8 - Eva.

A knock at my door forces me to sit up straight. “Who is it?” I wonder if principal Byrne has returned, remembering his warning not to open the door.

He’s the scariest man I’ve ever met, and I’ve met some nasty characters through my parents’ work, but he’s also the most beautiful man.

“It’s your next-door neighbor,” a voice calls back.

I stand and approach the door, considering opening it after Oak’s warning. “Oh, what do you want?” I ask.

“I wanted to introduce myself. I’m on your left. There is a moment of silence.

My brow furrows as I speculate why Principal Bryne would advise me not to open the door. If I wish to fit in, I have to be friendly, and refusing to open the door isn’t a good way to make acquaintances.

I open the door to a small, pretty girl with red hair. “Hey.”

She smirks. “Hi, you’re Eva Carmichael, right?”

I clench my jaw and nod. “Yes, who are you?”

“Jeanie Doyle,” she says, holding out a hand for me to shake.

I regard it anxiously. “As in Doyle from Chicago?” I ask