.....I walk to my class.

All the while thinking about the quarrel. How did Emily know? Why did she not tell me anything then? Why did she allow me to do so then? More importantly why did I not see what I was posting?

To be true I am kind of thankful that Emily didn't let me post that video. I mean even after me doing such a thing (as per what we thought) Charlotte still came to my aid. She slapped the love of her life for me. What I don't understand is how did Charlotte not understand who the people in the video were?

A goody-two-shoes like Charlotte will never know about pornstars, idiot. She believed what the title said:
Good girl Charlotte getting it on with Francis Johansen.

I feel like a total fool.

Oh ! That you are, sweetie.

Urgh! How I hate this voice.

The first period passes by in a blur. Mostly by me answering the boys' offers negatively. I am just not in the mood today.

The next period also passes by in a somewhat similar manner.

While I am walking towards my third period, History with Miss Raine, I run head-first into someone. I open my eyes and come face to face with..."Hey Emily. " I greet. She nods. "Why did you not try to stop me?" I ask her completely ignoring the sad look on her face as well as a few scratch marks and a black right eye.

She and Francis brawled.

She looks up at me looking like she knew she will have to face such a situation. She bites her lips. She does that a lot, an Emily habit. She then says that,"See Francis and Charlotte were inevitable. Good girl + bad boy = obviously in love. Virtually everyone saw it, knew it. Even you knew it deep down, Julia. Just they were being dense about it...." She pauses as if to let it sink. I gesture her to continue, so she does. "I knew you would title the video something like that and won't really bother seeing that. Recording it the first time was hard enough for you. You didn't need to be electronically reminded. The video had dim lights, it would require someone who sees porn on a regular basis to realize these were pornstars. So my sweet sweet brother, Miss goody-two-shoes were out of question. Candace could have known, I don't know, but she like Francis and Austin believed Charlotte, who actually believed the title. I knew this will happen. Nobody would really bother to see they were other people and not Francis and Charlotte, even if they didn't know who these were. But I also knew this would give Francis the push he required to muster up enough courage and ask Charlotte out. That way you could move on and stop hurting." She looks away. I gulp down lump that has formed in my throat.

My best friend betrayed me.

She chose her.

She did that for you. Don't blame her.

"See, Julia I am sorry but...this was inevitable I just sped up the process. I didn't betray you. I swear I didn't betray you. I can never do that. Please forgive me Julia."

I had always been a good reader of the emotions eyes portray, and hers now are exuding honesty. "I need time to trust you again." I reply coldly. She flinches, biting her lips again. She then nods and walks away.

Wait, why did she look at me like she will not see me in a long time?

I turn back but she is already gone. I frown but walk to my class.

In class we come to know that we will have an early leave from the school,two periods early to be exact, so lunch time is canceled. Everyone groans and protests but calms down once the class begins. I don't really pay attention as my mind keeps bouncing back at what happened today.

Fourth period. English with Miss Locke. The only teacher I can tolerate and who likes me. I enter the class and sit in the first bench, my usual seat in Miss Locke's class.

"Good morning, students."

"Good morning, Miss Locke." we all wish back, standing up.

"Please sit down. Now remember students I had given you all an assignment to write? Something out of the way? Guess what? I have them and I also the have the winner."

She hands us our papers and my eyes widen as I see an big A+. Finally.

"Any guesses about who is the winner?"

"Charlotte!" , half the class shouts.
"Drake!", the rest joins. Well, obviously except me and the said students. Yes, we share this period.

" No. Their write-ups are good but they are still not that rarely heard of. There is someone else who wrote something we almost don't hear at all. Try guessing again."

The class fell silent.

"Fine. I will tell. And the winner issss......JULIA ARCHER. Clap for her everyone."

No one claps. We are all shocked. Me? I wrote some rubbish. Miss Locke looks at me with a megawatt smile that reminds me of Emily. They are quite similar.

"Can you please read it Julia?"

I gulp and look around. All eyes are on me. I then stand up. I am Julia Archer. All eyes should be on me. Though I am as shy about talking about my writing as they come.

Taking in a deep breath I begin,

" The Beauty of Darkness.

We never want darkness, we always want light,
But ever wondered? Then why do we have night?

Many say we should avoid bad company,
That goodness should be our destiny.

So many of us wish there was no evil.
But to be respectful towards God , we need to face the devil.

In order to value light we need darkness.
A person who was never sad cannot really enjoy happiness.

I know many might think I am wrong.
But we need to be once weak, to become strong.

If our world only had happiness, day and light?
How would we have received the Christmas night?

Most of us pray only when,
We are in danger or pain.

Darkness resides even in human souls,
Causing them to have scary sinister goals.

People with dark souls often commit crimes,
We try to force them into becoming good oftentimes.

It is important to be good, I know
But we need both to grow.

I am not asking anyone to do wrong,
To not sing the divine song,
All I am saying is,
We should appreciate everything as it is.

Everyone should have a choice.
They should not loose themselves in the noise.

So when someone is wrong don't force them to change.
Do something that all will consider strange,
Smile at them, befriend them.
But don't become one of them.

Make sure your light brightens their world,
Don't let their darkness taint your world.

Let them be as dark as they want.
Never laugh at them or taunt.
For to know how beautiful the world is,
We should know how to appreciate the beauty of darkness. "

I conclude and stare at Miss Locke.

