c5 header [https://i.imgur.com/RilUiU5.png]

Day 2: September 2, 2013, Monday.

When Edward and I returned to the classroom, our classmates greeted us with a barrage of silly questions. They were curious to know what the deal was between us.

Edward handled it perfectly and told everyone that we were just friends. And the reason why he showed me around was because Ms. Rhea put him in charge to take care of me. He was exaggerating though, all Ms. Rhea asked him to do was show me the ropes, not to become my babysitter or anything.

His declaration made some of our classmates sigh in relief, while others let out a sigh of disappointment. I guess some of them were shipping Edward and me, and those who had a crush on him were relieved that we were just friends.

“Okay, everyone! Give Nicole her space, she just transferred so don't overwhelm her. Let her eat lunch in peace at least,” Edward announced in class.

Perfect, this is what I was hoping for. Edward’s authority at the academy would serve as my protection. If we also included Katie’s influence, my life at this academy ought to become peaceful. All was according to plan.

Speaking of Katie, I wondered where she was. She was not to be seen anywhere in the classroom. I checked my phone to see if she sent me any messages.

While rummaging through my phone, Edward sat on the table in front of me. “Dollface, can we exchange numbers? Think of it as my reward for showing you around, no?” He said as he twiddled his phone in front of me. Well, he did help me a lot today. And he has already shown how useful he could be. So I didn't see any reason to decline; in fact, having his contact information might prove useful in the future.

I was about to exchange numbers with him when the classroom door opened loudly. It was Katie, alongside another girl from our class, Penelope Craig.

When Katie saw how close Edward was to me, sitting at the top of the table in front of me and all, she went into a fit of rage. She swiftly got in between us and began roaring at Edward.

“You punk! How dare you act so flirty with my Nicole!” She shouted as she pushed Edward with such force.

“Hey, wait, Katie! Don’t—” With how strong Katie’s shove was, Edward fell to the floor with a loud thud, causing a ruckus. To be honest, it looked painful.

“Nicki! Did Ed do anything to you?” Katie asked as she touched all over me as if to check on me.

“I’m fine, Katie. I’m more worried by the way you’re touching me, to be honest,” I remarked.

Katie giggled, and she suddenly cuddled up to me. “There you go again! I’m just making sure you’re all right, Nicki!”

This girl… I didn't mind her clinginess or how affectionate she was, but it was embarrassing when she did it in public and in front of many people. The whole class was looking at us, was she not aware?

While Katie was busy snuggling up to me, I noticed the girl she came in with, Penelope, as she offered her hand to help Edward up. “Are you okay, Edward?” Penelope asked the poor guy who was still on the floor.

“Thanks, Pen. I’m okay...” Edward got up with Penelope’s help.

When Edward was back on his feet again, he and Katie began to butt heads once more. Since they both possessed the same dominant personality, I guess it was inevitable for them to clash like this.

Ignoring those two, I walked up to Penelope and greeted her. “Hello, your name is Penelope, right? Mine is Nicole, it is a pleasure to meet you.” I held my hand to her.

Penelope was delighted and immediately shook my hand. “Yes! My name is Penelope Craig. I’m so delighted to meet you, Nicole!” She introduced herself.

Now that I had seen her up close, I could immediately tell that Penelope was far from a bad person. She was someone I could trust or become real friends with. Props to Katie; she has a good eye for people.

Noticing that Penelope and I were already acquainted, Katie quickly left Edward and came to us. “I see that you two already met! That’s good!”

I told Katie that we should head out to the cafeteria now to buy her lunch while there was still about half an hour left for lunchtime, and we should hurry up if we wanted to finish in time.

“No need to worry about that, Nicki! I already bought lunch when I met with Pen earlier. Ta-dah!” She brought out a sandwich and a strawberry flavored milk.

She told me that instead of treating her to lunch as I promised earlier, what she wanted now was to go to a cafe with me and Penelope after school. To celebrate our meeting.

I would like to go but I have important matters to attend to. My dad promised to tell me everything later. I told Katie that I had some urgent business to attend to and I didn’t have enough time for a cafe outing. So, I suggested that we could get some Magnolia Skewers after school while we walked home and that we could go to the cafe next time. Both of them agreed, and we made plans to go to the cafe on another day.

