If anyone thought that the first week at Redville had been hectic, the second week would really be the death of them. Not only were all the club activities beginning from Monday, but also a heated tension was sparking between the dance students of Redville.

On Saturday morning, Valeria divides us into two groups of ten and appoints a choreographer in each. From our group, it's Emma Lane, a petite but elegant girl who insists that we call her Line. The nickname seems dumb but I'd be lying if I say that it didn't suit her. The chit she drew had a single word written on it.

Spring.

This is the starting point of everything that went down, though, because after we made the group chat, Line went offline after telling us that she'll be 'brainstorming' for ideas for a while and she needs to be in a quiet environment if all of us want a good result. Then, on Sunday, Rhea tripped from the stairs somehow, twisting her ankle and being benched by Valeria for the entire week. She's out of our group now.

The current members of our group are from all the houses. Leo and I are from Serpens, Zia and Freva are from Cepheus, Zed and Remi are from Lacerta, and Line, Akira and Sam are from Delphinus. With Rhea out on the bench and excluded from the entire evaluation, we are short on one person. I heard that Remi freaked out on her for it but it's not exactly her fault, I guess. She apologised about it a million times anyways.

Aside from it all, rumours started to surface about Sam—whose full name is apparently Samuel Andrews. He's Nate's brother and according to the posts on RedRow, he really did have a delinquent reputation in his previous school. I haven't met him yet and I don't know what it's going to be like to have a troublemaker on our team. Last I saw him, he had a black eye and a swollen cheek. Looks like his delinquent reputation was quick to catch on here. 

It's Monday today and by now, Remi's throwing a fit on all the group members, asking us all to come up with something before he loses his mind. There's nothing we can do except just listen to him because it seems like he has some severe anger issues and if we do anything that pisses him off, it's probably going to turn into a full blown fight.

I'm sitting on my seat next to Elliot at the back of the class again. Kal will be here in five minutes max and all the students are here, talking to each other when a collective chime makes them all take their phones out of their pocket. A few gasps and their eyes on me is all it takes to me to understand just what's up. I look to my side. Elliot's looking at me. He doesn't have his phone out yet.

I close my eyes, not ready for this. Running a hand through my hair, I look back at him as he opens RedRow and an unreadable smile flashes across his face. 

"You really are going to be the talk of the town, Harley," Elliot says. It's the first thing he's ever said to me directly. He turns his phone to me, somehow knowing that I'm not going to open mine. It's a picture of me and Asher. A laugh escapes my lips as I shake my head in disbelief. You can't expect me to not open my phone for this. 

I login my RedRow account and see the top post, one that's gotten two hundred likes in a matter of minutes. In the picture, Asher has me backed against the railing, his hand at my cheek. No one will be able to see our faces completely but it's enough to guess who it is. Plus, the person who posted didn't spare the chance to mention both our names. There's no caption on the post, it's just one single picture that's enough to catch everyone's attention.

I click on the comments, skimming through them. I catch on a few words, all of them full of hate. They get imprinted in my head, dancing around in multiple unknown voices, growing louder moment by moment. It's not affecting me, no—it's just settling down.

They're dating??? Who the fuck would date that ugly ass bitch istg... She needs to get a life... Asher OBVIOUSLY knows better than that, he's probably playing... I just know he's playing... Imagine the amount of drama we'd get if the two were actually dating... You think they've kissed or fucked yet? Harley looks like a freakin' virgin honestly...

"You're now officially the first person to have a RedRow rumour about yourself in our year," Elliot says nonchalantly. "How do you feel?"

My phone vibrates and the screen lights up. At the same time, Kal enters the room, keeping all his stuff down and giving us a minute to get ourselves together. I see the notification I've gotten on Instagram.

Asher: you got yourself a rumour harley :) 

***

It's not until the end of lunch that I receive a text from Line in the group chat. Relief rushes through me but it doesn't last long when I realise what's going to happen today. We haven't really met anyone outside of our classes so it's going to be a difficult job to coordinate with everyone. Plus, it's Monday already. We've skipped the only day we could've practice for an entire day.

Line: hey y'all. i came up with something. i'll tell u about it after the afternoon classes so please be in the studio a bit early. thanks x.

Everyone in the group chat seenzoned her. Before the afternoon classes began, Leo took the liberty to come up to me and inform how Line finally texted just in case I miss the text. He went on to suggest that the two of us should head back to the dorms and then to the studio together, to which I didn't reply. I thought that he'd assume it's a no from my side but he was there waiting for me outside the class when the day ended.

We headed back to the dorms with Leo starting a random conversation and me continuing it as much as I can. I grabbed my dance bag and went downstairs—he was already there. We took bikes to the dance studio and went inside. Line booked us the studio for an hour, which had already begun. I'll never know if this girl doesn't have a sense of time or if she's keeping the schedule tight on purpose because ten minutes have already passed and we reached here as fast as we could.

