I scrambled up, pulling myself onto my elbows as I stared down at her horrified face. I wasn't about to let her go just yet. For now, we were gonna sit like this until I figure out what the hell is going on.

"Your chin is very pointy." Her eyebrows crease as she spoke. It was my turn to look at her horrifically.

"That's not what I'm here for," I squeaked, cursing myself for my lack of 'authority', "Why did you vandalize the wall?" I said in between heavy breaths.

Surprisingly, the girl wasn't breathing heavy. "I felt like it."

"You can't just 'feel like it'! Stein went berserk! Now the whole school's going to be in hell all because of you! Stein's taking everything—" She placed a finger on my lips, shushing me. I slap it away, staring down at her in fury.

"You gotta admit, it was funny." She smiled brightly, nearly catching me off guard. I fixed myself, calming down so I could deal with her seriously.

"No, it wasn't." Maybe it was, the voice in the back of head countered. I roll my eyes, trying to avoid thinking about our position.

"Oh, okay." She shrugged, pursing her lips.

"Wait. You were there?" I ask, nearly shrieking. I wonder why I was in such panic mode. Probably because she was a girl and I haven't dealt with real girls since seventh grade (Elijah doesn't think they count as real).

"Yeah, I was. Now excuse me, I have to collect my things and be on my way." She was about to get up but I pushed her back down. The girl winced a little, muttering an "ow".

"Tell me you're name. I need to report you." My breathing eased down, making talking easier. Finally she can take me serious now without the cocked eyebrow of hers.

"Kaia Maverick and you're not gonna report me," She gripped my wrists, causing a surge of more panic to go through me, "I will prevent you."

"How?" I ask, incredulously.

"Because you'll remember me and then you'll feel guilty right away." She smirked, pausing for me to take in what she said. It took a moment for me to remember and I guess she noticed because her face went from "I told you so" to "Oh my god you're a grandpa".

"Gates Bay Camp for Delinquents. I was Kaia Maverick, the girl who fell through your window. You're Callum Luther, the boy who was alone in the cabin, curled up like a cat." She narrowed her eyes, clearly upset. Kaia looked like she was about to slap me for not remembering.

"Oh. . . You? What? I remember you differently." Of course I remember her differently, that was in freshman year, my mind angrily shouted at me. I sigh, looking down at her and trying to see if I can see the fourteen year old girl from so long ago in the past.

Kaia Maverick was a short and pale girl back then with no makeup because she quoted it "only for the real ugly bitches". Her hair was cut short and curled behind her ears, never brown but black probably because her hair was always wet. I could see her in the camp shirts and a pair of shorts paired with bright colored tights, rambling to me while eating the snacks I've stolen.

"Hello friend." She pressed her lips in a tight smile, maybe still angry I didn't remember.

"You look so different!" I get up, helping her too. At this point, I don't think neither of us want to run away. She was my best friend at camp, talking to me when others wouldn't. If Kaia wasn't there it would have been even more hell.

"You too. No more shaggy hair and bluer eyes! Looks like your eyes decided grey wasn't in season." She chuckled and I couldn't help but smile too.

"Really? My eyes are blue now?" She nods frantically, her smile wider and not so tight.

"Or you're wearing contacts." The small reunion ended with us in laughter, sounds we may haven't heard in ages.

Once the laughter died down, we stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do next. There isn't exactly a game plan when you see your friend after three years out of nowhere.

"You know I still have to report you right? What you did was still horrible." I say quietly, breaking the bliss of happiness. Kaia glared at me, her brown eyes seemed to darken.

"It was art. You know that!" She hissed, shoving her hands forcefully into her black jacket pockets. 

I sigh, "I can't really do much anything else."

We stood there in silence, not knowing what to say. I had to report her or else Stein would go crazy and wreck apart Gates Bay. If I didn't report her, that would happen too. It really wasn't a win-win situation.

Although, I had access to student files in The Lounge. In all my years of being a top scholar in Stein's eyes, I haven't touched it even if I had the privilege. Kaia must be in there and if her records are clean, maybe I can convince Stein to let her go.

"Kaia," I say quietly, her brown eyes lifted from the ground to look at me, "Can we meet later today? I can end my shift early and we can go somewhere and talk." The expression on her face was unreadable, whatever thoughts going through her mind seemed to take her for a bit.

"We can meet up at Berry? The new smoothie place in downtown?" She asked, hopefully.

"Yeah, sure. See you later at five." I smile, already walking backwards to The Lounge.

"Don't do any trouble when I'm gone okay?" I add quickly.

"No promises." She smiled, running away to who knows where.

▔▔▔▔▔

The Lounge was the biggest room in the school and was only allowed access for Stein Scholars. If anyone were to be caught trying to get in, Stein will be already there, looming above you and asking you to leave or else she'll punish you.

I always sit on the couches there, waiting for someone to tell me there's trouble so I can assess the problem while Vincent would linger in the kitchen, digging for food to snack on.

It was themed to a Harry Potter common room, except there wasn't any Slytherins or Gryffindors. Instead of bedrooms, the area had a kitchen. With Stein's love for Ravenclaws, it was almost the exact same as their common room.

When I pushed past the big doors and into the comfortable quietness of the silver and blue room, I realized nobody was in there except me.

Looks like they're all searching.

I quickly hurry over to the cabinets pushed at the very end of room, hopping over books that were left in stacks on the ground. By the time I reached the student records, I was sweaty from all the hopping and heat coming off from the fireplace.

I reach into my back pocket and take out my wallet, finding the little key I need for the records and twisting it. Once it popped open, I find the 'K' section and try to look for a Kaia Maverick.

Kaia's manila folder was slightly thick with whatever filled it. I sit down on the nearest armchair, flipping through her notes and student behavior. What I find is upsetting.

Since the camp, Kaia hadn't stopped being bad at all, even if she swore with me at the end of camp. She continued getting detentions, regular suspensions, and even a five month expulsion.

Explains why I never see her.

I read that she had attended the camp until junior year, learning absolutely nothing when she came back. She has been caught for overly exaggerated make out sessions, selling items, drug use, cursing, not following dress code, and so much more. It was frightening that she was on her last few suspensions before a full expulsion; even for her children.

"Shit." I mumble, hoping the microphones in the cameras didn't catch me. She really was a bad girl.

There was no way in hell will Stein let her down easily.

I put the file back in the records, shutting the thing with a slam. The faint memories of my student records flooded my mind, taking my brain into its clutches and squeezing until it hurt my head from the dreaded memories. The detentions and suspensions nobody cared about. The rule breaking and bad boy mask I achieved to put on throughout my freshman and half of my sophomore year.

I wouldn't let Kaia go through that. She was my first friend, the person to understand all of my problems. She doesn't need to suffer through my own either.

If I get redemption, I'll do whatever it takes to help her too. Even if she doesn't want it.