Sephy looked across the school playground, her heart racing as she spotted Callum by the fence. The divide between Crosses and Noughts had never felt more real than it did in this moment. She knew her father would be furious if he discovered their friendship, but something inside her refused to accept that the colour of someone's skin should determine their worth. Callum's laugh echoed across the yard, and despite everything she'd been taught, Sephy found herself walking towards him.

As she approached, other students began to stare. Whispers followed in her wake. "What's she doing?" "Doesn't she know better?" The weight of their judgement pressed down on her shoulders, but Sephy continued forward. When Callum noticed her approach, his expression shifted from surprise to concern.

"Sephy, you shouldn't be here," he said quietly, glancing around nervously. "People are watching."

"I don't care," she replied, though her voice trembled slightly. "We're friends, aren't we?"