"CHAPTER 1

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1ST, 11:49 PM

Olivia lay in her bed, eyes staring blankly at the crumbling ceiling. Her sisters, who were usually awake at this time, snoozed contently beside her. Their black hair was slightly damp, and their ragged clothes were replaced with newly bought pajamas. Their father had spent weeks saving up for them; only them. Olivia wore a torn tank top with jeans she’d outgrown. The twins clung to her, shivering as the winter breeze rushed through the broken window. They had blankets; however, they were thin and light.

She rested her head back, mind troubled. Midterm exams start tomorrow. She wasn’t worried that she’d fail them, instead, about her placement. Last year she got 100th out of 300. Which, in theory, was average, but the chastisement of her father said otherwise. She was fortunate enough that her school’s enrollment process heavily relied on GPA, therefore accepting fewer students than others. If she was in a public school, she would’ve been around 10th. Sometimes, the thought of getting a higher rank doubted her decision to switch to a private school. However, Prevail Academy covered everything, from her tuition to transportation.

She was snapped out of her thoughts by movement beside her. She looked down, seeing her younger sister, Siena, stirring and mumbling beside her. Olivia carefully sat up, her eyebrows knitting together as she watched her struggle. She raised her hand and ran it through her hair.

Siena’s grimace was gone as the gesture soothed her. She sighed, falling back to sleep.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 2ND, 6:01 AM

“Olivia, wake up,” small hands tugged at her side, prodding her gently. Olivia groaned, heaving herself up. Alyssa, the more spontaneous of the twins, grinned. Siena was sitting nearby, reading a book she’d gotten from her school library. Despite being in the first grade, she was reading a book meant for fifth graders. A prodigy for her age.

“Dad said that, um, if you’re not up, you have to buy him cigarettes!” Alyssa giggled, skipping away to put on her shoes. Olivia’s eyes widened. Where was her father? He is usually the one to wake her. She got up, brushing off the lint balls that had gathered. She walked over to the bedside table, glancing at her dirty uniform. She cringed, noting the traces of ketchup on its sleeve. She would’ve washed it last night, but the washer had been broken for a few days now. For a moment, she wanted to wear one of the only outfits that fitted her, but that would’ve gotten her dress coded. Instead, with a heavy heart, she picked it up and sludged to the restroom.

Water trickled down from the forever-running faucet, the only noise in the dim light. The lamp had shattered, the glass surrounding its base. The toilet gurgled, its lid nowhere to be found. Olivia tried her best to maneuver around the glass but stepped on a piece. She winced, bending over as she tried to pick it from her foot. A metallic red dripped from the injury. She limped over to the sink, collecting some droplets in her palms. It dripped down from her hands and onto her foot. Although it throbbed, it was no longer bleeding.

Shortly after getting ready, she gazed at herself in the mirror. When she was younger, before her mother’s death, her complexion was fuller, her skin clear, and not an eye bag in sight. The white collared shirt that the school provided was covered in grime, and the skirt wasn’t much different. Her mismatched socks had holes in them, just like her shoes. People stared and called her names, but she never minded them.

Her father yelled for her in his usual booming voice from the living room. Olivia grabbed her backpack and scurried over. He was lying on the couch, an empty beer bottle in hand.

“What did I tell you about the kitchen, Liv- HIC!” his eyebrows furrowed, raising the beer bottle clumsily.

“Don’t you remember? Alyssa had gotten herself muddy so I had to clean her up. Also, my name is Olivia, Dad.” Her heartbeat picked up, noticing the changes in his expression.

He punched the wall behind him, screaming something incoherently. Alyssa and Siena peeked through the hallway, watching curiously.

“I call you what I want! Do you think you can raise those brats better than me? Huh? Why don’t you raise them yourself then? It’s all you’re good for, you stupid-” Olivia learned to block out his words. Focusing her eyes on the floor instead. Occasionally she would murmur an okay, but that’s only if her father left room for discussion.

After God knows how long, he finally stopped. He ended his rant by throwing the glass bottle towards the wall. It clattered amongst the others. It had become a daily routine for them.

That day, her father told her to walk to school. The cold gnawed at her skin, the tips of her fingers growing numb. Luckily, it wasn’t snowing. Just freezing to the point of frostbite.

After about fifteen minutes of treading through the chill, she finally arrived. The air whistled, trees swaying lightly. The large sign in the front was covered in debris, from fallen twigs to garbage. As if on cue, the bell rang. The sound echoed in all directions, causing some students to dash towards the entrance. Olivia, not wanting to mess up her attendance, followed closely after them.

She was hit with a wave of warmth, a needed break from the absence of sun. Inside, students frantically tried to open their lockers. Most of them had layers underneath their uniforms, however some, Olivia included, had none. She was thankful that her locker wasn’t far from her first period; Science. As quickly as she got over to it, she unlocked it. The lock collapsed in her hand. Grabbing her textbooks, she closed it and began rushing towards class.

