Evangeline's POV:

Dante dropped me off at home right after we bid farewell to Fox. Stepping inside, I found my dad sprawled near the couch, surrounded by empty beer bottles. He greeted me with a half-hearted smile, his eyes glazed over.

"Hey, darling," he slurred.

I sighed inwardly, the familiar weight of disappointment settling in. Ever since he started receiving payments after adopting me, he had become increasingly reliant on alcohol. It reminded me how far he had drifted from the man I once knew.

"What did I say about this, Dad?" I tried to keep my voice steady, masking the hurt and frustration brewing inside me. "You need to get to work."

"I can't, Evie," he mumbled, his words slurred. "You provide everything I need."

My heart sank at his response, a bitter mix of pity and resentment welling up within me. It was a stark reminder of how our roles had reversed, with me now shouldering the responsibilities of a parent.

"You need to earn for yourself—" I began, but he cut me off with a dismissive wave.

"I'm tired of your lectures," he snapped, his temper flaring. "You should be grateful I took you in."

The sting of his words cut deep, reopening old wounds that I had tried so hard to heal. With a heavy heart, I watched him storm out of the house, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Locking the door behind him, I retreated to my room, seeking solace in the familiar embrace of my books. As I lost myself in their pages, I couldn't help but envy Fox and her loving family. But despite the pain and turmoil, I found solace in the unwavering support of friends like her, who stood by me through the darkest times. With a heavy sigh, I buried myself in my books, seeking refuge from the chaos of my reality.

After a few hours, I found myself releasing the grip on the book I had been engrossed in. Thermodynamics wasn't proving to be as captivating as I had hoped. My eyes wandered to a nearby book on the floor, its cover adorned with images of vampires and the afterlife.

(...)

On the second of February, my birthday, I woke up with a sense of resignation. Exiting my room, I found my father in the kitchen, his smile strained but present nonetheless.

"Happy birthday, Evie," he said softly as he approached me.

I accepted his greeting with a nod, my mind flashing back to the painful memory of his anger that day. Moving past him, I headed towards the kitchen, a palpable tension lingering in the air between us.

"I got you a present," he offered, producing a small gift from his pocket.

"I'll open it later," I replied curtly, my voice lacking any warmth.

Pouring myself a glass of orange juice, I felt his gaze lingering on me as I drank.

"I heard about the spelling bee today," he continued, his tone attempting to convey a sense of normalcy. "Congratulations."

"What's going on?" I asked, my skepticism evident. "I thought you were still angry with me."

"Your words made me think," he admitted, surprising me with his candidness.

Before I could respond, he continued, 

"I'll be returning to work next month—"

I cut him off with a bitter laugh.

 "What else is new? You've said that before."

With a frustrated gesture, he flung the gift to the ground and stomped on it. 

"Happy birthday," he muttered bitterly as he stormed out of the room.

I picked up the gift from the floor, swallowing back the surge of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. Despite the hurt, I couldn't deny the love I still held for him. How could he treat me this way? He had painted a picture of responsibility to the orphanage, convincing them he was a fit parent for me. Pushing aside my tears, I steeled myself for the day ahead. Breakfast with Crissie and Noah awaited, offering a semblance of normalcy amidst the turmoil at home.

(...)

Dante's POV:

Fox and I were in Mrs. Shell's class, awaiting the results of the surprise English quiz we had taken earlier that day. As Mrs. Shell entered the room, her stern gaze met mine, but I couldn't help but smirk, confident in my performance.

"Hello, everyone," she greeted, her tone betraying no hint of what was to come. "I will now announce the scores of today's English quiz."

The classroom fell silent as she began calling out names.

"Whitelock," she called out first.

As expected, I thought to myself, anticipating my grade.

"A+," she announced, tossing the paper onto my desk, and I couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.

Next was Crissie's turn.

"Lionel," Mrs. Shell said, her gaze moving to Crissie. "D-."

Crissie received her grade with a resigned expression, a reminder of her academic struggles despite her prowess as a cheerleader.

Then came Evangeline's name.

"Gray," Mrs. Shell called out. "A+ again."

Evangeline wasn't in class to receive the news, but it was clear she had performed exceptionally once more.

Mrs. Shell continued to call out names, assigning grades until the bell rang, signalling the end of the class. Without wasting a moment, I gathered my things and left the classroom, eager to move on from the academic atmosphere.

"Any sign of Evie?" Fox inquired, her tone laced with concern.

"No idea," I replied with a shrug.

As we discussed, Micheal approached us, waving a greeting.

"Hey, guys," he greeted before Fox cut him off.

"Evie's not here yet," Fox interjected urgently.

Micheal's brows furrowed in confusion.

 "What do you mean?" he asked, his concern mirroring ours.

As the hallway doors swung open, our attention turned to Evie. She didn't appear her usual self, her demeanour suggesting she had endured some distress.

"Hey, guys-" she began, but before she could finish, Fox enveloped her in a tight hug.

"What's wrong?" Fox's voice was filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

Evie hesitated before responding, "Let's not talk about it..."

Fox released her, her expression reflecting worry.

"You'll have to tell us eventually," she insisted. "We're here for you, whatever it is."

"Thanks, guys," Evie replied, a hint of gratitude in her voice.

"Oh, and happy birthday!" Fox exclaimed suddenly, causing Evie to wince as the sound echoed in her ear.

"Ouch..." Evie rubbed her ear in discomfort.

"We got you a few presents," I chimed in.

