I've never really thought of myself as a good person.

Maybe that's the reason why I've always had a fucked up family life. No one in my family is particularly good as a person, and therefore, they're not good at taking care of people. That's the same with me - I'm not good at comforting or making people feel better and I have stopped trying to do that long ago. I'm fine as I am. I don't want to change.

I don't need to change.

Wednesday is one hell of a day for me. Hayette confronts me again and thankfully, doesn't punch me or anything because we're in class and Julian is right next to us. One thing I've noticed about her is that she only gets too harsh when there is no risk of being caught and ratted upon by any of our classmates.

"Asher Hale, Penny Bridgette, Nathan Andrews, Harper Trent, please report to the Principal's office on urgent basis."

I lean back on my chair as people around me begin to speculate about the situation. It's not everyday that someone is called into the principal's office by Roma. Especially with two members of the student council, the second ranker, and the chess champion of the school. I see Elliot look at me and raise his eyebrows in question but I shrug it off, ignoring it.

Elliot is so much smarter than everyone else around here. He doesn't look like he believes me. I'm sure he's going to wait for the rumours to begin.

It isn't until lunch when I open my phone again. There's been an announcement on the forum and this is probably one of the few times when I have seen something on there without the others needing to remind me. It's done directly by Roma, for once, instead of Kal or someone else.

Student council applications are now open.

Only two spots are available for the first years as of now.

The application forms have been linked below.

For more details, please contact:

Miss Roma (Adviser & Principle)

Asher Hale (President)

Nathan Andrews (Vice President)

Samantha Frey (Secretary)

" Are you going to apply for it?" Elliot asks me.

I look up from my phone. "Nope."

"Let me guess," Leo walks up to us, a smile on his face. "'I don't think I'm suited for a role like this because I'm well aware of what I can and cannot do?' I mean, that's what you say every time, don't you?"

"Shut up," I mutter under my breath.

"Did he lie?" Elliot laughs.

"I didn't." Leo sits down in Hayette's place knowing well enough that if she sees him, she'll get mad. But at this point, he's done it so many times that he doesn't care about it at all. Or at least, unless she hits him too. "I know she's going to say that. But you know what? You'd actually make a great member. With Asher being the president and all."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I ask him, referring to the part where he said Asher's name.

"I mean," he whistles, "honestly, both of you would work well together. I don't know why I'm saying this but it's just in the, you know, vibes." "You're applying for it," I mutter.

"Vibes," Elliot snorts. "Yeah, right. Weren't you the one shipping these two like a week ago?"

"You were shipping us?" My voice is so full of disbelief because I didn't expect Leo to be one of the glorious souls whose coping mechanism is shipping me with every senior I talk to.

"Hey, it was a phase," he protests.

"Yeah, sure. Die."

"Ouch." He leans back. "Anyways. Do you want to know who actually likes you? I know you want to know that and guys have a fair share of gossip too."

Elliot scoffs. "Harley here isn't a likeable person at all. No one likes her. You seen how Hayette's been on her back for the Iris thing since morning?"

"Hayette's a girl, you ass. I'm talking about guys here."

"Isn't that like a violation of the bro code thing you guys have?" I ask him.

"Maybe. But who cares? The person who likes you isn't my friend anyways."

"But still."

"You're friends with literally everyone," Elliot deadpans. But then something in his face changes and his mouth forms an 'o' as he looks at me with a playful smile. "I know it now."

"Don't tell me," I mutter even though I want to know who that person is. I can't even do the math and figure out who Leo doesn't talk to because honestly? I've never noticed that. To me, Leo is irrelevant. Harsh but it's the truth. I sometimes forget that he exists and then the next day, he sits back at Hayette's seat or my table striking up a normal conversation that I'm forced to continue.

"You look like you want to know it."

"Shut up."

"That's her favourite phrase, isn't it?" Leo asks Elliot.

"Damn right it is," he replies.

Just when I'm about to say something, Kal enters the classroom again. Everyone goes silent but no one moves from where they're standing as they look at each of us from a good few moments. Then, they nod. "Last class has been cancelled. I forgot to inform you all earlier. We're going to the auditorium. Come on."

"Now?" someone asks.

"Yes, now. The session starts in five minutes so be quick."

Taking the hint, the students start to walk out of the class, joining the students from the other classes as they all walk together. As usual, Elliot and I are the only ones who are left behind. We blend into the crowd really easily and make our way to the auditorium.

