With her arms crossed over her chest, Veronica leans against the wall, mirroring with her eyes the 16-year-old girl who is giving out fake smiles to the boys. Every now and then she pulls a strand of brown hair behind her ear, pretending to be a sweet and shy doll.
The brunette can see at a glance that she's a manipulative girl who will want to be on Horace Mann at all costs.
He'd sooner kill her than let her.
- Why do you have such a face? - Nicki leans her hand against her friend's shoulder and puts her chin on them. - Actually she is pretty, but she doesn't grow up to you. You are beautiful and have a unique charisma, which is why people love you.
- They are drawn to her" burbles Veronica, jealous that she will have a rival. - People will love her pretty quickly, if only for her looks.
- No one will take your place. You have nothing to worry about. This kitten won't jump up to a tiger. - Veronica smiles under her breath. - You will swallow her whole. And the first time.
The seventeen-year-old measures her from bottom to top, thinking that the pink dress she's wearing is tacky.
- She found herself... Barbie from the seven pains.
- I dream of becoming her Ken. - Henry sighs loudly, staring at her as if she were the most beautiful wonder in the world.
The brunette slaps his forehead with an open palm, leaving a red trail of imprinted fingers.
- What are you hitting me for again? Why don't you show me any respect at all, shithead?
Henry looks indignant as he massages the sore spot.
- Sometimes you act like you don't have a brain. How am I supposed to show you respect?
Lucas, who is standing behind them, parries with laughter.
- Have you come here to admire Miranda?
Veronica turns to face him and squints furiously as she grabs his chin.
- How do you know her name?
- She's the hot chick I told you about. I didn't think the world was so small that I would meet her at Horace Mann. - She shrugs her shoulders. - During the vacations I saved her from the wheels of a car," he explains, seeing the curious faces of the others.
- I envy you. I would like to be in your place and manfully grab her in my arms. She would look at me with gratitude in her eyes and so love at first sight would be born between us. - Henry embraces himself, dreaming of Miranda's embrace.
- Silence until you cure yourself of this sick fascination for her.
The pretty girl looks in their direction, and her eyes seem to sparkle as she finds Lucas with her gaze.
She puts her hands to her lips, looking happy.
- I don't believe it... - She runs up to him, like a character in a Brazilian telenovela, and hangs around his neck. - I can't believe I'm seeing you again.
Veronica tilts her head to the side and snorts under her breath.
- How did she not turn eagle in those stilettos.... - she mutters under her breath, but this does not escape the attention of Miranda, who shifts her gaze to her. - I am full of admiration... - she adds, smiling falsely. - It must be destiny that you met your "Hero". - She accents the last word, with her fingers demonstrating the quotation marks.
The 16-year-old pretends or really doesn't understand the allusion, as he smiles at her in a friendly manner.
- Yes, it must be fate that I ran into Lucas. He will always be my hero again, after all, he saved my life.
The boy stretches his lips in a wide smile, making his friend morbidly jealous.
- How sweet you are...
Nicki leans over the brunette's ear.
- Explain to me how this candy idiot got into Horace Mann?
- It's just a mask. The chick is hiding her real face. I'm good at screening people, I got it from my father.
*
Lucas is burying his spoon in the soup, watching Veronica standing by the wall, who is surrounded by boys from the older class. They talk freely and laugh, which at some point begins to irritate him.
He furiously puts the cutlery down on the table, scaring Mirande, who for fifteen minutes has been expressing her gratitude for saving her life, because thanks to him she experienced a wonderful adventure on vacation.
The girl looks at him with wide eyes, noticing that he is nervous.
- Did I say something wrong?
The boy shifts his gaze to his peer, and then his gaze softens.
- What?
- You reacted so suddenly with anger.... I thought I said something inappropriate.
Lucas forces a smile.
- It's not because of you. I'm just annoyed that Veronica is making a fuss in the cafeteria.
Miranda looks towards the brunette, and her face changes dramatically.
- Do you know her well? She seems to be number one here. Everyone loves her.
- I've known her since she was in diapers. She's my best friend.
The pretty girl lifts the corners of her mouth and still looks sour.
- I guess this is not the answer I expected....
Veronica claps her hands, drawing the attention of everyone in the cafeteria. She raises her hands and asks for a moment of silence to say something.
- I have something important to announce!
Henry takes a seat next to Miranda, smiling charmingly at her.
- How do you like the Horace Mann food?
- It's good.
Lucas crosses his arms over his chest, watching his friend carefully.
- I want us to start September with something crazy. We have a long school year ahead of us, many hours of study, so I've already talked to the headmistress and she gave her approval for the party, but.... - The girl raises her finger, warning them that there is a catch. - At nine o'clock we can start, at midnight we can finish. We have little time to prepare the sports hall for the party.
The youngsters look animated by this news.
