Early February. The Darks haven't spoken to me in a month now. We're sort of equally popular, and Grace and her gang have backed down. But they're backing the Darks up. I feel like this entire school year has just been us drunk while playing Clue, Life, and D&D all at the same time. 

On Friday, the unthinkable happens. We have a new kid. And not just any new kid, Jason. Jason was my bully and toxic friend at five of my middle schools. He moved quite a lot too, but the fact it was five of the same places makes me think he's somehow stalking me. Which doesn't help my anxiety.

I really hope he doesn't recognize me, but of course, he does. He approaches me after school in the hallway. Everything about this screams 'danger' but of course I don't run.

"Long time no see," Jason says.

"Yeah," I say, "And I want to keep it that way, so goodbye," 

He grabs my shoulder and yanks me back.

"I don't think so. And what did I ever do to you?" He asks.

"Well, for starters you are extremely toxic and made my life hell, secondly you drove me down a very dark path in which-"

"Oh, look, Virgil's going to whine, whine, whine all night-" He mock-sings.

"Shut it," I say.

"Make me," Jason smirks, "You don't deserve to~"

"He won't, but we will," Roman says, walking up from behind me.

I spin around the see the trio come to rescue me.

"So, what did you do the Virgil?" Roman asks.

Jason just smirks again.

"Is that the name you go by now? What happened to Sanders, or Storm, or-"

"Shut up. Those were nicknames you gave me," I say.

"I seem to remember different," Jason says.

"Shut up!" I say.

"Trying to hide something, are we? I guess you really do want friends, because I know they'd leave you the second you told them," He says.

I glance at the Lights.

"This is not what it sounds like," I say.

"It's exactly what it sounds like," Jason says.

"We don't care," Roman says, "Virgil's our friend, no matter what,"

Despite that, I can see the unsureness and curiosity in their eyes. They want to know, but I don't want them to. But I definitely don't want them to hear it from Jason.

"Not after this, he won't be. What's the matter, Virgie, too scared to tell your friends?" Jason asks, turning back to me.

"Shut it. I'm happier here, and I would appreciate if you didn't bring up darker times," I say.

"Are you just going to ignore our history, then?" He asks.

Yes, yes I am. He was toxic and I had every right to cut him off.

"So you found a place where the grass is greener~" He sings.

Ok, does this school have a curse on it or something? A curse that makes everyone in here sing? Am I next? And where is that faint music playing from? 

I'm just going insane, that's it.

"And you jumped the fence to the other side~"

Does he mean me moving? Because that wasn't really a choice.

"Is it good? Are they giving you a world I could never provide?" Jason sings.

Yes. They aren't a total jerk and leech to me, so yes. They are.

"Well, I hope you're proud of your big decision, yeah I hope it's all that you want and more~"

Eh. It could be worse, could be better. I'm still not convinced the Lights actually like me.

"Now you're free from the agonizing life you were living before~"

I mean, he's not wrong, but he's also not helping my case. I want to ignore my past and keep it in the past. 

"And you say what you need to say so that you get to walk away. It would kill you to have to stay trapped when you've got something new! Well, I'm sorry you had it rough~" 

You're what made it rough, so I doubt that.

"And I'm sorry I'm not enough. Thank God they rescued you~"

Why am I staying here, letting him convince the Lights that I'm hiding stuff? The power of song, that's why. And because I'm frozen in place with fear.

"So you got what you always wanted, so you got your dream come true. Good for you. Good for you, you, you. Got a taste of a life so perfect, so you did what you had to do~"

Again, moving wasn't really my choice, but I feel like he's been talking with the Darks. I wouldn't be surprised.

"Good for you, good for you~"

I'm guessing the Lights also want to hear this, which is why they're sticking around. I look at their expressions. Roman, angry, or annoyed. Patton, fearful, and hurt. Logan, still expressionless. I don't know how he does it.

"Does it cross your mind to be slightly sorry? Do you even care that you might be wrong?"

Even if I was, there's no going back.

"Was it fun? Well, I hope you had a blast while you dragged me along~"

I only dragged him if he was stalking me. In which case, it's his fault. But again, I think he's singing for himself and the Darks.

"And you say what you need to say, and you play who you need to play, and if somebody's in your way, crush them and leave them behind~" Two new voices join in.

Great, it's J-Dee and Remus. Why don't you just rip me apart and leave me on display, it'll reveal more and hurt less.

"Well I guess if I'm not of use, go ahead, you can cut me loose. Go ahead now, I won't mind! I'll shut my mouth and I'll let you go, is that good for you? Would that be good for you, you, you?"

Jason has dropped out of the song a little, letting the Darks take the lead. Why. Did they plan this? At least they're not dancing.

"I'll just sit back while you run the show, is that good for you? Would that be good for you, you, you?"

My turn. I guess I am singing.

"All I need is some time to think, but the boat is about to sink, can't erase what I wrote in ink, but I won't change the story. All the words that I don't regret, like a train freeing off the track, you cause the rails and my bones all crack, I've found a way to stop it, stop it! Just let me out!" I sing.

I changed the lyrics a little, so what? They fit, and if I'm singing I'm doing it my way.

"So you got what you always wanted, so you got your dream come true. Good for you, good for you, you, you. Got a taste of a life so perfect, now you say that you're someone new. Good for you, good for you, good for you, good for you~" The three of them sing.

I turn to the Lights. They're all still frozen in shock. I turn away from the Darks as they sing the final lyrics.

"So you got what you always wanted~"

I walk away from them. You know, I think J-Dee was right. At the start of the school year, when he warned me this place was full of brats, jerks, and manipulative liars. I also realize I broke my promise to never betray them. But they technically forced me into it.

I hear the Lights come after me. I have a feeling this isn't going to end well, which is exactly what the Darks want.

Songs used were 'Shine a Light Reprise' (briefly) from Heathers: The musical, and "Good for you" from Dear Evan Hansen. I know this chapter was a bit more musical than most, but the song really fit, and it's one of my favorites. I hope you enjoyed reading, and feel free to leave any thoughts or feedback in the comments. Have a wonderful day/night you magnificent peep!