Denisse looked at us with calculating eyes. I quickly let go of Tony's hand and kelt it to myself without looking at her in the eye.

"You should know that you aren't allowed to date unless we say so," Denisse stated.

I pursed my lips and nodded. Denisse sighed and turned on her heel.

"Follow me," she said and walked back to the elevator.

I was a little disappointed at her reaction. I expected a compliment or a statement on my hair, but why did I even expect? Of course she'd act like nothing was new.

I sighed and followed the older girl to the elevator. Once again, we used the silver one, but unlike before, there were other people there. Namely, three girls.

The girls were laughing when we saw them. They were all extremely beautiful. The tallest one of them had dark blue hair. The one in the middle had red hair. The other one had silver hair.

"Girls," Denisse greeted.

The three girls looked at us and immediately bowed to Denisse.

"What brings you here, Denisse?" The red head asked.

Denisse smiled. Like actually smiled. I was probably so surprised that my jaw dropped.

"Can't I use the elevator now, Charmaine?" She asked.

Charmaine laughed and shook her head, "Of course you can!"

The silver haired one put an arm around Denisse's shoulder and walked her inside the elevator, "Where are you going?" She asked.

"We were going to the dance studios. Good timing too," Denisse said and pulled me in front of the silver haired girl, "This is Sophie. She's a new member of the Muses. Lead her to their practice room. It would be a big help."

The silver haired girl smiled at me and engulfed me in a hug, "Welcome to showbiz, Sophie!"

I might have looked confused since the blue haired girl, Charmaine, Tony, and Denisse were stifling a laugh.

"Oh, um . . . Thanks?" I said with uncertainty.

She grinned widely and held out her hand, "I'm Ayumi."

Ayumi? Why does that name sound familiar?

I shook her hand and gave her a smile, "I'm Sophie."

"I know," she said and giggled.

I blushed. Right. She already mentioned it. The sound of a bell was heard.

"Here we are," Denisse stated, "I'll leave Sophie to your care, girls." The doors slid open, "Haris. Follow me."

Denisse and "Haris" left without another word. Although he did spare me one last glance before leaving.

Ayumi clapped her hands, "So! Come on! Let's meet your groupmates!"

The one with the red hair—Charmaine—linked her arm through my right arm while Ayumi took my other arm.

The silver haired girl grinned and pointed her arm onwards, "Let's go!"

Together, Charmaine and Ayumi pulled me away while the blue haired girl just sighed and shook her head at her teammates.

We surged forward in a T formation. Beside me Charmaine and Ayumi hummed the same song as we walked. The girl behind me was quiet and was walking slowly, unlike her two teammates who looked like they were full of energy.

"Come on, Vanessa! Stop walking behind us!" Ayumi exclaimed.

The girl crossed her arms, "I don't want to."

"You're such a party pooper," Charmaine stated with a sigh accompanied by her shaking head.

Vanessa rolled her eyes, "You're scaring the girl. Be more casual. Stop being overly enthusiastic with her. Besides, she's another member of the mouses."

I was disheartened at her statement, but at the same time, I felt angry. How could she insult a group when a member of that group is present?

"Muses," Ayumi corrected.

Vanessa scoffed, "That was supposed to be an insult."

"Really?" Ayumi asked.

Vanessa rolled her eyes, "My point is that we shouldn't be too nice to her. She's in our rival's team."

"Mice," I stated.

Vanessa raised an eyebrow at me, "Excuse me?"

I looked at her with that look I gave my former batch mates, "What you called them was incorrect. The plural of mouse is not mouses. It is mice. If that was supposed to be an insult, at least make it appropriate."

Ayumi and Charmaine laughed. I didn't react. I maintained a serious face as Vanessa's face reddened and her ears fumed.

"You dare—"

Charmaine raised her arm in front of Vanessa, "Stop. She's new here."

"That's exactly my point!" Vanessa exclaimed, "you're an amateur! I'm your senior. You should treat me with respect! Who taught you your manners?"

The one and only princess of Italy, "Someone very princess-y," I replied.

Vanessa scoffed, "If she was as you say, why are you like this? You have no manners at all!"

It's probably because I've been through so much and I can't take any bad thing you say. In addition, I can beat you at every noble thing. I doubt your manners are better than mine, "I'm sorry," I apologized.

She sneered and flipped her hair, "You better treat your seniors with more respect."

And by that, ladies and gentlemen, she means herself.

I nodded and curtsied to her. Which was an awful mistake. Now I truly understand the saying "old habits die hard".

Vanessa smirked, "I didn't tell you to treat me like royalty but this feels so much better. I'll accept your apology today because of that."

I pursed my lips and nodded. Charmaine sighed and shook her head at her teammate's behavior.

"Come on, let's get you to your practice room," Charmaine stated and pulled me away.

I was glad to be miles away from that Beatrice-like witch. She was getting on my nerves if it wasn't obvious yet. Just because she's my senior doesn't mean she shouldn't treat me with respect. Being her junior means that she should respect me more since she has to be a good example.

Oh if I could only tell her who I really was.

Behind us, I heard Ayumi scolding Vanessa as we walked. I could imagine Vanessa rolling her eyes and mocking the girl.

We walked through a corridor where there were a lot of doors with labels which I thought were group names or names of artists. Charmaine stopped walking in front of a door where it was labeled Μουσα which probably meant Muses.

"Here we are," she stated and looked at me, "do you need some time to prepare? You know, practice your introductions? Or are you nervous? Do you need time to breathe? I know this is really nerve-wrecking so I won't judge you if you want to take a few deep breaths before entering. Because, trust me, I've been there."

I smiled at the concern of my senior, "Thank you, But I'm not nervous. I've stood among a larger crowd. This is a piece of cake."

It was too late when I realized what I said. I was praying to God that she won't ask questions about my background but she only nodded.

"Really? Then that's good then," she stated.

"Wow! About how many people were there?" Ayumi asked.

"Um . . . About . . ." One fourth of the population of Illéa and a few from other countries and the rest of Illéans watching tv, "it's a lot. I don't know exactly how many."

Vanessa scoffed, "I doubt it was more than a hundred. Who would even want to see someone like you?"

Everyone.

Ayumi nudged Vanessa, "Hey, stop it."

The girl only rolled her eyes and faced away from us, "Hurry. We have to practice for our debut."

Charmaine sighed and gave me an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry for her. I'll make sure to give her a nice and long scolding later," she patted my shoulder, "goodluck."

I smiled and nodded as she walked with her groupmates to their door which was conveniently across from us.

On the door was a label named 'Sirens'. My eyes widened and my mind flash-backed to what Yana told me earlier.

I just met the Sirens. The most popular girl group that hasn't even debuted.

Worst of all, I've already made an enemy with one of them.