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The loafers I slip my feet into complete the uniform, and they’re actually very comfortable. Standing slowly, I smile as nothing happens.

“Fuck yes,” I say, doing a little dance where I’m standing. It’s going to be a good fucking day. I can feel it.

Picking up the navy backpack the school provides, I check to make sure I put my new phone inside it. The school is going to register a tablet in my name when I go to the front office, and the nurse has already been told about any difficulties I might have.

After school, I have a doctor’s appointment to go over my medications to see if I need to change anything, and I’ll have blood tests done as well. This is just one step closer to getting my migraine medication.

“Noor!” Rachelle calls out, and I start walking out of the room. The door is open slightly so I can hear her, but when it’s closed, it’s quiet.

It’s nice to know that I have the option to close myself off from the world if I need to. I’m not used to sleeping in such a big room alone. I ended up dragging my heavy comforter into the closet to sleep.

I’m nowhere near normal, but I’m trying to embrace it.

“I’m ready!” I say, walking into the hallway.

Liliana is waiting for me against the wall, and her eyes trail over me before she nods in approval.

“Your makeup is badass,” she comments, falling into step with me. “Are you taking any weapons with you?”

“Should I?” I ask, not saying either way. My knife is hidden in the closet. I don’t know if there are any kind of metal detectors. I decided to leave it today.

“Yes,” she says, handing me a rectangular device that’s bright blue. “It’ll charge your phone too if you need it, and it packs a punch as a stun gun. That’s what you should tell people if it’s necessary. Oh, and it’s a flashlight. If worse comes to worse, throw it at someone’s head.”

“Wow,” I say, feeling its weight in my hand. “At least it’s nonlethal.”

“When Rachelle first joined my school, I gave her a knife,” she smirks. “I think this is a step up on the responsibility tier. Let me show you how to use it.”

Taking it back, she shows me how to turn it on, and as we pass Ignacio in the hallway, she shoves it against his pants-covered ass.

“Ahh, fuck!” he groans, shuddering. “Goddamnit.”

“If you do this to a kid at school, he’ll drop to the ground. Ignacio is too damn big to put down,” Liliana shrugs.

“That was fucking mean,” he huffs out as Liliana turns off the weapon.

“You know you like it…umm⁠—”

“Lalala,” I say, shaking my head. “I do not need to know anything else, thank you very much.”

“Sorry,” she says, blushing. Liliana watches as I put the stun gun away and nods. “Anyway, go for the balls, Noor, if someone is bugging you.”

“I’m lucky she likes me,” Ignacio grunts. “She would have used that on Theo’s balls without any issue. It’s good advice either way.”

“He’s my least favorite today,” she admits. “Fucking cockblocker.”

“Okay then,” I say, thoroughly confused.

“The throat is also a really good option for that thing,” Ignacio says. “Grab the guy’s hair and pull on it until you can get some bare skin. Don’t take people's shit today, Noor. If you get in trouble, one of us will get you out.”

“I think we’re all a little scarred after high school, despite it being so long ago,” Liliana sighs. “I’m sure I’m supposed to give you different advice than this, but I won’t. When in doubt, fry their balls.”

“You’re scary,” Ignacio says, rubbing his butt as he walks with us. “But you know what, fuck it. Lili is right. You’re small enough that having a weapon is smart. Rachelle says the kids are a little rough around the edges, but I immediately think they’re hoodlums. I don’t want my foster daughter to have to worry about having an issue on her first day of school.”

I blink at his possessive behavior, finding that he doesn’t mean it in a creepy way. They’ve been upfront about the fact that they want to foster to adopt, which means that’s how they’re going to treat me. It’s almost nice they’re so protective.

“About how small I am,” I begin. “Ah, is there anything I can do to gain weight? It’s hard when I don’t have much of an appetite.”

“There’s protein powder I can put in smoothies, or there are meal replacements that I’ve heard about,” Ignacio says easily. “We can ask the doctor today which option will work best for you.”