Lem pulled a pale yellow shirt over her head, then put on her white skirt.

Her gaze shifted to her mirror. She didn't know if she was happy with the girl looking back at her. Life at Crystal Prep was easier than this. I'm smart, not pretty.

Designer stores lined the streets in Manhattan. People everywhere were beautiful.

Light green hair, same look every day.

"Zestie!" her mother called.

Lem walked to the kitchen area of the apartment. "Could you not call me Zestie anymore? Please?"

Lime glanced at her. "I thought you loved that name."

She rolled her eyes. "The Lemon you knew when she was five liked it. When I was a little girl. But guess what hon? I'm not your little girl anymore. So get over yourself."

She whirled around, and left.

Cold Manhattan air hit her face.

The Fall Formal is this week. Here, and back home. Not like I'd have a date either way.

She hated her school.

The people there were just like her. They strive for perfection, at any cost.

Lem worked herself up, to walk into Starbucks.

She placed her usual order, a simple coffee. All that extra stuff is so terrible for you, and disgusting.

It only took a minute, and she left the bar quickly.

When did I become so insecure? No need to answer that. After I was almost murdered. Then living on this perfect place, filled with perfect people.

She slipped her headphones over her ears and head, then turned on her music. She couldn't help singing.

"I need a big move...
I need a sharp knife
I need to cut these scars
Out of my life..."

She stopped thinking about walking. Her mind was completely on her singing.

Then she felt herself fall into someone. She fell back.

Lem pushed her headphones around her neck. "What the heck?"

"I'm so sorry."

"You broke my back!"

She stopped when she saw who is was. Blake Ross. Supposedly the "hottest" guy in her new school. And he was.

He smiled, and reached out his hand. "Are you okay...?"

"Lem," she filled in, taking his hand. "And yeah, I'm good. Thank you."

"Oh, good." He pulled her up. "Are you sure you're not hurt? That was a hard fall."

She nodded. "I'm sure."

Blake was still holding her hand. "I heard you singing. It was really beautiful."

"Thanks. It was Begin Again, by-"

"Rachel Platten, I know. My sister listens to her all the time."

Lem pulled her hand away. "Yeah. Again, thank you. I should really go." Think of a lie! Where are you going? He's so hot! "I think I'm going to the Formal. I have to go buy a dress."

The smile was still on his face. "I'm going, too. We should go together. I promise not to fall into you again."

"Okay."

She waved as she walked away.

Now I have to go shopping... I LOVE SHOPPING!

She bit her lip, and stared at the stores. Trying on dresses with her friends had been fun. Now she was actually going to a dance.

-

It only took Lem an hour to find a floral dress. I look like a flower. She sighed. Oh well. I don't have friends here to help me. Instead, she left the store.

She pulled her phone out from her pocket, and dialed Sunny. It rang for a minute before she picked up.

"Heeeeeyyyy, Sour Shweeeet!" Sunny slurred.

"You're drunk."

Lem face palmed. "Are you at a party?" The sound of music, crashing bottles, and screaming answered her question. "Is anyone there sober?"

Sunny let out a drunk laugh. "Byeee!"

"No, Sunny, wait!"

The line went dead. Lem sighed.

That's it. I'm going home.

-

In half an hour, Lem had packed her bag, and was on a bus to Canterlot.

She leaned back in her seat for the five hour ride.

Over the next few hours, Lem went from reading, to playing temple run, then trying not to break the windows. She hated being in a car, or bus, of plane for so long.

The sun gave way for the moon, and dusk was set in the sky.
City lights finally came into view.

I'm home.

Home brought up many memories, good and bad.

For a minute, she was with Henna again.

"They won't know you're here," Henna said. She stepped closer to them. "What a perfect way to die."

"You're crazy!" Sugarcoat spat. "You're a psychotic freak!"

Henna smirked. "Thank you, my blunt friend. We're all mean sometimes."

Indigo glared at her. "What do you want from us?"

