CHAPTER FOUR:
❝Enjoy People's Pain❞︎

     "BE SAFE." Harper softly told Hope, a gentle smile on her face. Hope looked at the girl who she claimed to be her best friend and smiled, nodding her head. She knew the real worries behind Harper's words, and she placed a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder.

     "I'll be back soon, alright? Have fun at the game."

     "Oh, I'm not going." Harper denied, shaking her head.

     "What?" Hope frowned at this.

     "It's just not my forte." Harper admitted. "I'm going to take the day practicing my magic."

     "But, what about Josie? I know she wanted you to be there."

     Harper bit her lip before shrugging. "I'm only going to sit there and read. I think that would be rude, so I don't want to do that. Plus, crowds aren't really my thing. You know that."

     "You aren't going to hurt anyone, Harper. You have your powers under control."

     "Mostly." Harper corrected. "Go. I'll see you when you get back." Hope nodded before hugging the girl and then leaving. Harper sighed before making her way to the library, sitting down and reading her book.

     "Harper, what are you doing? We're leaving." Josie appeared in front of the girl, making her look up from her book. She saw the confused look in her eyes, holding out her hand for Harper to grab. And she couldn't disappoint Josie, knowing her father already wasn't going to the game. She offered a tight smile before closing her book and grabbing Josie's hand, walking out of the library with her.

They arrived and Harper sat on the sidelines, watching the game from afar. They weren't allowed to use their powers, and according to Lizzie their goal was to lose. She actually sat there watching the game, her chin placed in her hand as she watched the game that she felt was way too violent for her. She watched Lizzie and Josie conversate with one another, and she tucked her hair behind her ear before silently listening to the conversation.

     "One word." Lizzie angrily huffed. "One word and I could burn her perky little boobs to ash."

     "Hey, but we're not going to do that today." Josie told her. "Today of all days, right?" Lizzie didn't answer, instead she rolled her eyes and walked away. Harper frowned before managing to catch Josie's eyes from the field. Josie offered her a small smile, and Harper sent one back. Harper's eyes then moved towards MG who was talking with Penelope. The next round went, and MG scored, making Penelope smirk in satisfaction. Harper sighed before pushing her hair behind her ear.

     "Why come if you don't want to be here?" She almost jumped at the sound of Penelope's voice, turning her head to look at the girl. Penelope smirked, her hand placed carelessly on Harper's thigh.

     "I'm here to support Josie."

     "Tell me, Harper, does she know about how much you're in love with her?" Penelope questioned. "Or are you just as pitiful as MG and will do anything to get her attention."

     "Josie and I are just friends, that's all we'll ever be." Harper turned her head towards Penelope, surprised to see their face inches apart. Penelope's smirk seemed to widen.

     "That's too bad. Cause seeing you talk to me, that should go over well." Penelope glanced towards the field and Harper followed her eye line only to see Josie standing there, looking at her disbelief, turning on her heel and heading towards the circle where Lizzie declared war against their opponents. Harper closed her eyes.

     "Do you enjoy other's pain? Is that what it is." Harper softly sighed. "I've done nothing to you, Penelope. Nothing. So please, just leave me alone." She glanced towards the game where they had just won another touchdown before looking back towards Penelope, only to find the girl was no longer there. Harper watched as Josie stood there in front of the team that was currently on the bench catching their breath, and her anger seemed to be released through the group by telling them that they weren't supposed to be using their powers, and if they kept it up they were going to lose a lot more if they kept it up. Her yes glanced towards Harper before her jaw clenched and she looked away.

But instead, the group of players took door number three, the door in which Penelope had suggested: to play fair and square. Even Harper had to agree with the idea, which earned a smirk from a Penelope and a scowl from Josie. The hybrid wanted to cower and hide. Harper turned her attention back towards the last round which would determine the winner. Harper seemed to hold her breath, watching as Lizzie chuckled the ball towards Kaleb who went to catch it, only for it to bounce from her hands. And just as it happened, Harper had managed to make out the sound of spell through the roaring crowd.

