This is one of the worst days in the lives of the Scott siblings. Veronica loses her friends, and what's worse, a rumor spreads around the school that she is insane and sees demons. The teenager has no doubt that it was Kevin who took revenge for how cruelly she treated him. Vanessa stood up for him, as befitting a loving sister, and lashed out at her friend's face with many cruel words. At that moment, she did not resemble at all the childish seventeen-year-old she is every day. She called Veronica a bitch without feelings and said that if she continues to do so, she will undoubtedly be left alone like a finger.
Scott feels guilty because she got too carried away at that moment, but she had so many worries on her mind that she just couldn't stand it. She thought they would understand and forgive her for this strange behavior, but they did something even worse: they revealed her dark secret to the whole school.
They are as hopeless as she is, since they attacked right away. They stabbed her in the back all the more because they know her situation and what a nightmare she must face.
On that day, Veronica is not the only one who suffers, as Eric fights internally against the grim feelings Miranda unleashed in him. No words have yet hurt him as much as those confessed to his face by his peer.
It's true, he's a hopeless piece of trash who was only born to be a demon's vessel.
That's precisely how he's felt all his life, and having another person make him aware of it makes it hurt even more.
Why couldn't he have been born into a normal family and live like other peers? Why is it that his life is covered in darkness, and he has to put up with it, unable to experience happiness even for a moment?
He is fed up with it. He's fed up with this years-long torment.
*
Miranda feels remorse when her bench mate doesn't show up for the next class. She doesn't see him anywhere and supposes that he sits locked in his room. She herself doesn't know why she's so concerned about him since she can't stand him, but it's probably sympathy that's caused by learning the secret of his family.
Surprisingly, within hours, the whole school starts to rumor about Scott. Everyone suddenly forgets about Miranda, entirely ignoring the fact that she is from the lower classes. Students discuss Veronica's mental illness. They think the 17-year-old has head problems, since ghosts don't exist. They watch a video that someone recorded in the hallway, when the redhead threw a book in front of her and shouted curses.
— She looked as if she saw someone in front of her. It's horrible! Just look at her demented eyes!
— You can't see her eyes from such a distance, so don't make it up.
Any rumor can destroy a good reputation for a moment. Until now, Veronica was the goddess of Horace Mann, everyone considered her an ideal, and now it turns out that the seventeen-year-old sees ghosts and people change their opinion of her, saying that she should be treated. Everyone is laughing under their breath. People are fake and no one can be trusted. Miranda found this out the hard way because ever since the truth about her background came out, they've been treating her like trash, even though she was the coolest first-grader before.
People are two-faced, and she hates it with all her heart!
She plans to find Lucas and ask him what's going on. She's curious who among them revealed the truth about Veronica, since people so stubbornly believe the video.
She runs up the stairs to the boys' floor and stands in front of the room. She knocks, but no one opens it. She presses the handle, but the door is locked.
They are not in the room.
She is about to leave this floor and just then she hears a classmate coming out of the bathroom.
— The younger Scott apparently has something on his mind, too, since he's been sitting in the shower for hours and hasn't moved from there.
The pretty girl pushes past her classmate and runs into the men's bathroom without restraint. Fortunately, there is no one else in it except Eric.
She unveils all the showers until she finally spots him. The water pours over him, and he sits hunched over in the corner of the cubicle, blankly staring at one point. In his hand, he holds a razor blade, which he applies to his wrist.
The 16-year-old snatches the sharp tool from his hand and throws it behind him, then turns off the water.
— Are you crazy! — she yells at him, and only then does he notice her. He transfers his gaze full of suffering to her, and his lips tremble. He looks as if he is about to cry.
— He says it's better this way. — He closes his eyelids, from under which tears flow. — He thinks that at least this way I will relieve myself and no longer be stigmatized.
Miranda grabs him by the shoulders and shakes him, making him look deeper into her eyes.
— Listen, Scott, I hate you for your stupid behavior, but after thinking about it, I'm beginning to understand why you're such an asshole because maybe I'd behave like that too if I'd been plagued by a demon all my life. — He looks at her with sad eyes, not resembling an arrogant boy at all. — I realize that you're getting weaker and weaker, and you're tired of fighting this turd, but there's a way out of every situation, and death is the worst of them all. I, too, many times thought about committing suicide because I was living impoverished. There were days when I walked around with an empty stomach, was carried away by my peers and ridiculed. They treated me like trash and bullied me in every possible way. There was no one to stand up for me at the time. I didn't come from a high-status family, so everyone didn't give a damn about me when I got hurt.
