Since Alice and Dia had already picked their extracurricular classes, Lisa decided that the choice was easy. In her fashion designer classroom, rows of tables were placed in the room. The interior was unique with splashes of various colors and words of motivation plastered on the walls.
"This is just the study room where we receive lessons. The classroom where we put those skills to work is across the hall." Appearing on her left was a Gifted Student wearing a yellow and black uniform.
"Thanks for telling me, though I'm surprised someone of your caliber is talking to little old me." Lisa had expected the other to get angry at her sarcastic and judgmental reply, but instead, the student found her words funny.
"Hey, we're not all stuck-up assholes! By the way, my name is Amber! What's yours?"
"Lisa!"
Lisa became happy at the prospect of having a new friend while attending this class. Once they took their seats, the girls settled into a pleasant conversation, showing each other their design sketchbooks.
"These are some cool designs!" Lisa praised, noticing the other's style choice leaned more toward sportswear and streetwear.
"Same back at ya! These are some sick designs! How did you come up with these?" Amber praised Lisa, flipping through her design sketchbook. While Lisa dabbled in various styles, her main preference was clothes that showed off one's bold and sexy side, hoping to inspire confidence in the people who'd wear her clothes.
"You call this good? You need to get your eyes checked!" Bad-mouthing her work stood Vivian at the edge of their table.
"Her skills look amateur at best!" mocked the one with the blue hair and purple tips.
"Please, my kid sister could do better! You'll need better skills if you wish to keep up with the rest of the class!" ridiculed the curly-haired one whose hair reminded Lisa of a lemon-lime soda can. Lisa chose silence instead of engaging Vivian and her petty sidekicks, but Amber wasn't going to stay silent.
"Who died and made you Queen B of this class? Cuz last I remember, that role belonged to another."
"You and your smart little mouth. Don't forget my father out ranks yours," Vivian threatened as Lisa noticed the air around her new friend grew cold.
"Your father may out rank mine, but I'm not a member of your clan. So scram before I rip those pretty locks out of your head." Amber slammed both hands on their table as Lisa swore she saw a crack appear in the middle. The tension between the girls was intense, glaring into each other's eyes with looks to kill.
"Do I need to toss you girls a chew toy to turn down the hostility?" Joining them was yet another Gifted Student but her uniform colors were blue and white. She possessed the beauty of a seductress with her smokey eyes and long black hair.
Now that students had filled the room, all of them had their eyes glued to the group. Well, at the smoky-eyed beauty who carried an air of aloofness with a glimmer of mischief in those silver orbs.
"What are you doing here? What? You misplaced your broomstick?" Vivian's two female friends giggled at the insult she threw.
"No idiot, I'm here to attend class. After all, unlike you who flaunt your daddy's money to climb up high, all my prestigious awards were earned by my hard work. Can you truly say the same, little doggy?"
Lisa stared at the cutthroat beauty in awe and silently applauded the raven in her head. Too bad Vivian felt the opposite. A vein nearly busted from her head as a growl rumbled in her throat.
"Alright, students, all of you take your seats." The teacher walked into the room, and the tension vanished. Vivian and her sidekicks left for their seats, but not before throwing one last glare. The smoky-eyed beauty did the same, shocking Lisa when the girl sat beside her.
"So all of you know that Arcane's annual Trick or Treat Halloween Fest is coming up," the teacher announced, and while this was old news to the majority of the students, this was Lisa's first time hearing about it.
"Every year, the Fashion Department puts on a show catering to the theme of Halloween. But this year, we will have one grand winner followed by second, third, and fourth-place winners. All winners will receive a full clothing set from the lady of love herself, Rosa Valentine."
The students grew excited, and so did Lisa, who sat up and listened to what their teacher had to say.
"The grand prize winner will receive one as well but will also have the opportunity to attend a fashion show hosted by Rosa Valentine, creator of Dreamy Valentine, and have a one-on-one session with her. So use your time wisely to learn some helpful tips from one of the leading people in the fashion industry."
When class began, their teacher showed them ways to improve their skills, but everyone's minds were too busy thinking about the fashion show. Fifteen minutes before the end of class, everyone began chatting about the fashion show, and Vivian just had to draw attention to herself.
"You all can give it up as the grand winner will be me!" She had the nerve to flip her hair as her friends boosted her head.
"Gurl, stop lying to yourself. If anything, the grand prize would go to the same person it did last time." Amber pointed to the girl sitting beside Lisa.
"Everyone knows she's the real deal, but Layla, don't think I won't put up a fight for that grand prize. Not just anyone can get an invitation to Dreamy Valentine fashion show since the attendees are all young celebrities who have worn clothes from her fashion line," said Amber.
"Challenge accepted, but don't come crying to me when I steal the reward." Layla packed her bags and elegantly walked out of the classroom.
"That chick gives me boss feels!" Lisa hadn't talked with the other girl but found herself aweing over her. The effortless confidence she oozed, a girl wrapped in mystery and seduction. The way she stood up for herself had Lisa wanting to know more about her.
"Uh oh! Layla has lured another into her spider web!" teased Amber, to which Lisa pouted.
"She has that effect on people, but she's cool until you get on her bad side. Layla has no problem ripping people apart with her mouth and powers."
"Powers?"
"Ah, I just mean she's very cutthroat!" The dark-haired brunette plastered a nervous smile that told Lisa she was lying, having let that last part slip by accident.
"Anyway, Layla has the right to be confident. Her designs have earned her numerous attention as she even has people in the fashion industry already eyeing her. Not to mention, she won the crown for our end of the year Starlight Lunar Fashion Show?
"Starlight Lunar Fashion Show? What's that?"
"It's this big fashion show we have at the end of the year as each outfit is critiqued by professional designers and the rewards are on a whole other level. Everyone takes it seriously, hoping to win the crown and become recognized by designers who have already made a name for themselves. Believe it or not, this fashion show could make or break your career choice. So you better bring your A-game if you don't want to become a laughing stock. One judge criticized a girl so badly that she ran off the stage crying."
Instead of scaring her off, these words lit a fuse in Lisa's heart, itching to make some new drafts and unleash her passion. For so long, she never had a real stage to show off her work, but now she could put her skills to the test and see where she stood.