While chewing on the scrambled eggs she got from my lunch, Katie grumbled. “Ed, that guy! He never paid much attention to girls before. So I wonder why he's so interested in you, Nicki!”

I answered Katie with the most obvious and simplest answer. Edward and everyone else were interested in me because I was a transfer student. Transferring so late in the year was unusual, and add the fact that I moved to a town with a strange rumor. That would definitely pique people's interest.

Katie let out a long sigh. “You really don’t understand how big of a deal you are, Nicki.”

“What do you mean?” I asked confusedly. I hadn't the slightest idea what Katie was talking about.

Katie then began to tell me that it was not because I was a transfer student that made people so curious about me. And the real reason why people were so intrigued with me because I was a knockout beauty with a mysterious allure around her. She insisted that I had the charm to pull people and make them look at me. She mentioned that it was also the reason why she talked to me yesterday. She said I just looked so stunning, and the enigmatic air I had was so bewitching that she wasn't able to control herself; she just had to approach me.

I looked at Katie, dumbfounded by what she just said. I never paid that much attention to my appearance or to how people thought of my fashion and style. I didn’t have the luxury to do it, my constant struggle with my emotions and psyche kept me occupied at all times. But who knows, maybe I gave it some consideration when I was still an ordinary girl.

“He may be playful and close with a lot of girls because of how he is, but Ed is very respectful to them. I hate to admit it, but he is a decent guy,” Katie remarked as she munched the sausage she got from Penelope’s lunch.

Penelope offered more of her lunch to Katie, and she added to Katie’s statement. “I agree, Edward is really nice. I heard that a lot of girls confessed to him. But he rejected all of them. I wonder why?”

I didn’t want to get in trouble if he did have a girlfriend, so I joined in to confirm it. “Maybe he got a girlfriend or something?” If I were to use Edward, it would be for the best if he didn’t have a girlfriend that would get in my way. I didn't want any catfights.

Katie and Penelope both answered that Edward didn’t have a girlfriend. The three of them have known each other for years now, and Edward never once had one. He was always known for being on friendly and close terms with girls. With his playful nature and lighthearted attitude, girls would often gather around him. However, even with all the affection and attention he was getting, he still didn’t show signs of being in love or interested in someone. Thus, he rejected everyone who confessed to him.

“Well, I totally understand why Ed is so into you, Nicki! You’re just so lovely!” Katie chirped.

“I agree. This is the first time I’ve seen Edward this interested and happy with anyone. You’re amazing, Nicole!” Penelope happily added.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

I highly doubted what they just said. I believed that Edward was just bored, and he was just amused by how I interacted with him. It was a new sensation and experience for him, and that was why he kept on bugging me.

As we ate, we talked about a lot of things. Like how the two of them met for instance, Katie and Penelope met each other during their first year in junior high. Penelope said that she was an introverted and awkward person, so making friends and talking with others was difficult for her. She was also often bullied or made fun of because of her quiet and eccentric personality. But thanks to Katie, all of those changed.

One day, when Penelope was ganged up on, Katie jumped to her rescue and befriended Penelope. And ever since then, they had been inseparable. Judging by how Edward and the class were genuinely afraid of Katie when she threatened them earlier, it seemed like Katie was truly a savage. Katie was not only a "sun,” she was also a tiger.

Now eating the fried veggies she got from my lunch, Katie said. “Pen is really shy and quiet, but when you talk about books or the stuff she’s interested in, she can talk non-stop, I tell you. By the way, both of your lunches taste so good!”

Hearing her praise the food my dad prepared made me happy. And watching Katie eat happily was oddly relaxing and satisfying. So, I decided to give her more.

“My dad prepared it, he is a great cook. You can have this too, Katie.” I gave her a portion of my fried shrimp.

“Thank you, Nicki! And thank you too, Nicki’s dad, for the delicious food! Let’s eat!” Katie cried out in happiness.

“Katie really loves to eat delicious food, she looks so cute munching them down.” Penelope giggled.

While Katie was busy eating, I spoke to Penelope. “I love books and reading as well. May I know what genres you like and who’s your favorite author?” And that was the trigger. It was like her whole personality and demeanor changed.

