It was the next morning and Noelle made sure to get up extra early to shower, do her hair and get her costume and items ready for the presentation. She looked into the mirror that was hanging on the wall her room, seeing a noticeable mark on her neck from Susie the previous day. She felt it with her hands, flinching at a slight pain and discomfort. She knew her shirt couldn't cover it and if she were to wear a scarf indoors, it would look a little strange or suspicious.

She let a sigh out, heading to the bathroom to pull out some makeup. She dabbed some onto the mark and rubbed it in. From first glance, it looked like nothing was there, but if one were to stare and look long enough, they could tell there was a mark there.

And she knew nobody what would casually stare at her neck for that long. Susie might, but nobody else would. She smiled to herself and brushed her teeth and washed her face.

Once she was finished getting ready, she took her handmade costume, crown and cape out of her closet and put it in a plastic bag.

***

Noelle still couldn't believe her and Susie actually made out the previous day! She was truly shocked! Noelle hoped to god that Susie didn't hear her heart beating a mile a minute. She felt her cheeks get a little warm as she walked downstairs and she put her hand over her cheek. "How embarrassing...!" She muttered quietly to her self. She shook the slight blush away and walked into the kitchen to get her breakfast.

Noelle's mother was there, sitting at the kitchen table and drinking her coffee. She was reading the newspaper, the sound of flipping pages could be heard throughout the silent kitchen. Just like the last week, the two of them haven't been talking. And the wait for Noelle's bread to toast was painful and awkward. Noelle was broken out of her trance of her fingers tapping against one another by the sound of paper closing and her mother's voice.

"Noelle?"

Oh crap! Noelle flinched and looked at Carol Holiday, who was looking straight at her daughter. "....Yes mother?" Noelle quietly said. She wasn't sure what her mother was going to say to her. Is she still angry at me?

"Can you sit down here for a moment?" Carol calmly asked. Okay... So maybe she ISN'T mad at me still... She sounds calm and laid back today. The smaller deer thought as she nervously walked to the table, sitting at the wooden chair across from her mother. She rested her hands on her thighs and was quiet, almost as if she was in detention or in the principal's office for something.

Carol seemed to notice her daughter's behaviour and she softly chuckled before taking a sip of her coffee. "Relax Noelle. I'm not mad at you." Noelle let out a small sigh of relief and relaxed herself a bit. "Alright. What do you want?"

"I just wanted to know if you're still a lesbian."

Noelle let out an exaggerated and irritated sigh.  Did you just call me over here to make fun of me? Are you serious, Mother? Noelle thought to herself, standing up. She was just going to pop her toast out early and get the hell out of there because she didn't want her mother to ruin her day from bickering. She turned around and began to walk to the toaster, but she was called back by a stern voice.

"Noelle."

Noelle huffed out and sat back down. "What? I don't want you to m-make fun of me for who I am.. I can't help it, okay?!"

Carol Holiday didn't say anything for a few moments before she took a long sip of her black coffee before shaking her head slightly. "I am not making fun of you."

"Then why--"

Why are you brining this up again?!

Was what Noelle was going to say, but her mother's stern voice cut her off.

"Noelle." Her mother spoke up.

"These past few days, I have been thinking to myself; I feel I may have been a little too rough on you."

Oh, you THINK?! Noelle's eye twitched slightly as she thought to herself. What was Noelle's mother thinking? One day she was judgemental and telling Noelle not to become a dyke and a few days later she was almost acting like she was accepting? So, are you going to get annoyed about my sexuality again tomrrow, or no? Noelle clenched her small fists, gritting her teeth. She didn't know what to think about this. She didn't feel happy, that was for sure.

Maybe she felt a little upset, angry and confused? Something along those lines, at least.

But, Noelle decided to hear her out. She gave her mother a slight nod to tell her she was listening.

".... No, I know I have been a little too rough and saying some rude things. Noelle, I am not used to it, but I have decided that I will accept you for who you are. So, if you're happy being attracted to girls and having a girlfriend, I am happy too." Carol finished her cup of coffee and placed it back down on the table before letting out a slight smile to her daughter.

Noelle opened her mouth a bit to say something back, but no words could come out. She didn't know what to say. She felt a lump in her throat and she coughed out deeply before mustering out a pathetic and barely audible thank you as she stood up. Her toast popped up and she walked over to the toaster and pulled it out. She buttered it and put it into her mouth and walked out of the kitchen without speaking to her mother.

