Chapter 4 — The New Kid

Josiah

The first thing I noticed about Evergreen Heights High School was how loud it was. Not just the hum of conversation or the clatter of boots against tile floors—it was the feeling of the place, the way it buzzed like a swarm of bees. The noise wasn’t just in the air; it was in the energy, the constant current of movement, voices, and unspoken rules. It wasn’t the kind of noise you could escape, no matter how tightly you wrapped yourself in your hoodie and tried to disappear.