The next morning... 8am 

Alright, math is over... What's the next period... I fished out my neatly filed timetable out of my black folder. 8am... My mind went as my fingers trailed a straight line on today's day. Coming to a halt at... Chemistry. 

Great. It's Mrs winters class. Thinking about her blatant favouritism for 'attractive' students makes my stomach churn. 

Ouch! My stomach hurts! I thought, clutching my abdomen, addressing me that I needed to use the washroom. 

As I made my way out, I spotted Diamond, with her clique as usual, whispering to lily, Felix and his 3 buddies. Hints of snickering came from them. What are they talking about...? Forget it. I needed to use the washroom...

8. 10:

I finally feel better after using the toilet... 

"Alexis walker!" 

I looked up, to find Mrs winters, her arms crossed, her eyes practically ablaze. 

"Y-yes madam?" I stuttered. 

What did I do this time? Being 'unattractive' for my own good?

"Why did you vandalize the wall and steal Gustave' s pencil case?!" She accused, turning the atmosphere into a court. 

"Huh? What I are talking about?" I asked. "I didn't do anything! I swear!" 

"Then why is there a doodle on the wall saying 'Diamond is a brat '?!" She demanded, pointing at the words on the wall on the left of the chemistry lab in red paint, still dripping to the ground.

"I -"

"And why did I find this in your bag?!" She interrupted, rummaging through my backpack. In her hand, she pulled out a black pencil case shaped like a sports car, with the name sticker :Gustave Cooper.

Gasps echoing throughout the lab. 

"Mrs winters, i-" 

"See me after class!" She snapped. "now sit down!" 

As I got back to my seat... "Pfft... Haha.." I gave a glance to catch Diamond and her clique, along with Felix and his three pals and Lily and Eric. 

_______________________________________________

After class...

Mrs winters grabbed my hand, dragging me all the way to the principal's office. 

"Ouch! You're hurting me! Please stop!" 

But she paid no attention, as if her ear drums had just fallen out a moment before she grabbed me. 

"Hello Mr Lecroy!" She greeted. 

"Yes Mrs Winters, what seems to be the matter?" He replied formally, straightening his red tie. 

"This girl, Alexis, stole from one of her classmates and vandalized the chemistry lab!" 

"No, I didn't! That's not true!" I protested. 

"Be quiet!" She snapped at me, brandishing Gustave's pencil case as 'proof' and leading him to the chemistry lab to confirm it. 

"Alexis. This is serious. " He said sternly. "You are suspended for two weeks!" 

"What?! No! Please don't suspend me! I swear I didn't do any of that! " I begged, panic rising in my chest. 

"You should've thought of that before you decided to steal from your classmate and vandalize school property! Vandalism is a crime! And not only are you suspended, you will stay back to clean up this mess! You won't be dismissed until you're done!" 

What? Oh no! This could tarnish my record and future! I felt the walls closing in, suffocating under the weight of impending consequences. 

That afternoon, armed with a half filled red bucket with soapy water and a stained black handkerchief, i begrudgingly got to work. The faster I finish, the faster I could escape home to  sing and study- and face my parents wrath. 

"Hey Alex. " 

I turned around to face Lily, accompanied with Eric , Ethan, Felix and Felix's gang. (Diamond isn't here because she had another photoshoot, while Colette and Autumn went home.) 

"What's wrong? Sad to be cleaning and getting your 'perfect' little record ruined?" Lily mocked, twirling her blonde strands. 

'did you... Do this?" I asked. 

"Of course we did!" Lily replied, flipping her hair. 

Wow Lily. First you betray and gang up on me with everyone else , and now you're framing me for something i didn't do?! 

"Why did you do that?" I asked. "Do you know how much trouble I am with-" 

"With your parents?! Yeah we all know they don't love you! How sad!" Mocked Edmond. 

"Do you even know why we framed you?" Arnold added. "Because you got Felix in trouble!" 

"That's right!" Felix piped up, regaining his prideful bravado. "My dad gave me a caning, grounded me and took away my game console after mom told him she saw me with you at the school gate yesterday!" 

Punished? Good! You deserved it! 

"But... This isn't my fault! I didn't mean for any of this to happen!" I protested , the mask of submissiveness and weakness still on my face. 

"Shut up!" He screeched. "you mess with the popular crowd, you get the consequences!" 

"That's right! First you got me in trouble, and now Felix! " Ethan  agreed. 

Excuse me? You're the ones who decided to bully me! 

"Didn't I warn you about making your life a living hell the other night?' lily sneered. "And this is just the start. Luckily for you, we (except Ethan) have a party to attend! And I can't miss it especially with Eric!" 

They strolled off. "bye loser!" 

____________________

Reaching home: 

I trudged back home, feeling as if an elephant was sitting on my heart, my lungs about to burst.  As soon as I approached the house door...

Alright, you can do this Alex... I told myself, taking a deep breath, ready to face the music, the faster I face my parents wrath, the Less I have to worry about it. I opened the door, greeted with my parents, giving the impression im facing two  vigorously erupting volcanoes. 

"Alexis walker!!!!" 

"We heard you stole from one of your classmates and vandalized a wall in school!" 

"Mom, dad, please! It's all a misunderstanding! The popular kids framed me!" I protested. 

" I don't want to hear any lies!" Mom snapped. 

"So do I!" Dad agreed. "why can't you be more like Diamond?! You are grounded for two months young lady! Now go to your room and think of what you've done!" 

I rushed to my room and slammed the door. 

As soon as I sat down...

Ding! My phone buzzed, alerting me of a notification. 

"Hey Alex! So sorry to ruin your perfect little record! But you really deserve it! Go ahead and deny it all you want, but no one would ever believe you! Enjoy being suspended! Because once you're back it'll get worse! We're deleting this message! Toodles!" 

Oh you've just given me some proof lily! Now all I have to do is to take a screenshot...

Gone. 

Wait, where's the message?  It seemed like she can read my every thought! 

This is just the beginning- the battle of invisible thorns , in a world where superficial appearances are worshipped! 

Oh don't worry guys, I'm a very patient person, and I don't mind playing the role of the weak little outcast even if I had to do so for years! You've just walked into the belly of the beast! 

Pulling out a sheet of paper labelled ' revenge list' under my bed, already with the name, Lily, below the bolded words, in red, symbolising fire, passion and a horrible ending. 

Let's see... I thought, pulling out a red fine liner pen. 

Felix... Writing  it as it went to my mind, Gustave, Arnold, Edmond... And Ethan... 

As soon as my pen went down to write Ethan's name... It stopped midair. As if an invisible hand is preventing it from moving down any further. 

No... Ethan's just a peer pressured nerd... But one thing's for sure, i will achieve my dreams and goals without fail. Starting with playing victim... And ending with changing this superficial world and leaving my mark as midnight , along with their downfall! 

You five better make it up to me before that happens... Because I promise it won't end well for you!

Before I knew it... A twisted 'u' formed on my lips, stretching to the end of my face, my eyes, once filled with innocence, glimmered with a dark delight. 

The sinister game has just began. 

(Manical laughter)