"We didn't realise we were making memories. We just knew we were having fun." - Winnie the Pooh

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"...Where is she?"

I sealed my fingers over my mouth as I tried holding back giggles to stay as quiet as possible. Though I wasn't doing a very good job, a bubbly laugh slipping past my lips as I hugged my knees closer to my chest, trying to make myself as small as I could. Loud heavy footsteps and his cheery, voice chuckled louder.

"Is she... under the table? Hmm... no..."

Not even close. I couldn't help but giggle a little more. I chewed my lip hard until it hurt. I had never tried this hiding place before. No way was he going to find me this time.

"Is she... under the cushion?"

At that, I laughed before quickly slamming my hand back over my mouth again. I held my breath as I could feel him draw closer and closer. "What about... behind the sofa? Aha!"

Then I felt large hands pick me up from my place and throw me up into the air, effortlessly catching me again. "Hey!" I screamed, folding my arms and pouting at his grin. "But that hiding place was new!"

He laughed and hoisted me onto his shoulders. I could feel his thick, dark hair under my fingers as I gripped on tightly. As he spun around, I held on in fear of falling off.
"Stop! Stop! You're making me dizzy!"

His deep chuckle annoyed me slightly but then he slowed down. "Lighten up, Clar, it's only a game. You're not very good at hiding. Your father knows you better than you know yourself."

I didn't wipe the pout off my face, stubbornly kicking my legs. "Not fair! You were cheating I bet you were!"

He turned around to face the large mirror hanging on the far side of the living room. I stared at the reflection of me on his shoulders, our dark skin and large curls matching. Except his eyes were golden. They glinted like mum's pretty necklaces as he grinned. "Oh come on now. I don't need superpowers to know what you're planning. Your emotions are always too plain on your face."

Still grumpy, I didn't know how to reply to him. I just remember huffing and folding my arms, never wanting to admit it.

"Clara? Hello? You still with us?"

I jolted at Alex's sudden hand on my shoulder before quickly flinching away from his touch. He pulled his hand back and sat down in front of me, his weird look mirroring Emma's.

Al raised an eyebrow and folded his arms over his chest, kicking his feet up onto the table. He huffed and mimed writing something on his hand. "That is the... seventh time you've spaced out."

I glared at him. "You're seriously keeping count?"

Emma turned to him and pushed his feet off. 'No shoes on the table' she signed.

He rolled his eyes and settled for crossing his legs instead. "Alright, Mum." He grumbled.

We were sitting in the cafeteria. The whole room was bustling and buzzing with chatty students and people milling about everywhere. It was so loud and noisy in here that it was hard to hear what my friends were saying if I wasn't concentrating so hard. I sat with my hands stuffed between my legs and my shoulders wound tight. I could feel the weight of the note in my pocket that Dark Prism had given me. What does he mean 'it begins tonight'? What's going to happen?

Alex frowned at me from across the table. "You alright, Clar? You look so tired."

I rubbed my eyes and shook my head, trying to quickly bury down the yawn that was building up in my throat. "Yeah... just a little. I didn't sleep so well last night. These uh.. stupid cats were fighting in my street. Do you know how loud they can be?"

I wish I could say I'm a fantastic liar. Like it comes naturally to me. After all, I've been doing it my whole life. But I can't tell Emma, Alex and Al about Dark Prism. No way. If I told them that, then I'd have to tell them about... me. I shivered at the thought.

"Why didn't you just close the window?" Alex looked at me strangely.

"I uh... it was too hot in my room?"

I can't actually close my window. The thing that slides it open and closed is jammed and wedged into place.

I wasn't sure what else to say as Emma, Al and Alex exchanged looks with one another. I felt like I was being crushed under their doubt... and it hurt.

"Hey! Wanna join the talent show?" An overly cheery voice cut through the stiff atmosphere. I looked down to meet the purple eyes of maybe one of the most popular girls at school. Not like Bella though who manipulated people to like and adore her.

She had long, dark dreadlocks that bounced around her shoulders and wore her school blazer tied around her waist. Her dark skin only made her brilliant white smile look even brighter, as she beamed at all of us in turn. As she made eye contact with me, I felt a fierce but joyful aura about her. It was slightly unnerving. In her hands she held a thick pile of posters.

Al grunted. "Tiny."

She turned to him and beamed. "Hey! What's up, Al?!" She balled her hand into a fist and held it out to him. "Don't leave me hangin..."

Al cocked a grin and held his fist to hers, but they couldn't connect. Still, Clementine made a 'boom' sound with her lips and threw her head back to laugh. Al's grin didn't drop. The fact that this girl could even get Al to lighten up slightly was a miracle. I wasn't sure whether to feel intimidated at this girl's power or awe.

I frowned. "Tiny?" I eyed her up and down. The name seemed to fit her. I'm shorter than most girls my age, but she would probably just barely reach my shoulders if I stood up.

The girl laughed again. "Yeah! Name's Clementine but I don't think we met! You're... Clara right? That one who's always late to everything?"

I nodded. "... uh... yeah—"

"You can call me Clementine... but 'Tiny' fits me much better dontcha think?!" So much confidence and happiness swelled from her. Honestly I found it a little overwhelming

Emma beamed at her and turned her eyes to a much quieter looking girl behind her, with wispy dark bangs and straight hair that poured over her shoulders. Her narrow eyes glanced away from us as she held her pile of posters to her chest.

'What talent show?' Emma signed, looking back to Clementine.

