"Okay, take your seats quietly and out with your textbooks, also get ready for a welcome back summer pop quizz." It was the English and literature teacher, Mr Jameson, who also took the class on drama. The classroom turned into a market place as everyone began to murmur and mumble in displeasure about the unexpected welcoming pop quizz.

"Yes? may I help you?" Everyone's attention suddenly diverted to whom Mr Jameson questioned. Tracy who stood at the corner of the door boldly entered the classroom and made her introduction.

"I'm Tracy Roberts, an exchange student from Brazil and I signed up for your English and drama class. I can't WAIT to get started and get acquainted." Tracy stressed the word 'wait' as if she had someone in particular she couldn't wait to get acquainted with.

"Hmmm, feisty and spirited. I like that. Alright have your seat right beside the young man at the Middle seat." Mr Jameson instructed Tracy then turned back to write on the board. The seat he had directed Tracy to take was right in front of Annies who was already fuming in anger. She quickly moved Tracy's chair with her leg before she could seat. Those who knew her plotting waited impatiently to watch Tracy fall, but to their surprise, Tracy took another look at her back to recheck as if she saw it coming.

"Trust me, you're going to have to try harder than that, because I won't hold back when I try mine." Tracy whispered to Annie, spitely looking straight into her eyes. She took up her seat and sat majestically. Annie felt cold chills run through her bones. She had never seen someone with such courage and it intimidated her.C

As class began. Mr Jameson asked the class to review and discuss their various opinions on the major themes of the book 'Macbeth' by Williams Shakespeare. Annie and Tracy ended up in a clash of view points on the themes of 'Ambition' and 'The relationship between cruelty and masculinity'. Everyone could see and tell of the spite, hate and attention struggle between them.

* * * * * After class.

"I can see you've got a death wish." Annie threatened Tracy as she stormed into the cheerleading dressing room.

"I couldn't agree more, but I'd like to see you try." Tracy replied.

"I don't know what gives you the morale, but it'll soon lead you to your doom." Annie continued to make threats.

"I didn't know you were all talk and no action. Look at me, I'm standing right here in front of you. Why aren't you doing anything to me?" Trace replied.

Annie didn't say anymore. Instead, she stormed out with a warning look.

* * * * * Back at home.

"Hey mama." Tracy greeted her mom who was sitted in the sitting room with a kiss on the cheek.

"Hi honey. What's the rush, common, how was your first day at school? Fill mama in." Her mom teased.

"Same as always, but I made my first easy and quickest playmate." Tracy replied.

"Nooo. Honey you promised you wouldn't get into any more trouble here. We might have to stay longer here." Miss Kate said feeling uneasy and concerned because she knew what her daughter meant by having a playmate, and it never ends well.

"You've got nothing to worry about mom. Everything's just perfect. Right mom? Everything's great even as I don't know who I am. Isn't it mom? Don't bother yourself." Tracy said in a sarcastic tone as she tried to fight back her tears. She was still upset with her mother about the conversation they had earlier in the morning. She finally broke down and ran up the stairs.

"Baby." Miss Kate felt sad of not being able to give her daughter a normal life and normal family or not discussing her past with her. Tracy had never had anyone attend her father's day meeting right from kindergarten, but with time she got used to it. Got used to the other kids always making fun of her and calling her a 'bastard kid'. The name grew on her in three different schools she attended until she learned to bully her way out from the bullies.

"No mom. It's fine, it's fine." She ran up to her room and shot the door lock. She put on her headphones and grabbed a roll of loud from her table and lit. She squeezed and hugged her two knees tightly as she puffed the smoke on her bed. A knock came on her door after two-three puffs of the wrap, which she ignored or didn't hear.
She finally dropped the wrap after more puffs, rushed to her bathroom sink, filled it with water and sank her head in for a few seconds before she came off almost out of breath. A tragic memory of her drowning in water appeared before her as her head was in the water.

Tracy whipped her hair dry with a towel, took her black leather jacket and headed to the door. Instead of opening the door for her mom, she rushed out instead without a word.

"Tracy!" Her mom called after her but she didn't look back.

"Not now mom, I've got a party to crash tonight and I need to look the part. Don't wait up." Tracy replied. She picked up the car keys hung on a hanger close to the door and drove off straight to the mall.

* * * * * * At the party.
People chatting on every corner, some making out, some just sitting and drinking, some playing games, and the rest just there to observe.

Annie made quite an entrance when she arrived, but Tracy still beat her at her game as she arrived immediately after Annie. People couldn't stop staring at her amusingly.

It hit Annie to the bone when she heard Pete complement Tracy's beauty and how hot she looked.

"Ignore her. Go meet Pete, he's the reason why you came here in the first place. Go on." Goldie advised Annie not to pay attention to Tracy and go be with Pete.

"I haven't gotten a feedback on what I asked you to dig up for me or do I have to do everything myself?" Annie questioned her friends on the assignment she had given them.

"I know but she's super clean, too clean actually and..." Marie got interrupted by Goldie.

"You'll get it tonight." Goldie assured Annie. Annie nodded in agreement and walked out.

"What are you doing? Why did you lie to her? How are we going to dig up a dirt on a spotless glass." Maire asked nervously.

"You're such a dummy. If you can't dig up a dirt, then you make one. Make up a mess. All Annie needs it's something she can destroy Tracy with, fact or a lie." Goldie added and left for a punch and look for a smarter company.

Tracy had stood in a corner, observing everyone's movement and planning her next step to get under Annie's skin. She took a drink or two as she walked towards the staircase, rejecting the 2-3 guys who asked her to dance.

In a few seconds, she found herself in a bedroom with two persons making out, they dressed and ran off immediately she walked in. Tracy threw herself on the bed lackadaisically. She lay there for some moments. The stickers of Pete on the ceiling caught her attention. It traced her eyes the the walls of the bedroom which contained more photographs of Pete in different curriculums; music, dance, football, swim.

She noticed the medals and awards on the shelf. She had a bad flashback when she touched the swimming medal. She had had a bad experience with swimming. Tracy had this passion to become a professional swimmer. It was all she wanted to do all her life until her dreams got crushed by her former bullies who made her drown in her own dreams. Her lungs were damaged from staying too long in the water, the doctors even called it a miracle for her to have made it out alive. Now Tracy can't stay just seconds in water.

"Something that interests you?" Tracy was brought back to present with a voice from the door. It was Pete. He had excused himself from Annie to go use the restroom up in his room and found Tracy snooping.

"I'm sorry. It's a nice collection you got here. One person with different personalities. I wonder which you'd end up with or be forced to live and battle with all forever. Hmmm." Tracy replied and headed towards the door to leave. Pete held her back and she couldn't loosen his grip.

"What do you mean by that?" Pete said in confusion. Tracy didn't say a word, she finally pulled out her hand and left him guessing.

She hasn't gone all the way out the door when Annie came asking after Pete.

"Pete? What's taking you so long?" Annie paused as she saw Tracy leaving Pete's room. She stretched her neck and saw Pete standing not far behind Tracy. She became furious. Her blood began to boil. She felt like dragging and pulling all the hair out of Tracy's hair. Before Tracy could take any step forward, she felt a gush of air as Annie stretched to slap her. She caught Annie's hand and fiercely dropped it after warning her never to dare lay a hand on her,

"Bug off!" Annie yelled with annoyance.

"With pleasure." Tracy replied and walked out, leaving them to their drama.

"Oooh...this is going to be so much fun."  Tracy thought to herself. She knew the night wasn't over yet and more was about to unfold.