Rosa couldn't escape tragedy no matter where she turned. Of course, every part of social media was drenched in vague (but not really vague) phrases. All of them were certainly done out of good thought, but there was a lack of sincerity about them all. No, reading over all of those only served to make Rosa feel even worse.

The one thing which pleased her online was new. The ever-crescendoing murmur of how it would change things around Cloisterham was always present around Rosa, and somehow it did not bother her. It had all too much to do with Elliot, and yet she was pleased by it. It was on tumblr, of all things, and though no one was quite sure what it would be everyone was at least intrigued by it.

She couldn't help but want to share it with whoever would listen...as well as whoever hadn't already heard about it. Of course, with sort of idea in her head she couldn't help but think of Jasmine first. As soon as lunchtime rolled around, Rosa came flying down the grassy expanse where she knew Jasmine tended to sit. Surely enough, she was already there.

"Jasmine! Jasmine, have you seen this?"

"I don't know, it depends on what this is," Jasmine replied. At first it seemed as if Rosa might not reply, as she seemed to be searching for something on her phone.

"This!" Rosa finally exclaimed, shoving her phone into Jasmine's face. "The school is frenzied with thoughts of this, I cannot believe you haven't seen it."

"Never said I haven't seen it," Jasmine mumbled.

"DA," Rosa said. "DA. You'd think it would be initials, but no one would be so foolish as to use their own legitimate initials if they were attempting to remain anonymous. What do you think it's all about?"

"Well, I think it has to do with the mystery surround Elliot's death."

"But of course - but it's an entire blog dedicated to gathering evidence. And there are suspects, Jasmine, suspects! Cloisterham is stepping up to figure out who killed my dear Elly, and I could not be prouder."

"One person is stepping up to find out, Rosa," Jasmine said. "It's just one person."

"But everyone is chattering about it," Rosa exclaimed. "Everyone knows about DA now. Everyone knows that there is something very off about this situation surrounding Elly's disappearance. Certainly people will make a greater effort to do something, even if it's just to spread the word about the school..."

"And the word will be spread around whether the DA does anything or not."

"I just pray for justice," Rosa said, her voice suddenly dropping in volume. "So few people seem to believe that Elly was murdered, but I know...I know they must've been. And I know that it will be figured out. I just...I just hope to see the evidence for myself."

"I'm sorry, Rosa," Jasmine said. "I'm sorry that you've had to suffer through all of this. But one blog...one blog probably isn't going to fix everything. And there's got to be a reason why this DA is choosing to stay anonymous."

"I wish they were not," Rosa said, giving a sigh. "I would give them every ounce of thanks that could be mustered from within me."

As she spoke, the Lanka twins came over to join their friends. Jasmine acknowledged them with a slight nod and wave, but Rosa had already brought herself out of her longing to know DA's identity enough so that she could spread the word even further.

"Neville, Helena," Rosa said. "I suppose you two have heard about DA as well, haven't you?"

"Hasn't everyone?" Neville said.

"It seems that way," Rosa exclaimed. "I cannot contain how pleased I am that the case of Elly's death is finally being worked upon. Jasmine does not seem as enthusiastic over these circumstances, but she doesn't seem to be enthusiastic about much - ah, well."

"It's good to find out that someone is at least trying to use legitimate evidence to figure this out, instead of pointing a finger at the first person who pops into their head," Helena said, glancing over towards her brother.

"Precisely," Rosa said, nodding her head several times. "We can no longer afford to jump to such conclusions, not when there is so much at stake. Especially not after what happened to you, Neville. I'm sorry any of that had to occur, Neville, I still wish there was something I could've done..."

"It's over now," Neville said, trying to comfort her. "This DA person is going to get to the bottom of things, clear up what has been mixed up. I'm sure that they'll be far more fair than people like Mr. Jasper, who would rather just blame the one student he hates most of all."

Rosa stayed silent for a moment after this. The popular opinion around the school was poisoned by Mr. Jasper's initial accusations and by everyone's assumptions. Most people at least was suspicious of Neville, thinking he must have some part in the crime.

"Well...I can say I find this far more pleasing than a million messages saying how they hope Elly will rest in peace," Rosa continued. "I cannot lie and claim I have not looked at the messages, searched up everything under #RIPElliot, or anything of the sort. But all it does is make me tremble. I fear I will stumble upon someone misgendering them or something of the sort, even if they mean well."

"Have you seen anything yet?" Helena asked.

