Thea walked out of her last class, and made her way towards her locker, Mia at her heels. "Mia, you remember that one gossip reporter, Raquelle? Raquelle Aprilson?"

Mia wracked her brain to see if the name sounded vaguely familiar. "Which gossip magazine does she have?" She asked, hoping to gain more insight.

Thea frowned, mentally face palming at Mia's cluelessness. "Teen Charisma? The gossip magazine that is all about teens of rich, powerful, famous, royal, and noble families? She's pretty popular and even sung your praises."

Mia still wracked her brain to see if that was familiar. She shook her head. "No, I don't remember." She flatly replied, causing Thea to groan. "Have I met her before?" She added, realizing she easily forgets people.

Thea shook her head, realizing Mia had no clue who she was talking about. "No, Mia, you haven't met her. She doesn't meet anyone." She pulled her phone out of her locker and typed up her name, pulling up a picture. "That's Raquelle Aprilson," 

Mia looked at the short, evenly cut black-haired girl with striking blue eyes against her olive skin. "Oh, that's Raquelle? Yeah. I don't think I've seen her before. I don't read gossip magazines. You know that." She replied straightforwardly as her eyes moved up from the phone to Thea.

"Well, I've been thinking, Dree has been attacking the scholarship winners physically. I was thinking about attacking them mentally." Thea suggested, waving her phone around as she spoke. "I could feed Raquelle information to which she would twist the words to make lots of drama, which in turn could get rid of each of them."

Mia could see how that could work, plus Thea would remain scott-free of any slack Raquelle got. "Are you sure you want to cross the Rubicon? Once you do, there is no going back." She warned Thea, making it clear how serious this was.

Thea could see Mia genuinely cared about her well-being and the consequences she'd face if anyone found out. "I'm sure, Mia. I have to ensure Dree doesn't do anything else to them and the best way is to spread rumors, harmless rumors." She replied calmly, slipping her phone into her pocket.

Mia didn't exactly buy the whole harmless rumors considering gossip reporters were never harmless twisting and turning the truth into something it wasn't. "Can you trust her? Gossip reporters aren't exactly the most trustworthy. Remember the whole Count Bartholomew fiasco?"

Thea flinched at the memory. 'She has a point. Gossip reporters made it seem like we had done something intimate when really I was being hospitable, not to mention it was his little sister's room, not his.' She recalled the memory, rubbing her chin. "Point taken, Mia, but I trust Raquelle with this job since she has reached a large audience. Plus she doesn't care if she gets slack or is hated, she finds it thrilling."

Mia couldn't persuade Thea to not go this route, she was stubborn like that. "Be careful," She warned, genuinely caring about her friend even if she didn't express it.

Thea nodded as she put one hand on her hip. "I will Mia," She flashed her a smile, hoping it would rest all worry. "If you excuse me, I should find some information about scholarship winners to use."

Mia knew Thea wouldn't do any stalking, so she was curious to know what she had planned. "I'm going to go find a snack." She pivoted on her heels and walked away.

Thea turned her attention towards the dormitory. 'A little snooping in their rooms may aid my quest.' She thought to herself as she walked down the hall, pulling out her phone and auto-dialing a number. 

"Thea, what could you possibly want at this time?" Katherine's annoyed voice asked from the other side of the phone. "I'm busy helping Devona, not that I wanted to, she guilted me into it."

Thea rolled her eyes listening to her mother. "Yeah, so, could you, by chance, check the security cameras and look for the scholarship winners." She asked, knowing that no one really ever used the security cameras because they didn't record anything due to privacy reasons.

Katherine sighed softly, tapping away at the keys. "Why exactly do you need to know their location? Are you going to do something to them?" She asked, clearly curious about her daughter's reasons for asking about them.

Thea couldn't lie to her mother and had to admit what she was doing. "No, if you must know, I'm trying to find dirt to give to a friend, anonymously so I can destroy the scholarship winners' lives and force them to go home." 

The other end of the line went quiet for some time. Thea didn't know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"They're in the library studying together. They look like they are going to be there for a while." Katherine's voice finally spoke up. "Be careful Thea,"

"I will, thanks. Just tell me when the scholarship winners are leaving." Thea passively said, hanging up the phone and moving towards the dorms. 'I have plenty of time to search,'

She smiled at her classmates as she passed them, trying to be as nonchalant as she could but making her walk briskly.

She couldn't spare any time, especially since she didn't know how long the scholarship winners would be studying.

She felt anxiousness well in her chest with every step closer to the dorms. She couldn't believe she was stopping this low. What had she become? She took a deep breath and clenched her fists, reminding herself it was for the greater good.

She walked up the stairs to the second floor of the dorm and walked up to their room. Her heart pounded against her chest, feeling like a million eyes were on her, judging her for what she was about to do.

She looked around and saw no one and just to make sure she knocked her chest well with anxiety. 'Calm down Thea, you've done this before. It's no different than snooping around Mom's room,' She thought to herself as she took a deep breath.