The hallways were filled with students doing the same, some staying behind to chat with their friends. Olivia never understood why. You could always catch up during lunch or after school. But yet again, she didn’t have friends so perhaps not.

The door to her classroom was open, revealing rows of empty seats. The teacher was talking to a colleague. Olivia walked in, glancing at her seat. Or what would’ve been her seat.

In her place sat a blonde girl. Her wavy hair had streaks of red, complimenting her dashing green eyes. She wore the mandatory school uniform, however, it was tweaked to her personal likings. Gold earrings, necklaces, and rings were scattered among her appearance. She sat elegantly with her legs crossed. Her head was perched on her knuckles. Girls surrounded her, chattering eagerly.

Instantly, Olivia felt out of place.

Mustering up courage, she shuffled over.

“Hello,” she started, staring at her. The girl’s gaze whipped towards her, eyeing her up and down. Observing every imperfection and flaw. Olivia’s skin prickled with uneasiness. She nearly forgot what she came here to do, “You’re, uh, sitting in my seat.”

“And?” The response was quick, her speech unique. She could tell that she had an accent, although it was too soon to discover which one. Olivia’s face reddened in embarrassment as the girls nearby her snickered

"She looks so red!"
"Did you see her face?"

Olivia pressed her palms to her face, hoping it'll cool her down.

It didn't.

"Class starts in about a minute and-" she was cut off by the blonde-haired girl.

"Then, I'll sit here. Thanks for your concern." the girl rolled her eyes before talking with the others. Olivia stood there for a moment, flabbergasted. She was going to suggest that she’d grab a seat from the neighboring classroom. Surprisingly, she had to instead.

Her name was Allira Barclay. She had introduced herself proudly in front of the class upon Ms. Smith's request. Afterwards, the teacher had pulled Olivia aside. Other students called her Ribs as she walked past them. Her fists clenched.

Her gray hair fell over her shoulders as she leaned down to Olivia’s level. The two were near the corner of the classroom. Ms. Smith said that she’d excuse Olivia’s tardiness for Language Arts.

“Do you recognize this?” she unscrambled a paper from her pocket, handing it to her. Olivia noticed her handwriting. Her name, Olivia Di Angelo, was crossed out. Below it read, ‘Jackson Torres’. Her stomach dropped, recalling her paid essay. She must’ve forgotten that she wasn’t writing it for herself.

“No,” she turned her head, heartbeat beginning to race. Lying to a teacher could end up with a detention slip. Or worse, a call home.

“Ms. Di Angelo, are you sure?” her tone was laced with suspicion and disbelief. Olivia could feel her stomach swirling.

“Report to the behavioral center after school today. If you don’t, then we’ll have to ring up your parents.” Olivia nodded slowly, watching as Ms. Smith walked away. She stood there for a moment, staring blankly at a row of lockers. She could catch up on missing work during detention. That’d be a good use of her time.

The bell rang.

At first, Olivia cursed herself for being lagging behind schedule. However, she remembered what Ms. Smith said. But that didn’t mean that she should take her time.The cafeteria, as usual, was bustling with noise. The lines were painfully long, stretching out the door. Olivia was hungry, but she doubted that she would get her lunch before the bell rang. So, instead, she walked towards the library.

Thankfully, people tended to avoid it. Olivia didn’t know why; the library was amazing. As she walked, she noticed a cluster of people blocking the halls. In the center, the loudest of them all, was Allira. A small pool of frustration washed through her.

As they strolled past, Olivia felt trapped; literally and figuratively. Their clamor died down to tentative whispers.

They were talking about her. About what, exactly? Olivia couldn’t tell. Her straightened posture slouched as she stared at the ground. Why would they be talking about her? Did she do something wrong? Did she do it on purpose? What–

“Ow!” she bumped into someone’s chest, blinking twice as she focused her vision. She glanced up, meeting a pair of sea-sunken eyes. He brought his arms up to his chest, feeling for a bruise. She gulped, forcing herself to maintain eye contact.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t looking and-”

“You’re good, Olivia,” he interrupted with such nonchalance it made her question if he was being sarcastic.

“Excuse me? How do you know my name?” she questioned, eyebrows bringing together.

“You sit next to me in fourth period; you’re the infamous teacher’s pet,” he answered, eyeing her up and down. Olivia’s face flushed in embarrassment, her ears on fire.

“I’m a teacher’s pet?” her voice wavered more than she’d like. Was that how people perceived her? Either she was in denial or her peers had a horrible perception of her.

“I’m just messing with you!” the corners of his mouth tugged upwards in a grin. Aren’t jokes supposed to be funny? Olivia’s eyes met the floor again, crossing her arms. They weren’t friends, but he acted like they were. Is he like this with everyone?

Managing an exasperated sigh, she backed away and headed towards the library. As she walked, she spotted someone staring at her. She kept walking, despite worry sticking in her mind like a tick.

