Chapter 8
Eliana Adler's POV

Through the frame of the window, comes the vibrant glow of the risen sun, which falls on my hand. The history teacher is lecturing about second World War. I couldn't focus anything cause I was in a war of my own, war with myself. I shouldn't have made that deal, now he could have leverage over me. What if I messed up and I couldn't help them? It was a shady conversation and a shady deal. The worst thing is that I cannot even tell anyone about it. I couldn't even sleep last night. But it's confirm that he was stalking me otherwise how would he know about my 'bully problems'. I didn't even ask his name, moreover he insulted me like it didn't matter at all. I was staring outside the window when I saw that same guy again, he was looking at me. What the heck is he doing here? I blink twice to see if I was just imagining things, I looked again and no one was standing there. Great, now I am seeing him everywhere, I guess. Definately going crazy and needs some sleep.

"Eliana! Are you listening to me?" Suddenly I heard the voice of the teacher, he sounded angry and frustrated. Actually, no I didn't heard anything cause I am not listening. The whole classroom stare at me, some were waiting for me to answer.

"Sorry I was not paying attention to you" I said quickly to end the embarrassment. Some students whisper among eachother, new topic for them to talk about.

"Should I clap for you? It's not a joke that whenever you like you listen to me and whenever you hate it, you stop paying attention" the teacher said. Sarcasm and anger was clearly stated in his tone. I was here to make good impression on people not to get insulted or hated by others. I guess it's true afterall, I always bring bad luck with me, trouble loves to follow me everywhere. I didn't say a word and just stood their looking down.

"Next time It would be a detention for you. Now settle down and pay attention" said the teacher and went back to his work. I quickly settle down back to my seat. I started noting down the important points and mark it properly. The teacher explain the situation in the Pearl Harbor and about Japan. Soon the bell rang and the students rush out of the class like bunch of chaotic monkeys. I successfully survive this period. I took my backpack and walk out of the class.

My next class was gym period and I absolutely hate it. I dread going to gym class because every team sports game is dominated by the boys.
So, the issue is not that I don't want to participate in gym class, it's just that I have no interest in playing certain sports, but I am expected to play anyways. We have to play volleyball today, I am not at all good at it and specially I have to shower in front of every other girls, it's kinda embarrassing and on top, I am super nervous. I enter the locker room, all the girls were chit-chating, the room echoed with their voice. Boys and girls locker rooms are separate but pretty similar, I saw it in a picture from the brochure. My locker was 5 inch away from Chloe's, every locker colour was bright yellow. The locker rooms have several rows of lockers that are about chest high along with benches to use for changing. I put all my belongings into my locker and locked it, sometimes some people steal others clothing to embarrass that person, I heard it from Chloe, she gave me advice beforehand. The lockers provide some privacy for shy or worried people like me, who are concerned about others seeing their bodies. The girls shower room had individual shower stalls. We have one big room with a bunch of shower heads. The lack of privacy might cause me anxiety but we have to take a shower after our gym class. Everyone has to do it, and it probably isn't as bad as I think it will be. In my previous school it was not compulsory to take showers. Though it's good to shower after gym classes cause bacteria begins to grow in a warm and moist environment, which is result of sweating. I saw Chloe, sitting on one of the benches and scrolling through her phone. I walk over to her. Today is my first time attending the gym class, hope it's going to be fine.

"Hey, whose the best player here?" I asked. She stop scrolling and look at me. She had this 'don't ask me stupid questions' look on her face.

"Nina and Veronica plays the best volleyball here, whatever you do, try not to play against them" Chloe replied and turn her gaze back to the phone screen. I will try my best to stay away from Nina and Veronica if only fate stay by my side during the game.

Everyone get ready and stand in a line. The coach blow the whistle.

"Okay, the aim of the game is to pass the ball onto the next team without letting it touch the ground. The team which succeeds to make the ball fall on the ground of the opponent's side gets a point. At the end of the game, the team with the highest point wins. Let's start the game" said the coach with great determination. Please let me be against some weak players otherwise I'll be the joke of the day. The coach looked at his file and then looked back at us.

"Nina, Demi, Tessa, Jen, Daisy and Lia will form one team" the coach said. Demi and Jen also play good. I hope the coach forgets my name. I can't even skip this class. Please don't choose me.

"Veronica, Chloe, Kacy, Loren, Rose and Eliana on the other team. Discuss between yourself then we will toss the coin" the coach said and backed off from the ground. Nina will deliberately target me, no doubt in that. Atleast I got Chloe in my team. This is going to be so not fun.