“You love books? Then we are kindred spirits! What genres do you read? Who is your favorite author?—” Penelope enthusiastically went on and on.

Katie calmed down the exhilarated Penelope, “Um, earth to Pen? You didn't even answer Nicki’s question. You just outright asked the same thing she did!”

“Oh! My bad! There goes my bad habit again!“ Penelope chuckled while fiddling her fingers.

Penelope then began opening up to me. I learned that she was a huge fan of the author Ben Ton, who happened to be my favorite as well. She said she loved reading his work, and it was her dream to meet the author one day. In addition, she was also writing her own book and was a member of the academy’s literature club. We are indeed kindred spirits. As I spent more time talking with Penelope, I grew to like her more and more.

We finished our lunch and were getting ready for afternoon class. Katie and Penelope went to the restroom while I stayed in the classroom. Edward saw this opportunity to continue where we left off last time.

“Come on, dollface. Let’s hurry before Kat returns,” said by a nervous Edward.

If I were to believe what Katie and Penelope told me earlier, this guy was interested in me because he liked me. It was unlikely, but if he really saw me in that way, I wonder what made him like me.

“Not so tough in front of Katie, are you?” I said in jest. As we exchanged contact informations.

“That girl is crazy, you know. And why is she acting so familiar with you? Like she owns you?” Edward asked curiously.

I didn’t answer his question. I just winked at him like he always did to me and motioned a “keep-quiet” hand gesture.

“Sshh…”

Edward turned beet red and was lost for words. This guy was so easy to read. But I liked him, in a friendly manner, though.

The afternoon bell rang, and lunchtime was over. We all went to our seats, and class started. Just like in the morning, I didn’t have any trouble in the afternoon classes, it was pretty easy. I actually had more trouble with how both Katie and Edward constantly tried chatting with me while class was still in session. I was surrounded by carefree, easygoing, and popular kids.

Soon enough, class ended just like that. So was my first day at Magnolia Academy, it ended up quite different from how I imagined it would be. Mainly because of Katie, Edward, and Penelope. They made my first day at the academy fun and exciting, and deep inside me, I began to look forward to my academy life here with them.

I sorted my stuff and was ready to go home. Several of my classmates invited me to walk home with them, but Katie, the savage she was, turned them down on my behalf. Good job, Katie.

Me, Katie, and Penelope began to walk home. Edward wanted to come with us, but he said something came up on the basketball team. It must be about what we talked about earlier. I wonder if they found the missing member, I hoped they did.

We chatted about a lot of things as we walked home, they mentioned that our academy had a lot of clubs. Since Penelope was part of the literature club, she invited me to join her. I thought it might be a good idea, and it would make for a great experience and practice for writing a book.

Katie also thought of joining since she wasn’t part of any club, but decided not to since she was not good with books and preferred clubs with physical activities. She said she was thinking of joining the volleyball team at first, but something happened between her and one of the core members that made her decide not join. Seeing how mad and annoyed Katie was when we talked about it, I didn’t pry further on who it was, but I did wonder who it was that made Katie behave like that.

“Thinking about that girl’s face pisses me off! Katie roared as she munched on the skewers we bought.

“Calm down, Katie. Just enjoy the skewers,” I told her, as I also ate my skewers. They were really the best, it was not as good as my dad’s cooking. But it was definitely out there when it came to scrumptious food.

“Speaking of physical activities, don’t we have PE class tomorrow?” Penelope asked while she blew the hot Magnolia skewers the three of us bought.

“PE huh? I like the class, but I’m not too fond of Mr. Cameron. He is a little touchy-feely, don’t you think? There’s also that weird gossip about him,” Katie said in a serious tone.

Mr. Randy Cameron, the male teacher who was sizing me up in the faculty room this morning. I asked them the details about him, and they told me that the teacher got along well with everyone and was respected by the whole academy, students and teachers alike. Apparently, he was an Olympic athlete in the past and won a gold medal in his time. He appeared to be nice and the kind of teacher that students could rely on.

