The rest of the week escalated pretty quickly. Everything was amazing. It would snow little bit now and then so there were weather forecast reporters running around the place.

School was amazing too... Derrick stayed in his line,

Lorraine showed positive vibes towards Adam,

Ashley studied hard for the literature competation but made time to spare with us,

Sam didnt seem to be a much of a troublemaker anymore. He was really sincere, nice and charming. He also got along with the girls (Ashley and Lorraine... ofcourse) and Adam became his best friend too.

And as of for me, i stared into the mirror with a sense of victory, i finished all my assignments and essays... finally a weekend that i totally deserve. I tied up my hair in a messy bun and put some lipgloss on my lips. I never bragged about my natural beauty to anyone more than my own reflection.  i didnt need makeup like others... i wonder how I'd look with makeup... but that would mean extra efforts in doing something which i could actually replace by something more benefiting like sleeping or watching Netflix.

Yes, i was that type of girl who slept 24hrs straight on weekends, watched Netflix till latenight, had an irregular diet of a hungry unsupervised child in a candy store, beautiful with no filters still who managed to get among the top 5 in class. Blessed with a great dad and amazing friends. There might have been bad times, but to look on the brighter side.... i am happier.

I heard a honk outside. It must be Lorraine and Ashley. I went downstairs and quickly scribbled a message to my dad on the sticky note "i'm out with Lorraine and Ashley... i will be late". I stuck it on the fridge. I would usually text him... but sometimes he ends up forgetting his phone at the workplace or in his car. I always keep a planB than to face the horror of 7missed calls (its another story where i ended up miserably entangled in a pile of questions and almost close to grounded for life)

I quickly grabbed my coat and put on my shoes with my phone in my hand. "Whoo... finally a girl's night out" Ashley squeaked.

"Yo my girl Carly!!.. you better get your ass here. Time and tide waits for none" Lorraine yelled loudly honking 3 more times. Im pretty sure my neighbours already hated her.

I fastened my pace and got in the backseat. "All good to those who wait.." i said grinning.

"Whatever slow-mo" Lorraine said scoffing

"speak of yourself.." i said putting on my seatbelt. She huffed and drove her car away from my home.

It was cold out... and also dark eventhough it was 6.30 in the evening. Weird. Ashley and Lorraine were chatting about something and i just looked out of the window. It was really pretty with snow shoveled at the side of the roads and little lights on every window of the shops we passed through. It reminded me of Christmas... a little early-Christmas. The car came and stopped in a parking lot. I got out of the car without even looking where we were. I saw a huge mall infront of me.

"Shopping!!!.. its my treat!" Lorraine said clapping her hands like a happy seal.

"Shopping?" I asked in a thats-it-im-gonna-go-home-not-at-all-interested face.

"Duh... you gotta get some new clothes... and your fashion is like..." she said gazing top to bottom at me

"there's nothing wrong with the way i dress!" I said crossing my arms.

"Hey! You got such nice body.... cant you atleast dress up for that reason?" Lorraine said leaning on her car.

"C'mon Carly... lets just go... dont ditch us..." Ashley said doing a puppy face. Ohmygod! I hate it when she does the puppy face. "Pretty please?" She said linking her arms with mine. I clearly lost... i cant compete with her adorableness.

I sighed "alright..."

"okay... best thing ive heard for the day... lets go!" Lorraine said walking away. I clearly saw her winking at Ashley... this isnt gonna be good.

*****

"I will take both of these. Ohmygod... is that the new designer outfit that was launched in the last month?" Lorraine said walking like a possessed person towards the mannequin which had a beige backless dress on. It was pretty... to be honest.

"Oh.. yes maam... it came in last week." The attender told her giving in his best smile. He was clearly hitting on Lorraine, but she didnt notice it. "Would you like to try it?"  He asked closing in on her.

What a pervert! I said to myself. Lorraine was too demonized to even see him acting weird. This is why i dont want her go shopping alone.

"Dont you think that guy is a little bit freaky..." i asked Ashley who was sitting next to me.

"Im putting my dibs on Lorraine whacking his face" Ashley sneered. It was true... no one messes with Lorraine and gets away with it.