Eric unexpectedly bursts out crying. This is the first time Miranda sees his true feelings.
— I'm so weak that I don't have the strength to fight anymore. Every morning I wake up, terrified that it's a new day and I will have to endure his presence again.
— So you need to stop acting like a bastard and allow people, who can help you. You can't win against the demon alone!
She can't stand him, but his sorrow-filled eyes move her heart to take care of him. He is the type of person who can't pass by a suffering person indifferently.
— Don't stand up for me because he is terrible.
— When he possessed you, I had to deal with him, so my worst fear is behind me. — She crosses his arms over his chest, stubbing her chin. — He scares you because he's afraid his plan will fail. From his words, he intends to drive all the people away from you and Veronica, so you must spoil his plans. He feeds on your suffering, so take the plunge and make him a little hungry.
This is the first time Eric looks at her with admiration.
— This is the second time you've helped me, despite how I treated you. — Drenched to the bone, he wipes the drops of water that run down his hair from his face.
— Let's just say, Scott, that I have a giant heart. People who come from poverty are just like that. You'd have to experience it to open your eyes wider. — The 16-year-old pats him on the shoulder. She gets up and helps Eric out of the cabin. She lets go of his hand, but to her surprise, he grabs her wrist and holds it to him.
— I know you should take revenge on me now for what I did to you, but I have a request.... don't tell my sister about what you saw today.
The pretty girl rolls her eyes.
— I'm mature enough that I'm not interested to avenge mindless behavior. Relax, Scott. What you tried to do today, that's what I'm sure your sister won't find out from me.
He lets go of the peer's hand and smiles slightly, watching the girl leave the bathroom.
— Just don't fall in love with this Mother Teresa — the demon speaks up mockingly, standing aside. — Don't even try because being in your body I can kill all the people who want to help you.
The brunet lowers his head and closes his eyelids.
Is there really a chance that he can change his life?
*
Lucas has never solved problems with aggression, but this time he can't stand the attack on his best friend and gets Kevin, who is the perpetrator of rumors about Veronica. It hits him every time he hears people laughing as they watch the video and talk about Princess Horace Mann being mentally ill.
If only they knew what kind of problems she is dealing with, that the demon vision is real, they would immediately change their attitude!
— A friend from the seven pains is found. You're lucky she didn't set you up after a few days, and you can stick by her side like a faithful dog for life. — Kevin's arrogant voice drives the blonde mad.
— Your revenge is childish, since you revealed to the whole school the serious issue Veronica is facing! And you considered yourself her friend or even boyfriend! — The 16-year-old bursts out laughing wildly. — You even forced her into this relationship, followed her like a dog, even harassed her, so you have no right to judge her for how she treated you, mongrel!
Vanessa tries to push Lucas away from her brother.
— Let him go! Are you crazy? — she turns to the 16-year-old, beating his hands.
— Don't interfere! — yells Lucas at her, thundering her with his eyes. — You are the same as your brother! And you considered yourself Veronica's friend? You should be ashamed of yourself!
— What right do you have to raise your voice at her!
From the end of the corridor comes Veronica, who is disturbed by the sight of her friend standing up for her.
The atmosphere between the two boys thickens, until it finally comes to hand-to-hand. Lucas strikes first, unable to stand the asshole's face any longer. Veronica steps between them, intending to intervene. The strange thing is that Kevin doesn't defend himself at all and takes the blows, but he's a wuss because behind his younger colleague's back he spots the director.
— What is going on here! — Only the man's shout brings the blond to order. He lets go of the 18-year-old and turns to face the director, looking terrified. Veronica leans out from behind him, sensing that they will be in trouble. — All three to my office, right now!
*
An hour passes, and Veronica, Lucas and Kevin sit in the principal's office, forced to wait for their parents to arrive. Punishment will not pass them by, but the girl still cannot understand what she is doing here.
