Sara is kneeling by Laura's bedside, looking at her pale face with compassion in her eyes. Her nose is red from constantly wiping it with a handkerchief, and her eyes are puffy from crying. Several hours passed before the girl soothed her pain and fell asleep. Sarah found it difficult to alleviate her friend's suffering after losing Simon.
Her presence is enough to lift Laura's spirits. Although she doesn't speak to her, holding her hand reassures her that she has a person on her side who will do anything to help her.
Sara can't leave her in this state. She insists that she will be close to her until she can stand on her own two feet in full strength. She wants to be a support for her — a strength to go through this difficult period together with her. Furthermore, she must help her.
The brown-haired woman steps away from the bed and opens the door when she hears a quiet knock. She guesses that Alan has returned. The blond man enters the room and looks into the girl's sad eyes.
The teenager cannot bear the thought that Simon is no longer among them. It seems to her that this is an illusion, and they did not find a shaken Laura at all, in the side of her dead friend. She wants it all to turn out to be a cruel nightmare, but she knows it's a grim reality she must face.
- We took care of the body. Matthew helped me," he announces quietly, taking the girl in his arms. She presses her cheek against his chest and closes her eyelids. - We preferred to do it ourselves rather than leave it to those bastards.
- Where did you bury him? - she asks with difficulty in her voice, and her eyes well up with tears.
- Behind the old oak tree. We thought it would be best for him there," he says, stroking her back. He feels her begin to tremble. He guesses that she is suppressing her crying. - I would like to know what happened. Do you think Laura will tell us?
- I think she will. However, let her come to her senses first. When she is ready, she will confess the truth to us herself. Let's not rush her.
Sara uses the bathroom, so Alan sits on her bed to watch Laura for the time.
The brown-haired woman looks at her reflection and tightens her lips as tears run down her cheeks. She has had enough. She can't stand the pain in her heart. Furthermore, she worries about her friends. About herself. She is afraid that something similar could happen to people she cares about. She worries about them. Furthermore, she worries about Alan, and also about Oliver...
- Oliver," she whispers to the mirror when she realizes she hasn't seen him since the party.
Where does he go from here?
She leaves the bathroom and stops in place when she spots him at the window. The brunet leans against the window sill with a sour face, casting stealthy glances at Alan. He is not thrilled by his presence, as there was an unpleasant confrontation between them a few hours earlier. Sara doesn't know exactly what caused it, since Alan hasn't told her the details. She doesn't like the fact that they are hiding something from her. She wants to know the truth.
- I told Oliver about everything, and he wanted to come with me to see how Laura was feeling. - Matthew is the first to speak.
Sara nods and looks at the brunet, who plunges his intense gaze into her. She gets the impression that he came more for her sake than for Laura's.
And Alan thinks so, too, as he snorts in exasperation.
- If I recall correctly, he hated Laura before. He must really feel sorry for her since he decided to show concern.
- You are right. I feel remorse because I treated her in a rather cruel way earlier.
Sara crinkles her eyebrows as Oliver's answer completely surprises her. He should be abrasive, and he's reasonably polite. And it's towards Alan.
- Has she been sleeping like this for a long time? - Matthew expresses interest in Laura, nodding to the brunette.
- I have been awake since you came here," she replies in a hoarse voice, rubbing her swollen eyes. She rises to a sitting position, with which she catches the attention of his guests.
Sara sits down beside her and embraces her hand.
- I'm sorry we didn't let you sleep. The guys were worried about you, so Alan let them in.
Laura combed her fingers through her hair and raised her eyes, looking at Matthew. She feels tears gathering under her eyelids as she thinks about the fact that currently, Simon would surely throw him a biting remark. He would not be thrilled with his presence.
- Sorry, but earlier I was so drunk that I fell asleep on your bed. - Matthew uncertainly glances at the brunette, expecting an opprobrious response.
