It's been a few days since the start of the year, and Joseph has already made many friends. People like him, girls are crazy about him, he is second on the list of the most handsome in Horace Mann right after his roommate, who set Solar's heart aflame at their first meeting.
However. She can only dream about him.
The teenager envies her friend the fact that he doesn't have to try, and people are drawn to him on their own. Although he can be unbearable and arrogant to others, he is adored. Undoubtedly, he has the makings of a popular student, so will he still be able to befriend a gray mouse?
Solar is afraid that this school will entirely change him and take away her only friend.... She is frighteningly afraid of being left alone.
Although... there is still Johnny, with whom she started writing during the summer vacation. He's a nice guy, but is there a chance that they will eventually meet? Won't he change his mind when he sees her in person? She's afraid of that, too. She has poor self-esteem, and people at school underrate her even more, making her feel like trash.
The girl may or may not be a beauty like her roommate. She's short, her shape isn't crazy, she has short hair, an average face.... is the opposite of Halsey. She shares a room with the school beauty, and this is what contributes to people picking on her. They compare them to each other, calling Solar an ugly duckling, while Halsey is a beautiful swan.
The 17-year-old sometimes feels like sitting in a corner and crying. Why wasn't she born more beautiful? Life would undoubtedly be easier for her.
Since she has rich parents, should she get plastic surgery? No. If she showed up here with a new face, she would put herself through a worse hell....
She just has to endure at Horace Mann for two years, maybe it won't be so bad now that Joseph is by her side?
Walking down the main corridor, a slight smile appears on her face when she spots him coming out of the bathroom. She approaches him to start a cheerful conversation and improve her mood, but something strange happens, incomprehensible to her.
He ignores her.
He looks ahead and walks past her as if she were air....
— Joseph? — turns to him in a nervous tone, thinking that he is simply in a bad mood and will at least yell at her, but he does not react at all. He acts as if he doesn't know her, as if she doesn't exist at all, or in a worse case, as if he is ashamed to be talked down to by a scapegoat.
Her heart breaks and shatters into a million pieces.
Her nightmare is just becoming real. Her only friend, a man close to her, whom she has known since childhood, begins to ignore her.
— What is going on? — she asks herself, not understanding his behavior. — Did I do something wrong? Did he take offense at me?
Tears appear in her eyes. She starts to panic because if she loses her best friend, she will be left alone like a finger. She will have no one by her side.
*
— Are you happy to see me? — Jin smiles at the sight of Danielle, who appears in the schoolyard on Friday afternoon. She runs up to him and hugs him tightly, wrapping her arms around his waist. — It's only been a few days, and it seemed like they lasted an eternity.
— It's only a few days, and it came to me that you were terrible to your mother. I didn't think you would take my words to heart and start fighting her so soon.
The 14-year-old moves away from the boy and looks at him with laughing eyes.
— You have awakened the beast in me, you have motivated me to fight. — She embraces his face with her hands, feeling like kissing him.
— Let's sit down and talk because someone else will think we're together — he announces, heading toward a bench that is closer to the gate. Standing in the middle of the courtyard unnecessarily draws the attention of Horace Mann's students.
— It's been five days, and you're already so popular that everyone is staring at us? — The indignation in her voice signals that she is jealous of the other girls. — I knew this would happen! — She rests her hands on her hips and squints, watching as he sits down on the bench. — And what, you want chicks to think you're single? Oh no, my dear. I won't let that happen!
She sits down next to him, piercing him with her eyes.
— After all, I am single.... — says Jin in a laughing voice.
— You are not. — She quickly denies it and embraces his hand. — According to you, we are not together, but according to me, we are.
— We are siblings — he corrects her quickly, and she can't stand it and kisses him on the lips in front of everyone. — What are you doing? — he asks as she pulls away from him.
— I'm showing that you are mine.
For such a young age, she is too confident.
— You're tiring — Jin says as he lifts his face to the sky and looks at the clouds. He likes it, though he pretends he doesn't.
— When I'm on to something, it's over. — The teenager shrugs her shoulders. — You are mine and it's over.
The boy lowers his face and looks into her eyes.
— Throughout the vacations, you were not as brave as you are now.
— I sensed danger, that's because of it. Since you are number one here, I have to show everyone that they can only dream about you.
— Do you even like me for saying such things, or am I just your trophy?
Danielle is outraged by his words.
— A trophy? — he repeats, snorting under his breath. — If I didn't care about you, I wouldn't have decided to show up here every weekend until you could come home. I hope the first semester will pass so quickly that I won't have to look at the faces of the idiots at Horace Mann.
Jin laughs under his breath, and she puts her arm around him and hangs onto him.