She blinked. "I just want to see you dead. I hated all of you." She picked up a gun. "This is truly the best moment of my life. Have a nice death."

"What about Sunset? She loved you!" Lem whispered.

A shadow of guilt passed through Henna's eyes. But it was gone quickly. "I never loved her. I just needed her to trust me."

The door was kicked open.

Henna turned.

Fear flashed in her eyes when she saw the knife Sunset held over her head.

The sound of the blade tearing her echoed in Lem's ears.

Lem stiffened. She didn't breathe.

They were let off the bus, and she ran to Sunset's apartment. She beat on the door until it was opened.

Sunset looked terrified. She relaxed when she saw Lem. "Hey! I can't believe you're back. The other Shadowbolts aren't here, I think they're at some party, getting drunk." She held up her flask. "This is the only drinking I do."

"I may do it sometimes, but it's still gross."

Sunset screwed the top back on the flask. "You look scared. What were you thinking about?"

"When you killed Henna. How you ripped her body open."

"Great."

Lem sighed. "Did you hear what she said about you?"

She slowly turned away. "Can we please not talk about this? But yes, I did hear her. No more questions."

"Can I use your flask? I actually do want some."

"Alone, or in a drink?"

"Alone. And can you please just pour some in a glass or something? I don't drink after people."

Sunset nodded. She took a glass out of a cabinet.

Lem bit her lip. "So what were you doing? You know, before I got here?"

"Watching Legally Blonde."

"Oh, the irony! Is that the reason you to go to Harvard?"

"No. Rarity told me to watch it. I'm at the part where Professor Callahan rubs Elle's leg."

Lem leaned her head back, and laughed. "Yeah, he was a freak. I love it!" She sighed again. "I really missed you. All of you. No one in Manhattan talks to me. Except this one guy, but I think he's just playing with me."

Sunset frowned. "Well, I know all about playing with, and using people. They always have a reason. It's not for fun, even if they say it is. What does he say to you?"

"That I have a good voice."

"And you do." Sunset huffed. "Look, I know what you think of yourself since the whole...yeah,...but you're still you. You're still the Lem we love. If his sick idea of fun is building you up, then tearing you down, I'll tear him apart."

"Thank you."

Sunset picked up her remote. "Do you want to watch the rest of this with me?"

Lem pressed her lips into a smile, and nodded. "Sure."

She played the movie.

"And Sunset?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

"No need for that. You're my friend, I'd do anything for you. Just tell me to go jump off the top of the Grand Canyon, and I will."
Lem smiled nervously. "You know how all of you are bi?"

Sunset blinked. "Umm...yeah? But were not going trans."

"I know. I keep saying I'm bi, because all of you are. It just felt too awkward to tell you that I'm straight."

"Again, we love you for you. It doesn't matter if you're straight, bisexual, homosexual, transgender, short, tall, or have the best look. And if you can't see how amazing you are, I'll show you."
Sunset pulled Lem to her room, and put her in fdreont of the mirror. "Now, Ms. Zest, tell me what you see when you look at yourself."

"An annoying, freakish, hideous teenage girl, who everyone hates."

"Ah. And you know what I see? I see a beautiful, caring, and talented girl, who has more character than confidence. You won't feel good about yourself until you feel safe in your own skin. Do you?"

Lem kept staring at her face. "No."

Sunset turned Lem to face her. "Perfection isn't inevitable. It will never happen. The way to be perfect is by loving yourself."
"What of I don't?"

"I'm going to make sure you do."

-

For the next three days, Lem stayed with Sunset. It was the day of the Fall Formal.

"So you can come with me. I'm allowed one guest. Oh, and we're having the dance with Crystal Prep this year. Our other friends will be there." Sunset said.

"Do you want to go dress shopping with me?" Lem asked.

Sunset smiled. "Yeah, sure."

The two friends left the apartment complex. The weather was mild, sharp, cool winds, and wispy clouds blowing past the sun. A dress shop stood on the corner of the street.

