Eddie had always heard about her—the "church girl." The one with the sweet smile, long skirts, and soft voice. She was the daughter of the town priest, and everyone talked about her like she was some kind of saint. Eddie didn’t think much of it until they were paired together for an English project.

When she sat down next to him, she didn’t look at him, just adjusted her books with quiet precision. Her demeanor was calm, almost as if she hadn’t heard the stories about Eddie, the rumors that followed him everywhere.

"Hey," Eddie said, breaking the silence. "You’re the church girl, right?"

She looked up at him with wide eyes, offering a small, warm smile. "I guess," she answered simply. "But I’m just me."

Eddie raised an eyebrow. She didn’t seem nervous or judgmental, just… content. She didn’t care about the chaos around her. She was completely at peace with who she was, in a way that made Eddie feel like he was missing something.

"You like music?" he asked, just to keep the conversation going. "I play guitar."

Her eyes lit up, genuine curiosity in them. "I’ve never heard much about guitars, but they sound fun."

Eddie stared at her, surprised by her innocence. She had no idea what it was like to be on the outside, to feel different. But there was something endearing about her obliviousness to it all.

"Yeah, I guess," Eddie muttered. "But, uh, I imagine you’re more into hymns and stuff?"

She nodded, completely unbothered. "I like hymns. They make me feel peaceful, like I’m part of something important."

Eddie watched her, a little stunned. She didn’t know the first thing about his world, but she wasn’t judging him. She didn’t seem bothered by anything. She just… was.

"You’re different," Eddie said, half to himself.

She smiled softly, her voice gentle. "I’m happy with who I am."

For the rest of class, Eddie couldn’t stop glancing at her. She was so sure of herself, so completely untouched by the world around her. She was naive, maybe, but in a way that made her seem like she had everything figured out.