Daniel and I were walking to art class with my painting in hand the next day. Daniel had offered to carry it but I rejected it. He ignored me and carried it anyway before I could even make a move to do so as if it were a competition. The painting was going to be left in the classroom until the guy will come in to help determine my future education, which was nerve-wracking. Everything is now catching up to me so quickly that the anxious feeling hit me like a brick this morning. Daniel reassured me that everything would be fine and that he would be there for me every step of the way, which gave me a calm sense of mind knowing that I had him by my side along with my family and friends.

Yesterday I was lucky to calm Kylee and Ruby after calling them once I had gotten home before Evelyn did. I gave them the half-truth which was that I got stuck at Daniel's place and of course didn't have my phone then I lied and said that his phone died. Without power, it wasn't able to charge. They believed me before proceeding to demand any juicy gossip I may have had about the two full days I spent with Daniel. But again I lied and said that there was no gossip, nothing happened between us. I know they both don't believe me but left it at that. 

Ruby told me what had happened after I left, about how Sylvia got kicked out of the party and she meant literally because Kylee did the honours of doing it. She deserved it for the scene she made just because I did the dare she gave me. But maybe I should thank her because it helped in getting me and Daniel together. She would probably freak out at the fact that she lost him to me. Oh, that would be amusing to see her reaction after hearing about me and Daniel dating. I will probably laugh. Now I'm acting completely different than I usually would but she's gotten on my last nerve. 

Ruby also told me that it was lucky I left when I did because shortly after, the cops came to shut it all down so everyone had to go home. She didn't waste any time after that to tell me about the fact that she and Thomas ended up making out that night. But she stopped it from going any further than that since she wanted to be in a relationship, she didn't want anything meaningless. She hasn't spoken to him since they didn't have time to talk because that's when the cops came to chase them all out. 

That and due to the power outage and rain but she plans to today after school talk to him, which I was going to go with her to The Nova Lounge to see him. Kylee luckily was able to enjoy the rest of her night with Atticus and forget about her ex. I was worried that at any second she'd start to get upset after thinking about him and start to feel heartbroken all over again. I'm trying to avoid any mention of him or any places where she could see Axel. I know she's strong but he was her first love and I believe he still is, even if she does have a thing for Atticus now.

I was planning on meeting Kylee and Ruby before class at our usual spot behind the bleachers. Kylee was going to give me my phone back, which apparently had a couple of missed calls and texts from Fletcher. I don't know what he wants now, I wasn't planning on going out with him alone again anytime soon, especially not now. Maybe I can talk to him again about us only being friends. Daniel won't like it if I tell him that I want to meet with him but I can't just keep ignoring him and let him continue to 'pursue' me. I sound hypocritical since I haven't talked to Evelyn yet but I plan to soon even though so far today she wasn't at school, that's what Kylee and Ruby told me.

"Are you alright?" Daniel asked with a frown. I smiled up at him to reassure him.

"I'm great, just thinking" I shrugged. For the first time, it was true. I was fine, I was happy, I felt like nothing could ruin my day. 

Daniel nodded in response as we entered Miss Stone's classroom where she sat at her desk, eating an apple while reading what looked like an adult romance novel. She glanced up at us upon arrival. Her eyes widened in alarm and she quickly snapped the book closed before putting it in her desk drawer, slamming it closed after. She stood up and discarded her finished eaten apple in the bin. She dusted off her floral yellow sundress. Daniel and I tried not to laugh since she still looked frantic and nervous after having us see her with the book. Miss Stone cleared her throat and smiled at us.

"I wasn't expecting you two so early before class but I see you brought your finished painting Harmony," Miss Stone said after clearing her throat as Daniel placed the cloth-covered painting by the desk. 

"Yes I did, I hope that it'll be good enough," I said.

"I'm sure your painting will look great, you are one of my top students" she complimented.

"Thank you, Miss Stone" I beamed. 

She simply nodded at us before Daniel and I left the classroom. We both departed away from each other as I went to go see Kylee and Ruby. While walking by the field, I noticed the football team were practising their throws on one side and it looked like there were tryouts for cheerleading on the other side. My eyes widened in shock when I recognised one of the girls lined up, Evelyn Pierce. It didn't register in my mind as to who it was quickly at first but when it did, I was taken aback. She looked so different in the uniform. 

Evelyn had always told me that she hated everyone in her school, especially the cheerleaders but from here, it seemed like she was getting along with Sylvia, who was also dressed in the cheerleading uniform. They were dressed in the school's natural colours of yellow and navy blue with their hairs tied in a high ponytail decorated with a bow. They were both talking animatedly, beaming to each other as if they had known one another for years. I furrowed my eyebrows and frowned. I can never figure out Evelyn's motives or the reason she does what she does. 