The last time I was here was on the day of the orientation. Just like then, Arlo Liamme stands on the stage with Miss Roma in her signature pink pencil skirt. Here, in this room, everyone begins to scatter around, sitting with their regular group of friends not bothering to care about their houses. There aren't only the first years here - I see literally every student of the Academy and yet the place doesn't seem full at all.

Elliot takes the corner seat and I sit next to him. The seats around us were empty one moment and the next they were not. On my other side sits Summer, grasping my arm almost immediately. Her grip is so strong on my already injured arm that I have to bite down a yelp.

"Harley, oh my god, I didn't see you after Saturday and I got your gift and it's so cool and how do you know what my favourite colour is—you're so cool, man," she blabbers, her grip growing strong by every word. I glance at her wrist. She's wearing the yellow coloured bracelet I bought for her and I internally smile.

Bingo.

"You're welcome," I say.

"Yeah, yeah, Summer. She knows you're here," a familiar breathy voice says from behind me and I flick my eyes to the person. My eyes meet Nate's for a moment before he leans in closer, putting his hand around Summer and removing it from my arm before he sat back.

Summer realises that she had been holding my arm and apologises quickly. Asher joins Nate and tugs Summer's pony before throwing me a playful smile that I love and hate at the same time. As if this isn't enough, Penny sits down right next to Summer, and the two guys sitting next to her are kicked out of their seats by Ella for her and Mason.

Mason waves at me and I smile back.

Elliot nudges me. "What?" I mutter.

"Remind to never hang out around you again because the people you attract are intimidating as fuck."

"I'll forget."

"Fuck off."

"You started this conversation."

"Shut up."

"That's my line."

"You don't have it copyrighted. You stole it."

"Stole it from?"

"I don't know. Some writer."

"You'd know that better than me."

"Dumbass."

"Has anyone ever told you that you both are cute together?" Summer comments out of nowhere. When I look at her, she's grinning. Penny is looking at us too, though her expression is more amused than playful. I feel Asher's gaze on me too, but I don't mind him much anymore.

"That's new," Elliot scoffs.

"Right?" I lean back on the chair just as the lights go off. Silence envelopes the room as the mic gets switched on. We hear Arlo's voice through it before he clears his throat.

"Good afternoon, everyone. Usually, announcements like these are made online through the forum," he says, walking around slowly. "But it's almost been a month since the year has started and today, I will be listing a few events that will be taking place in and outside the school."

"Oh my god, this is going to be boring," Summer mutters under her breath.

"Next week, as the dance students must have been told, there is a competition where the first years are going to debut. It is going to be your first competition and you will be competing against fifteen other top schools. If you win, there will be two other events that you will need to compete in. For the first year music students, they have their showcase from Monday, as you all may know. From the showcase, three entries will be decided for the annual Spring Height contest."

A wave of chatter goes through the crowd. Everybody knows what the Spring Height contest is - one of the most popular stages for music across the world. For Redville to get seven entries in the preliminary every year, it really says something about it.

"Besides that, there are events for the fashion walk that is going to take place at Redville itself in two weeks time so there are going to be a lot of VIPs that will be showing up for it." He pauses, turning to Roma for a second before muting the mic and saying something to her that isn't audible to us. He then sighs before switching on the mic once again. "Based on the sports evaluation that happened, you will all receive mail if you did good in some sport.

"You will then be asked to either sign up or decline the offer. In case spots are left for the teams, there will be separate tryouts held. Football and swimming teams have already been decided upon. I'm sure you all have received and acknowledged it. If not, then please reply at the latest before the jerseys and jackets are manufactured. Size check will be done at the end of the next week for sports."

"Thank god it's not compulsory. I would have died if someone asked me to play something like tennis," Elliot mutters next to me and scoffs. "Speaking of which, your roommate is on the swim team, isn't she?"

"Yeah," I reply.

Arlo resumes to talk. "During the last week of May, you will have your mid term examination. The date sheets will be given to you through the forums. There are a lot of activities and events as well between them so it is up to you to manage them.

"At last, we have the final exams that mark the end of this term right before Summer. It will happen a little after the Redville Summer Fest. Those exams are very important for you all. Not only because of your rankings and grades, but also because it determines the summer vacation."

"Huh?" the guy in front of me says. "What does that even mean?"

"In the first week of your summer," he continues, "there will be a week-long training camp. The following week, there will be a one week long vacation at a private island. But there is a catch. Not all of you will be able to go there. On your first term finals, the total scores will be added up like usual and the house with the lowest score will have to stay back."

"I don't get it," another person behind me mutters. I look at Elliot and he looks at me and I'm glad to know that we're both on the same page for once - confused.

Then, someone leans forward behind me. I already know who that is.

