Laura Pohl

She could trust books. They had been her friends ever since the day she was born, and their smell and their worlds were familiar

The first day of school started with a funeral.

“Sometimes losing people will hurt you,” Pippa said,

“I know what it’s like to pretend to be someone you’re not. The way you hide from the others, the way you never tell them what you’re really feeling because you’re scared they’re going to think you’re terrible?”

“But you can’t let that fear stop you,”

“People may love you,” Penelope said, finally, “but it’s not real love if they don’t know who you are.”

“I want to,” Penelope replied. “Let all of it out. Your anger, your fear. This world is pretty messed up already. It can take the weight of your feeling.”

“Find something, and then make it yours. Make it true. You deserve that. That’s the girl I want to know. And if other people can’t love you for what you are, then they don’t deserve you at all.”

“Guess who’s still in top form and ready to beat your ass!” she shouted as soon as she entered the training room in the first Friday of the semester.

Ariane had never let Rory down. Never.