When she was met by nothing, she pulled the master key from her pocket and put it in the lock, turning it and pushing the door open. She looked behind her to make sure no one was there and turned back to the door, making sure it didn't creak.

She slipped in and closed it behind, letting out the breath she had been holding. "Phew," She breathed, relief filling her but still leaving room for a little anxiety. 

She still had to search the room and find some stuff she could feed to Raquelle. Or at least something she could start her own little investigation on. Or even some dirt she could get on them, that would even be more damning. 

Her eyes scanned the room, trying to pick out whose bed was who's. Their comforters were basic colors, nothing special or held any clue to their owners' personalities. Unlike her own bedroom which was frilly and blue while Mia's was black and plum.

Her eyes trailed over to the nightstands and saw some pictures which told her the first was Yasmin's, the middle was Sidney's, and the last one was Amelia's. At least that had given her a clue on whose bed was who's. 

She picked up Yasmin's family picture and pulled out her phone, snapping a picture. She set it back down and walked over to Amelia's nightstand, taking a picture of that and finally taking a picture of Sidney's.

Her eyes lingered on the photo. She had noticed it was different from Yasmin's or Amelia's which were taken by a professional where they both looked perfect in the pose and the lighting with a plain background and dresses in trading attire.

Sidney was with her parents and sister on the couch with a view of the kitchen behind him. Sidney and her sister are in the middle, her father on the left and her mother on the right. They had huge smiles as they looked at the camera, which she could only gather by the type of photo of an old film camera due to the slightly yellow tint.

'They look happy. Genuinely happy.' She thought, holding the picture closer, feeling a tugging in her heart. 'How can people like Sidney be so happy despite their poor lifestyle? I can't understand why they aren't unhappy or turned to alcohol to soothe their problems.'

She felt a sharp pain in her chest and clutched her shirt over her heart. 'Why am I sad? Am I sad? Am I jealous that I don't have a family picture where Mom and Dad are smiling happily?' She asked herself, shaking her head. 'Why would I be jealous of Sidney? No,'

She set the picture back on the nightstand and stared at it for a brief moment more.

She pulled open the nightstand drawers and started to go through them making sure not to mess anything up.

She didn't need them to know someone was snooping and then that made everyone be interrogated, she didn't want that her first week.

'Who puts their nightgowns in the nightstand drawer? That's what the closet is for.' She shook her head, casting those thoughts away as she closed the drawer and opened the others only to be met one a few pajama tops and the bottom one pajama bottoms.

Frustrated, she huffed. 'The chances of finding anything here are slim. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea,' She thought as she closed it and turned around, putting her hands on her hips. 'Maybe I should do a background check- wait, I can't, if I have to go through the proper channels, they'll know. Whenever a background check is made it's cataloged publicly.'

She walked up to the bed and lifted up the mattress. She scanned to see if she had hidden anything under there. 'Come on, Sidney. I know you got a package from your home.' She slowly lowered the backdown.

She walked over to the desk and sat down in the chair. She placed her hands on the table and took a deep breath. "Okay," She opened up the drawer in front of her. "Bingo," She pulled out an envelope from the side of the drawer.

She unfolded the letter and set it on the desk, smoothing it out with both of her hands to make it easier to take a picture of. She snapped a few pictures before putting her phone away and scanning the letter.

'Missy must be her sister,' She thought as she read the name at the bottom. Her eyes darted about the letter but didn't find any names for her parents or anything about their parents. 'So, their dad is a little cranky, that isn't helpful,' She huffed, folding the letter back and putting it away.

Her hand brushed against a notebook and she pulled it out. The cover had ROYALTY GUIDE 101 written in bold black letters. Interested, she flipped it open and paused the moment she read the 'glossary'. 

"Wow," She marveled, flipping through the notebook and going back the other way. 'Sidney has a guide on all things royalty and nobility written by her sister. Her sister must be obsessed with us! She came prepared, didn't she? Not that anything in this book would actually help her since she can't catch up to any of us in a year.'

She quickly took pictures of each page, making sure they were clear but easy for her to read later. She paused when she came to a page near the end of the book that had her picture on it.

'She has a whole three pages, front and back about me?' She asked herself, her eyes bugging out as she skimmed the pages. 'Sidney's little sister really thinks highly of me? Doesn't she? Well, most people think that was. I am popular and very loved by everyone thanks to my mom's tireless drilling about my image. I suppose I can't fault her for everything she's done for me.'

She closed the book and put it back in the drawer, making sure everything in the drawer wasn't bothered. It hadn't been as fruitful as she wanted, but she could only guess it was because it wasn't even the first week into school and so no one really was feeling at home yet.

She jumped the moment her phone suddenly pinged, signaling she had a text. She took a deep breath placing one hand on her chest. She pulled it from her pocket and her eyes widened at the text from her mother on her lock screen.