- Vera, as usual you are reliable! We love you! - shouts one of the girls, sending her a pogrom of kisses. The other students clap the sophomore, considering her their goddess.
The brunette glances in Miranda's direction and smiles arrogantly.
- Doll, you can dream about this place. It's mine," she says in a whisper. - Lucas too," she adds, seeing the pretty girl speak to him enthusiastically, glowing with a snow-white smile.
*
Lucas loves to draw attention to himself. He is famous for doing everything for show, which is why he only arrives at the party at 8 pm, dressed in black clothes. His eyes are highlighted with crayon, and his expression is arrogant.
He stands in the aisle, finding Veronica with his eyes. The girl looks indignant at his appearance.
- Can you tell me what you are doing? Why do you look like my dad in his youth? Why did you copy his style?
- I am a parody of your father. - The boy looks like he's having a great time. - People need someone special at this party. This evening I'm taking my uncle's example to spice up the party. I will gain popularity at a dizzying pace. Tomorrow I will be number one among the chicks.
The seventeen-year-old looks heartbroken.
- What's the idea anyway, Lucas?
- My uncle directed me what to do to take over the whole Horace Mann. He stated that we both need to be number one to become a new legend.
- Why is my dad giving you directions?
- See... A handsome face is an accessory. Chicks are charmed.
Veronica looks around the room, noticing the girls standing in a group and giggling at the sight of Lucas.
- So what? Are you going to become a playboy?
The boy sees that she is nervous.
- I don't like to pick out chicks. I prefer it when they are the ones who go for me.
The brunette smiles devilishly.
- So I'll make sure none of them come near you.
With a bold step, she walks toward the platform, which is located in the sports hall, serving all kinds of school meetings and events.
He takes the microphone in his hand, noticing the confusion of the party participants.
- I have no intention of singing lullabies to you. Don't look at me with such eyes," she says frigidly, yet evokes laughter in the room. - I'm the organizer of this party, so I'm going to say a few words from myself.
- Say what you want. I can even fall to my knees before you, goddess. - Unbeknownst to her, the freshman is kissing his hands and sending her romantic kisses.
She points her finger at him.
- You've just been on my blacklist, get out, spider.
The senior students forcibly carry him out of the room.
Lucas shakes his head at this sight. From an early age, his friend has loved having power over others. Despite everything, making friends came to her with unimaginable ease.
She is spiteful, but will stand with a wall behind the people she cares about. She proved this many times by protecting Lucas from danger.
- I don't want to sound like a headmistress, but.... we have a long school year ahead of us. We have to focus on studying, which is damn boring and stressful, so let's have fun today as if the world will end tomorrow. However, before we get carried away with varied desires....
- I love it when she speaks. She sounds like a pathological philosopher," Henry speaks up as he stands next to Lucas. - Why do you look like a child of Satan? - turns to him, surprised by his new style.
- It's a temporary image. It helps to pull out the girls.
- Really?
Henry runs out of the room, inspired by Lucas' words, only to return in a moment as a copy of him.
- ...I hope no one is groping in the corners. It's disgusting, and above all," she raises her finger, her voice sounding stern, "I warn that no one should hit on my little brother. - The smile on the blonde's face goes out. - If I see any girl or boy trying to flirt with Lucas, I will kill them.
Students begin to gossip among themselves, with a finger discreetly pointing at the sixteen-year-old.
- Are you crazy? - A friend walks closer to the stage, unhappy that she is ruining his social life.
Veronica crouches on the stage and leans toward him so he can hear her better. She covers the microphone with her hand.
- This is your mother's order. She told me to keep an eye on you. She asked me to keep away from you all those horny floozies who infect you with sex.
Lucas is disappointed with her attitude.
- Don't ever do that again. You ridiculed me in front of the whole school, and on the first day. Thanks a lot. - He looks at her with offended eyes, then walks away towards the tables.
- As usual, she shoots out a furball," mutters the girl, rolling her eyes.
The music rumbles, and she watches her friend from the stage. The boy sits down on one of the chairs, and it is barely a moment when Miranda catches up with him. She takes the seat next to him, chirping like a morning bird.
The brunette snorts at this sight.
- She'll probably make a better friend than me.
She jumps off the stage, pushing her way through the crowd of dancing high school students. With his gaze he finds Nicki, whom he embraces from behind at the waist and puts his chin on her shoulder.
- I will dance the whole evening only with you. You've been faithful to me since I met you.
The blonde laughs at these words.
- If you are referring to Lucas, I am not at all surprised that the boy insulted you. That's something even I wouldn't forgive you for.
- I'm just trying to protect him.
- He's a big boy. He can take care of himself, Vera. You can't babysit him all his life.
The brunette's lips take on a sad shape.
- Let him be offended, maybe he'll finally understand that I'm doing this out of concern for him.
- Or jealousy... - adds Nicki quietly, but the brunette pays no attention to these words.