We go to our respective changing rooms. When I'm there, I find Line, Akira and Zia already there. Line and Akira are engaged in a hushed conversation so they don't notice me but Zia does. She looks at me and gives me a small smile before turning back to her bag. 

I walk inside one of the stalls and change into my dance clothes. It's a pair of white training shorts and a fitted tank top, over which I slip a tshirt for now. I take a minute to adjust my hair in a high ponytail before walking out. Freva is the only one here right now and it looks like she just entered the place. She looks at me and flashes a wide smile as a greeting before getting inside one of the stalls.

When I come back outside, almost everyone is here already. Zia is standing alone in the corner with her headphones on, Line is standing in front of the mirror tapping her foot against the floor, Zed, Remi and Akira are engaged in a conversation. Leo has just entered the room. I drop my bag in one of the corners and sit on the floor, cross legged while scrolling through my phone.

It takes about five minutes for Freva to come back out of the changing room. The moment she's here, Line's eyes flick up to her in the mirror and she claps her hand, turning to face us.

"Okay, hey," she says, "I'm really sorry for not contacting you guys over the weekend but right now, we've got about an hour before the class starts. I'll just explain how I've planned everything to go like and we'll all do our best, right?"

"You wasted the entire Sunday but go ahead," Remi mutters but I could hear him from the opposite corner of the hall.

Line hesitates for a moment. "I'm sorry about that."

"If you really want to waste the entire time apologising, we can just meet after the class." Remi folds his arms across his chest, throwing her a death glare. I can see Line feel unsure and small in that moment, like she wants to crawl back into whatever hole she came out of. When she doesn't speak for some time, Remi lets out a sigh. "Are you really going to stand here like this now?"

"Hey, um, Line, isn't Sam coming? He should be coming, right?" Akira interrupts, hoping to redirect the conversation to something more important. It's then that I realise that the third Delphinus member isn't here yet. I knew he'd be a troublemaker but I assumed he'd be on time for this.

I'd spent an hour on Saturday to find the overall first year rankings of all our group members. He's one hundred and second among all of us, which means he's not exactly a bright student. Out of the twenty dance students, he had ranked seventh, which isn't pretty bad. I'm convinced he's accepted in terms of his dancing techniques and skills instead of academics. Besides, based on his social media, he really was dedicated to his art. I wouldn't be surprised if his parents paid the school to raise his score. 

"Who's Sam now?" Zed asks.

"Andrews. Nathan Andrew's brother," Leo replies.

Zed's mouth forms an 'o' as the realisation hits him. "Nepotism, isn't it?"

"God knows."

Akira hits Zed's arm. "How the hell did you manage to forget the name of a person in your group?"

"I've literally only met you guys once and you expect me to remember your bio datas?"

"Who said anything about biodatas? All I'm asking you is to remember our names. Is it that difficult to do?"

"Guys!" Leo interrupts Akira and Zed, stepping between them. The two of them stop for a second, both throwing annoyed looks to him before resuming their argument. Leo sighs in frustration and raises his hands up as if saying that he comes in peace. "Can we just get this over with?"

By now, Zia has put her headphones down and is glancing at them with a concerned look while Remi is standing at the back of the room, scrolling through his phone with an annoyed expression on his face. He looks like he's trying his best not to lash out at them. Freva, however, seems to be recording the argument with interest. She's interesting, I suppose, since not everyone would record someone while they're fighting instead of stopping them from ripping each other's throat.

"If you guys don't want to listen to me, then I just won't put my idea forward. Will you guys be happy if we fail?" Line says. The confidence she was wearing at the beginning had faded away now, her voice small and timid. Even her body language had changed now.

"I'd honestly rather fail instead of working with these two rats at this point," I hear Freva mutter, her tone bored. "Just say it if you want to, Lane. If they want to listen, they will. If they don't, well, then," she shrugs, "Their loss, I guess."

"It will be our loss," Leo reminds her. "Do I have to remind you that we all would be graded over this?"

Freva shrugs. "It doesn't matter. If I go down, you all go down with me. What's the big deal?"

"Are you for real right now?"

If this goes on, no one will be able to do anything but blame each other. That's the point of this team up. I was wondering why they would give a group assignment this soon into the year but upon some thought, I did understand why. Freva and Leo keep bickering back and forth, neither of them making any sense at all. Zed and Akira are alternating between bickering and calming the others down. This isn't going to work.

Just then, someone knocks on the door. Hard. That gets everyone's attention, quieting everyone down. The door's already open, a tall guy with light brown hair standing there with a smile on his face. He's in tracks and a white tshirt, his body completely relaxed as if he isn't over twenty minutes late to this.