Eventually, with fifteen minutes left of lunch, she arrived at the entrance. Little to no people lingered around the entrance so it didn’t take much effort to maneuver them.

She opened the doors, being met with the library aroma she could never quite put a finger on. Already feeling relaxed, she walked in and shut the door behind her. The head librarian was settled in her desk chair. Her curly brown hair was tied in a loose bun, and her emerald eyes were fixated on her computer.

“Ms. Di Angelo, what a pleasant surprise,” She said halfheartedly, expression absent and faraway, “Do you have the books you checked out? They’re due soon.” her bushy eyebrow cocked expectantly, her typing paused.

Olivia shook her head, gripping onto the fabric of her uniform anxiously, “Uh, no, but–”

“Sixteen dollars per book and you borrowed three. That’ll be forty-eight y’know,” Olivia knew how to count. She didn’t need a middle-aged woman doing it for her.

“Thank you. I’ll bring them tomorrow, I promise.” She forced a smile, not with her teeth though; they were crooked. She speed-walked towards the lounge area and settled her backpack near a sofa. She sat down, hanging her head back as she let out a big sigh. Her eyelids were heavy and she allowed herself to sink into the cushion. It had been a while since she had sat on something that’s not infested with cockroaches.

She was close to falling asleep, when the doors slammed open. Her eyes shot open as she silently cursed herself for nearly drifting off.

“You!” a loud and abrupt voice broke through the air. The librarian wasn’t listening, or just frankly didn’t care. Probably the second one. A ginger-haired girl with more freckles than brain cells marched towards her. Tessa Hart, the ‘popular girl’ who in reality was just insecure and lacked a real personality. Her skin prickled with uneasiness as she neared. Her glare was nothing compared to Allira’s, which seemed calculated and cold. It was uglier and full of rage.

“It’s her first day and you dare to start talking bad about her! You’re ridiculous, you know that? Seriously what made you think–”

“I apologize, but who are we talking about?”

Apparently, that made her even more furious. Tessa groaned, face turning a hot red as she attempted to manage her anger.

“Allira, obviously! Who else?” her hands balled up into fists, eyebrows furrowing intensely.

Olivia wondered what Tessa could be talking about, staring at her reddened face blankly. Was it about the chair situation in the first period? Did she accidentally offend her? Olivia didn’t think so, albeit it’s possible someone thought otherwise. She gulped.

“What did I do to her?” Her palms were sweaty, heat rushing to her ears. As Tessa was on the verge of a meltdown, the bell rang. Olivia let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. Tessa, with the same force as earlier, stormed away, muttering something under her breath.

Olivia stood and reached for her backpack. Its rough texture brushed against her skin as she heaved it onto her shoulders.

“Bye, Mrs. Rhodes!” She said as she walked towards the exit. Mrs. Rhodes regarded her with a roll of her eyes. Olivia wondered why she even bothered in the first place. She left the library, unaware of the eyes plastered on her.

When she arrived at the locker rooms, she hadn’t expected them to be locked. She looked around for any signs or notices, but found none. Olivia spotted a girl from her class. Her name was Sophia.

She was conversing with their teacher, Mr. Adams. Olivia, as discreetly as she could, walked closer so that she could hear.

“What are we doing then?” Sophia asked.

“We’re doing a lockdown drill inside the gym.” He responded blankly, staring at his clipboard. Sophia murmured okay and walked off to the rest of her friends. Olivia, taking that as a cue to leave, followed after.

The rest of the period went smoothly. As smooth as middle schoolers can be in a crowded gymnasium. So did sixth and seventh.

Reading and math were the subjects she did the midterm exams in. Luckily, they were her strong suit, so she figured that she would score a B at minimum.

As soon as the final bell rang, students rushed out into the hallways. They were probably eager to do after-school activities, hang out with their friends, etcetera. However, Olivia had always hated that bell.

She was packing up her supplies when she overheard one of her classmates. Eavesdropping was a bad habit of hers, but she couldn’t help it; she was naturally curious.

“That new girl is so pretty. I wonder if she’s looking for a girlfriend!” One of the girls chirped.

“Don’t you have a boyfriend?” Reminded the other, face scrunched up slightly.

“So? Can I not call a girl pretty? Besides, not like he would ever find out.” The girl’s voice was laced with something Olivia couldn’t name. Cheating, as unfortunate as it was, was a common theme amongst teenagers. Olivia never knew why, but perhaps it was the changes one’s body undergoes at the time. Also known as hormones.

The two girls walked away, leaving behind no traces of their conversation. She would have to keep close tabs on those two. She finished picking everything up and slung her backpack over her shoulder. She exited the classroom, the sounds of her steps echoing throughout the hallway. The occasional janitor would wave at her, and of course, she would wave back.

Oh right, she had detention.

Olivia steered herself around. The behavioral center wasn’t that far away, now that she thought about it. She would have to walk past a few janitors, though. They would think that she’s stupid for going the wrong way. She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.


I’m such an idiot.