The cheery girl's eyes widened and she blinked blankly. "Oh! Oh sorry I don't know sign language!"

Emma smiled in understanding and let her hands rest in her lap. Alex chewed his lip like he always did when he was in deep thought about something. "She was asking about the talent show." Alex filled in for her. Emma shot him an appreciative smile.

The tiny girl burst into joyful laughter. "Oh okay! Well lemme tell ya! It's next month and everyone can join in to show off your hidden talents." She took one of the posters and slammed one on the table, making the three of us jump, except for Al. I cringed as she raised her voice and more people around turned to listen to her. "But no powers allowed! It'll be like, on a stage and everything."

Alex took the poster and glanced over it. "Interesting..."

Clementine looked at me and gave me a wink. "You look like someone who could be hiding some hidden talent. You should totally join!"

I shook my head and collapsed into myself as Clementine put me on the spot.

She shrugged as I didn't reply. "Hey no pressure though!"

Unsure of what to say, I turned back around to face my half eaten sandwich. It felt a little awkward then, but Clementine didn't seem to notice. She just laughed harder. How one could be so full of happiness and excitement I honestly didn't know.
Her joyfulness radiated over me in powerful waves. I could feel so much energy from her... that it made me feel even more tired.

The girl standing behind Clementine shyly nudged her. "Come on. We've been here long enough."

The shorter girl shrugged. "Alright alright, Hayate." She gave us all a wave. "See ya!"

As they left, Alex cleared his throat and folded the poster to put in his pocket. Al kicked his feet back up on the table again. He grunted. "What polar opposites them two."

Emma nodded, watching them leave.

Alex chuckled to himself before taking out a piece of paper, a loose sketch design of a poster. Picking up a red pencil, he coloured in some unrecognisable parts before holding it up. "Okay... what do you think about this design for our club? We need more members right? This should do..."

The three of us looked at it closely... but it all looked like a bunch of scribbles to me. I couldn't tell what was what.

Al snorted and took the poster from him, scanning it over with a raised brow. "Looks like a red cow. What is that in the middle?"

Alex quickly snatched his poster design back. "Hey!" He pouted, tone on the defensive side. "It's meant to be a camera."

Al smirked. "Doesn't look like it to me."

Emma tried for a smile. 'It's... lovely?'

I shrugged. "I agree with Al"

Alex held the poster to himself, glancing back over it sulkily. "Seriously? Sure I'm not an artist but it does the job... right?" His shoulders sagged and I felt disappointment emanate from him. I was about to try and make him feel better when I was interrupted.

"Excuse me? You're the photography nerds right?"

Well aren't we just the popular group today.

We all looked up simultaneously to meet a pair of icy blue eyes and dark raven hair. A baseball cap sat on top of his black locks and a sports jacket was thrown over his right shoulder. His grin was white and perfect, his porcelain skin just emphasising the handsome, sharp features of his face even more. Ruben stood next to him, his arm resting on his best friend's shoulder. He exchanged a quiet smile with Emma.

Al shrugged, kicking his feet up on the table. He held his palms up. "Not me."

Alex ignored Al's statement and answered for us. It seemed he was almost glad that the attention wasn't on his failed poster design anymore. "Yeah? What do you want?"

"Well... I hope you wouldn't mind if we asked a favour? From the team I mean." Milo jabbed his thumb behind him to a table where a lot of other athletic boys were sitting, all holding or wearing the same coloured jacket.

"Go on Milo!" They were yelling across the room, their deep and boisterous voices loud enough to probably cause an earthquake.

That's when I lost interest and began to tear off pieces of my sandwich and continue eating my lunch. Whatever they needed, I didn't care or be bothered enough to listen. I'm too wrapped up in my own problems right now to worry about anybody else. Dark Prism said that he would meet me in my room again... so now that I know he's coming, maybe I could set a trap for him. Overpower him or back him into a corner enough so that I could...

Milo smiled sheepishly. "From the captain of Queensgate football team, could—" 

"Pfft. Alright, Mr Popular," Al sneered.

Milo glared at him but continued speaking anyway, quickly resuming his perfect smile. "-could one of you be at our next match to take pictures for us? It'll be an important one."

"When's your match?" Alex asked.

"This weekend. 10am on Saturday."

Alex shook his head and folded his arms. "Woah that is way too early on a weekend. Not happening."

Milo took a breath but responded coolly. "We'll pay you."

At that I stood up so quickly that my chair fell backwards behind me. I winced as it clattered noisily and felt my cheeks burn as the movement turned some heads. Emma and Alex jumped at my sudden spring to life and Milo looked at me curiously. "I'll do it." I spluttered a little too quickly. A little extra money was exactly what I needed right now.

"Clar? You serious?" Alex raised his brow, sharing his quizzical look with Emma.

"I'm sure." I locked eyes with Milo and nodded. "I'll be your photographer."

Milo beamed widely. "Great."

Ruben chuckled next to him. "Yo awesome! Make sure to get my best side."

Watching them walk away, I felt a guilt and dread settle heavily in my gut. What was I doing? I shouldn't have committed to anything until I knew I had the Dark Prism problem sorted out. Yet I told myself to brush it off and get on with it. Surely, I would be able to settle this tonight with the villain.

But with all of these things beginning to weigh on my mind, I was suddenly unsure how to balance it all. The photography club, my friends, the football match and I guess whatever Dark Prism had in store for me tonight. Somehow, I could do it... right?