"You didn't have to do all this," Evie murmured, touched by our gestures. 

"Aw, what are friends for then?" Fox asked, her tone warm and comforting.

"I'll open the gifts after school," Evie replied softly, her eyes reflecting gratitude. "And I was thinking of grabbing a coffee afterward... if you guys don't mind joining me."

"That depends on Micheal," Fox replied, glancing in his direction.

"I'm free today," Micheal responded with a small smile. "I cancelled my plans for today."

"Wow, Micheal, your dedication to us is unmatched," Evie remarked, a hint of admiration in her voice.

"He'd move mountains for us," Fox chimed in. "But where's Noah?"

"Noah's probably on his way," Micheal explained. "He'll catch up with us later. But Crissie won't be joining."

 "Why isn't Crissie joining us?" I was intrigued, turning to Micheal.

Micheal glanced up from his phone, where he had been typing a message. 

"Crissie left early today for an athletic practice. She won't be joining us."

Understanding, Dante nodded. "Got it."

"Looks like it's just us five then," Fox said, smiling. "We'll make it a great time."

As the bell rang, signalling the start of recess, we made our way out of the hallway While many of my peers were excited to engage in athletic activities, I found myself less enthused. Despite this, I had always surprised myself with my skill in athletics, even though my true passion lay elsewhere.

My aspirations revolved around becoming a doctor and providing gentle care to patients in need. However, despite my dreams and relentless efforts, the series of supernova incidents I had experienced three times already had significantly derailed my plans. Each time, they seemed to set me back further from achieving my goals, leaving me feeling disheartened and uncertain about my future.

I feel unlucky, dwelling on the individual who sought revenge against me. Could it have been Evie? But what could I have possibly done to deserve such treatment from her?

Shaking off these troubling thoughts, I emerged from the changing room to find Micheal and Noah waiting for me. Together, we made our way to the basketball court, our footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. As we approached, I spotted Mr. Kickman, the PE teacher, assisting a group of juniors with their basketball skills. With a final blow of his whistle, he signalled the end of the game, leaving the disappointed players to reluctantly vacate the court.

"Hey there, Freshmen!" Mr. Kickman greeted us enthusiastically. "Today, we're kicking things off with a game of dodgeball."

My heart sank at the prospect of embarrassing myself in front of the class. However, to my relief, it seemed that dodgeball was not a popular choice among my classmates. Mr. Kickman quickly changed the plan, opting instead for a session focused on long jumps.

"Alright, class!" Mr. Kickman called out, gathering our attention. "Today, we're going to work on our long jumps. Now, I know some of you might be new to this, so let me break it down for you."

He paced in front of us, his athletic build emanating authority.

"Long jumps are all about power and technique," he continued. "First, you want to start from the starting line, and then take a few strides to build up your momentum."

He demonstrated with a few exaggerated steps, exaggerating the arm swing and knee lift to emphasize the technique.

"Next," he said, "as you approach the takeoff board, you want to explode into your jump. Swing your arms forward and up, and drive your knees up towards your chest."

He mimicked the motion, his movements fluid and precise.

"The key here is to maximize your horizontal distance while maintaining good form," Mr. Kickman explained. "Once you're in the air, extend your legs out in front of you, aiming to land with both feet together and slightly bent at the knees to absorb the impact."

He paused, scanning the class to ensure everyone was following along.

"Alright, let's give it a try!" Mr. Kickman exclaimed, his enthusiasm contagious as he led us to the practice area.

I watched as Noah happily came first in the line. Knowing he was the athletic type, he would most definitely do well with this.

Next up was Ethan, a determined look etched on his face as he prepared for his turn. Despite his slight awkwardness, Ethan's resolve was clear, and I found myself silently cheering him on.

Then came Liam, whose long, lanky frame seemed to defy gravity as he soared through the air. I marvelled at the gracefulness of his jump, feeling a twinge of jealousy at Liam's natural talent.

Finally, it was my turn. I felt a knot of nerves tightening in my stomach as I approached the starting line. The sight of my classmates' impressive jumps only served to amplify my self-doubt, and for a moment, I hesitated. But then Mr. Kickman stepped forward, offering words of encouragement that cut through my uncertainty like a ray of light.

"Come on, Dante," Mr. Kickman urged, his voice filled with unwavering confidence. "You've got this. Just focus on what you can do, and give it your all."

With a deep breath, I nodded, steeling myself for the challenge ahead. I pushed aside my doubts and visualized the perfect jump in my mind, imagining myself soaring through the air with the same grace and power as my classmates.

As I began my approach, I felt a surge of determination coursing through my veins. I poured every ounce of energy into the jump, willing myself to defy gravity and reach new heights. For a fleeting moment, I felt weightless, suspended in midair as I soared through the sky. And then, with a soft thud, I landed in the sandpit, my heart pounding with exhilaration. As I looked up, I saw Mr. Kickman smiling proudly at me from the sidelines, his expression filled with genuine admiration.

"Great job, Dante," Mr. Kickman said, his voice resonating with pride. "You might not have jumped the farthest, but you showed courage and determination, and that's what matters."

I felt a swell of pride in my chest, knowing that I had pushed past my fears and given it my all. With a newfound sense of confidence, I joined my classmates, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

(...)

Question time,

What is something that makes you sleep?

Mine is my song playlist of Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter <3

Love them so much!

Yall, I can't believe in 2 years I have to complete my life-changing exam

for my career;-;

I am going to be a doctor :)