conflicted expression. He seemed hesitant, as if he wasn't sure whether to join or not. Ethan noticed too and gave him a nod. "Hey, David, why don't you join us? It could be good for you." David looked surprised but didn't argue. He slowly made his way over and took a seat, his eyes flicking between me and Ethan. The tension was palpable, but I tried to focus on Mr. Hughes' words. As the session progressed, I found myself becoming more comfortable. The other students were friendly, and the atmosphere was supportive