The next morning, Niki felt a little lighter. High school hadn’t swallowed her whole yesterday, and Zorya had stayed close, like always. But she knew she couldn’t spend all her days hiding behind Zorya. Maybe today, she could step forward—just a little.

  “Come on, slowpoke,” Zorya teased, tugging gently on Niki’s sleeve as they walked toward the school gates. “Selindra said she’d be waiting by the big oak tree.”

  Niki swallowed nervously. Her stomach flipped. Meeting someone new was never easy—but something about Selindra made it feel… safer. Brave, even.

  By the tree, Selindra was leaning casually against the trunk, arms crossed, a small smile on her face. She had long dark hair that caught the sunlight and eyes that seemed to notice everything at once.

  “Hey, Niki,” Selindra said cheerfully. “I figured you might come back.”

  Niki blinked. “Uh… yeah. I mean… hi.” Her voice was small, but Selindra didn’t seem to notice—or care.

  “This is my friend Zorya,” Niki added quickly. “She… she’s, um, my best friend.”

  Selindra’s smile widened. “Nice to meet you, Zorya. Don’t worry—I’m not scary.”

  Zorya tilted her head and gave a small smile of her own. “I believe you.”

  The three of them fell into an easy rhythm, walking together between classes. Niki felt something warm in her chest—something she hadn’t felt much since starting high school. Friendship, she realized, could be like a tiny shield.

  At their first class, Niki and Zorya sat near the window, while Selindra slid in beside them. Niki kept stealing glances at the pigeons hopping along the roof across the courtyard. She noticed how they moved together, small wings fluttering, yet somehow perfectly coordinated. The sight gave her a small comfort in the otherwise noisy classroom.

  During lunch, Selindra suggested they take a shortcut through the schoolyard. On the way, they spotted a girl struggling with her bicycle near the old stone bench. The chain had slipped, and she was crouched on the ground, muttering to herself.

  “Do you need help?” Niki called gently.

  The girl looked up, surprised. “Uh… yeah, I guess. I don’t know how to fix this.”

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  Zorya knelt beside her, examining the chain. “It’s just off the gear. We can fix it.”

  The girl’s eyes lit up. “Really? Thank you so much!”

  Within minutes, they had the bicycle working again. The girl’s relief was infectious, and Niki felt a spark of pride.

  “I’m Rina,” the girl said, brushing her hair back. “Thanks for helping me out. Not many people would stop.”

  “Of course,” Selindra said with a grin. “You can’t leave someone stranded in the yard.”

  Rina giggled and pointed to a girl sitting nearby. “This is my friend Azura. You should meet her too.”

  Azura stood up and waved, her hair catching the sunlight in bright streaks. “Hi! Nice to meet you all.”

  By the end of lunch, the five girls were laughing together on the swings by the schoolyard, sharing stories about their favorite classes, hobbies, and dreams. Niki felt a flutter of excitement she hadn’t expected. For the first time, school didn’t feel like a maze full of strange, judging faces. It felt like… a place where something wonderful could happen. Where friendship could grow.

  On their way to the next class, they ran into a few familiar challenges. A paper flew out of Selindra’s notebook as she jogged to keep up with the group. Niki and Zorya helped her gather the sheets, and they all ended up laughing at the chaos. Rina tripped over a sidewalk crack, and Azura’s quick hands kept her from falling. Each small mishap was followed by giggles, teasing, and shared smiles—little moments that built the invisible threads connecting them together.

  As the day went on, they began to notice more about one another. Selindra had a fearless curiosity, always asking questions and noticing little things others overlooked. Rina was kind and thoughtful, often offering help before anyone even asked. Azura had a quiet humor, slipping clever jokes into conversations at just the right moment. And Zorya, steadfast and calm, was like the glue holding the group together. Niki realized, with a small thrill, that she belonged here.

  During a free period, the girls decided to sit outside near the schoolyard. Niki immediately noticed the pigeons hopping along the ledges and rooftops. She pulled a small notebook from her backpack and sketched them quickly, smiling as they moved together in little flocks.

  “Still obsessed with pigeons?” Selindra asked, peering over Niki’s shoulder.

  Niki laughed. “Yeah… I just like how calm they are. They don’t care what anyone thinks.”

  Zorya smiled and nudged her. “Maybe we could all learn a little from them.”

  The afternoon passed in a blur of laughter, shared snacks, and whispered jokes. By the time the final bell rang, the five girls had formed a small circle of friendship. Niki felt lighter than she had in weeks. School hadn’t seemed so scary after all—at least, not when they were together.

  Walking home, they chatted about everything from favorite foods to silly mistakes in class. Niki’s heart lifted each time they laughed, each time one of the friends offered a kind word or a teasing grin. And as she looked up at the rooftops, she noticed pigeons flitting across the sunlit tiles, cooing softly. Maybe they didn’t worry about school or new friends or making mistakes. Maybe, just maybe, that was a lesson she could learn from them.

  And as the girls walked together, their laughter echoing down the quiet streets, Niki felt a spark of something she hadn’t felt before—a quiet certainty that this was only the beginning of many adventures to come.