September
Secondary school has started. I don't like it as much as primary. Everything's harder and more boring. Lessons feel like they drag on for hours. I don't say much. No one really notices me, and that's fine.
October
Things haven't changed. Same long lessons, same noisy people. Everyone seems to be louder here. I stay quiet.
November
There's a girl in a few of my classes. She's not like the others. She doesn't shout across the room or push to be noticed. She sits quietly, like me, and gets on with her work. I don't think much of it at first. Just someone who doesn't make everything feel louder.
January
It's still dark and cold every morning. School feels the same. But I've noticed her more. The girl. She doesn't talk much either. When she does, it's always soft, never like she's trying to prove anything. It's… different.
March
I think I like her. I didn't realise straight away. Maybe because she's a bit like me. Quiet. Tired of the noise. When our eyes meet in lessons, it feels like we both understand something without having to say it.
May
Still haven't spoken properly. Just little things—like when we both reached for the same worksheet and laughed, quietly, not like the others would. It was small, but it stayed with me.
July
Year 7 is over. At first it felt like the dullest year ever. But then there was her. Nothing really happened, but I can't stop thinking about the way it felt when she looked at me, even for a second. Maybe Year 8 will be different.