"Fortunately not...but if I do, it may lead to someone else not using the correct pronouns, and someone else refusing to respect Elly's identity, and someone else then becoming cruel...how I fear it will turn out so. It is bad enough that they have been murdered. But I couldn't stand if someone were to butcher their name and identity."

"God. I really hope that doesn't happen," Jasmine exclaimed. "Because you know that I'm going to be next."

"Have you had any problems with that here?" Rosa asked. "I mean, Elly never told me of any particular problems when they were...well, you know. But-"

"No one has said anything, but it's also pretty clear that no one really wants me around."

"Jasmine, you know that's not true-"

"Wait, what are you guys talking about?" Neville asked. He knew it was somewhat dangerous to attempt leaping into the conversation, but he did it anyways.

"Simple. I'm trans. Everyone at Cloisterham also went to Evergreen before I came out and transitioned. Everyone seemed pretty neutral about it, but also pretty uncomfortable."

"Perhaps not everyone...but it is true that there are few here at Cloisterham who fully embrace anything but the strictest gender binary," Rosa sighed. "And I...I have not forgotten that, not when it comes to our current circumstances."

"It's not a good time for anyone at Cloisterham who isn't cis," Jasmine said, letting out a sigh that betrayed her inner fears. "Not that it ever was a good time. But now it's worse."

With this raw truth in the air, no one knew what to say or how to react. Jasmine expected this from the others, but that didn't make her pleased that no one seemed to be able to do anything but remain silent.

Neville cleared his throat, deciding he needed to take the initiative to change the subject.

"There's a woman who's been spotted around campus. She's not really intruding, but she's definitely not someone who's normally around here..."

"DA has taken note of her presence," Rosa replied. "I believe she's already down as one of the people they are attempting to follow."

"Do you think some woman no one else has seen before really has anything to do with Elliot?" Helena asked.

"Well, you must admit that the circumstances are rather suspicious and happen to parallel surprisingly well with what has happened."

"Or she might just be some random woman who's appeared around Cloisterham campus. Maybe she's interested in finding out what's going on as well - Cloisterham isn't the only place that knows about Elliot," Jasmine added in.

"Why would anyone outside of Cloisterham care about Elliot?" Neville asked.

"Perhaps it is not Elliot she cares about," Rosa suggested. No one found a response for this. "Well...you know. It is just a possibility, one that I believe has potential importance..."

Realizing no one else was following her thoughts, Rosa decided she needed to find her way out of the situation. She reached over to Helena and took her by the arm, preparing to pull her away.

"Helena and I must retreat to our rooms before we advance to our next class period. There are numbered minutes within each period and I believe Helena and I need a moment to recharge our energy."

Neville bit his lip as if he wished to say something, but he remained silent and instead gave a nod. Jasmine, on the other hand, barely seemed to notice anything was going on. With this silent goodbye, Rosa and Helena began their walk back to the dorms.

"Neville seems to be enjoying theatre here, if nothing else," Helena said, trying her best to spark up conversation on their way back to the room.

"He seems to have a natural affinity for the nuances necessary for proper and believable acting. I enjoy spectating whatever he does in class, and occassionally participating in it with him. I am pleased he enjoys it..."

"I wonder if he would like it as much if you weren't there," Helena said.

"Well, Jasmine is there as well! I do believe the two of them have the potential to become close friends, if not at least scene partners. Jasmine is a gifted actress, truly - but few seem to realize it. She does many scenes with Neville...they seem to enjoy it..."

Helena didn't feel as if she should attempt explaining what she meant, especially as Rosa's face revealed the cogs in her head were whirling once again. Even though Rosa tried to be engaged in what Helena said, it was clear that she was continously distracted by what ran through her mind.

"Whoever DA is, they are an actor in some respects," Rosa finally said. "They must be. You look at the blog and you can see how theatrical it all is and how they use part of their identity to create a mask for themselves. It is clearly someone within Cloisterham, clearly a student...but who?"

"Does it matter who DA is as long as they're doing good work?" Helena asked.

"I suppose not," Rosa replied, finding herself somewhat shut down

"Well, while we're on the subject of acting. You're an actress, aren't you?" Helena asked. "I mean, you're in theatre class, but it seems like you've done more than that. You at least talk about it like you do."

"I am indeed," Rosa said. "Though perhaps my greatest triumph on a stage was also my least favorite."

Helena paused, waiting for Rosa to elaborate. The two reached their dorm room, and Rosa seemed to be taking her time to continue as she struggled to unlock the door. Helena proceeded to gently push Rosa aside and turn the key herself, making a slight flush appear across Rosa's already pinkened cheeks.