     Harper stood up, reluctantly standing there beside of Penelope as she watched the two teams give high fives as a good game and not as sore losers. When Josie had said good game to Dana, only for the girl to respond with, "Suck it, loser." And Lizzie punched the girl. Harper was quick to run out on the field, and everyone joined. A giant fight took place. Harper managed to get between Lizzie and Dana, pushing the two apart only for Dana's fist to go to her face, sending the girl down to the ground.

Penelope, although not in the main fight, managed to easily weave through the crowd, grabbing onto Harper, and pulling her up before she could be trampled on. The girl, although cruel, didn't like to see her hurt, not Harper. Penelope knew things, and she knew of Harper's background. And though she did pity the girl, out of everyone in the school, Harper did not deserve to be yelled at or punched.

     "Maybe I do enjoy people's pain." Penelope admitted, taking a napkin that she had managed to grab and carefully getting rid of the blood that was dripping from Harper's nose. "For the record, I don't enjoy yours." Penelope offered the smallest of smiles, one that made Harper believe she was daydreaming. Penelope turned on her heel and walked away, Harper watching her go with nothing but surprise covering her features.

When everyone made it back to the school, Harper went to her room and looked at herself in the mirror. Her nose slightly bruised, but it wasn't broken. An ice pack was placed on her nose as she laid there on her bed, her eyes closed as she softly sighed. A knock came on her door and she stood up, walking over to her door and pulling it open to reveal a crying Hope. She removed the ice pack from her nose and looked at Hope with a deep frown.

     "Can I come in?" Harper immediately stepped aside, closing the door once Hope entered. The girl told her everything that went down. There was apparently a pyromancer that they fought that could turn into a giant dragon. Dr. Saltzman found out about the black magic. They found Landon only to lose him again along with Raphael with Landon leaving a note behind that Hope allowed Harper to read.

     "Hope. . . I'm so sorry." Harper whispered before giving the girl a hug. She knew Hope didn't like anyone seeing her vulnerable, and Harper was the only one that she could trust to see her truly broken.

     "What happened to you?"

     "Oh. . . just another casual game day." Harper answered, smiling as she looked towards Hope.

     "Thank you for listening." Hope gently told the girl.

     Harper nodded. "Of course, Hope. I'm your best friend, it's what I'm here for. I love you, you know that?"

     "I love you too, Harper. A hibrid and a tribrid, best friends. Who would've thought?" Hope smiled, earning a small chuckle from Harper. Hope stood up, wiping away her tears. "If my ears are hearing correctly, a certain someone is approaching so I'm going to give you two some time. If something happens. . ."

     "I'll be in your room to complain." Harper nodded, making Hope chuckle before she nodded her head. The girl turned on her heel and walked out. Harper sat there for a few minutes before another knock came on her door. She looked up just in time to watch Josie carefully open the door. The Saltzman girl entered, closing the door behind her before taking a few steps closer, stopping a few feet from Harper's bed.

     "Are you okay?" Josie asked. "My god, Harper your nose." She immediately walked up to the girl, going to look at it before Harper stood up and took a step back, her arms insecurely crossed over her chest.

     "I'm fine." Harper assured the girl. "How's Lizzie?"

     "She's okay, just bruised around the eye." Josie nodded. "I, uh, saw you talking to. . ."

     "Yeah, I know." Harper nodded her head. "And you can be mad at me or whatever, because I honestly don't care. My nose is throbbing and so is my head, I just want to lay down and go to sleep."

     Josie frowned before nodding her head. "MG was right, you can be scary when you want to be." Harper scoffed, though the corner of her lip pulled upwards.

     "Goodnight, Josette."

     "Night, Harper." With that, Josie reluctantly left the girl's room, standing outside her door and closing her eyes as a regretful sigh fell from her lips.