"Hey new girl, hope you play good, cause the other team is very competitive" Veronica said with an attitude. She was very tall, must be atleast 6ft. In compare to her, me and Chloe looked small, I was only 5'8 ft and Chloe is 5'5 ft. I have a feeling, I am going to get crushed. The other players were also tall.

The six of us started discussing. Veronica was a little bossy and gave us orders, the coach make her the captain of our team. Me, Chloe and Rose were supposed to be in the back row. Veronica, Kacy and Loren will be in the front row. players in the front row are attackers and blockers, while players in the back row are mainly passers, diggers, and setter. Which is good for me, cause I am not good at playing unlike the rest of them. This game is new for me. The coach blow his whistle and all the players, stand in their designated position. Veronica and Nina shake their hands, both of them looked ready to kick eachother ass. Veronica chose tails and Nina chose heads, the captain of the winning toss will get the chance to serve the first set and the third set, if needed. The loser of the coin toss will serve the second set. There is an equal chance of either of the two things happening. The coach throw the coin up in the air, it flipped several times and lands onto his palm. Everyone tried to take a peak with curiousity, including me. If we win the toss we will have an advantage.

The coach slowly remove his hand from top of the coin to reveal that heads had landed. Shit! Nina's team gets the advantage now. Everyone takes their position. I was standing in the farthest right corner at the back. They told me, the ball don't usually come in this direction, I hope that's true. The coach blow his whistle twice and the game started. Nina had this evil look on her face. I straighten my posture, make myself ready to catch the ball anytime.

Nina walk back and came running holding the ball tightly, she jumped high and hit the ball with full force. Kacy was in front, she jumped and bat the ball back to them with force. It kept going on for few seconds, as long as the ball is not touching the ground none of the team is losing points. Thankfully, the ball didn't came towards me once, I was feeling a little more comfortable. Soon Lia couldn't handle the hit and the ball touch the ground, Nina's team 0 and we got 1. Some of the other girls cheered our team and clapped.

Next time, the ball was thrown back and forth again. Nina and Demi were playing aggressively. I could see Nina's face, she wanted to hit me. I am her target. The ball came blasting at me, I started panicking, without thinking much, I started throwing my hands into different directions, hoping it would magically hit the ball. But successfully I did manage to hit the ball without messing it up. Nina thought I would lose but it was a surprise attack and she couldn't defence herself, the ball fall onto the ground. We made another score, the room echoed with cheers. I can't beleive I did that, I made a score.

"Good job newbie, keep it up" the girl named Loren said to me, Veronica nod her head with a satisfied smile, agreeing with Loren. Chloe showed me a thumbs up. Yes, I can do this, we can win the match.

*Time skips* (cause it's boring to write about a game and I am lazy)

I was able to hit the ball three to five times later. After hitting the first time, my confidence grew and I was able to play properly. The good news is that our team wins the game, everyone was so happy. My teammates were impressed by me, they didn't expected such moves from me. That overwhelming feeling washed over me. The adrenaline rush kept me walking, making me feel like I was on cloud 9.

"You should play with us often, you were really good out there" said Tessa and walked right past me. Kacy patted my back and cheered me. I was feeling super cool. Other people also compliment me.

"Well played but now you successfully made Nina your worst enemy" Chloe said from behind, with a low voice. I stare at the crowd but didn't saw Nina anywhere. Chloe is right, I made her more angry. But she was overconfident due to which she lost. It doesn't matter how good you are at something, never underestimate your opponent. I hope she didn't lashed out and tell everyone about my secret, I should talk to her maybe.

We went back to our locker rooms. I hate the idea of being naked in front of others though there are little privacy. I took out my fresh clothes from the locker. My whole body was sweating, and it was hot. I was going to pull up my shirt when I heard a scream. Everyone stop and tense up. We all rush towards the sound. My eyes get widen by the sight, I covered my mouth in fear. It was Nina, she was just slumped in the corner, bathed in blood. My eyes wandered down her face and stopped at her throat. The slash across her throat seemed to have more life than her listless gaping mouth. It taunted me. Her lifeless eyes were now a shade of white. Only a monster can do such things.

I swallowed and slowly began to survey the rest of her body. The blood had cascaded like a waterfall down the front of her body and gathered in a small pool. How did it happened? I was frozen in my place, and shocked, just like everyone else.

Her arms and legs were bent at awkward angles as though she was a marionette that had been carelessly dropped. I sighed, her body was devoid of the grace it once knew. She was no longer the arrogant bully I knew, she was now just a corpse.

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