Levka was tempted to ask Duprao-sensei her questions as soon as she entered the classroom, but decided to save them until class was over. She worked extra hard in class that day, taking notes and paying close attention to everything Duprao-sensei said. Lee, on the other hand, had taken up a new hobby of doodling during class and not paying attention. Levka noticed this while Duprao-sensei was teaching them math. She tapped Lee on the shoulder with her pencil to try and get her to pay attention, but Lee was too busy in her own world. She swatted Levka's pencil away without even lifting her eyes from her doodle.

At least Mel's paying attention, Levka thought.

Though when she turned to look at Mel, she realised that wasn't true anymore, either. Mel had her phone out, and was too busy messaging someone on Snapchat to pay attention. Levka had to get them to focus somehow. Duprao-sensei stopped talking for a moment so that they could work on an assignment, and Levka noticed that when Duprao-sensei sat down at her desk, she looked up to check who was actually doing their work. Levka could hear her teacher's loud sigh as she wrote something down on a paper. Levka knew that Duprao-sensei must be taking off class points.

Then, at that moment, when Duprao-sensei's pen hit the paper, Levka had an idea. No, not just an idea. A plan. It would be useful if Lee and Mel could help her, but Levka had a feeling that she was on her own for this. She stood up, and walked up to Duprao-sensei's desk. Duprao-sensei looked up at her, and even Lee and Mel stopped what they were doing for a second to see what was going on.

Levka took a deep breath, nervous at what she was about to do. She knew she would probably get in trouble. She might even cost her class a few class points. But she just had to know.

She waited until Duprao-sensei had finished writing, then picked up the paper right off of her desk. Duprao-sensei surprisingly said nothing, just leaned back in her chair and watched, curious to see what Levka would do.

Levka looked the paper over, reading every word. At the top was a title, which said, CLASS 1-E, CLASS POINTS. INSTRUCTOR - DUPRAO. Under the title were two columns. The first one was labelled POINTS. The second one was labelled REASON. Sure enough, class points were taken off for students skipping class, students not paying attentions, and students not trying their best.

Is it really this simple? Levka thought. This school is so complicated, with all its tricks and secrets and surprise tests. So how is it possible that class points are decided by this simple piece of paper?

Levka decided to add those thoughts to her mental list of questions to ask Duprao-sensei. She put the paper back down on her teacher's desk, then went back to her own desk and sat down. Duprao-sensei said and did nothing, other than watch Levka curiously for a few minutes to see if she would do anything else.

Once Levka finished her assignment, she figured she couldn't cost them any class points if she talked. She stood up, taking Mel's phone and Lee's pencil as she got up. Mel and Lee looked up at her, their mouths opened, about to say something to protest.

Levka spoke before they had the chance.

"You both need to pay attention. You're costing our class points, points that we'll probably need. Lee, here's your pen back. Use it to complete assignments, not doodle. Mel, I'll give you your phone back after class. You don't need it right now." Levka was aware of how bossy she sounded, but she didn't care. It took everything in her to keep herself calm and not yell at her friends for not paying attention.

"That... that's not fair! You're my friend, you're supposed to be on my side! Give me my phone back!" Mel protested.

"I am on your side. I'm helping you. Would you rather not get any allowance next month? You're the one who needs it the most, you've been spending a ridiculous amount of money on stuff you don't need." Levka said, trying her best to stay calm and not explode.

"I do need it all though! And I'm not the one making our class lose class points here. That's your fault, Levka! You should be doing more to convince the other students to come to class!" Mel started raising her voice.

Levka sighed. She knew what kind of person Mel was. She was one of those girls that just wanted to start drama. She was one of those girls that Levka tried her best to avoid.

Levka knew Mel was wrong, about it being Levka's fault. She wanted to make sure Mel knew that, but starting a fight would accomplish nothing. If anything, they would probably lose points if they fought in class. Sure enough, when Levka looked up, Duprao-sensei was watching them intently, her pen in hand.

She sighed. "Listen, Mel, I don't want to fight with you. I'll give this back to you right after class."

"You can't do that! You're not my mom! It's my phone. Give it back, now." Mel said, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair.

Levka had hoped she wouldn't have to do this. After all, it required much more energy than she had hoped.

"Let's play a little game. I'll put my hands behind my back, and put your phone in one of my hands. If you guess right hand, and it's in my right hand, then you get your phone back. If you guess right hand and it's in my left, then you can't use your phone at all during class for the rest of the school year. Deal?"

"No, no deal. I don't have to play your stupid games. And how will I know you won't cheat?" Mel asked, narrowing her eyes.

Levka bit back a smile. She knew that Mel would agree. Everything she said now was just for show.

"I guess you'll just have to trust me. I am your friend, after all. If you do guess correctly, then I'll respect that and give you your phone back. I'll start the game now." Levka said before Mel could protest further.