"You were saying something about your least favorite role, Rosa?" Helena asked, refusing to back down from her curiosity.

"Oh, yes, I did mention that..." Rosa began. "I did not want to speak out about it in the open with the possibility someone else might overhear..."

"Then it's good we're in our dorm room now. So..."

"I played Mary Phagan in Parade," Rosa sighed. "I suppose it was one of the most prominent and fascinating roles I've ever been placed in, but I couldn't loathe it more. I auditioned with a desire to play one of the factory girls. I ended up as a leading character, but also the child who wears her hair in ringlets tied up with acres of ribbon."

"Oh, I would've paid to see that," Helena said, unable to find this anything except amusing.

"And far too many people did. I wish Sarah hadn't pushed me into it. And Tartar, too. It was both of their faults," Rosa said, her lips falling into a pout.

"Who is Tartar?"

"Oh, no one," Rosa hastily replied. "His real name isn't Tartar, of course, it's Thomas - Tartar is just a nickname from a...er...interesting experience. He graduated last year along with Sarah."

"And how did he and this Sarah manage to convince you to audition for Parade?"

"By their presence in auditioning for the musical themselves, by saying there was no reason why I should not come along and try myself."

"What I'm hearing is that you decided to audition on a whim and got a pretty good part."

"Well, yes...it wasn't a dreadful experience by any stretch, I must admit - I just did not enjoy the idea of being forced into a lacy dress with ribbons in my hair, looking as if I was...as if I was a small child!"

"Well, that was a few years ago, right?"

"Yes. But I was fifteen. Fifteen. I was not a tiny child at the age of fifteen, I can guarantee that matter. And, of course, I was a freshman. First year of high school and I was forced to appear as a small child for the entire duration of the musical!"

"Forced to? Couldn't you have just quit once you found out who you were playing?" Helena asked.

"Perhaps I was able to, but no! I could not have! Mary Phagan is the closest to a leading role anyone under the age of twenty five could manage to take a hold of in the show!"

"Then there shouldn't be any reason to complain about it."

"Evidently you do not understand how dreadful it is for me to be placed within such a costume, in such a role - for whatever reason people seem to think I belong with ringlets and ribbons. I'm seventeen years old now, not a child!"

Helena could've protested her side further, but Rosa was adamant. Besides, Rosa continued to rant on about her Parade experience.

"It was Tartar's fault," Rosa said. "Tartar and Sarah. If they hadn't been there then I would not have even dreamed of auditioning."

"I suppose that Tartar and Sarah are very persuasive."

"Oh, yes," Rosa said. "Yes, indeed. Tartar, especially. Or perhaps Tartar was only so persausive to me..."

"What do you mean?" Helena asked. She could tell she was getting into Rosa's mind, that there was something more that the girl had yet to say.

"I almost broke up with Elly during that show," Rosa admitted. "I almost wanted to...I almost thought it would be better to be with someone else. I couldn't deny my feelings for one of the girls playing one of the factory girls, and then when that fell through I knew that I...I wished to form a romantic relationship with Tartar."

"Did you do anything with him? Like..."

"I didn't!" Rosa quickly burst out, interrupting Helena before she could even begin to list anything. "I didn't do anything more than think, I swear it upon my soul! But even admitting to thinking of such matters just makes me feel as if I have performed a terrible deed."

"I never said that you didn't anything wrong, Rosa. I was just curious."

"Oh, goodness," Rosa sighed. "You siphon these thoughts out of me unlike anyone else I have met. I cannot say it is a bad thing, but...goodness, Helena!"

"Don't worry about it. As long as you cared about Elliot when they were alive, that's all that mattered. Maybe I've misinterpreted this, but I don't think either of you were dating one another for romantic reasons."

"I cannot be certain either, but I agree with you on that matter," Rosa sighed. "Not a bit of romance in our relationship, regardless of what outsiders would care to think of it as. We may have been Cloisterham's couple of the year, official Cloisterham royalty from that particular title...but no romance."

Rosa looked down at her skirt, rubbing the fabric between her fingers. She admitted so much to Helena, but she wasn't so sure that releasing so much of the pent up secrets within ended up being beneficial to her. Instead, she felt vulnerable as if she'd been wearing these thoughts as a thin but durable layer of clothing - now it was all ripped away, and she didn't have anything to cover up with.

"But there was romance when it came to Tartar," Helena said. She couldn't help her curiosity towards Rosa's behavior about Tartar and their experiences.