There was a rumour long time back in our school that went through every one's ears... even the janitors!! It had broke out only after a month Lorraine transferred into the school. She was rumored to have rampaged a boy for going through her stuff and stalking her. He eventually ended up in the hospital for almost a week. i'm not even sure about what had happened that day... but the way Lorraine reacted to the situation... was too bold, like she wasnt even afraid that she could get suspended for this issue. She didnt get suspended though. I didnt even know the boy's name or what happened to him after that, maybe he got transferred. Derrick, ofcourse... well... pulled the wrong strings of Lorraine that lead to the eternal hate between them. He was such a pain right from the beginning, the only difference was that i was non-existent before Lorraine came in. Maybe Lorraine had been trained in karate before. You can never predict when she will land her perfect fist on someone's face. And moreover, her smirks and glares were enough to kill a person on sight, whether they were flirtatious or you-better-watch-what-youre-saying-crazy-bastard.

I watched that creep lean over her and send pedo smiles. Goddamn! I mean he wasnt ugly... but c'mon he's like... 30 and he's hitting on a 16yr old girl? What is he... a pedophile? I wanted to drag Lorraine outta there but i saw Ashley hustling something around the bags.

I peeped over and saw that she was looking for something in Lorraine's handbag... what the actual funk? (A/N: okay i guess i wont cuss around... lmao) i cant believe it. I watched her keenly as she pulled out a silver metallic thing out of her purse.

Her phone! Lorraine's phone! What does Ashley want with it? A deathwish? "Hey! What are you doing?" I asked gasping.

She put a finger on her mouth "shh.."

what the hell?

I didnt even know what was going on! Lorraine punched in the pin code... damn she was smart enough to catch that pin code of Lorraine's .  I leaned over her and took a peak. Ashkey went to the chats and i started freaking out.

OH HELL NO! THIS IS INTRUDING OF PRIVACY! LORRAINE'S PRIVACY!
"What are you doing? Are you drunk?" I asked glancing at Lorraine who was talking to the creep. I looked at Ashley.

"Stop! There is something i want to check first!" Ashley said scrolling through the chats.

"Something that you want to see? You. Are. Checking. Her. Chats. What is even wrong with you? Shes gonna kill us on the first sight!" I whispered shouted.

I looked at the Lioness who was just a few metres away from us. I couldnt breathe...  she will kill us... this is how im gonna die..

"this... i was looking for this!" Ashley said showing me the screen.

My eyes went wide when i saw the contact name. Adam. ADAM!

shes been talking to Adam? What the hell! And here she is pretending that she doesnt give a shit! Where we playing the fools all this time?

"I had a hunch, from quite some time... " Ashley  said grinning and raising her speactacles in a proud manner.

Okay great you know! Great i know! Now keep the goddamn phone back in there! " i cant believe this!" I said staring into Ashley's eyes. I mean... why? We're her best friends! I know its her privacy and all... but seriously..? Did she have to do this? Arghhh im so frusturated..

"Shocked?" Ashley asked me.

"Yeah, definitely... Ashley, please keep her phone back in for now. I dont really wanna die!" I pleaded "you know what will happen, if someone goes through her stuff! Please... i want to see another day.." i whispered loudly. Lorraine was occupied and she didnt even look at us. Thankfully!

"Why? Are you afraid she might bring up her rumor-act?" Ashley grinned. What does this girl have in her brains? Ashe is smart and all... yes i know! But this? This is INSANITY! Anyone with proper mind and who knows Lorraine wouldnt ever do this.... Never!

I frowned. I grabbed Ahleys hand to get the pho e but Ashley was faster. She moved away quickly and yelled loudly " hey Lorraine!" My blood turned to ice... i was frozen. I mean i didnt even do anything... why am i getting dragged? Im just a victim in a wrong place at the wrong time.

Lorraine turned to us with a smile, she seemed to be interrupted with the talk she was having with the man. He too turned to face us.

"Since when you've been dating Adam?" Ashley said loudly grinning shamelessly and waving Lorraine's phone in the air. I saw that smile slowly disappearing from L4orraines face.

Two words.. WE'RE DOOMED. Her whole aura changed and she looked at us sternly, "give me my phone... now!" She practically growled at us.

Carly... youve got two options... Option 1: apologise, eventhough youve not done anything. Option2: Run!

Lorraine walked closer to us. I kept looking at Ashley and Lorraine scared. This aint gonna be good. Lorraine left her alluring backless beige dress back there and came walking towards us like a tigeress that could jump on us any moment, just as she was close, Ashley turned on her heels and started running away.

Okay.. Option2 it is then. i turned on my heels an ran out of the store as well, followed by Lorraine. We ran around the mall like 5 yr olds. Stepping on someones foot, shoving people away and screaming loudly making other miserable people's life worser than before.

