Oct. 26. Monday.
Riele's POV
A new morning shows the start of a new day, and a new day shows the start of new activities circling itself in constant motion, new activities starting all over again.
I find myself once again immersed in the familiar routine of school, a pattern that repeats itself day after day, week after week, with the exception of weekends.
The corridors are crowded with students hurrying to their classes, resembling sardines packed in a can, anxious not to be late.
A sudden movement in the sky captures my attention, prompting me to gaze upwards from the bustling crowd. I saw a willowy streak of surge white blooming against the deep blue, marking the path of a distant plane soaring high above. The plane was so far away that at times the strong glare of the sun blanked it from sight.
Noiselessly, the tiny plane looped, and swerved, vanishing, and appearing, leaving behind it a long trail of a white plume of smoke. A Plume of smoke that grew swelled, and slowly began to fade into the air at the edges
"HEY! HEY! HEY!" came the call, interrupting my daze.
Turning my gaze from the sky, I refocused on the bustling world below. The sharp edges of steel, stone, and people blurred into indistinct waves, prompting me to briefly close my eyes before reopening them to see the world grew dark.
Rubbing my eyes and blinking, I scanned my surroundings to identify the source of the call.
Raising a quizzical eyebrow, I questioned, "Is that my name, Ashley?"
In no time my eyes started seeing colors again.
Ashley's response came swiftly, "Of course not. I just didn't want to shout your name."
Nodding in understanding, I replied, "Right."
As my vision gradually regained its color and clarity, the plane had disappeared from the sky, leaving behind only wisps of dissipating smoke.
I couldn't help but smile at the unpredictable nature of the day, reflecting on the rarity of witnessing a plane writing high above.
"RIELE! ASHLEY!" Our names echoed through the air.
Ashley sighed in resignation, while I simply scoffed, recognizing the familiar voice but choosing to continue on our way.
"Will she ever give up? Doesn't Crazy realize when she's not welcome?" I lamented mockingly.
"But wouldn't ignoring her be a bit harsh?" Ashley countered.
I shot her a incredulous look. "Since when is friendship compulsory? I don't even want to entertain the thought."
Ashley rolled her eyes at my bluntness but wisely chose to hold her tongue.
That's just how I am.
Some people fear me, and they wouldn't dare to challenge me.
I know everyone in this school, and they all know me.
That's just the way I've decided to live my life. I ensure no one dares or crosses me, and I detest those who act all smart like they're superior or on top of the world.
I have my circle of friends, and I made them. They are the ones who truly understand me, I think, and they're the only ones I need. The rest of my classmates can simply be stepping stones for all I care.
Hmm. Why the hell am I like this? I couldn't tell you for sure, but I must admit, there's a certain satisfaction in asserting control over others.
Call me sadistic if you want. Who cares?
But one thing's for certain: being feared and having control is the ultimate high. The greatest feeling of all.
I glanced at Ashley as we made our way into the classroom, a thought suddenly crossing my mind.
"How's your boyfriend?" I inquired casually.
She glanced at me, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "He's fine, why wouldn't he be?" she responded.
I nodded. "Of course, he's fine, but you might not be when you find out he's been cheating on you," I dropped the bombshell as we took our seats.
Her eyes widened in shock as she turned to face me, her voice tinged with disbelief. "What are you talking about?" she demanded.
"Well..." I began, but before I could elaborate, Karen interrupted.
"Hey, guys," Karen greeted us.
"Hi," Ashley responded, while I nodded in acknowledgment.
Karen settled into her seat next to Ashley. "Elizabeth isn't here yet."
"Yeah, which is unusual. She's never late for school," Ashley mused aloud.
I sighed. "I think I might know why."
Both Ashley and Karen turned their attention to me. "What do you mean?" Karen inquired.
"Well, let's just say she stumbled upon something she shouldn't have," I replied cryptically.
"And it's all thanks to you, I assume," Karen deduced.
I nodded somberly. "Yeah, something like that."
"What did she find out?" Ashley pressed for more information.
I flashed a smile at her. "I can't spill all the beans, but I can dish out a few of yours. Listen up, in this game of life, you've got to watch your back, especially when it comes to who you trust and who you sleep with, especially in the high school drama zone."
Karen glanced at Ashley, clearly puzzled. "What's she on about?"
Ashley shrugged. "No idea."
Karen turned her gaze back to me, prompting me to spill the tea. I let out a sigh. "It's just the typical human circus, you know? People are so fucking messed up! People just don't think. They walk around blindfolded, thereby refusing the truth that is just right in front of their noses. Liz said she's smart, but she's only a bookworm, or a walking thesaurus rather. She's lacking in street smarts, big time."
"What exactly did Liz uncover?" Karen pressed for details.
"It's like trying to extract teeth," I mused.
"Since when has your mouth ever been tight-lipped?" a familiar voice chimed in.
I rolled my eyes at the sight of Liz.
"We didn't expect to see you here. Classes are starting soon," Ashley remarked.
Liz nodded gravely. "You know that I take my studies seriously. Nothing gets in the way of that. Nothing."
I just rolled my eyes. Again.
She settled into the seat beside me, by my right. "How's it going?" I asked, trying to maintain a semblance of civility.
She gave me a fake smile. "Hanging in there. And thanks for the enlightening revelation, by the way." She said sarcastically.
I sighed. "Don't smoke me, Liz."
She let out a disgusted chuckle. "And why shouldn't I? How on earth do you manage to unearth all these things? It's not like you're sneaking around, peeking into people's windows to uncover their deepest, darkest secrets."
I narrowed my eyes at her. "That would be a needle in my ass."
"But seriously, how did you stumble upon it?" she persisted.
I shrugged nonchalantly. "I just did. I guess I just have a knack for keeping my eyes peeled, you know, picking up on things here and there."
"Some things are better left alone, Riele. You seem to have a peculiar fondness for stirring up trouble. You love the pain of other people and that's bad!" Liz fired back.
Yeah, I didn't say.
I bit back the response on the tip of my tongue..
Liz is a little bit of a problem with the friends I chose. She always had a way of pushing my buttons. She had a knack for speaking her mind, whether or not it was welcome.
I sighed, feeling the weight of her words. "Please, don't give me grief, Liz. You should be grateful you're in the loop."
It's frustrating, really. I just don't get it. I don't get why my friends can never understand me. They can't get why I do things. They see me as a nuisance, a troublemaker.
But one day, I'll make them see things my way.
She nodded sarcastically. "Oh, absolutely. I should be over the moon right now. Thanks ever so much," she quipped.
I rolled my eyes, the tension between us thickening as the teacher strolled into the classroom.
Let me set the record straight: I don't revel in the suffering of others, it's just a part of who I am.
Admittedly, I do have a penchant for uncovering people's deepest secrets. It's like having a trump card up my sleeve, a tool I can wield to my advantage.
That's how I keep everyone on their toes, you see. That's how I hold them in their necks.
My friends should count themselves lucky that their secrets remain under lock and key, but I can't extend the same courtesy to everyone else.
If there's one thing that gets my blood pumping, it's when juicy gossip spreads like wildfire. I love it when things go viral.
Some might label me as the resident troublemaker, but hey, I wear that badge with pride.
Go ahead, call me the school bitch. I dare you.