I tried not to worry about what they could possibly be talking about. Sylvia would occasionally glare at me when Evelyn wouldn't notice since she'd be looking at how to do the routine set for them. I shivered at the bad feeling I had. I decided to ignore my overthinking and continued on my way behind the bleachers where Ruby immediately tackled me to the ground, making us both land on the grassy floor roughly. I winced as Ruby sat up beside me and grinned widely. I rolled my eyes as I stood up, dusting off the grass and dirt before helping Ruby up.

"See this is why I duck and move whenever she tries to hug me" Kylee mumbled. 

Kylee had been standing off to the side with a take out cup of coffee in her hand and a blank expression. I noticed the change in hair colour since now the ends of her hair were an ocean blue while the top showed her naturally black hair. She must of dyed her hair during the two days we were all stuck inside. She was wearing a black Anlay pinstriped off-shoulder blouse paired with black jeans and white converse. Kylee tends to get called a goth or e-girl, which she despises and threatens those that do dare to call her anything she disapproves of. 

Ruby was the exact opposite when it came to both Kylee and her and it showed. Whereas Ruby was bubbly and always happy, Kylee wasn't always like that but she was still kind-hearted though she refuses to let others see that. When it came to the two, you could tell from their clothes their personality differences. Ruby was wearing a comfy white knitted sweater, the front neatly tucked in, with a brown buttoned denim skirt and stockings along with black heeled boots. Ruby and I had a similar style. I was wearing a white knitted top but mine wasn't baggy like hers. I also wore a maroon buttoned denim skirt, similar to Ruby's and wore some light camel coloured boots. 

"One day I'll get you" Ruby jokingly threatened while pointing at Kylee with a glare.

"Fight me bitch" Kylee retorted, glaring at her back. 

"Guys, no fighting" I interjected.

"Yeah, let's talk about how Evelyn has now become all buddy-buddy with Sylia, what the fuck?" Ruby scowled.

"Wait what? Why am I now hearing about this?!" Kylee exclaimed with wide eyes, almost choking on her coffee.

"Did you not see Evelyn from the gaps of the bleachers? You can see her trying out for cheerleading and talking to Sylvia" Ruby explained, pointing behind her. Kylee ran over to stare closely at the gap of the steps from the bleachers. Ruby and I soon followed. Kylee was now narrowing her eyes into slits, making it known she was now starting to get angry. We followed the direction she was looking at to see Evelyn was still talking to Sylvia as they took a break to drink some water. 

"It's scary how much they look alike, it's like a horror movie" Ruby muttered.

"That'd be a shitty horror movie I can tell you that," Kylee said. 

"Did she ever tell us about wanting to become a cheerleader?" I asked. Kylee and Ruby both shook their heads. Yeah, I couldn't remember either but I know there was no way she ever did because she always expressed her hate for it. It was strange and unusual, almost suspicious. Maybe she had a change of mind.

"This is weird, I have a bad feeling" Kylee mumbled. 

I guess I'm not the only one that's suspicious about the new budding friendship unless Sylvia has suddenly gone through a personality change enough for Evelyn to become friends with her. I'm still bitter about Sylvia, especially since I remember that she hit me Saturday night. I trust Daniel but admittedly, I don't trust her if she comes around him again. Right now I just have to wait and see what happens but for now, I'm not going to worry about it since during my lunch break I was supposed to go talk to Mis Stone's friend since that's when he'll be coming in.

We parted once the bell rang and Kylee gave me back my phone. Ruby and I walked to our first class but tried to avoid going past the field so that we wouldn't be noticed by either Evelyn and Sylvia or both. When we got to our final class before the lunch break, which was English, we had to hand in our finished assignments just before the lesson would end. Daniel was sitting at the desk beside me on my right, Ruby was sitting at my left, chewing on her gum. When Daniel handed in his assignment as the teacher, Mr Delgado, walked by his desk, he winked in my direction since I had been staring at him, watching the quick interaction. My cheeks flushed as I smiled over at him

"Teenagers" I heard Mr Delgado mumble as he walked passed Daniel's desk. I bit my bottom lip to try not to laugh while Daniel put the middle finger up behind the teachers back while mouthing 'fuck you'.

"Daniel, careful, you'll get in trouble" I warned. 

Just as Daniel opened his mouth to respond, I saw Evelyn run into the classroom huffing and puffing. Everyone directed their gaze to her. What was she such in a hurry for when this wasn't her class? She looked like she ran all the way from the other end of the school. Mr Delgado had paused to look at her, waiting patiently for her to catch her breath so she could speak up and explain why she barged in. Evelyn hunched over, her hands on her knees as she panted as if she had just ran a marathon. She was still in the cheerleading uniform from this morning at tryouts. Some of the guys in our class were eyeing her up and down. 