Everyone's eyes were on them as Levka tossed the phone back and forth in her hands. She was going to cheat, of course; even if Mel guessed the wrong hand, she would say it was the right hand. That way, Mel wouldn't be able to accuse her of cheating. Of course, she wouldn't give her her phone back yet; she would still wait until after class. After all, Mel agreed to the rules of the game, and Levka never said what time she would give her her phone back.

"Okay. Guess whenever you're ready." Levka said.

"Hmm... left hand." Mel said.

Levka shifted the phone into her left hand, then brought her hands forward so Mel could see.

"That's correct. As promised, I'll give you your phone back. I think the end of class would be a good time for me to give it back to you, don't you think?" Levka said, not even trying to hide her smile now.

"Wait... what? That wasn't the deal! You said you'd give me my phone back right away!"

"Oh, so now you're lying?"

"I'm not lying! Lee, tell her! I know what I heard!" Mel said, standing up now. She looked ready to physically fight Levka for that phone.

"I... I'm sorry, Mel. I don't quite remember her exact words..." Lee said.

Smart response, Levka thought. Lee's one of those girls who wants to be everyone's friend. She wouldn't want to lose her friendship with either of us, so she chose the neutral path.

"I heard what she said," Perukawa said. "All she said was that she would give you your phone back. She never said what time. Now quit your whining and just pay attention. It's not that hard."

Perukawa was very popular, and from what Levka understood, was friends with almost everyone in their grade, including the students from Class A, B, and C. Yet, for some reason, she didn't seem to care about Mel not liking her. Levka couldn't help but wonder why. She would have thought that Perukawa would've acted the same way as Lee, neutral. Did Mel and Perukawa not get along?

Levka sighed. Yet more questions that she didn't have answers to.

"F-fine! Whatever! We'll finish this after class." Mel said, sitting back down.

She crossed her arms, knowing she was defeated. Levka, with Mel's phone still in her hand, went back to her seat. As she sat down, she noticed Duprao-sensei smile at her before looking back down at her paper and writing something down.

Is she taking points off? Adding points? Does that little piece of paper even actually affect our class points? Levka thought.

She tried her best to forget about these questions, but found she couldn't. She concentrated on her assignment, her questions still lingering at the front of her brain.

After class was over, Mel walked right over to her desk. Lee hesitated. They all usually walked together, but Lee probably didn't want to get mixed up in Mel's drama.

"Lee, why don't you go ahead? We'll... I'll meet you at your dorm. I have a few questions I want to ask Duprao-sensei anyways." Levka suggested.

"Yeah, sounds good. Meet you there!" She speedwalked out of the room.

Levka wished she could go with her. She didn't want to have to deal with Mel when she had more important things to worry about, like all these questions about the class points.

These thoughts were interrupted when Mel slammed a hand on her desk.

"Give. Me. My. Phone. Levka, you jerk, and here I thought you were my friend! Now I know the truth. You just were pretending. I should've known someone like you wouldn't want to actually be my friend." Mel said, glaring at her former friend.

Someone like me? Levka thought. And what exactly does she mean by that?

"Well, the deal was that I would give you your phone back, and since class is over, here you go." Levka said, handing Mel the phone. She wanted this to be over with as soon as possible.

Mel was having none of it.

"That's it? After everything, you're just going to give it back to me?"

Levka sighed. Look, Mel, I know you're one of those girls who likes causing drama, but I have more important issues to deal with right now. You're not exactly top on my priority list, and you need to know that. Now. Bye.

At least, that's what she wanted to say. However, making enemies wasn't exactly top on her priority list either, so she decided to try to take a more peaceful route.

"I'm really sorry, Mel. I am your friend, really, I am. At least, I think I still am, though I'll leave you alone from now on if you really want me to. I only took your phone because you were costing our class points. Please understand. I apologise if it seemed like my friendship wasn't sincere."

"W-well... I guess... since you apologised... I guess I can forgive you this time. But if this happens again..!" Mel said.

Levka plastered on a smile. "Thank you so much, Mel!" Though I can't really promise it won't happen again...

"Well... I should go now. I'm tired. See you tomorrow, Levka." Mel said, then walked away.

"Yeah... see you."

Now that the drama was resolved, the other students who had stayed and watched began to leave. Levka waited until it was only her and Duprao-sensei left in the classroom.

"I presume you have some question for me, Levka? I can't promise I can answer them all, but I will at least hear them." Duprao-sensei said, leaning forward in her chair.

I sat down at the desk directly in front of Duprao-sensei. After all, this was going to be a long talk.

Point totals:

Class Total: 486

Katia Levka: 988,364
Toru Lee: 990,342
Analise Mel: 875,516