Nerves rattle in my stomach. They cause my hands to shake and my heart to race. Dear Gnome, why did I agree to this? I slip my dress over my head and pull it down. This is the worst. I feel like I’m going to be sick. I look up, meeting my eyes in the mirror. Calm down, I tell myself. With a deep breath that does very little to calm my nerves, I touch up my make-up and look at my hair. Is it okay like this? Some of my neck is exposed, what if someone touches that? Maybe I should take it out of the braid and let it hang loose. But then I’d have to get my straightener, and I don’t have time for that. Mogget mews from my bed and I frown, turning to look at him.

“Oh shut it. You don’t have to do this. You get to stay and be away from every existing thing for the next eight hours.” I tell him. He just purrs loud enough for me to hear him and looks at me with those green eyes. A knock sounds on my door before opening, revealing Mordecai.

“Hey,” He says, looking at me with a smile. “Nice outfit cat lady. That’s a lot of black and grey today. Stop looking so nervous! It’ll be fun. You have no idea how excited everyone is.”

“That’s exactly why I’m not.” I say. “I don’t like being around people, Mordecai. I barely like being around you. I just want everyone to stay away from me. Why can’t Gwen just make me an invisibility potion or something? Or can I use my parents’ last name? Belle doesn’t really help.”

“Zo, your parents’ last name was Belle. You are a Belle. It’ll be okay. I’ll be there too. I know you like my company more than you let on.” He winks. “Besides, you’ve successfully covered every inch of your body. The only thing that would help more would be a mask.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “My neck isn’t covered.” I mutter.

“Yea, well unless you plan on getting a hickey your first day, I doubt that’ll be a problem.” He laughs and leaves the room, heading downstairs.

I frown and throw a jealous glare at Mogget before heading after Mordecai. Time to suffer through my first day of public school. Luckily the whole family isn’t here for my first day. Only Tilly, Anton, and Autumn wait in the kitchen for us. Mordecai is already shoving down on breakfast.

“You look beautiful, Zoey!” Tilly exclaims with a smile.

“Thanks.” I mutter, grabbing a plate and taking it to the table.

“Don’t look so nervous. You’ll do great today.” Anton says.

I shovel some food into my mouth, hoping they’ll stop with the compliments. “Mhm.”

Soon, they do stop the encouragement. After so long, I guess they just kinda run out of things to say. Even though I’ve been living with them for years now, I’m still the odd one out. I haven’t really given much effort to get close to them or let them in. They’ll just end up leaving me eventually. Mordecai finished his food and heads to the front room to get his backpack ready. Tilly and Anton file out behind him, leaving just me and Autumn.

“Are you okay?” Autumn asks, her voice barely above a whisper. I shrug. “The first day will be the worst but Mordecai will make sure no one bothers you too much.”

“I don’t need his protection.” I say, continuing my breakfast despite how sick my stomach feels.

Autumn smiles. “No, but the others will. You’re a Belle, Zoey, whether you want to admit it or not. People have heard about you the past few years but haven’t really seen you. A new Belle in town is a big deal. We are a big deal here and your self-imposed seclusion hasn’t helped the matter. Now, not only are you a Belle, but you’re an incredibly mysterious Belle. No matter how much you want to be invisible, that is not an option for you. It’s never an option for anyone with our name.”

I sigh, wishing I could just sink into the ground and disappear from the world. Why does everyone have to be so damn nosy? Unfortunately, Autumn is right. I haven’t gone out with the family since I got here. I don’t go out in public unless necessary and only then when it’s in the middle of the night. The town is so quiet and peaceful when everyone’s asleep. I stand and take a deep breath. High school is going to be anything but quiet and peaceful. But Tilly won’t let me get out of going and Autumn agrees that I need to go. I give a strained smile to Autumn and walk out of the dining room.

“Ready?” Mordecai asks me.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” I mutter, following him out the door.