Mommy Dearest: They're on their way back. Get out.

Me: Thanks. On my way out.

She quickly texted back as she jumped up from her spot pushing the chair back. She pushed it back up towards the desk and dashed for the door. She slowly opened it and peeked out, thankfully there was no one around still. 

She slipped out and closed the door behind her, making sure not to draw attention to herself. She wasn't out of the woods yet and her anxiety was through the roof with every passing second. 

She briskly walked down the stairs and out of the dormitory, rounding the corner she bumped right into Dree letting out a startled scream. "Goodness, Dree!" She exclaimed, placing her hand over her chest and taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart. 

Dree frowned as she looked straight at Thea. Crossing her arms over her chest she leaned to the right popping out her hip. "Where were you that caused you to run like a bat out of hell?" She asked, skeptically looking at Thea.

Thea stepped back, and brushed off her outfit and straightened out her jacket. "It's none of your business," She snapped, immediately feeling guilty about her actions. "I mean, it's nothing you need to worry yourself about."

Dree gave an amused smirk as she shook her head. "Really? It wouldn't have anything to do with sneaking out of the scholarship winners' dorm?" She slyly asked, looking at her purple flowered nails.

Thea froze the moment she had mentioned the scholarship winners' dorms. She grabbed Dree's arm and pulled her off to the side. "You were spying on me?" She asked, offended by Dree doing such a thing.

Dree snorted, shaking her head in dismay, and cracking a little smile. "Duh, of course. How could I not? You told me not to get involved with the scholarship winners anymore and said you'd handle it. I was curious what you would do. So, tell me, did you plan the evidence?"

"What?" Thea quickly yet sharply said, feeling offended she'd think that. "No way, that could easily be proven wrong." She waved her hands in front of her and shook her head. "I'm not telling you. You can't keep a secret to save your life. Besides, you will learn in due time, so don't tell anyone."

Dree smirked, searching Thea's face to see if she was serious. "Fine, but I better be the first one to know, okay? It's the least you can do for me since I'm not harming them." She innocently asked, twirling her hair around her finger.

Thea narrowed her eyes. 'Dree's unbelievable. Of course, she'd want to know first, but it's a small price to pay for her to keep her silence.' She thought and let out a sigh. "Fine, fine. Before it goes public I will have it sent to you like it will me."

Dree was more than curious now since Thea had let it slip that whatever she was doing would go public. "Sounds great to me." She flashed a smile, looping her arm with Thea and dragging her down the hall.

Thea gasped as she was suddenly dragged away. "Dree, let me go!" She demanded, trying to yank her arm away but, unfortunately, the way Dree held her arm made that impossible.

Dree turned her head and flashed a forced smile. "Come on, Thea. Just smile and walk with me, act like you're interested in whatever I'm saying." She explained through her smile.

Thea turned her attention down the hall and noticed Sidney, Amelia, and Yasmin walking together towards them. Her face grew red as a lump formed in her throat. "Haha, you're so funny Dree." She forced out a dry laugh.

Dree was glad Thea had caught on and passed by the scholarship winners without saying a word as they looked back at the two. "Like I was saying, those were some good times, huh?" She said a little loudly as they slowly walked out of earshot of the trio of girls.

Thea wiggled her arm out of Dree's grip once they had turned the corner. "Personal space, Dree, personal space!" She exclaimed, waving her hands in the air. "You could have at least warned me. I don't appreciate you grabbing my arm like you did."

Dree crossed one arm over her chest and rested her other elbow on the back of her hand. "Sorry, sheesh, you really need to chill. You're so uptight it's not even funny. I saved your butt, didn't I? You should be grateful it was me and not someone else." She brushed a lock of hair from her face.

Thea frowned as she straightened up her jacket. "You didn't save me at all. They wouldn't have known I went to their room. I have the master key, which I should probably give the key back to the dean." She said, pulling out the key from her pocket.

"I can take it back for you -" Dree went to grab it but Thea pulled it back to her and slipped it into her pocket. She frowned at Thea's actions and crossed her arms, copping an attitude. "I was only being nice."

Thea scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You? Nice? Please. I was given the master key because I said I locked myself out of my room and couldn't find Mia. I have to be the one to return it to her or else someone will tell the headmistress." She said, brushing past Dree.

Dree turned towards Thea as she walked away. "I was being nice! Shocking I know!" She called as she watched Thea disappear into the Dean's office before pivoting on her heels and walking the opposite way of Thea.

〰❦〰❦〰❦〰❦〰❦〰❦〰

A/N: 
Hi, I'm forcing myself to hyperfixate on this book so I can get it done. It's like the only one I have motivation to do, so hopefully it will be done by the end of the year.

Chapter Talk:
Fun fact: Raquelle Aprilson was an oc in her own book similar to Republic of Doyle but I scrapped that idea and decided to use her here for reasons I will not name, yet. 

Thanks for reading!