"Sunset?" Lem said nervously. "There's like, no one here."
"I know. But they have nice dresses," Sunset told her. "It's fine, Lem. I've been here before."

Sunset pulled on a light pink dress. The bodice was tight, and the skirt curved in, and was fringed around her legs.

Then she laid a light green and pale yellow dress in Lem's arms.
S

he only took a minute to get the dress on. It fit perfectly, without showing too much or too little off. The sleeveless dress layered at the skirt, and the bodice was just plain light green. At the skirt, there were layers of green and yellow fabric, and it blended perfectly.

"You look amazing," Sunset said honestly.

"Thank you," Lem replied. There was a genuine smile on her face. Her golden eyes lit up. "So do you."

-

Sunset drew black eyeliner on Lem's lids, then dusted on green eye shadow. "You don't need any concealer. Your face is so perfect."

Lem smiled back at her reflection. "Thank you so much, Sunset."

"You've been saying a lot. Why?"

"For helping me, for being my friend, for showing me how to love myself again."

Sunset held her arms. "I didn't make you love yourself. You realized how amazing you are. We all love you, Lem. It doesn't matter what you do, how you look. We'll always be here for you. I know we will grow old, and die. But never doubt that we care about you." She gently kissed Lem's head. "Come on, or we'll be late."

-

Night of the dance

The group of twelve friends met up at the dance.

Strobe lights flashed, and the music blared loudly through the speakers. Some students were dancing with dates, while others just stayed with their group of friends.

Sour Sweet pulled Fluttershy out to the dance floor. Rarity stood by the punch bowl with Sunny.

The others split up, and did wandered alone.

Sunset bumped into Lilacs. She smiled. "I didnt know you would be here.

"I didn't really have much to do on a Friday night." Her voice was curt. "Plus, I thought you would be here. I told you that I want to get to know you better. If you're only here half of the year, how many chances will I get?"

"Fair enough."

Lilac nodded once. "Yes."

Silence.

Sunset shifted her feet, and looked down. "Do you want to dance with me?"

"I thought you said that you couldn't love me."

"Did I?"

Lilac sighed. "Look, I don't need you to tell me. I can see it in your eyes. You don't love me."

It was Sunset's turn to sigh. "I never said I didn't love you. The thing is: One, I don't know you yet, and two, there's stuff that you don't know about, and it's just going to be hard for me to move on?"

"I get that you don't know me, but I want you to. I want you to open my doors, and find your place in my heart! What I feel isn't one way. You feel it to."

"Perhaps."

"But what happened to your old girlfriend? Did she forget your anniversary?"

She shook her head. "Twi didn't make it to our anniversary, and Henna never really loved me. "No."

Lilac gave her a look. "Then what happened? Did you stop being a lesbian?" She paused. "Are you a slut?"

"No."

"Whore?"

"No!"

"Then what happened?"

"I can't tell you!" Sunset tried to turn away, but Lilac pulled her back. "I can't say!"

Lilac was upset. Tears glittered in her eyes. "Do you hate me?"

Sunset shook her head again.

"Then why? Tell me!"

"I can't!"

"Yes, you can!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"My girlfriend was murdered!"

Lilac went dead silent. Her purple eyes searched Sunset's face. "Are you serious?"

She bit her lip. Why did I just say that? Why did I tell her that?
No words were spoken. The look in Lilac's eyes pierced Sunset's heart. Pity. The look was out of pure pity.

Sunset turned away. "I knew you would hate me after I told you that. Now you know why I didn't before. I do love you, Lilac. But I'm sure you don't want to be with me now." There was some voice in her head. The words she had wanted to scream for so long were about to burst. "And who would? After everythong I did, the way I treated people. Why do I have friends? I did nothing to deserve them." She realized exactly what had been burning in her minds for the past year. "I'm such a bad person. I never changed. They're dead because the killed wants to punish me for everything I did." She was shaking her head. "I should just die."