I wasnt much of a runner. I hated sweating... and extra work like walking for instance! Or waiting... or anything that gets me tired. But this moment, i had no idea where my legs got all this strength from. I felt like i could run a marathon and win with this speed. I was running behind Ashley... nonstop. I had a wild bestfriend/angry tigress right on my chase. I couldnt run anymore and felt like my legs would detach any moment now. I was getting super pissed at Ashley doing all this craziness.

Why? Why of all this? Firstly she sees her texts with Adam.

Secondly, she calls out Lorraine and makes her know that she went through her stuff.

Thirdly, she runs off like a maniac, leaving me to be the closest prey! GREAT! THIS IS JUST PERFECT...

She kept on running and finally halted turning around. I stopped abruptly and stood next to Ashley. Lorraine came and stood right ahead of us. I panted loudly trying to catch my breath. Running wasnt good for me..,

I looked up at Lorraine and she had her straight-bitch-face on. I shivered... she didnt even flinch for a second.

She looked directly into Ashley's eyes putting her hand forward, "my phone... now!" She hissed glaring at us.

"Dude! Can you just chill and not act like a T-Rex for a moment? Youre scaring poor Carly... " Ashley said laughing. Her audacity to laugh at that moment. I gotta give her a Nobel Prize for doing all this... but she wont be living eitherways to recieve that prize.

"Ashley... hand it over!" I said shaking her arm. God! This is bad!

"Seriously... girl, you hid it on purpose didnt you?" Ashley said smirking evily.

"Im not hiding... anything, now give it back to me." Lorraine said takung a step forward.

YOURE OFFICIALLY DEAD ASHLEY HILLS... NICE KNOWING YOU.

"Youre a bad liar!" Ashley said smirking even more.

She is so smart in everything... does she really have to lose herself in these moments?

"Ashley.., please stop. We can talk about this later." I said gritting my teeth. "Now give it back!" I tried to calm down the whole situation. Ashley looked carefree... as if she wasnt even bothered about anything.

Ashley sighed and smiled again, an evil smile. "Here you go!" Ashley gave it back to Lorraine. Lorraine snatched it and slipped it into her pockets.

"Okay... everything is fine now." I said awkwardly. Lorranine shot me a look and i looked away immediately.

"Ummm... who's hungry?" I tried changing the subject. "Im starving... lets go get some food." I smiled.

"Yeah.. lets go." It felt like i was hearing Lorraine's calm voice first time in ages. I smiled suddenly too, looking at the pleasant atmosphere again. Lorraine walked ahead first and Ashley joined me. I looked at her and sighed nodding my head.

"What? Seriously what did i do?" Ashley said innocently.

*****

We ordered fries, pizza and some coke. Eveyone started eating and Lorraine was back in her normal self. "So... youve been like dating over months..!?" Ashley asked wide-eyed.

"We're not dating.., we're just talking about,.. stuff." Lorraine replied taking a slice of pizza and stuffing it in her mouth.

"'Stuff?'" Ashley asked

"Nothing important... talking about random things. I guess i should've told you guys earlier about this. But i feared something like this would happen.." Lorraine said glaring.

Looks like, ive got a person who feels the same way as me on my side.

"But, we're not dating.., okay?" Lorraine said with an air of finality.

Ashley nodded, smirking. I sighed and took a slice of pizza and started munching it right away.

Everything was silent and i appreciated it, but not for too long when Lorraine suddenly spoke up, "why am i the only one who gets teased with a person when we all three clearly know, that even Carly has a guy roaming around her?"

And i call her my friend. I choked on my food and suddenly looked up at her. Ashley grinned again. Great! Now it will take forever to shut her up! Two victims of her wittiness in one night. Beautiful, arghshhhhshhhjjkkkjhskk... i screamed internally.

"Carly... dont you think its a bit of a secret-night today?" Ashley smirked. "Yeah... youre right Lorraine... everyone must be treated equally... "

okay, so now they are on the same ship? What are they friends for?

"Yeah.., yeah! You're right! Everyone should be treated equally despite of their differences... America is a free nation and every man is to be treated the same!"  Lorraine said slamming the table and everyone turned around to look at us, as if we were a bunch of weirdos.

Dont mind me, i dont know them.

"Hey! Who ordered Abraham Lincoln?" A boy from another table cooed. His dumbass friends high-fived each other laughing.

There was a silent wave of laughter in air. Lorraine turned around to see that boy. He wore a punk t-shirt with the all-black attire.

"I did kiddo! Got a freaking problem?" Lorraine said using a sarcastic tone. A roar of laughter errupted in the place. To be honest, that guy looked pissed. He looked much older than us and he just got called "kiddo" by a 16yr old girl... smooth. He eventually shut up and the whole area came back to its own business. I laughed and then looked at both the girls boring their stare deep into me.

