The willow it weeps today
A breeze from the distance is calling your name
Unfurl your black wings and wait
Across the horizon it's coming to sweep you away
It's coming to sweep you away
Let the wind carry you home
Blackbird fly away
May you never be broken again
The fragile cannot endure
The wrecked and the jaded a place so impure
The static of this cruel world
Cause some birds to fly long before they've seen their day
Long before they've seen their day
Let the wind carry you home
Blackbird fly away
May you never be broken again
Beyond the suffering you've known
I hope you find your way
May you never be broken again
Blackbird by Alterbridge
Chapter One
Rey followed Ms Holdo, the principal down the hall, adjusting her battered rucksack on her shoulder. Maz had bought it at the beginning of her Freshman year and it had seen better days. Rey clutched the handle tighter.
Ms Holdo breezed through the door of her new homeroom, and the chitter of the students ceased. Rey quickly assessed Ms D'Acy who stood at the front of the class. She was smiling but wringing her hands. A soft touch. Too nice for high school kids in their Junior year.
"Good morning students..." Holdo waited for the unsynchronised return of her greeting. "I'd like you all to welcome a new student, Rey Jakkusen. Rey just moved into the area." Holdo turned to Rey. "Why don't you tell your classmates a little more about yourself?"
Rey tried not to let her internal sigh break through. This again.
"Hi, I'm Rey. I've just moved here from a group home upstate. I live with Unkar Plutt."
"And what do you do for fun, Rey?" Holdo clearly wanted more enthusiasm from her. That really wasn't Rey's thing. She just wanted to be allowed to go find her seat and slip under the radar, avoid attention.
"Um, I read. And I draw."
"Okay. Welcome to D'Qar Springs High. Rose Tico, I'd like you to take care of Rey during her first week."
"Yes, Ms Holdo," a dark haired girl with a rounded smiley face responded.
Again, Rey took a moment to read the person she'd been assigned to. It was a skill she'd developed during her years in the system. For example, she knew Unkar Plutt was an alcoholic arsehole from the second she'd clapped eyes on him. He only wanted the money. Would most likely hit her if she spoke out of turn. He was no Maz.
Rose Tico, friendly, morning person, loving family, not popular but generally liked or tolerated by all due to being so damn nice and inoffensive. Probably listens to Disney soundtracks and whatever boy band is big at the time. Rey had been shown around by worse in her time.
Rey made her way to a free desk at the front of the room, aware of curious eyes on her. Rey wore a little eye makeup, cheap eye liner and mascara, and scraped out what little of her favourite light brown shadow she could, but didn't cake her skin in foundation or powder. Makeup was expensive and she didn't think that Plutt would pay for stuff like that. With her brown hair tied up in a messy bun, her grey hoodie and black leggings, her aim was to blend in, don't stand out. It was a tactic that had worked well down the years and in the two previous high schools and the group home.
Once she'd settle in, she would lose her novelty with her peers.
After class, Rose approached with a wide smile. "Hi Rey, I'm Rose. What class do you have next?"
"Erm, History." Rey read from her schedule.
"Room 603, you're with me. Great! So what kind of books do you read?"
"Horror, thrillers, stuff like that."
Rey grabbed her trusty old bag and trotted alongside Rose, answering a barrage of questions in as few words as possible. History and then English were fine, pretty standard.
The subject of Rey's accent came up. Was she British? A question Rey didn't know herself and didn't want to get into the sob story. Rey found she could deflect attention from herself between classes by asking Rose about what books she liked (romance), what films (surprise, Disney), and her family.
Rose obviously idolised her older sister, Paige, who was in her senior year, was apparently amazingly beautiful, smart, sporty, and planned on joining the Air Force. Rose didn't like her boyfriend. Rey faked a smile and made appropriate noises as she listened.
As they walked to lunch, Rose got all excited. "Oh my God, I forgot. I'll introduce you to Finn. He's a foster kid, too. You'll have so much in common."
Rey couldn't stop her eyebrows reacting as she swallowed down her slight offence. Rose didn't notice and instead hurried them over to the lunch queue, waving at some people already sat around a table, miming for them to save two seats.
Tray in hand, Rey then followed Rose. Around a table was a slightly older looking guy in a school football jacket, leaning over a brown eyed girl and talking animatedly, a blonde girl with an unusual bun hairstyle, and a black dude trying to hide how uncomfortable he was. Something in his eyes resonated with Rey. This was obviously Finn.
"Everyone this is Rey, new girl. Rey, this is Jess, Poe, Kaydel—but everyone calls her Kay, and Finn." Rose's eyes twinkled. Yeah, Rose was definitely crushing on Finn.
Greetings were mumbled as Rey and Rose sat down, Rey opposite Finn and Rose to his right.
"Rey's living with Unkar Plutt. Finn, she's a foster kid, too!"
Rey and Finn's eyes met. Without opening their mouths the same sentiment was exchanged. Rose didn't mean the offence. It just wasn't nice to be defined by something so out of their own control but nevertheless shaped their whole words anyway.
"At Plutt's, the old junkyard. Cool. Maybe you can get Jess here a starter motor for her Civic?" Poe piped up. Poe was definitely with Jess. Poe definitely wouldn't be around the table with this group if it wasn't for his romantic interest.
Kay pulled a face. "As if, Poe. You know he's so tight. Foster kid or not, there's no way he's giving away anything, or doing a deal. Sorry, Rey." Sarcastic, realist, the type of person to pull no punches. Kay was okay.
Rey shrugged, she got that impression too. Rey might be surrounded by cars but didn't expect to drive any time.
The conversation moved on to some drama between Poe and a guy who cut him up on the way to school that morning. Rey pretended to look interested.
"Pretty rough on the placement, huh?" Finn spoke low, to Rey only, while Rose responded to Poe's story.
Rey nodded. "Not the best but better than the home. Just waiting to age out. What about you?"
Finn gave a sympathetic nod. "Not too bad. Very religious, very strict, but good people. Nice house, good food. They're okay."
Rey hummed her approval and started eating.
Rey had one class with Finn after lunch and one with Rose last period. And after school they walked out together.
In the parking lot, Rey was introduced to the amazing Paige. To be fair, Rose was right. Paige was gorgeous. The overriding feeling that struck Rey was jealousy. Paige and Rose obviously had a great sisterly bond.
Rose begged Paige to give Rey a ride home but it quickly became apparent that Rey lived on the opposite side of town. The wrong side of town. Paige had a date and was in a rush. Rey really wished Rose would just let it go.
Finally, Rey caught the school bus and rode home sitting next to Finn.
After discussing general experiences of the group home, Rey gave a slight smile. "So, Rose is really into you, huh?"
Finn's eyes flicked away briefly. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess she is." Ah, so he didn't feel the same, not at all. "She's nice. Really friendly."
Rey raised an eyebrow.
Finn cleared his throat and changed the subject to maths homework.
Note: I forget the name of the fic but there was once an amazing Twilight Leah/Sam fic by Greeengoldfish. Heavy on the angst. I get my inspiration from that story and from the music of Alterbridge.