- If you slept, that's good," she replies, with her back leaning against the wall. She lifts her legs and embraces her knees with her hands. - My soul is suffering, but I understand that I can't transfer this to you. I have to be strong. Simon asked me not to give up. - In the last line her voice breaks down, so Sara squeezes her friend's hand tighter to show her support. - That's why I won't cry into my pillow any longer. I want to keep my word.
He smiles wryly and strokes her shoulder. He knows Laura is strong.
- You can always count on our support.
- Although this place is cruel, and we don't all get along, we can always count on each other. This is true. - After saying these words, she looks at Oliver. - I am grateful to you for making me aware of some important aspects, so you don't have to feel guilty. I understood your words.
No one knows what Laura is talking about. She and Oliver have a secret that they have no intention of sharing with the others.
Clearly surprised, the boy nods uncertainly. He looks confused, and when Sara plunges her curious gaze into him, he then turns his face away to avoid her gaze.
- I've always wanted to tell someone about it," Laura begins, catching the boys' attention. Sara, after a long moment, tears her gaze away from the brunet, focusing it on her roommate. Oliver is a walking enigma, as she seems to share a secret with each of them. - Do you know what my first meeting with Simon was like? - she asks, and tears glaze over in her eyes. - That bastard must have fallen in love with me by then. I must have made a giant impression on him," she claims, smiling slightly. She pulls her nose and wipes away the tears that run down her cheeks.
- Laura, if you're having a hard time...
- I have to be strong, right? I want to tell you what our first meeting was like. The more I recall the happy moments with Simon, the faster I will get rid of the pain. Let's consider it to be therapy for me, shall we? - She looks carefully at each of them, and when they agree, then a sincere smile appears on her face. - He became my best friend for a reason....
*
With an aggravated face, she enters the building and puts down her suitcase, crossing her arms over her chest.
She is waiting for the director.
She is annoyed by the slow gait of an old man who, at retirement age, is responsible for the educational center. Furthermore, she believes that this position should be occupied by a young person who would be able to handle any task. Looking at his age — Laura is sure that he won't be able to do much here. Therefore, she decides to spice him up. For the sake of revenge. For the fact that her parents decided to lock her up in this horrible place. For the fact that the director took her in.
- You'll remember me yet, old coot," she mutters under her breath.
She raises an eyebrow as a group of girls walks past her. Laura crosses her arms over her chest when one of them stops beside her. With a mocking smile on her face, she tilts her head and carefully measures her peer.
Laura guesses that she is probably their leader.
- What do we have here? - The teenager's attention is drawn to her face, especially her eyes. She moves closer to the brown-haired girl and watches her heavy makeup. The girl is horrified by the number of cosmetics she has applied to her face. - Hey, why are you looking at me like that?
- I wonder if your eyes hurt," she replies, and Julia tightens her lips in anger. - This is the first time I've seen makeup done in the likeness of a zebra. - She brazenly laughs in her face, which ultimately angers the brown-haired woman.
- You maggot. - Julia clenches her fist, intending to hit her new colleague, but refrains when she notices the director. With triumph written all over her face, Laura looks at the man and expresses her displeasure.
- Is this what you take money from parents for? Instead of improvement, I see aggression in her, so where is this psychologist's advice?
The man grunts nervously and throws a stern look at Julia.
- I will see you at my office in fifteen minutes.
With his hand, he indicates to Laura that she should follow him. The girl bends down and takes the heavy suitcase in her hand. She looks at Julia and already knows that she has gained an enemy, yet this is precisely the kind of girl she used to deal with at her previous school. She hates ladies who think they are queens and think they can oppress the weaker ones.
This time she failed. She got it wrong. Terribly, because Laura plans to turn her life into hell.
- And where are the manners, Mr. Director? Do you let a woman carry a heavy suitcase? - she asks the man, obediently following him. She thinks the old man will disregard her remark, but he doesn't, as she asks the boy standing by the windowsill to help her.
The girl puffs out her lips and measures him carefully. He is handsome. His blond bangs fall over his eyes, but she still notices him mirroring her with his eyes. He is tall, has kissable lips, but impresses her most with his ass.