"Look guys...  please, can you atleast not yell and act like maniacs?" I pleaded trying to sugarcoat them with my sweet words so they would forget about Sam.

"Dont change the topic... c'mon, there must be something going on between you guys..." Lorraine said leaning in closer.

"Guys... look please alright? I actually started liking a guy... after so much time Louis happened, so dont, mess this up please... okay?" My cheeks were burning... I liked him. I liked Sam.

There was something different of him. His eyes, his smile and the whole of himself, i couldnt stop my heart. I know it was early to say this but i can actually imagine Lorraine and Ashley running down the corridors of our school yelling "Carly likes Sam" for not telling them earlier. I shuddered at the thought of it. They can reach all levels of crazy, you just gotta name it.

"Yep! Louis was a jerk!" Lorraine said staring at her phone and then looking back at me, "I mean like seriously... i dont even know what you saw in that piece of shit"

I sighed at those bad times. "I was mad..." i admitted.

Louis was just a pain that was unbearable. He asked me out first and yeah he was the captain of the Basketball team. He was handsome too... and even a jerkface. I had a little crush on him... dont ask me why. Eventhough i knew he was a playboy, i thought things would change, he would change but I was wrong. We started dating for a while... there wasnt a lot a skinship between us. He would occasionally slide his hands around my waist and give me kisses and i was fine with it.

But one day, he just asked for more... my virginity. I was furious and scared. It was too early and I was just an eighth grader. I refused and he got mad. He forced himself on me but luckily i was saved that day from Adam. Im forever greatful for that moment, it would have been the greatest mistake of my life. I knew being a virgin was considered to be a low-status-thing. But the hell with the goddamned status, I aint selling myself to anyone for that status. I thought, he was being desperate and i thought he was in love. I was so blinded that i didnt even notice that i was just another toy to him. Lorraine hated him right from the beginning and this just added fuel to the fire. Just then, after a week Louis was caught making out with a senior by Lorraine in the restroom. That was it, and she burnt into flames. The very next day, Louis got transferrred to another school. I hated my life for falling for him, but i was glad that it got over.

"Just forget about him... such an asshole.. " i muttered. (A/N: okay maybe he deserves some cuss words... lmao)

"Yeah... youre right" Ashley said smiling, " but, what did i tell you? You and Sam are like soulmates..." Ashley said gleeing happily.

  I blushed hard at the word 'soulmates'. I dont have that fear of Sam which i had for Louis. Sam, didnt seem like he was using me. He would often stutter when i would flash a smile, or act clumsy to get my attention. He wasnt like a desperate dipshit, but he was more loving and cute. I loved everything about him... he was just too.. beautiful.

"So you do like him...?" Ashley paused

"Duh! Isnt it obvious?" Lorraine said cracking a smile. "This time, im too sure that he wont be like just any random guy trying to play... hes way too sincere and i think he likes you too"

i bit my lips in embarrassment. "but still... you guys arent allowed to pull up any stunts!" I said worriedly. I cant trust them... eventhough they are my bestfriends. "Beacuse, if you do... im never talking to you again." I lied, over-exaggerating. That would be highly impossible, but i gotta put up a bait for them and this is the best i could find for the moment.

"Okay..." they both said in unison

"Anymore confessions?" Ashley said looking at Lorraine.

"Mine would be the same as Carly... you mess anything and im moving out of the country." Lorraine said laughing.

We were cracking jokes and making fun when Ashley suddenly spoke up, "hey Carly! I forgot to ask you... but you talked to Sam the other day right? When he asked you to come in private?" Ohmygod.., she remembered. I thought i could slide off from this without anybody knowing, guess i was wrong. Who am i talking about? The great Ashley..  the brainiac.

"Oh... about that... he said he wanted to see the place around... so he asked me if i could accompany him..." i placed the correct words so they wouldnt misunderstand.

"He asked you on a date!!?" Lorraine asked with her eyes bulged out from her sockets. See what i was talking about...

"Yeah... not like a date." I murmured.  I remembered the way he said it... 'not like a a date.'

"Whoa... when is it actually?" Ashley asked me leaning forward.

"It was tonight actually..." i said slowly looking down.

"What? Tonight?"  Lorraine asked with her mouth open. "You rejected him?"

"No!... i mean no, i just postponed it to tomorrow..." i said sipping my coke. This was getting uncomfortable.

" why?" Ashley gasped.