No one claps. Then....

Clap. Clap.

I turn back to see who began clapping. To say I am shocked to find that the person is none other Drake Walters, would be an understatement. Then another one claps .I turn in front and realize it is Miss Locke and soon the whole class follows, except Charlotte.

"Woohu! Great job, Archer."

"I never thought like that."

"Great thought, Julia."

These are few of the shouts that can be heard in the class. My eyes dart back to Drake. I look at him skeptically. He simply shrugs and mouths,"I liked your poem." Our stare off is broken when Miss Locke says, "Do you have something to say, Miss Gray? Hey, that rhymed!" The class snickers as Charlotte rolls her eyes as do I. Miss Locke is really childish and the fact that she is barely 5-6 years older to us doesn't really help.

Charlotte finally speaks saying,"I am just thinking about Julia's poetry. It is wishful thinking. I mean how is it really possible to befriend the bad and not let them taint our world?" Before I can say anything Miss Locke answers her, "Once flying in an without wings was wishful thinking. But I get what you say." Almost immediately Drake stands up says,"If you permit, Miss Locke can I answer Charlotte's question? " Miss Locke nods. Drake turns to Charlotte and says,"What Julia said is 100% possible. Take my sister for example. "

Drake Walters can survive a day without making me feel worthless. Raaaaiiittttt. And I can battle with a ferocious wolf. Possible? Not!

Charlotte smiles but not her usual sweet smile instead a malicious one. Ohkay, I didn't think this poem could pose such a debate-worthy situation. I mean Emily always says humans are grey, I just formed the idea from there. Charlotte retorts,"Really your sister's world isn't tainted? I beg to differ, she isn't on suspension for nothing. "

What! Emily is suspended? That is why she was looking at me like that. But why? What did she do? Didn't Francis save her this time? But why?

I see from my peripheral vision that Drake is clenching his fists and his jaw is twitching.

Miss Locke stops the fight before it begins (Though I doubt it would have even begun. After all Drake is the greatest peace lover). She says, " I understand Julia wrote a very beautiful poem but that doesn't mean you both will quarrel about real life examples. I know Emily Walters. One she is one the out-of-the-way thinkers and two, she is in the editorial board. I think she will not appreciate you two wasting my class quarreling about her. So sit down. And Miss Gray, detention after school. "

Charlotte's eyes widen as saucers. The class chants "Burn!" "But Mam why should I serve detention?" She protests. The class gasps. She never back mouths anyone not even Miss Locke. "Detention for two hours instead of one. The more you protest the more your hours will increase. I don't really have much of work right now so I can happily stay back." Miss Locke says, now staring at a diary-like book. "But Mam why?" Miss Locke looks up and says,"One I don't like you. Because I can't really think like Julia I don't like extremely good people. Two you can't talk about Emily in degrading tone. And three you are the only student in the entire school that I dislike. "

We all stare at Miss Locke like she has grown a second head. She shrugs and grins and does her usual hand-moving-like-a-wave thing, humming some strange tune. I snicker this is why I like Miss Locke. She is straight forward and childish kind of like Emily's older version.

A scraping noise is heard as all our heads snap in the direction of the noise.(I am currently seated.) It was coming from Charlotte's chair. She looks really angry and says,"Who says I am a good person? I don't. I don't why all of you think you know me. I just don't get it why everyone thinks they know me better? Just because I dress decently? Talk politely? Get straight A's? Don't go to party? I don't get what's wrong in it if I am like that? Why does everyone gasp if I ever pass a sarcastic comment, as if the eighth wonder of the world?" She asks. I can see she fighting back her tears.

Miss Locke grins and replies, "Good. Detention canceled. I wanted to see the fire in you, Gray. Don't let people walk all over you." She then turns to the class and says,"I observe each of my students. I know each one of you better than you think. I am not saying insult, backchat or misbehave with your teachers or elders. No, please do not do that. What I am saying is, don't let injustice happen with you or just anyone. Protest when something wrong happens but not when you think something wrong is happening. Protest if a teacher gives you extra homework for no reason, but not when she gives you extra homework for being late to class or talking. Literature is basically human behavior and reflection of life and writers are like psychologists." She pauses letting us take it in. "Okay class that's it for today. But I have question for you all. How many of you would like to participate in the surprise speech competition? You can choose your topic as long as it doesn't exceed 5 minutes." Several hands shoot up. She takes down their names. Charlotte is obviously one of them.

"Drake?"

"Unless you want a detailed explanation if how I am planning to murder my best friend, I don't think I will participate."

Miss Locke chuckles and says,"A simple 'no' would have sufficed. Don't start protest meetings everywhere now. I will be alleged for brainwashing you people. "

Drake smiles and sits down.

"Julia?"

************************************
Hey buttercups. I hope this compensates for the really short chapter of this week.
Now,

1) Do you think Julia will participate?

2) What topic do you think she will give her speech on, if she participates?

3) What do you think of Julia's poem? Is it worth a first prize?

4) Lastly, what do you feel about Miss Locke? Do you like her? Love her? Hate her? Dislike her? She is okay?

Please answer at least one question you can answer more if you want. (Please do)

Until next time,

Comment. Vote. Share.

💞💋💞 Reina