The boy takes the suitcase from her and follows the director, and Laura stops in place to admire his muscular bottom for a moment. She puts a finger to her lips and moves her eyebrow.
She runs up to the boy and unabashedly grabs his buttock, squeezing it in her hand with fascination.
The blond man stops in place and, eyes wide open, looks at her with confusion. Laura grins her teeth in a smile.
- My hands were glowing. Forgive me," she claims without any shame. She has no problems with men. She always gets along well with them. - Mr. Director, can this handsome man become my butler?
However, this time the director does not answer her.
They enter the office, and Laura smiles as the boy puts down her suitcase. He wants to leave, but the director doesn't let him.
- Wait, boy. You will help her carry her suitcase to her room. I hope it's not an issue? - The man prefers to make sure, because he noticed the restraint on Simon's face.
- If her hands don't get scabby, of course," he replies, and the brunette lifts her hands up and demonstrates to him a squeeze-like motion.
The director explains the rules to her and gives her a timetable, and when he's not looking, she takes away his black marker, which she decides to use for revenge.
Simon squints his eyes, wondering what the girl is planning to do. Her character is interesting, as well as her appearance. She is intriguing.
They leave the office, and a devilish smile appears on her face. Simon shakes his head with amusement as she grabs his hand.
They hide behind a wall.
- Let's wait here. A painted zebra should appear soon. He'll get a penalty, and I'll make clever use of it.
- Do you mean Julia? - he asks, looking at her with curiosity in his eyes.
- Yes. I've had time to get to know her, and she's a bitch. I'm not wrong, right? - She wants to make sure Simon is on her side.
- You're right. She is a bitch. Do your job.
When Julia leaves the office, she looks furious, so Laura takes advantage of this and runs to the door. With a marker pen, she carelessly writes "Old fart," and then Simon can't stand it and parries with laughter. Suppressing a burst of laughter inside, Laura runs up to him, and as they hide behind the wall, they both break into loud laughter.
They nail the turtle.
The girl at that moment gained a friend, and his heart was already starting to beat harder.
*
- You have always been unpredictable," Sara speaks up when Laura finishes her story. But the most surprising thing is the reaction of Oliver, who starts giggling under his breath. He turns his back to them and puts his hand to his face, trying to restrain himself. But the harder he tries, the more his laughter is contagious.
- Sorry. I know I shouldn't act like this in this situation, but the moment with the buttocks....
Sara stares at Oliver with parted lips, hearing his hearty laughter for the first time. She has never had the opportunity, and Laura is the first person to make him laugh.
The mysterious Oliver finally takes off his mask and shows his true face.
- Stop laughing, imbecile," says Matthew, throwing a pillow at his friend. - This is not the right time. Laura wanted to lighten the atmosphere a bit, but you're overreacting.
- If Simon were here, he too would start laughing, recalling that moment. I'm sure of it," declares the brunette girl.
Sara looks back toward the door, and then the smile comes off her face.
She notices Simon's silhouette. The boy puts his finger to his lips, telling her to keep quiet. Sara realizes that she doesn't want Laura to be aware of his presence. This could throw her unbalanced anew. She does not intend to spoil the pleasant atmosphere.
Alan notices that she sees someone. The girl shakes her head, with a movement of her lips conveying to him that she will explain later.
- As for this situation with Julia, you actually got your revenge. The director was convinced that she wrote it in anger, and then she got another punishment," Matthew announces. - She had to scrub all the bathrooms.
- But it didn't change her. She's still a bitch.
- Why do you say that? - She senses nervousness in Matthew's voice.
- Because, to protect her ass, she set me up. She told the General that I knew about some hidden treasure. If only it were still true...
- Honey? - Alan repeats it with obvious curiosity in his voice, and Sara throws him a concerned look.
- I don't know anything about it myself. They will probably get me, and what should I tell them then? They won't believe me if I deny it.