— I'm truly sorry, but I'm not guilty of anything. I don't understand what I'm doing here if I tried to separate them, besides, I'm the victim. The one next to me spread a rumor all over the school, saying that I am mentally ill. — She points her finger at Kevin. — He also attached a video to it, destroying my reputation. And why? In revenge, because I dumped him. — The redhead is outraged by the director's behavior.
The man exudes such anger that he is not going to listen to her explanations.
— You participated in a fight! This is an elite school, and such behavior is unacceptable in this institution!
Veronica crosses her arms on her chest and snorts under her breath.
— When something goes awry, it all comes tumbling down at once.
Lucas rubs his face with his hand, not even wanting to look at the punk they're in trouble over. If he could, he would tear him apart with his bare hands.
The redhead opens her eyes wide in horror when the door is opened with too much momentum. There is no doubt that her father went inside first.
— Mr. Scott, Mr. Smith, Ms. Gomez.
The students look over their shoulders, and their gaze is humble. Veronica feels like collapsing to the ground when she notices her father's gaze.
— Dad, I don't even know what I'm doing here. I was trying to separate them, I was acting in favor.
Joseph puts his finger to his lips, telling her to keep quiet.
I'll be dead, thinks the seventeen-year-old, biting her finger nervously.
— Hi, Daddy. — Lucas lifts his hand, to which his father winks at him. Veronica sometimes gets jealous that Uncle Tom is so laid back.
— I apologize for calling you to school, but this is an emergency. The boys committed a fight, and the maiden participated in it. — The redhead sends the man an offended look. — I want to make them aware that such behavior is unacceptable.
— If you would like to make them aware, why were we summoned? We are busy people, and it is your duty to take care of our children, since we are paying for it. — A ray of hope appears in Veronica's heart when her dad speaks up, standing up for them. — In my day, Principal Horace Mann didn't call parents to the school about such bullshit. You are incompetent.
Lucas' father lifts his thumb up, fully agreeing with his friend's statement. Only Kevin's mother looks indignant.
— Are you kidding yourself at this point? — She attacks Scott.
— It's already your problem that you brought up a weakling who lets himself be beaten. If he were a man, he would have returned the blow to his friend and their misunderstanding would have gone away, but the weakling flew to the principal to complain. — Joseph shakes his head.
— There used to be bloodshed at Horace Mann, and the director had no idea. It's normal that teenage hormones are bubbling up, there are many misunderstandings between kids, there are hand-to-hand, but this way everything is cleared up in a jiffy — Tom adds. — I will not believe that you have never had a fight with a colleague. — The director looks stunned. He remains silent. — Well, unless you were a nerd....
Mrs. Gomez is outraged by their behavior.
— My son was beaten! Blood is pouring from his mouth!
— It's probably the remnants of the bloody milk he sucked from your breasts — claims Tom, referring to the fact that Kevin is a mama's boy.
In a clash with these two men, Ms. Gomez doesn't stand a chance.
— If this is how you raise your children, I'm not at all surprised that they feel unpunished!
— We raise our children to be strong in the future. It's better than a breast-sucking momma's boy all his life — Joseph replies to her, then turns to the director. — I hope Horace Mann is making good use of my gifts.
— Mr. Scott... — The director's voice sounds much softer. — I apologize for creating unnecessary confusion.
The woman snorts with great indignation.
— This is unthinkable! Kevin, let's get out of here! — she orders her son.
— Calmly, you can stay and start bitter regrets. We are the ones who are going to leave now that the problem is solved — claims Joseph.
Veronica puts her friend's arm around his shoulders and, with a smile on her face, leaves the office, happy that her dad stood up for her.
— One moment, been. — In the corridor, real hell begins as her father stands in front of her and squints his eyes. — We need to have a serious talk. We'll start with the tacky color of your hair and end with the topic of an ex-boyfriend.
The 17-year-old makes merciful eyes.
— Will she get me hard?
With a movement of his head he orders her to follow him, and then Tom puts his arm around his son's shoulder, looking at him with pride in his eyes.
— Just like that. You have grown into a real man. You got that from your dad — he asserts, slapping his chest with his hand. — Be glad it was me who answered the phone and not your mother.
— You won't tell her, will you?
— You've got it like the bank. — He nails a turtle with his son, intending to keep the subject of the beating a secret from his wife.