"You guys know I can hear you all across the hall?" he says.

"Sam," Akira says, letting out a breath in relief.

He enters the room, walking up to Leo first. "You," he says to him, ignoring everyone else. He points to the only empty corner of the room. "Go there. Shut your mouth. Listen."

"Man, what are you? My mom?" Leo argues and I have a feeling that he's about to continue but he sees the look on Sam's face and sighs, quietly walking over to the empty corner. He throws me a look and I assure him that it's fine with a small smile. I shift my attention back to Sam.

"Now you," he point towards Freva and she looks back at him with a confused look, "Keep your fucking phone aside before I break it and you go crying to your mommy."

"Joke's on you. I don't have a mommy."

"Great, then. I can break your face too then without the fear of having my ass busted." Her face drops. "Keep your phone aside and go stand on the other corner. If I see you making a remark right now, I'll kick you."

I don't know why, but his words seem to move her a little since she walks to the corner while complaining and muttering under her breath.

"Now, what do we do with the two of you?" he says as he walks towards Akira and Zed. He stands between them and his eyes dodge between their faces. "You, in that corner. And you, go with that short tempered buzzcut." They take a moment to process the situation but eventually they do move and walk to where I've asked them to. 

"I'm not short tempered," Remi mutters

"Did I ask?"

He doesn't reply and his jaw clenches. He finally turns to Line, who's looking at me him an expression of awe.

"Do I have to send you out of the room or will you speak?"

She seems to catch herself then. She clears her throat, letting out a deep breath as Sam spots me in a corner. He walks over, seating down close enough to hear his voice. He looks at me, flashing a smile. I smile back, unsure of what else to do. 

"You know what?" he says, his voice so low that only I can hear him. "This was the first time I've ever done something like this."

That gets a laugh out of me. Remi throws a look in my direction, making a chill go down my spine. Yes, he's mad. He looks so fucking mad. I look away from him and back at Sam. "Glad it worked, though," I say to him.

"Alright, okay," Line finally begins. "Our topic is spring. Like the season, spring. The song I've chosen is 'River Flows In You'. Have you all heard of it?"

Of course. It's a common song, one which people play on piano for practice. It's a good choice on Line's part but choreographing it with the concept of the season of spring—it will be a little difficult.

"What does that song have to do with spring?" Freva asks, her arms folded. "I mean, I don't see how the song even resembles the season. It's not related to spring. Is this what you were doing all weekend? Because it sucks."

"Hey, hear me out, okay?" Line says. "I'll explain it to you. Do any of you get what I'm trying to say?"

"You haven't explained anything," Remi mutters.

Right then, Zia raises her hand. At first, no one notices her but eventually, Zed looks at her and raises his eyebrows. "Hey, she wants to say something," he announces and everyone looks at her, waiting for her to speak. Even though I wait for her, she doesn't speak. Instead, she makes some gestures with her hand, her face showing the desperation of what she wants to say. It's sign language.

It hits me then. Zia's mute.

"Hey, use your mouth," Akira snaps. 

"That's what he said," Sam whispers next to me. I throw him a look. He smiles back sheepishly.

"She can't." Freva sighs. "She's mute."

"Oh," Akira says, guilt washing over her face. "I'm sorry."

Zia sighs in frustration and looks like she's about to storm out of here but instead, she takes out her phone and begins typing. All our phones ping collectively. I see Freva glance at me before taking her phone out. 

Hi. she writes in the groupchat. I think I understand what Line means. Can I try to explain it?

She looks over at Line, who just nods with a smile.

Zia: River Flows In You is a piano piece that depicts how two people can fall in love with each other. One of the reasons why it's popular is that it's a piece that connects with the listener. I think the concept Line came up with is pretty complicated to understand. I think she represented winter and spring as lovers. Winter is harsh and cold, but then spring comes and takes its pain away. When the snow melts, spring takes over. They only meet for a brief time period and have their roles to play and are opposite to each other and yet, winter waits for the arrival of spring and sacrifices itself and spring comes to put an end to its suffering.

Zia: I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense. I don't know how else to put it into words.

My eyes go to Zia once I finish reading this and I catch her already looking at me. When our eyes meet, she quickly looks back at her phone. In the next minute, people in the room go over the entire explanation and let it process. Line finally sighs.

"Yes," she finally says. "Zia's right. I want to represent winter and spring as two individuals."

Remi lets out a sarcastic, breathy laugh. I almost roll my eyes but decide to hear him out first. "That's okay and all but you're telling me that we're going to do this complicated concept and present it on Friday?" Remi scoffs. "Yeah, we're failing."

"Remi," I finally say, annoyed. "She knows what she's saying. Stop complaining unless you have a better idea."