I sighed "Because i promised you guys that i wont ditch you... no matter what."

Their expressions softened and they looked at me smiling sweetly.. " ohhh... how can i not fall for you with those sweet words...? You seriously did that for us?" Lorraine spoke up smiling widely.

I nodded " yeah... you guys are my first priority... " i smiled.

"Aww thats so sweet... lets raise a toast to this with our cokes." Ashley said clapping her hands. We all raised our glasses and clinked it together smiling.

*****

I hate my life. I have no idea how Lorraine and Ashley actually managed to fool the department store cashier and got out drinks from there. They eventually ended up drunk... and here i was holding onto Ashley's weak drunk body and walking around the street. We could go to jail gor this! I warned them... but now they're both drunk. Lorraine is a little tipsy, but she can walk. The problem right now? We went to a bunch of places after the mall and Ashley was driving. The real problem? She freaking doesnt remember where she parked the car! Its already 10.30pm and we are still in search of the car. I dont know what i did to deserve this. I cant call anyone... not my dad definitely. I cant call Adam toobecause Lorraine doesn't want him to see her this way. Life is so crappy! We kept walking ahead until we saw an old woman walking upto us. She was wearing a cloth over her head to beat the cold and she was in rags.

"Damn, i didnt know there were poor people in here.." Lorraine whispered into my ears.i glared at her and told her to shutup. The whole street became silent again and lonely. It was only us and that woman. We walked from the side to avoid her but she came right up to me. Something jingled when she came closer. I saw her face, wrinkled and her eyes gleamed in an uncertain manner. She looked familiar for some reasons but ive never seen her before... im sure. She was hunched back, and had a pointed nose with two of her teeth missing in her mouth.

She suddenly put her hands infront of me and pulled out a bunch of chains that were hanging from it. "Choose!" She said loudly looking deep into my eyes.

I tried avoiding her, "its okay...umm... thankyou..."

She stopped me from escaping and again yelled loudly, "i said choose!"

How come this street is deserted and no one is around here? It was just us... i vould have made a dash if it wasnt for Ashley clinging onto me and Lorraine. I looked at Lorraine and she looked frozen. She motioned me to pick one of the... things...

It looked like junk at first, but then i noticed that they were necklaces. Each of different pendants. I looked at the woman and she held my hand brought it closer to the accessories. What rude customer service! I thought to myself.

I hovered my hand over them and suddenly, i felt a sting as i crossed over one of the necklace. It was weird, but i felt attracted towards it. "This one..." i said pointing to it.

The oldwoman smiled creepily and gave it to me. The necklace was cold on my palm and i shivered. I looked at the pendant... it was weird. I have never seen it before or anything such as that. It was circle shaped, but there were two curves followed by triangle on top. And most importantly there were fine lines like branches of tree in the middle. I looked back at the woman.

Her expression changed suddenly and she gave out a dark aura,

"The circle stands, for the time of your life
The line, for the shadow of balance...
The triangle stands for the eternal crown
Placed high up with the diamonds

The two curves shall stand for the savage swords
which would reap your soul and your others'
Finally it would shatter the glass
Making the world cold forever"

She said these words running her finger on the pendant lines. I shuddered at the end of the poem. I didnt know what to say and i was too scared. I wanted to run away, but i couldnt.

"Youre lucky... and special... wear it all times" she sneered and hummed.

I opened my purse to pay her but she nodded and didnt accept my money. I dint want this thing in the first place, and now i feel like its cursed.  Should i throw it away?

"Dont throw it away... you will need it." She said looking into my eyes. Did she just read my mind? I nodded my head quickly and bit my lips in fear.

"Save as many as you can... becareful" she just said this and started walking away.

Save as many as you can? What is this all about? I dont understand anything. She disappeared around the corner and i looked at Lorraine. Her face looked relaxed and she looked like a lot less than a drunkard.

"Do you know her? She was weird. What was all that about?"

"I dont know... it was creepy" i confessed shuddering.

"Whatever... it sounded like cursed math to me... you know what? Im sticking to it!" She said with a grin. She kept on talking but i wasnt able to hear anything. I kept looking in the direction the woman went with the necklace clenched in my hand. The wind felt colder for the moment and i shivered again.

"Hey.. Carly to Earth" Lorraine said waving her hands at me.

I wanted to get away from this place as fast as possible. I got goosebumps on my arms and legs and there was something not right about it. 

I nodded "im fine... lets go find that car."

Authors Note:

Sorry for the late update... i was caught up with my exams... glad its over😁😁😁