Noelle put her shoes on and left her home and walked to school in silence. She didn't stop off at Kris' home to pick up Susie because she thought it would be too awkward. If she were to pick up Susie, Kris would have to join along too. And, Noelle didn't particularly like Kris either. Maybe it was because Kris and Susie were friends already? Maybe it was because Kris could take Susie away from her? Noelle groaned a bit and rubbed the side of her head to get those thoughts away. She hated thinking bad things about others. She knew Susie wasn't the type to cheat on her either: She knew Susie wasn't that bad.
Hell, Noelle still didn't know much about Susie, much less have sex with her yet!

Noelle blushed slightly.

Yet... meaning if I am still alive by the time we do it..

Noelle walked through the double doors at her school and went straight for her locker to grab her books before heading to the classroom. Alphys had asked everyone to change into their costumes and prepare for their presentations before school actually started. She probably wanted to get the presentations over with as soon as possible.

Noelle placed her backpack onto her seat of her desk before pulling the plastic bag that contained her costume out and hurried into the washroom before Berdly had a chance to stop her and say something dumb and annoying.

Noelle made it to the washroom and changed into her costume, crown and cape before walking out to the classroom again. A few students were now there talking to one another in their costumes. Most of the costumes weren't that great and looked like there wasn't much effort put into them. Berdly was sitting at his desk and was wearing his HAMLET costume. From first glance, his costume looked like there were hours of effort and time put into it, but Noelle quickly realised that it was just store bought.

Berdly had his hand resting under his chin and he looked over to Noelle, his face quickly turning to disgust. "What trash are you wearing? Do you even want to get a good mark for us?!" Noelle let a slight sigh out and rolled her eyes at him. Her costume really wasn't that bad. Unlike you, I actually put effort into mine!

"Um.. it's fine. Our costumes don't matter much, and it only affects our individual mark." She said back to him. And it was true! Why should he care about what she's wearing?! But it's Berdly, so of course...

Berdly huffed out and moved his hand away. He crossed his arms at her as Noelle sat in her seat. "Of course it matters! Everyone will be staring at your UGLY costume instead of me!"

Of course he wants all the attention and would say something like that.

"Whatever, we can't do much about it anymore. It's not like you can fix it up or anything.." He turned away.

Thank god I don't have to look at your smug face anymore. Noelle thought to herself as she reached down and pulled her water bottle out. She opened it and chugged some down to get rid of that tickle in her throat. She cleared her throat a bit so she wouldn't start to cough doing any presentations.

At least I put an effort in making my costume, asshole. Noelle thought as she wiped her mouth. She did it again - thinking badly about others. Berdly wasn't even worth rude or bad thoughts.

The bell rung and Alphys walked into class. Catti followed her, wearing a poorly made Ophelia costume as her fingers tapped at her phone a mile a minute. Everyone was in class at this point, except Susie and Kris. Noelle wasn't worried, though: the two of them were late every day. Alphys silently took attendance, looking at everyone as they talked. When she finished, Alphys let a soft sigh out. "Alright... It's uh... T-Time for the presentations. Wo-Would anyone like to um... V-Volunteer to go first?" She quietly asked over the loud chatter of the classroom. Of course anyone couldn't hear her quiet voice, except for the first row of students.

And Temmie and her hard boiled egg sure as hell wasn't going to volunteer. Berdly smirked and raised his hand. "We will go."

Alphys nodded and grabbed a handful of rubrics. "O-Okay, go to the front of the class and s-set up." She looked around for a pencil on her desk, realizing she had run out. "D-Darn... Umm... Can anyone g-grab some from the supply closet?"

Noelle rose her hand. "I'll---"

The door opened loudly, causing the class to become silent. Noelle breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Kris and Susie there. She was glad Susie showed up. She also wanted to ask Susie or Kris how well they knew each other. She knew Susie wasn't like that, but she had this small bad thought lingering at the back of her mind. It was starting to make her paranoid.

"P-P-Perfect timing!" Alphys grinned, "Can you t-two go to the supply closet and get a b-box of pencils?" Kris and Susie looked at one another and Kris silently shrugged. Susie looked back at Alphys. "...Okay." Susie muttered and the two of them turned around slamming the door shut as they left. Alphys sighed to herself since she still didn't have any pencils. "Um..I need a pencil s-still..."

Noelle leaned down and grabbed a pencil from her bag. "Here, you can use this Ms. Alphys." "T-Thank you." She said, taking it from Noelle's hand. Alphys walked to the back of the class and sat in a unused chair. Noelle and Berdly stood up and went to the front of the class to set up. They finished setting up and Berdly looked at Noelle, whispering something to her:

"You better not fuck this up!"

She didn't say anything back and Berdly kneeled down behind the teacher's desk, holding a fake store bought sword in his hand. Noelle walked to the side and took a deep breath before she began to say her lines.