"He means that the trip is decided upon your year's house's combined score. The one with the least score has to return to their homes or Redville after the training camps while the others will go straight to the island. Last year, your house stayed back amongst the first years, and ours amongst the second. Which sucks but yeah, point being, study." Nate leans back then with a sigh. I turn my head to look at him, raising my eyebrows.

"This is what competition here is like," Asher says, eyeing me. "And you're not gonna make it because you're not a team player."

"Yeah, she isn't," another voice says. It's Ella, to my surprise, a person who doesn't really speak to me unless there's something really important. When I look at her, I see a mocking expression on her face. "She may be smart but from what I've gathered from the Iris situation, she isn't a team player. She doesn't cooperate with anyone so I'm pretty sure that during the first years, she's going to stay back with her little classmates."

"Ella," Mason warns.

"What? I'm not lying." She looks at me with a smirk. "She'll be the one embarrassing herself on the stage on Friday. I don't think Iris will be there because she'll probably be there. Just know that I'll be there to watch your points get deducted, hm?"

"Ella, stop," Mason says again but she just rolls her eyes, laughing lightly. He throws me an apologetic look and I just shrug, my face calm even though I want to snap at her.

"Told you that you shouldn't have become one of the choreographers, Mason."

"I mean, she isn't lying," Asher says. Then, he leans closer to our row, eyes on me. "Thought you were smart so I have no idea what you're trying to do here. Digging your own grave by threatening not to perform."

He says the words without hitching but there's something in his eyes that tells me that he knows. He knows. And I'm not surprised about that. I smile at him.

"What I'm saying," says Ella.

Elliot nudges me. "Is this really a normal day of your life? Because if it is, I want nothing to do with you. You can go find someone else to fill you in with the gossip and news because I resign from the job."

Summer holds back her laughter at that, looking at me and I shake my head with a smile, hitting his arm harder than I intended to.

The rest of the time in the auditorium is spent by actually listening to all the events that will happen in this term, including sports, academics, and everything else in between. There are some remarks by Ella, Summer and Elliot in between but other than that, all of it goes well.

When I'm leaving the auditorium, I get a call from a familiar number. I excuse myself and walk out quicker than I should before the line goes out. When I'm out of the place, I pick it up.

"I know what you're going to say," I say before the other person can say anything. "Did dad ask you to call me?"

Austin sighs from the other side. During the pause, I've made my way to the back of the building and am leaning against the wall.

"So?" I ask when he doesn't say anything.

"Your dad is an asshole," he finally says. "I don't like him."

"Glad to know we're on the same page somewhere. So why have you called me?"

"Because your dad has asked me to convince you to show up for that dinner no matter what." He lets out a small laugh. "He's clever, though. Starting to convince you a month ago so that the chances of you showing up remotely increase. You're definitely his daughter."

"Shut up."

"I see you disagree," he says, "but yeah, I mean, you're obviously better. In brains and in looks, both."

"And that's exactly why you don't compare me with him."

He hums. For a moment we're both silent. Then he speaks up again, his voice unsure.

"Are you okay?" he asks and before I can reply, I hear him scoff. "I forgot how much you hated that question. Answer if you want to but yeah, if you lie to me, I'll kill you."

I find myself smiling. "Don't worry, Austin." I hear someone's footsteps near me. My eyes are in the same direction as Nate comes into my field of vision. I put my hand up as a sign for him not to say a single word unless I finish this conversation. "I'm not gonna lie. Don't wanna die that soon. Especially with your hands."

"Good. And about the dinner..."

"Are we really going to talk about that?" I ask, trying to hide my frustration.

He lets out a breath. "See, here's the thing. He's dead set on getting you there somehow so that his reputation remains intact. He wants to show everyone that he has a sane daughter and a sane family, which I find very funny because you're the opposite of sane. And he's asked Zack to call you next. It's gonna be another one of our cousins then. Nola, probably. You don't even talk to Nola."

"Where is she anyways?"

"Last I heard, she was in France with her boyfriend."

"I heard about that a year ago. From you."

"Yeah, well, we aren't exactly keeping contact."

"And If I say no to Nola?"

He doesn't reply for a moment. Just when I'm about to say something to him, he speaks up again.

"Then he's going to call your mom," he says quietly. "And things are gonna turn serious. So if you plan on dragging it to the point he has to convince your mom to convince you, you know better than to say no to him, don't you?"

"He'd do that?"

"He can do anything for his reputation."

"And I can do anything to ruin his," I say, forgetting that he's still here, listening and watching me. "But I don't want this to become a big deal. If mom calls, I'll say yes. You aren't gonna tell him that."

