"I am so excited for this year's competition. I can't wait for it to start. The headmaster haven't formally announced anything but I heard the coven leaders had a meeting about teams. What do you think this year's themed would? I hope it's Gilded Glamour after 2022's Met gala theme."

I listen in on the conversation the girls sitting in the table next to mine are having. It's a slow Tuesday and I don't need any drama today. I didn't get enough sleep and the headmaster cut me off from missing to many classes last semester, so I have to attend my classes, all of them.

The cafeteria is filled this morning, I guess everyone's hungry. I'm not. I slept like shit and still feel sleepy. I woke up this morning with banging headache. It was as a train ran over me. I took one look at myself in the mirror and I know today is going to be shitty. The huge bags under my eyes and the dark rings are evident of my lack of sleep, at least I smiled when I saw the brand new phone and hair products on my drawer.

I make a mental note to go thank the headmaster for getting them for me. I will try not to make a big deal about him entering my room without my knowledge.

"That is the only thing I look forward to every year and especially now that we can finally participate in the beauty contest." Another girl replies.

I lean against my chair and sip my hot coffee as I listen to what the others have to say. I don't care about what they're saying. I just need a distraction from reality. It might look like I didn't find what happened yesterday alarming but I spent the rest of yesterday thinking about it. I haven't spoken to Jessica about it but I'm sure she's heard about what happened yesterday, everyone has. I'm just surprised she hasn't reached out to check how I'm doing, which makes me angry. I'm being a hypocrite, I know, giving that it was me that asked her to stay away from me but I can't get over it. I don't want to reach out now because the anger I feel is still fresh and it's been known that I tend to overreact when I'm angry. Won't want to say the wrong things or stuff I'll regret.

"I really don't get why you're both excited about the beauty contest. Did you forget that Penelope has been winning since sophomore? She has the people's vote and I don't think you two stand a chance." The third blast them.

I don't look at their table to watch their interaction but I know they're junior. I don't know their names but their voices sounds familiar.

"Yeah right," the girl who brought of the beauty contest scoffs and says, "Penelope has been MIA since Roman transferred. I don't know what her problem is. She's been holed up in her room since he left. It's not like he died or anything."

Roman transferred? Is that what they think happened? I want to ask who told them about it but that will bring unnecessary attention. It's bad enough that Caleb didn't look my way when he walked past my table to sit with the kids. Who cares about what he thinks of me, anyway?

I'm concerned about Penelope more than ever now. She hasn't been attending her classes. I haven't seen her since I resumed. I should go see her. I hate her gut but at least I need to know if she's doing okay.

I tune out the girl as I grab my backpack on the ground and stand up. My head goes high as I make my way out of the cafeteria. I pretend not to hear the murmurs around me because I'm not in the mood to fight anyone and I'm too tired to do anything anyway.

"Cami?" I stop at the sound of Alicia's voice. I raise my head to see her coming inside the cafeteria as I go out.

Alicia is cool, she really is.

"Hey." I give her a small smile.

She returns my smile and comes to stand in front of me. "Hey. How are you? I heard what happened yesterday at Mr. Wallace class. Are you okay?"

I shrug because I really don't know what to say. She seems genuinely sincere but I don't know what's going through her mind.

"Oh, come here you," she wraps her arm around my neck and pulls me closer. "I won't ask but please tell me you're okay."

I nod. "I'm fine. I can't explain what happened either because I don't what happened."

She sighs and pulls away, she looks into my eyes, searching to see if I'm fine. "It's okay. Is there anything you need? God! You look tired. You didn't sleep well."

"I didn't and there's something you can help me with. Can you take me to Penelope's room? You don't have to or anything, you can just tell me where it is."

Her eyes widens like she can't believe what I just said. "Penelope? Why?"

I shrug.

She nods. "Okay." She agrees, not saying anything else.

Alicia takes me to Penelope's room and leave me because she's already running late for class and haven't had breakfast yet. Personally I think she's running from Penelope.

I close my eyes and think about what I'm about to do. It doesn't matter though. I just want to know how she's doing.