Well... Here goes nothing.

"O, my offence is rank it smells to heaven;
It hath the primal eldest curse upon't,
A brother's murder.."

Noelle found herself speaking a little too fast and she found herself starting to get out of breath. I got this. I know this well! She reassured herself as she took a deep breath and began to slowly walk to the other side of the room. She kneeled down in the middle of the classroom as she spoke slower.

"Pray can I not. Though inclination be as sharp as will: My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent; And, like a man to double business bound, I stand in pause where I shall first begin, And both neglect." 

Noelle stood back up and continued to talk slowly so she wouldn't start a coughing fit. She slowly walked around the front of the class, looking around and trying to be dramatic while she said her lines. All while Berdly was giving her this glare. It wasn't the teacher or the class staring at her that was making her nervous, it was Berdly. At times like this, she was glad he was a scrawny looking monster and not one a size that could beat her up and send her to the hospital. Noelle also noticed that Kris and Susie were not back from the supply closet yet. She hoped to god that they weren't doing anything suspicious in there.

Were Kris and Susie closer than I thought?

Noelle's heart began to race as she continued her monologue. Her chest also began to become a little sore. She wasn't used to talking this much at one time! She took a deep breath and continued her speech:

"...What if this cursed hand were thicker than itself with brother's blood, Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens to wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy.."

Noelle took another gasp as she felt the pain in her chest. The thoughts and paranoia of Kris and Susie becoming closer than she thought had also gotten worse. If Kris had somehow stolen Susie from me...

Noelle would be absolutely heartbroken.

Heartbroken AND dead, in fact!

Susie knew that Noelle's life depended on this too. Noelle kept trying to push the thoughts away, but the thoughts kept coming back, worse than before. But what if Susie is worse than you think her to be? The thoughts came back and Noelle bit her bottom lip. Monologue, rememeber? Don't distract yourself, Noelle! She told herself as she coughed out. Noelle gasped out afterwards. This talking was really starting to make her out of breath, and she wasn't even half done this long ass monologue!

Why are you so stupid for picking something this long! She told herself, pushing through the monologue:

"But to confront the visage of offence? And what's in prayer but this two-fold force, to be forestalled ere we come to fall, or pardon'd being down? Then I'll look up; My fault is past...."

Noelle was again cut off by her coughing. She covered her mouth and the coughing only seemed to get worse. And then the flower petals arrived. Berdly's glare only seemed to get worse too. She could feel daggers stabbing her in the back.

Berdly whispered to her, quiet enough so that only she could hear, "What the hell are you doing, idiot?! You're ruining my mark!" He hissed.

Noelle wheezed, forcing herself to push through. She slowly moved her hand away from her mouth, some red flower petals falling down her face and floating to the floor. A few tears fell down her face as well due to the pain in her chest.

"But, O, what....form of prayer... Can serve my turn?" Noelle quietly said as she coughed more petals onto the floor. She slowly glanced over to the door. Susie and Kris were not there. Something wasn't right; the supply closet wasn't far away. They were probably at Kris' house kissing and doing other things to one another. Noelle also noticed Alphys' eyes widening as she stood up. "Noelle...?"

Noelle tried to say something back to her, but she was wheezing too much. "I-I...."

I'm fine, Ms. Alphys.

She felt another coughing fit come on and she covered her mouth again. A few more petals came out as well as some liquid. Noelle was breathing heavily, her eyes widening.

Holy shit...This can't be....

She pulled her hand away from her mouth. The worst thing that happened, has happened. There was some blood on her hand. She wheezed loudly, feeling a little dizzy from coughing so much.

So, this is how I die... Huh...? Alone in some dumb presentation.

Noelle's legs gave out and she fell to her knees. She looked over to see Berdly standing up, not looking happy at all. The entire class probably noticed too. Alphys stood up and walked quickly over to her side. "Y-You two present later, but w-we first need to get you to the nurses o-office!"

"I'll take her." Berdly offered, walking to the other side of Noelle to help lift her up. Noelle leaned against Berdly, trying to say something back, but she could only wheeze. Crap! He's definitely going to get me back sometime for ruining this! This is NOT an act of kindness!

Alphys nodded and the two students left the class, shutting the door afterwards.

Noelle also noticed that Susie and Kris still hadn't returned yet. Maybe Noelle was just too boring and too much of a good girl for Susie?

Did Kris really steal Susie away from me?!

***

Authors note: I am EXTREMELY sorry for not updating! I really wanted to focus on school and exams since I was taking many hard courses. But I'm done now, got my marks, so I'm back to writing!