Sara starts nervously playing with her fingers, wondering if she should reveal the truth to them right now. About everything she has learned in recent times.
- I don't know whether it's a treasure or some other thing, but it's supposedly important to the General. That's all he cares about. - The brown-haired woman speaks up after a long silence, drawing the attention of the others.
- How do you know about this? - Alan asks, so she lifts her face and looks him in the eye.
- Because the spirit that plagued me most often was my grandmother. From her, I learned everything.
*
- Alan, wait. - Sara runs after the boy. However, he is stubborn and does not intend to stop. His long legs are an obstacle for her, especially when he speeds up his steps. - It is so hard for you to wait a moment! - Finally, she can't stand it and raises her voice at him. The blond man stops in place, but does not turn to face her. - Allow me to explain myself.
- What do you want to explain? That you have secrets from me? - he asks with indignation in his voice, and she walks slowly towards him. Then he turns away. - I thought we were supposed to tell each other everything. Probably your best friend got the honor," he claims, with his fingers demonstrating to her the quotation marks next to the word "friend.
He snorts nervously, so Sara hesitantly takes his hand.
- No one knew about it until now. I wanted to tell you first, but there was no opportunity.
- Wasn't there an opportunity? You could have done it at any time! - he shouts at her, and she opens her eyes wider, disturbed by his behavior. It has never happened before that he was angry with her, much less that he shouted!
Seeing the fear in her eyes, he calms down. He rubs his forehead with his hand, trying to control his anger.
- I'm sorry. I'm just worried about you, and I'd like to know every detail that concerns you," he announces more softly, and she lowers her head. - Sara? Are you still hiding something from me? Now is your chance to tell me.
The girl bites her lip, wondering if she should tell him a secret regarding the General's administration of the substance to her. She is afraid. She doesn't want him to do something stupid.
- I'm not hiding anything else," she lies, looking at the ground. Alan captures her chin and forces her to look into his eyes.
- So say it again. Are you sure you're not hiding anything else from me?
She shakes her head.
- I'm not hiding anything else.
- Are you doing her audition? - asks Oliver, who has been watching them for a long time. With a grimace on his lips, he approaches them, and Alan squeezes Sarah's hand. - Did you take some practice from your grandfather? He is a master at it," he adds accordingly. - Unless you have it in your blood.
- Have you been stalking Sarah again? Are you somehow obsessed with her?
- Again? Ah, well, yes. After all, our last conversation... - At this point he cuts off, and Sara looks at both of them, wondering what they are hiding from her.
- That. The conversation in which you cut my lip because I gave you a condition to stay away from my girlfriend. - Alan runs his finger over his lips and, looking at Oliver with a noticeable satisfaction in his eyes, sighs. - As you can see, nothing is getting through to you.
- So that it actually looks as you say. - He snorts in exasperation. - Why don't we give Sarah the real version of events?
- Go ahead. I leave you a free hand. Just don't touch it," he warns Oliver, throwing him a frustrated look. He lets go of Sara's hand and sends her a slight smile. - Listen well to your friend," he turns to her, putting his hand around her head, then kisses her on the forehead.
- Are you still angry with me? - she asks, because she doesn't understand his strange behavior.
- After all, I trust you, Sara. Don't you remember what I told you when we were locked in the cantina? - He looks carefully into her eyes. - I know that you are a person who would never stab me in the back. You are different from the rest. - After these words, he walks away, and Oliver pierces him with a hostile look.
- You're mad at me. - The teen says this more to herself, as Alan has moved far enough away from her.
He shifts his gaze to the brunet, demanding an explanation from him.
- I hope you'll believe me this time and finally see through it, Sara," he begins, but the girl turns her face away from him because something else catches her attention.
- Simon," she whispers. He gets the impression that he intends to tell her something.
- Huh," Oliver crinkles his eyebrows, wondering if he heard correctly.
- Simon is behind you," she announces, and gets the impression that the brunet's face becomes miserable in a second. - He wants to reveal something to me....