The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

When the nanny came back from grocery shopping, arms full of bags and a little out of breath, she happened to run into Layna and her little gang right in the courtyard.

Layna, leading a pack of neighborhood kids, was loudly announcing that she was about to go "teach Pattie a lesson." The nanny, catching the tail end of their chatter as she hurried past, rushed home as fast as she could to tell Anastasia.

Just half an hour earlier, Pattie had set out alone to do some sketching. Liana had the day off, and Pattie was old enough to go out by herself, so Anastasia wasn't really worried. But the moment she heard the nanny's story, she grabbed her phone and called Pattie-twice. No answer.

Monica asked, "Ana, where does Pattie usually go to draw? Let's go look for her."

"She's usually at the park across the street," Anastasia said, her voice tight with worry. "Let's go. Now."

At the park, Pattie sat by herself on a big rock, her sketchbook balanced on her knees. The weather was perfect—clear skies, birds chirping, the world around her calm and bright.

By the pond, a colorful little bird perched on a bare branch sticking out of the water. Pattie was lost in her drawing, trying to capture the bird's colors, when suddenly a chubby little boy-maybe five or six, with a mischievous grin-came barreling over. He snatched her sketchbook and jeered, "What the heck is this? Some kind of worm? Layna, you gotta see this-her drawing's a joke!"

Layna sauntered over, flanked by her usual crew-two boys and two girls, all regulars from the neighborhood. Layna was tough and rowdy, and the rest followed her around like her personal fan club. After losing face last time, Layna wasn't about to let it go, so she'd dragged everyone over to hassle Pattie again. Snatching the sketchbook for herself, Layna sneered, "What a mess. Seriously, this looks like scrambled eggs. Even I could do better with my eyes closed."

Fuming, Pattie got up and walked straight over, hand outstretched for her sketchbook.

Layna just smirked, taunting, "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? Oh, right -you don't talk at all. Poor mute girl can't even stand up for herself."

The other kids joined in, circling Pattie and chanting, “Mute girl, can't talk! Mute girl, so sad! Mute girl, ha ha ha!"

Pattie's little fists clenched, her face tightening with anger. She glared at them, but didn't back down, holding out her hand again, signing: Give it back.

Layna rolled her eyes. “Not a chance. Want it? Come and get it." Then, grinning wickedly, she ripped the sketchbook in half, scattering the torn pages on the ground. "Tell you what-crawl between my legs like a puppy and maybe I'll let you pick up your trash."

Before Layna could even finish, Pattie lunged. She'd made up her mind: next time Layna messed with her, she wouldn't just stand there. Pattie grabbed Layna's hair and yanked; both girls crashed to the grass, rolling and kicking.

"Hey! Help me! Get her off!" Layna shrieked.

Layna's friends scrambled in, grabbing Pattie's arms and pulling at her clothes. It was four against one, but Pattie didn't care-she kicked, bit, and fought back with everything she had.

"Enough! Stop it!"

A sharp voice cut through the chaos. A boy in a crisp navy blazer-maybe ten or eleven-ran over and dove right in, pulling the kids off Pattie one by one.

"What do you guys think you're doing?" he demanded.

When he spotted Layna at the center of it, his eyes narrowed. "Layna, again?noveldrama

Why do you always have to pick on people?"

Layna's face instantly brightened. "Justin!"

Justin-the Wisman family's young heir, currently staying with the Stranz family while going to schoot in Riverdale. Even at eleven, he had that old-money cool: sharp blue eyes, perfect manners, and a sort of quiet confidence you'd expect from a storybook prince.

That was the first time Pattie ever saw Justin He stepped in front of her, shielding her as she scrambled up behind him-bruised, messy, but safe. Back then, she had no idea that this one moment, with him standing up for her, would change her life forever.