Author Note:

The introduction part is necessary before going through the first chapter. There I have mentioned some city names which all are fictional and that will help you to understand the following chapter. Thank you and hope you guys like my story.

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"Stella, please, try to convince your parents for the school outing to Aerobi one last time. We're all so excited! And considering it's our final year, who knows when we'll have another chance to travel together and have such a blast?" Riana's voice held a tinge of worry.

"I understand, Riana. You can't imagine how much I want to go, to explore the world and have fun with friends. But it's just not possible, and that's incredibly frustrating. My parents, do you know them? They'd never agree to a trip like this. I don't blame them, though. They have their reasons, and I understand. It wasn't always like this. Everything changed the day we lost JACK, my best friend, my dear brother, and my parents' pride. Since then, my parents became overly protective of me. They won't let me go anywhere - no parties, no outings, all out of fear of losing me," Stella's voice carried a touch of resignation as she tried to console herself while talking to Riana.

"I know, Stella. You've mentioned it countless times. I understand the situation, but that doesn't mean you should sacrifice living your life. Each day you're letting it slip away, making compromises to keep your parents happy. It's not fair! You need to come along with us, no matter what," Riana's patience was running thin. She was determined to break through.

"I can't do that. God forbid if something goes wrong, I might even be prevented from going to school! No, no, no, I can't take that risk," Stella vehemently refused.

"I'm not suggesting you rebel against your parents. I'm urging you to seize the chance to truly live, even if it's just once," Riana's determination was unwavering, driven by her passionate longing.

"Fine, I'll try to talk to them, but I'm not sure. Let's hope they're convinced, otherwise, you guys enjoy the outing, and I'll find a way to enjoy myself at home," Stella's resistance was weakening under Riana's relentless efforts.

"No, I won't go without you! We're partners in crime. Do your best to convince them, and if that doesn't work, I'll do whatever it takes," Riana's determination was crystal clear.

"No... Please, don't do anything drastic," Stella pleaded.

"We'll see," Riana's mischievous smile hinted at her next moves.

Stella:

I'm familiar with Riana inside out. She's my polar opposite - wild, entertaining, charismatic; the kind of person who draws everyone in. She's bold, the ultimate confidante who stops at nothing to set things straight. Now, if you're acquainted with me, well, I might seem quite unexciting to the world, but my close friends see a different side, I'm known for being spirited, a source of comfort, and a touch crazy! But when I venture beyond my safe haven, which usually involves just a select few, my presence tends to fade into the background.

Other than that I also want a life, that should not be limited to studies. Travelling and seeing the beautiful world in real with friends would be interesting. Since I have never been on any outings with friends I believe that must be fun. But I would love to read books instead of attending any parties or any social functions where people are unnecessarily doing some crazy stuff that I feel is bizarre. So I better stay away from the crowd.

But now I really need to do something to convince my parents, If not, I fear Riana might resort to something outrageous, and I'm not sure I can handle that! She's already pulled off numerous wild stunts. So, I'm determined not to get caught up in her nonsensical schemes anymore.

With lunchtime over, we made our way to our classroom for a history lecture. Now, don't get me wrong, I do like history, but I like our history teacher, Mr. Edmerd, even more. He has a way of teaching history that truly brings it to life.

All of a sudden, a clamour of cheers for Mike caught our attention. Without hesitation, we rushed to the scene to figure out what was happening. To our dismay, we found Mike mercilessly pummeling a younger student, who was desperately attempting to defend himself. Witnessing the brutality, shock and sorrow coursed through me. What disturbed me, even more, was the fact that no one seemed inclined to step in and help the bleeding boy. In a futile attempt, I urged a bystander to intervene and aid the victim, but he callously joined in cheering for Mike. My heart lightened a bit when our teacher stepped in and swiftly took both of them to the principal's office. I silently thanked Sir Jonan, our class teacher, for his timely intervention in saving the injured boy from further harm.

"Riana, I wonder how that guy manages to uphold a heroic image despite engaging in such senseless acts every single day. He's one of the most ruthless individuals I've encountered in my life thus far," I confessed, my disapproval of violence evident.

"He's not reeeeally that bad," Riana chuckled in response.

"I can't believe you're defending him. That boy was in grave danger. I can't respect anyone who cheered for Mike. They witnessed it all but still adore that brute. It's like they've lost their humanity. And I'm starting to question if you have too," anger laced my voice.

"Alright, take a breath! The full story might be more complex than it appears. But I'll admit, how the situation was handled was definitely wrong. I agree with that. Let's just move on from it," Riana tried to soothe the tension in the air.

"Guess what? Mike's joining us for the Aerobi trip," Riana remarked teasingly.

"Oh, really? Thanks for the heads-up! Well, Now I've already made up my mind whether I'm going on that trip or not. Frankly, I'd rather avoid crossing paths with him, even by accident," I retorted, mirroring Riana's tone.

"Let's wait and see," Riana's playful smile mirrored her famous teasing expression. I couldn't help but smile in return.

With that, we entered our classroom, ready for the upcoming lecture.

#Thank you guys for reading this chapter. Your time means a lot, and I'm truly grateful. Please share your thoughts here.