I curl my fingers inward in a fist and bring it up to bang her door. I hear shuffling inside before approaching footsteps. I take a step back and wait for her to open the door. The door unlock and open. My eyes goes wide at the sight of Penelope, she looks worse than me. She looks miserable and unkempt. Her hair is disheveled. The dark rings around her eyes are dark. And damn she stinks. She's got lines on her face from laying in bed.

"What are you doing here?" She snarls.

"I haven't been seeing you around and I came to check if you're doing okay," I tell her even though I want nothing more than to turn around and walk away since it's clear she doesn't want me here.

She scoffs and leans against the doorframe with her arms folded above her chest. "Out with it, Cami. You came here to make fun of me."

"Like I said earlier, I came to check up on you and now that I've seen you're alive and well, so I'll be on my way now." I reply and take steps backwards before turning around to walk away but stop at the sound of her voice.

"It was always about you." I don't turn around to ask what she means by that but I'm curious about it. "Everything fight we had since you stepped your filthy legs into this community was about you. The last time I saw him was when the headmaster told us to go home, I asked him to come with me but he refused, 'i need to talk to Cami' he said. Tell me, what is so special about you, Cami Stark?"

I begin to walk away after her questions but her words keeps on coming.

"There is nothing special about you. You hear me! And wait till I find Roman. I will make him tell me what you did to have him transferred. I know it was you. You did it. You made him leave me. I will make you pay, Cami. I swear it..."

Her words fades to distance as I make my way to the stairs. If I was to react based on the possibility that Roman is indeed alive and he transferred, then I won't take her words into mind. I'd say she was being dramatic over a guy she wasn't sure loved her. But I know what really happened to Roman and with her vow on making me pay, it's like she knows what really happened to him.

I sigh as I leave the building and head to school. I haven't seen Ari and Brie around but I know they're okay. They showed Caleb around and led the assembly yesterday. But I need to check if they're okay. We haven't talked since Roman died and I feel like they know.

Pushing the thought of the twins off my mind. I arrive at the headmaster's office. I open the door and not surprised to see him sitting behind his desk. He doesn't look surprised either, he didn't even look to see who it is.

"I have a door for a reason, Cami. Knock and always wait until I call you in." He tells me without looking away from what he's doing. It's like he's updating a log book.

I roll my eyes and pull the chair opposite him to sit. "I'm sorry, I won't barge into your office again without knocking. Please forgive me." I purse my lips like he can see me make a face.

He chuckles and say, "who do think you're fooling? Next time at least be sincere about it."

Yep he knows me so well.

I tap my feet on the ground and drum my finger on my thigh as I think about how to start.

"Thanks for the phone and hair product, but you didn't have to get the entire store. I only needed the dye but thanks anyway."

There, I said it.

This catches his attention as he stops writing and look at me. "I didn't get any of those stuff." He replies.

I frown. "You didn't, who did?"

"Who do you think?"

"Damian?"

He rolls his eyes and concentrate on his writing. "Of course."

"So... I have a question, what's this contest that I've been hearing?" I ask. Yeah I'm curious.

"It happens every year, it's a house competition. We split the whole students: sophomore, junior and senior into four group and they compete for The Vale cup. It's a chance for seniors to win scholarships and other prizes–"

"Say no more. I'm not participating."

He hums. "You didn't even think about it."

I shake my head. "Don't have to. Competition of any kind isn't my jam."

He stops writing and drops his pen before leaning closer, placing his forearm on the desk. "You're a junior, you need to do at least one activity." He tells me.

I wave my hand. "No, thanks, I'm good."

"It's might help with college application, you don't do any extra curricular," he tries to convince me but he forgets he's talking to a wall. I've made up my mind.

"I do magic, can't we add that? Isn't there like a magic college?" There should be. There's a magic high school.

"No."

"Who needs higher studies anyway?" I'm good with high school.

"Cami, I want to have a serious talk with you." He says.

"Oh, am I in trouble?"

He shakes his head. "No, you aren't but I might be for what I'm about to say. Cami, I think you should talk to Miranda about what's been going on with you," I raise my eyebrows in question, "you've been doing great but you've been–"

"I'll go talk to her."

"Really?" His eyes goes wide like he can't believe I agreed.

I nod. "Yep."

If it means terminating this conversation, yeah I'll do it. I will go see the school guidance counselor and part time therapist.