As much as I love school, that's a lie, I can wait to go back. As soon as anyone sees me I'll be pelted with questions.

Why and how did you OD?

Are you okay? Do you need help?

I scoff at my father as he enters into my plain white hospital room.

"Did she buy it?" I ask emotionless.

He nods and sets a hand on my bed. "She believes it, but I think you need to add some convincing words in, Arius."

Sighing, I pick up my phone and scroll through it. "I hate lying, dad. I can't do it. Not to Gem, not to Aris, and not to Leona." When I find Aris's number I dial it up. "It's just, not me."

Aris answers and agrees to pick me up from the hospital later today.

My dad shakes his head at me. "She can't know what really happened. None of them can, Arius. For her safety. For all of your friend's safety. Arius, I know it kills you to lie but please listen to me, this is to help."

I shake my head, disappointed in him. "We're the perfect class and yadda yadda, yeah I don't care. I'm supposed to be trustworthy."

He glares at me, looking murderous. "You are trustworthy. You are being selfless by doing this. It's just one little lie."

He leaves without saying another word and I'm glad for that.

I don't want to talk to him.

I smirk. "Did you get that, Aris?"

His side of the line is silent until I hear him let out a stressful breath.

"This is crazy even by my standards." He goes silent again. "But it's also messed up. We're the perfect class? Damn."

Again, more silence comes from his line.

"We'll get a story straight tomorrow. I want to know everything. Hopefully they didn't bug your phone." He says.

I shrug. "Oh I know they did. I just don't care. If they try to hurt me, it'll ruin everything. I know your listening and I know you made terms with my father, but here are my terms. I'm telling Aris, and he's helping me. I need help. I won't tell anyone else, but you won't hurt Aris. If you do, in any way, I'll sing everything out like a mockingbird."

Aris erupts into laughter on the other end.

I admit it to, I didn't think I could be this tough. Maybe it's my rebel side.

Heavy breathing comes from some unseen source. "Deal." The voice says, and all my connections are lost. I check my service, to find my phone glitching out. Green and blue lines stripe down my black screen.

The Elders better buy me a new phone for running this one.

They want a perfect class, well that's what they're going to get. The good traits. And the bad traits.

This chapter got rid of the wait on my shoulders. I had no idea how I was going to get this topic/conflict started. Then I was like "hey, let's just give it from Arius's POV. So I did. And I hope you like it as much as I did. Sorry it's short (this isn't the official chapter of the week) and

As always, stay happy, stay gold,
-Dani_Kail