"Never say that." Lilac's face was gentle. Her smile was calming. "Everyone alivce has a purpose. Even I'd you don't know what it is, you must never forget that. There's a reason you're here. You have to wake up and see it, before it's gone forever."

Sunset reached her head up slightly, and gently pecked Lilac's cheek. She stepped away. "Thank you."

Her phone went off. She instinctively flinched, before checking it.

Unknown ID.

Great.

Meet us outside. -Adagio

She let out a sigh of relief.

"Um, I have to go. You have my number."

Lilac nodded. "Yep," she said, popping the p.

Sunset hurried outside. Her friends were already there. They took each other's hands.

Adagio was standing with Aria and Sonata.

"Good," she whispered. She turned to them. "You actually came."

"What do you want?" Sunset demanded.

Aria put her hand in Sonata's. "We just want to talk to you. Don't worry, are don't hate you. Anymore."

Adagio sighed. "I know you've wanted to ask us why were at the funeral. We knew that H was for Honesty. But before we could help you, Applejack threatened to kill the three of us, and all if you, if we didn't leave. So we did."

"When we found out she was dead, we came back." Sonata sounded tired. "But we didn't know Sylvie, Colette, or Blair until a week before she was killed."

"Why tell us this now?" Sour Sweet asked. "There's nothing else we have to do."

"That was six months ago. The only people who actually died were Twi and Pinkie." Adagio told them.

Rarity sighed and gasped at the same time. "But I killed a lot of people." Tears sprang to her eyes. "I thought I had ended so many lives, but I didn't."

Sunny ran her finger over the scars on Rarity's arms. "And that's why you cut yourself."

"It was a really bad time in my life."

"I know."

Sugarcoat glanced at Indigo. "A lot of feelings changed after those horrible months."

Indigo nodded. "Nothing stays the same for long."

Sunset suddenly stumbled. She fell against Adagio. "Sorry. My leg just felt like someone was sta-" bbing it. She finished in her head after she was met with terrified looks. "Never mind."

River pulled Sunset back to her side. Emerald stood next to her.

"So," Rainbow piped up. "Are we finally free again?"

Aria nodded, just as shrieks of horror rented the air.

They all ran back inside the dance. Students were pushed back, and left a circle on the middle of the room.

Three bodies laid over each other.

Sunset's hand flew over her mouth. Lem turned away.

"WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED?!" Rarity screamed. Fluttershy grabbed her hand, and gasped through her sobs.

Blood slicked the floor. Sunset ran over the sticky fluid, but was pushed away by Dean Cadence.

"Please stay back."

She stumbled back to her friends.

An officer checked their pulses. He nodded. "Deputy?" There was a grim look on his face.

Another officer turned. There were already reporters standing around her.

"This was no accident. We've ruled this a homicide. Today, the sixteenth of October, Principal Cinch, Principal Celestia, and Vice Principal Luna were murdered," she reported.

"No!" All of the girls gasped.

-

30 minutes later

Sunset led the girls back inside. "I never want to be questioned by the police again."

She stopped short.

The blood was gone, but the bodies were still on the floor. Someone, however, had moved the bodies around.

The girls walked closer.

A.

The bodies made an A.

Fifteen different ring tones went off, fifteen sets of eyes were closed, then fifteen phones were hesitantly pulled out.

"Oh no," Adagio whispered.

"We're not done yet," Sunset said. "Hope you liked this little surprise."

"Better keep one eye open again." Rainbow read, feeling sick.
They all read the last part together:

"Because I'm coming for you, sweeties. -A."

They gave each other terrified looks. It said the same thing on all of their faces. Oh please no.

-
WOOP!
Let's talk about the newest Pretty Little Liars for a minute.
I now hate Spencer. And Caleb...NO SHIP!
Then the end. That text. It was signed with a RED DEVIL FACE! Ummm.....this isn't Scream Queens.
But I did love Ezra's little freak out moment.
-
Oh yeah, and I started watching Once Upon A Time.
-
Well, I'm out for now.
Thank you for reading!
A cookie pizza for all of you!
-SaRa