"Oh, God. You will pry this out of me, won't you? It is not unlike Mr. Jasper and his dreadful desire to pay pennies for thoughts, I think."

"Your thoughts are worth much more than a penny, Rosa," Helena said. "But if you have to share them for a penny, then only give a penny's worth."

Rosa didn't have an instant response to this. Instead she simply tilted her head as she gazed over towards Helena. How was it that her roommate (and perhaps now her closest friend) always seemed to have the perfect words to respond?

"You are fortunate that I have chosen to put such faith in you, Helena," Rosa said, giving a small smile. "I shall explain further."

Helena did not speak. She instead reflected Rosa's smile on her own lips and waited.

"One day Tartar came up to me after rehearsal was completed for that particular evening...I didn't think much of him walking up to converse with me, it was a rather typical thing. But he asked me to sit beside him in the auditorium with an edge invading his voice and I knew something was amiss. He...he knew what he was to say, you could tell it was a matter he had attempted to rehearse in the past."

"But he couldn't rehearse your response," Helena said.

"No, of course not. He sat beside me and uttered those first few words - 'I wish you weren't dating Elliot.' I knew what he meant from the first moment I heard such a statement, but he did not wish for me to view it in such a manner...at least, not entirely. Instead he decided to continue explaining - 'Elliot doesn't treat you well, you deserve better, I don't see how they care about you' - it was ceaseless! I needed to interrupt him."

"Did he know Elliot very well?"

"He knew them better than you did, that is certain. To a certain extent, I assume the two were friends. I believe the main source of animosity and conflict between them must have...well, I suppose it must have come from me! But I had chosen to ignore it up until that point when Tartar chose to slam Elly to make himself look better."

"What did you tell him, then?" Helena asked. "I know how much you like to defend Elliot."

"I told him the truth - I am faithful to Elly because we are bonded together through our similar sets of childhood circumstances and a friendship which, despite its rocks, has persisted through the years. Elly is...Elly was vital to me. And I said that I knew how dreadful Elly could be to me, that I loathed hearing such things. Tartar said he understood, but I am certain he could not have. At least he attempted."

"You have a habit of attracting people who care for you, Rosa," Helena said. "I guess that Tartar is one of the only good ones in your eyes."

"Well, I...I nearly decided to tell Tartar that I would prefer to be with him rather than...than dear Elly...but I couldn't utter such a thing aloud! I kept myself from such...I suppose Tartar was grand, but he nearly pushed me over the edge in those moments! And, of course, he very nearly kissed me. He would have kissed me...his hands were tangled up within my hair, his gaze locked within mine...I knew he would've."

"But you refused."

"Of course I refused. I couldn't bear to think of what the consequences might be if we ended up kissing one another. And now I cannot help the way my curiosity swells whenever I recall the moment. I cannot help but wonder what might have happened if I had kissed Tartar and broken up with Elly then. Perhaps...perhaps Elly would be alive right now."

"I don't know about that, Rosa..."

"I think he may have been in love with me," Rosa murmured. "At first I tried to convince myself that he was simply an incredible actor whenever he cried out about Mary Phagan and how he adored her. But every actor, regardless of the role, must find some sort of connection within real life, of course. And whenever I walked across the stage with my ribbons and curls and freckles he would focus on me so intensely...it could not have been just acting."

"Did you ever ask him about it?" Helena asked. "Or did you keep your suspicions to yourself?"

"I never could've asked him such a thing. I know precisely what he would say if I told him such a thing. He would wish to know how I felt. And I know myself well enough to admit...to admit that I do not know. Oh, God...can we talk about anything else?" Rosa asked.

"No one said we had to talk about this to begin with, Rosa," Helena reminded her.

"You are correct. Of course. Well, I suppose I have no reason to place rose-colored glasses upon your view of Cloisterham and the surrounding areas...and since we are speaking about my time in Parade as Mary Phagan...well. Mary is a little white girl."

"I don't like where this is heading," Helena breathed out.

"As you can view with your own eyes, I am not white, and thus I was forced to wear pale makeup and then paint freckles across my cheeks to emanate the idea that Mary was often outside and that would explain her darker skin."

"God."

"It sounds dreadful, I know, but that is just how Cloisterham and the places around us are. I have chosen those I adore based off of their open mindedness, but...but everyone else here does not share such mentality."

"That's just how it is here," Helena echoed after her.

"It always will be, I fear," Rosa replied. "I fear it shall never change."