No decency

"Are you going to tell me why you've interrupted my class Miss Piece?" Mr Delgado questioned.

"Yes I'm here to talk to Harmony Wright please, it's important" Evelyn replied. Daniel and Ruby both stared at me as if expecting me to know what she wanted to talk about but I just shrugged and frowned. I don't know what could be so important that she had to rush to my class to talk to me. It could have waited until lunch or after school.

"What you have to say to her can be said to the whole class," Mr Delgado said sternly. He looked like he was getting irritated. Evelyn glanced at me then back at the teacher.

"Please sir, I can't" Evelyn pleaded. Mr Delgado huffed, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

"Fine, go" he grumbled.

"Tell me everything" Ruby whispered.

"Be careful" Daniel advised before I exited the classroom, following Evelyn.

"What's so important that it couldn't wait until later?" I asked while crossing my arms.

"Ok well, this is going to be hard to say since I know how important your work is but I got bad news. Since Miss Stone had no class this morning and was in the teacher's lounge, someone broke into the locked art room and ruined all your drawings and your final painting, they're all torn apart Harmony" Evelyn explained with a frown. I could see the pity in her eyes. 

At that moment I felt my heart drop and my stomach churn. My expression completely changed drastically. I shook my head, not wanting to believe what I was hearing. I turned around and ran down the hallway, to the art room to see for myself. There was no way that could be true, it had to be a lie. I was in denial but that was all my hard work I had brought in for my chance to get a scholarship. If I have nothing, I won't get in because they'll be no proof, no nothing. I mean the painting itself meant a lot to me. This was my only opportunity to show my artwork to someone from Columbia University. 

When I got to the classroom, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I hated to admit it but Evelyn was right but it was worse than I thought, much worse. All you can see on the floor were scattered with torn up pieces of paper, my canvas looked as if someone had ripped it open or punched through it. Written on the whiteboard was 'payback is a bitch'. I didn't want to believe it but the evidence was right in front of me. I wish this was all a nightmare and that I could just wake up so it would be over. I wanted to cry but somehow that made me feel weak. Evelyn hugged me from the side with her head on my shoulder trying to comfort me as tears slid down my cheek. I felt like I was being punished for something I didn't do nor know about. It always felt like that.

"Why would someone do this?" My voice came out cracked and low. 

"I don't know Harmony, I really wish I did" Evelyn muttered. 

I sniffed, turning in Evelyn's arms and hugging her back as I broke down then and there just as the bell rang. I was completely and utterly deflated and helpless. I wanted to scream but couldn't. It felt silly to cry over drawings even though they were so important for determining my future education. I still felt like I was in shock. I wanted to know who would just break into the locked classroom just to ruin all my work for something I have no idea of. I wanted to blame someone but I can't, I can't just assume anyone, that's not me. 

Just then Miss Stone walked into the classroom with her friend behind her, looking at the mess all over the floor in shock as she walked towards us. Evelyn let go of me but kept one hand on my shoulder for support. I wiped my tears away as Miss Stone stood in front of me but looked at the whiteboard to read what had been written, so did the guy. Both their faces contorted in disgust at the vulgar language most likely or because they disapproved of the action this person has taken to 'get me back'. 

"Is this how your students act Miss Stone? Columbia University won't accept any student that causes drama" the guy said, scowling. 

"Mr Goodwin, I can assure you this is not Harmony's fault, she is my top student" Miss Stone tried to defend me.

"I'm sorry but this couldn't have been caused without a reason and without any proof, I can't recommend nor pass any scholarship towards you Harmony," Mr Goodwin said to me. 

I nodded inaudibly. It broke me to hear him say that. I was afraid that if I spoke, my voice would come out broken and shaky and that a new fresh wave of tears would start to roll down my face. I didn't want him to see how that affected me on the inside so I tried to hide in my expression what I was really feeling. When Mr Goodwin began to exit the classroom, Miss Stone looked at me and Evelyn then back at Mr Goodwin before chasing after him, calling out his name to wait. I don't know what she was going to do because I could tell from his expression that he wasn't going to change his mind, I ruined my chance. This my only opportunity and I blew it.

"I'm so sorry Harmony, I know you don't deserve this and I know how much this meant to you," Evelyn said softly.

"I think I need some time to be left alone but thank you," I muttered before leaving the room, not wanting to breakdown in front of her. 

I appreciate what she did, telling me what happened as soon as she found out but I was not in the mood to talk in fear that I'm going to lose the littlest grasp of control that I have on my emotions. I've always tried to avoid crying in front of Evelyn, actually in front of everyone. I already cried once, I'm not about to let that happen again in front of her. I needed some alone time to myself in case I do breakdown again and to get back on track since my mind was all over the place. I just needed to get through the day.

I don't know if I can handle this