"Never," he scoffs. "I've got a meeting now so I gotta go. I'll tell your dad I failed."

"You do that."

"And Lee?"

The nickname still stings when he says it but I let it slide. "Yeah?"

"Take care of yourself. I'm sorry about what I said that night."

I bite my lip. "Hm, sure. Thanks."

With that, I cut the call and sigh, keeping the phone back in the pocket of my skirt. My eyes go back to Nate, a smile on my face. He takes a step towards me, his hands in his pockets. His tie is loosened again, top button unbuttoned like usual, shirt half untucked.

"You okay?" he asks me, unsure.

"Yeah, I'm good." I'm reminded of the words he said to me on Sunday. "I saw you got called into Roma's office. Are you satisfied?"

He scoffs. "Satisfied? You burnt her script a night before the presentation. And it was a Sunday. She had to turn it in the morning."

I shrug. "So, are you or are you not?"

"I didn't think you would go that far."

"You and Asher asked me to sabotage her. I improvised."

"Yeah, well. It did work. Her score was deducted. She dropped four ranks with just ten points. She thought it was Penny who did it. She almost got in trouble but then Asher saved her ass. Harper's been given a warning on putting up accusations on others. If she does it the next time, her score is gonna be further deducted."

I nod, knowing that this is what must have been the situation since the morning when I heard the announcement. I just wasn't sure about why Penny was the one who was blamed for it - she isn't even in the same program as her. It must be something personal, then. I'll know of it soon.

"Thanks, though," he says. "You are the real deal."

I smile again. "You got this because your best friend called in a favour from me." He doesn't say anything for a while and I watch him, knowing that there's something on his mind that he wants to say to me. The voices near the auditorium are fading out, students heading back to the academic block or whatever club activity they have today.

I wait for him for a while but when he doesn't say anything, I smile. "Spit it out, Nate. What do you want to say to me? I bet Harper Trent wasn't the only person you wanted to talk about."

He smirks, walking to the wall and leaning against it. His hands reach inside his pocket, slipping out a cigarette and a lighter. I watch him as he takes in the smoke, and a beat later, exhales. "Like I said, Harley, you're the real deal so I'm going to be straight with you,," he finally says. His voice isn't playful or friendly. Neither is it hostile or full of hate. It's just straightforward. Blank.

I wait for him to continue, the smell of smoke making me want to try taking a puff or two as well.

He clicks his tongue. "How exactly do you know Carly Katz, Harley?"

I freeze but don't skip a single beat to answer. "We went to the same middle school."

"You did, huh?" he laughs. Even his laughter is distant right now. "Don't lie."

"Not lying."

He lets out a breath. "The number that sent the video to Asher... that belonged to Carly. What exactly was your relationship with Carly? You created a scandal? You somehow missed the fact that someone was recording you? You're smart, Harley. A person like you isn't dumb enough to let someone just record you. Besides, you don't seem like a person who would use a wall to spread rumours for some grudge."

I don't say anything. Instead, I just wait for him to go on so that I don't interrupt his chain of thoughts.

"What exactly are you, Kingsley?" His gaze is on me, deadly, dangerous and curious—all at the same time. He lifts himself off, walking over to me. He stands close enough that I can smell the smoke in his breath more than ever, hear the soft sizzle of the cigarette as it accidentally brushes against Nate's own skin. "You recorded yourself writing that on the wall. You created your own evidence. Why would you do that?"

His fingers softly tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. I don't make a move to step back. If anything, I want to be closer to him—I must be out of my mind to think so. I bite my lip, grounding myself. "That's none of your business, Nate."

"Everything is my business once I'm interested enough," he whispers. "And right now, Harley, you fascinate me."

I raise my eyebrow, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Be careful what you get into, Nate. It might not end well for you."

"Are you threatening me?" He doesn't sound mad. If anything, he just sounds more amused.

"Of course I am," I say without hesitation. "You threatened me that day; you warned me what would happen if I keep going the way I am. Isn't it only fair that I do the same for you?"

He drops his cigarette, crushing it under his feet. "You don't know what you're starting here. You don't learn, do you?"

"Learn from what, exactly?"

"You really don't learn." He takes a step away from me, burying his hands in his pocket as he watches me, shaking his head. "You think you're smart and all but you refuse to see all that's happening in front of you. What's the point of that?"

"If I refuse to see what's in front of me, why don't you just tell me?"

He lets out a laugh, turning his back to me. "Where's the fun in that, Harley? See you later."

And with that, he begins to walk away, not even sparing me a single glance.