— You came here specifically to ruin my social life.
— I didn't. I came to Horace Mann because I missed it.
— Who would have thought that at the age of fourteen, one could be so effusive?
The teenager puffs out her lips, as if contemplating something, but after a moment she gives up her answer and just shrugs her shoulders.
— How is the situation at school? Didn't you beat up anyone else?
— Are you going to praise me or reprimand me?
The 16-year-old looks at her obliquely, and a faint smile appears on his face.
— I ask out of sheer curiosity. I don't give a damn if you get kicked out of school. You're the one who will ruin your future.
She tightens her lips into a narrow line.
— I can't figure you out, Jin. There are moments when you worry about me, only to have an outpouring on me shortly. What do you really feel for me? You already know that I am in love with you.
— These are still too strong words for a fourteen-year-old girl.
The indignant girl gets up from the bench and aims a furious look at him.
— Why do you continually run away to the subject of my age? What about the fact that I am fourteen? I am more mature than my peers. I'm not interested in playing with dolls.
Jin lifts his face and looks at her with amused eyes.
— Seventy-five percent of girls no longer play with dolls at this age. — She rests her chin on her hand and adds. — I think...
The fourteen-year-old snorts under her breath.
— If it wasn't you, you'd be dead by now — she mutters under her breath.
The boy gets up from the bench and stands in front of her. He puts his hand on her head and leans down to look at her face.
Grimacing, she looks as sweet as a child.
— I may not be as shot and effusive as you, but I can openly admit that I will protect you from any danger. — Smiling under his breath, he turns his back to her and walks away in the direction of the school. He raises his hand in the air in farewell. — If you'll excuse me, I'm starting class shortly. See you later!
Horace Mann students look at Danielle with curiosity in their eyes. The girl crosses her arms on her chest and like a prima donna heads for the gate.
— We'll see who will gasp faster!
*
Halsey sits in the company of Lana in the cafeteria. Both girls are carefully observing the handsome freshmen, considering whom they should accept into their group.
— Jin and Joseph. We are fighting over them because they have made the most noise around them in a few days. — Lana rests her chin on her hand, sipping her drink through a pink straw.
— What about the other two? They are also handsome and popular with the girls.
— Every year we accept two people. There is no way I could make an exception. We are perfect, this is not a charity group.
The brunette smiles slightly, watching Joseph stretch out in his chair.
— Have you talked to any of them yet? — She asks.
— Yes, I ran into Scott accidentally this morning. He's playing coy, but you can take care of him without any problems. Do whatever you feel like, as long as he joins us. You can even seduce him. I'll take care of the hard link. — Lana's gaze is aimed at Jin. The dyed blonde bites her finger. — I've heard a thing or two about him. He's not a bad guy, and we need such in the group.
The seventeen-year-old puts her hand on the back of the chair. She glances at her older friend, then her gaze once again finds Joseph.
— He's cute. I'd love to take care of this cake.
Lana rolls her eyes.
— That's why I put it in your hands, seductively. — She finishes the drink, slurping through a straw. — Do you have any idea what you'll start with?
Halsey smiles broadly, catching the attention of the guys in the cafeteria. She is a Horace Mann goddess, and it's no secret that everyone dreams of her.
— What am I the best at? — She spreads her hands, looking at her older colleague expectantly. — I'm the best player in soccer, so there's no way I could miss.
— I could have guessed that you were preparing something crazy.
Solar walks past their table. She shyly glances at her roommate, but to her surprise, Halsey raises her hand and greets her cheerfully.
— I haven't seen you all day, would you like to sit down?
Lana's chastising look lets the 17-year-old know she'd better not.
— No, thanks. I don't mean to disturb you, I'd rather eat in solitude.
She walks away towards a vacant table, which is located at the end of the cafeteria.
— Are you crazy? — Lana snorts under her breath. — Our group does not support the school's oferms, and despises them. I know she's your roommate, but let your contact be based only on "hello" and "goodbye."
The brunette wrinkles her eyebrows.
— Aren't you exaggerating? I know our group is elitist, but we have the right to talk to whomever we want. You won't forbid me to contact my roommate.
— We are classmates, but remember that I'm the one in authority. I am the president of the school, and you should listen to me. — She leans her elbows on the countertop, and a mocking smile appears on her face. — The freshman listened to me because I made it clear to him that if he wanted to be someone at Horace Mann, he had to ignore the bidders. Today he did just that. He has already earned his first point with me.
Halsey tightens her lips in anger, sometimes regretting that she joined this elite group to have a golden life at Horace Mann. This control at every turn is terrible, and now it's too late for her to leave them because she might as well have left Horace Mann then.
It's more like a cult than an elite school group.