A soft laugh escaped her.
Amused, a blush bloomed on Kelley Xavier's pale face. The sorrow around her eyes gave way to a shy coyness, and she lowered her head slightly, unsure of what to say.
She and Howard Thorne had actually gone to elementary school together, so one could almost say they were childhood sweethearts. However, ever since she was a little girl, her difficult family situation had made her quiet and withdrawn, and she never played with her classmates.
During breaks, while her classmates went out to play, she would remain in the classroom doing her homework. She seized every spare second, trying to finish all her assignments at school. Once she was home, she didn't have a moment to spare—there were endless chores to do, on top of caring for her little brother.