"Okay, hold the fuck up—" his snaps to me, an expression of mock surprise on his face. "The first ranker speaks? Goddamn, what a surprise. Why don't you keep your mouth shut and bury your head in those books of yours? Talking isn't going to keep you up, you know?"

"Where exactly do you think you're taking this conversation, Remi?" I ask him calmly. "What does any of this have to do with my score?"

He raises his eyebrow. "Really? You ain't jealous that this bitch—" he points towards Line, "—who scored way less than you is made a useless choreographer? It's a fucking mistake, that's what this is."

I roll my eyes. I've been watching him since the beginning. I've been listening to him whine pointlessly, just to spite Line. I've seen his rank, his social media, and that's enough for me to see just what kind of a person he is. 

"Let me guess," I begin nonchalantly, "you wanted the leadership role. You've always wanted it and judging by your attitude right now, you're not used to not getting it at all. Your ego is hurt that you weren't chosen for the choreography because you're just too used to bossing around instead of actually cooperating for once."

When I finish, there's a pin drop silence in the room. No one is moving or saying anything. I don't know if it's because they think I went too far or if they know that I've spoke facts but I don't care. I'm not saying this to provoke him. I'm saying this for a reason that's clear in my mind.

In a split second, Remi makes his way towards me. Before anyone in the room can react, he grabs the collar of my shirt and tugs me upwards, pushing me against the mirror. Sam reacts before anyone else could, getting up on his feet and pushing him away by his chest. I relax, cracking my neck as I take in a breath. 

"Get your hands off her," Sam warns, pushing him away once more.

"She started it," Remi snaps.

"No, you did. How much effort does it take to keep your mouth shut for five fucking minutes?"

Remi ignores him, looking right at me. By now, Line and Zia are close to me by my side and the others walk closer, unsure of what to say. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" he almost yells at me. "You don't get to say stuff like that to me and get away with it."

"Don't talk to her. Talk to me." Sam gets his attention again. Remi's mad and it's obvious. He looks like he could break someone's face in this very moment. "The goddamn audacity you have to pull this move off even after knowing that there's a camera in here. I can't believe you."

"They ain't gonna check the cameras at all," Remi says. "Get aside, I'm warning you."

"Wait a minute, Lorenzo. Why don't you turn around and see for yourself? You ain't scared of the camera in the studio, are you? What'll happen if she leaks the video to the school authorities, huh?"

All eyes settle on Freva. Her face turns white as she quickly puts her phone away. "I did nothing," she chirps, a nervous smile on her face. Her eyes dodge between Sam and I while the others throw her incredulous looks. 

"You wouldn't," Remi says but he doesn't sound as sure as he had been before.

"Oh, trust me, she would."

Remi says nothing then and walks towards his bag, grabbing it and muttering a little 'Forget it' to himself. No one says anything till he's out and the sound of his footsteps begin to fade away.

Breathing out, Sam looks at me, his eyes holding the same expression as before. "You okay?" I see his eyes trail down my right arm but it doesn't linger. I appreciate that.

"Yeah," I reply. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Freva clears her throat. "I think we should, you know, meet up after the mandatory classes or something? Like, at least we know the concept of the act now, right?"

Line nods. "Yeah, cool. We still have half an hour before the classes begin." She pauses. "Are you guys okay with the concept?"

Sam shrugs. "I don't really get the cheesy concept. If y'all are okay with it, I'm good." No one else says anything about it, maintaining their quiet.

"Okay, then," Line says, "We'll just resume at six. I'll see you all later."

After throwing me a last look, Sam exits the room as well. I suddenly feel tired and light but manage to walk to where my bag is and drink some water, the small feeling of panic that had developed in my chest fading away as I count in my mind and try to stay calm and focused.

I walk outside the spare studios and sit alone, scrolling through my phone while waiting for the time to go by so that the class begins.

The little excitement I felt over the weekend for the assignment is nowhere to be found anymore. Our team is scattered and not fit to perform together yet. Moreover, the interaction inside has created some unwanted tensions between all of us.

I don't think anyone else has realised the motive behind assigning a group assignment right at the beginning of the year.

I won't break this to them just yet, though. There's no way I'll break this to them now. If they figure it out on their own, then that's their gain.

I let out a breath.

Till then, I had many other more important things to do.

My fingers loom over the unblock button in front of her name. I close my eyes, asking myself if it's a good idea or not but in my heart, I already know that there's no other way to do this. So, I ahead with it. I wait for her Instagram profile to load in front of me. Her username and name appears. Her profile picture is still the same—the one from the France trip. Her followers have grown now—they're at 242K. I bet she's happy about it. I bet she knows she's famous. And I also bet that she'll notice me, and follow me back.

I take another sip of water, calming myself down.

It's just the beginning of it all.