However, some unpleasant issues were floating around Mr. Cameron. People said he would approach female students in the guise of giving them special lessons, inviting them to his house or other private location for a one-on-one tutorial of some sort. They said that the teacher would promise to give you a letter of recommendation for a university of your choice if you accepted his special lessons and kept everything a secret.

And for those who turned down his invitation, he would use his status and authority as a teacher to coerce the students into accepting his demands. Abusing and blackmailing the students to scare them into keeping their mouths shut.

Needless to say, the academy already investigated the matter but to no avail. There was no proof to support the claim, and no one ever came out to testify.

Even though the hearsay was disturbing and the teacher was crazed in the head, he produced great results by leading the basketball and volleyball teams to the nationals, a feat that was not easy to do. His influence and fame as a former Olympic gold medalist brought the academy a great deal of recognition as well. So the academy couldn’t dismiss the teacher or do anything rash to him without substantial evidence first.

I knew they were just rumors, but with my personal encounter with the guy. I definitely sensed something nasty about him. But if the academy couldn't do anything to him, then there was also nothing I could do.

Those kinds of people were what I truly hated the most—those who took advantage of others and had no issues trampling over other people's feelings. Especially the sickos and lowlifes who would abuse and exploit others, particularly women. They made my blood boil…

“They should all just die…” I whispered to myself, my mind becoming filled with dark thoughts.

But before the darkness fully consumed me, Katie and Penelope began pulling me, and before I noticed it, the three of us were running together, hand in hand.

“Come on, come on! We need to do that! Hurry!” Katie shouted happily.

“Let’s go, Nicole! Picture taking time!” Penelope yelled excitedly.

The place we were running off to seemed like a photo booth, but it was fairly large, like a mini establishment. I supposed places like this were common for a tourist town. When we got inside, there were a lot of people, mostly tourists. The place also had clothes, accessories, and even toys you could use for the photo booth.

But the fee was quite expensive, the price was at a point where a bunch of high school students wouldn't be able to afford it. When I saw how sad both Katie and Penelope looked, it kind of hurt me a little bit. I suppose I was really growing fond of these two.

With the money my dad was earning, I could say that we were fairly well-off. So I paid for the fee and asked the girls. “What are you both looking sad there for? Come on, let’s go,” I said to them, smiling.

Katie and Penelope both came running to me, looking like they were on cloud nine.

“Whoa! Where did you get that much money from? Thank you, Nicki! I really wanted to do this with you and Pen. Thank you!” Katie shouted with joy as she cuddled up to me.

“That’s amazing, Nicole! Now we can take a picture to commemorate our meeting,” Penelope giggled.

I just told them that my family was pretty well off, and that was where I got the money. Both of them were sensitive enough to not ask more questions. They were really good people.

We entered the photo booth and tried on some of the stuff they had. Almost all the clothes available were vividly cute and weren’t up my alley. So I just picked the most normal-looking one.

Katie saw me and declared she had a wonderful idea. She asked Penelope to lend me her glasses because she wanted me to look more mature and give off a “beautiful librarian” vibe. As usual, I had no idea what she was talking about. Once we were done preparing, we began taking pictures.

I wasn’t well-versed in this kind of thing, so I just copied what they were doing. But it helped that Katie was leading me and teaching me how to pose and smile properly. She was an expert at this.

When the pictures came out, I noticed that my smile in them was genuine. It was not a forced or faked smile. I guess when it came to these two, even my reserved heart could feel happiness and peace.

Katie handed me one of the pictures. “Here, Nicki! It’s yours. The three of us look so cute together!” She exclaimed.

“Thank you again for this, Nicole. The one line from the book I read fits here perfectly. ‘Here is to the beginning of our beautiful friendship,’” Penelope agreed.

All three of us received copies of the photos. They turned out nicely, it was worth the money. I looked at it once more, and it gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. This photo would serve as a good reminder of this day, a happy memory I could remember for the rest of my life.

We continued on our walk home, chatting about some random things and having fun. It might be normal and dull for your average person, but for me, it was a precious moment. I was glad I met Katie and Penelope and became friends with them.

Unfortunately, those fun and precious moments didn’t last long…

(To be continued.)

Pen END [https://i.imgur.com/m8GqBJq.png]