Serafina's POV

The second day of school felt less daunting than the first, though my nerves were still there, coiled tightly in my stomach. I had survived one day without falling apart, but the thought of going through it again made my chest feel heavy.

I took a deep breath as I walked into the building. The hallway buzzed with activity, just like yesterday, but this time I tried to keep my head up. Ms. Morales had told me that confidence would come with time, and while I wasn't sure I believed her yet, I wanted to try.

English class was the first stop again, and the teacher, Mr. Henson, greeted me with a small smile as I slid into my usual seat at the back. The chatter in the room was loud, students talking about everything from last night's homework to weekend plans.

"Hey," a voice said beside me.

I turned to see a girl sitting in the desk next to mine. She had curly brown hair tied up in a ponytail and wore a bright yellow sweater. Her smile was wide and warm, her green eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"I'm Mia," she said, holding out her hand.

"Serafina," I replied, shaking her hand hesitantly.

"I saw you yesterday," she said, her tone cheerful. "Figured I'd say hi today. It's kind of weird being the new kid, huh?"

"Yeah," I admitted, surprised by how easy she was to talk to.

"Well, don't worry. Mr. Henson's class is pretty chill," Mia continued. "And if you need help finding your way around, just ask. I've been here long enough to know all the shortcuts."

Her kindness caught me off guard, but it was a relief. "Thanks," I said softly, managing a small smile.

Lunchtime was less nerve-wracking than yesterday, thanks to Mia. She waved me over to her table, which was already crowded with a mix of students.

"This is Serafina," Mia introduced me, her voice carrying easily over the chatter.

"Hey," a boy with dark hair and glasses said, offering a friendly smile. "I'm Ethan."

"Hi," I said, sliding into a seat next to Mia.

Ethan turned out to be just as easy to talk to as Mia. He cracked a few jokes that made me laugh, something I hadn't done much in a while. For the first time, I felt like I might actually fit in here.

After lunch, things took a turn.

I was walking down the hall toward my next class when a voice called out behind me.

"Hey, Romano!"

I froze, my heart racing. Turning slowly, I saw a tall boy with a smug expression leaning against a locker. A small group of students stood behind him, snickering.

"You think you're something special?" he sneered, his tone dripping with mockery.

I blinked, confused. "What?"

"I heard about your family," he said, stepping closer. "Big shot mafia types, right? Bet you think that makes you untouchable."

The word mafia felt like a slap to the face. My stomach churned, and I took a step back, unsure of what to say.

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" he taunted, his voice louder now.

"Leave her alone," another voice cut in.

I turned to see Ethan walking up, his expression calm but firm. He stepped between me and the boy, his posture relaxed but confident.

"Mind your own business, Ethan," the boy snapped.

"Why don't you try being less of a jerk, Connor?" Ethan shot back, his voice steady. "It's not a good look."

Connor glared at him for a moment before rolling his eyes and backing off. "Whatever," he muttered, stalking away with his group in tow.

I let out a shaky breath, my hands trembling. "Thank you," I whispered.

Ethan turned to me, his expression softening. "You okay?"

I nodded, though my chest still felt tight. "Yeah... I think so."

"Don't let him get to you," Ethan said. "Connor's just an idiot with too much free time."

Mia appeared a moment later, her face full of concern. "What happened?"

"Connor being Connor," Ethan said with a shrug.

Mia frowned. "Ugh, he's the worst. Don't let him bother you, Fina. He's all talk."

I nodded again, grateful for their support. It had been a scary moment, but knowing I wasn't alone made it easier to handle.

The rest of the day passed without incident, though I couldn't shake the lingering unease from the hallway confrontation. By the time I got home, I was exhausted, both physically and emotionally.

Antonio and Luca were waiting in the living room when I walked in.

"How was school?" Luca asked, looking up from his video game.

"It was... okay," I said, dropping my backpack on the floor.

Antonio raised an eyebrow. "Just okay?"

I hesitated, not sure how much to tell them. "Someone tried to give me a hard time," I admitted.

Both of them sat up straight, their expressions immediately shifting to protectiveness.

"Who?" Antonio demanded, his tone sharp.

"It's fine," I said quickly. "Ethan stepped in, and it didn't go anywhere."

"Ethan?" Luca asked, grinning. "Who's that?"

"Just a boy I met," I said, rolling my eyes.

Antonio didn't look convinced. "If anyone messes with you again, you tell us. Got it?"

"Got it," I said, managing a small smile.

Later that evening, I sat at the kitchen table with Mama, telling her about Mia and Ethan.

"They sound like good friends," she said, her eyes warm.

"They are," I said, feeling a flicker of hope.

Mama reached over and squeezed my hand. "You're finding your place, Fina. I'm so proud of you."

Her words stayed with me as I got ready for bed. Today had been hard, but it had also shown me that I wasn't as alone as I thought.

Maybe, just maybe, I was going to be okay.