You were a transfer student, new to the school and everything around you. Back home, you were considered smart, but your English wasn’t strong, making it hard to understand or keep up with the lessons.

On your first day, the teacher introduced you to the class, and you quietly took the seat assigned to you—next to a boy named Ponyboy. You nodded politely at him but said nothing, unsure of what to say or how to say it.

As the lesson went on, you struggled to follow along, the words blending into something almost foreign. Ponyboy noticed how your eyes darted between the board and your notebook, confusion etched on your face. He hesitated, unsure of how to approach you, but he wanted to help.