(Elsword's POV)
"Are you sure about this man?" Chung asks me for the billionth time.
"Yeah. Eve is my friend and I don't want to pick on her anymore." I told Chung about what happened between me and Eve. He rushed over to my place right after I told him.
"Okay if those pictures were fake nobody would believe it and you hanging out with her will really kill your rep; just look at Raven."
"Whatever you won't understand until you get to know her." Chung rolls his eyes.
"Just don't come crawling to me when you regret your decision." He looks at the time and curses. "I gotta go now mom's going to kill me!"
"Okay see you tomorrow." He nods as he rushes out of my room. I decide to head to bed, but sleep seems impossible at the moment. All my mind could think about is seeing Eve tomorrow; man it's sure nice to have her back again.
(Eve's POV)
I smile as I realize it's morning. I quickly change into a light blue tank top, white shorts, and put on the heart shaped locket. I hum happily as I head down the stairs.
"Morning mom!" I chirp my mom looks at me weirdly.
"So there's another test today?"
"Nope! I'm just in a good mood!" I grab some breakfast and begin to gobble it down within seconds; as usual.
"Remember to take one extra pill!" I nod as I plop the pills in my mouth.
"Morning honey, morning Eve." My dad greets; his eyes widen. "What's with the sudden change of dressing style?"
"I er . . ."
"Got a boyfriend?" My mom blurts out.
"NO!"
"Oh at first I thought you and Raven were official." My dad shakes his head.
"Raven is a nice boy, but I'd prefer if you date Elsword." My face flushes.
"I'm in a good mood that's it!"
"Yes, yes of course you are." I glare at my mom. Just then the doorbell rings; I take that chance to walk away from the conversation. I open the door and I could feel my face get warmer.
"Hey Elsword! Er fancy seeing you here." He wore a red sweater, and black sweat pants.
"Wow you look really nice today. I like your change of outfits." I roll my eyes.
"Sorry about looking ugly for the other days of school." He chuckles. "So what are you doing here?" I ask.
"What can't we walk to school together like good old times?"
"O-okay. Let me get my stuff." I rush back in to get my bag, and quickly put on some shoes. "I'm off!"
"Oh you're walking with Elsword!" My mom chimes. My dad comes in and nudges her arm. "Alright hurry along now! Looks like your father was right!"
"M-mom!" Elsword tilts his head. "Er we're off then!" I quickly leave the house and I hear Elsword chuckle.
"What was that about?"
"Nothing." I lie. Knowing my parent they must be thinking of names for their grandchildren. We reach school and people start to give us funny looks.
"Er you can go hang out with Chung if you want." Elsword looks at me weirdly.
"Do you think I'm disgusted to be with you?" I nod. He lets out a big sigh as his arm snakes around my shoulders.
"Listen as a friend I'll stay with you no matter what." I smile at him.
"Hey what are you doing with Eve?" Raven glares at Elsword. Elsword pushes me closer to him.
"Um hi Raven wonderful weather we're having." I let out a nervous laugh as I witness the tension between Elsword and Raven. "Listen me and Els are friends and—"
"Friends? This guy has been making your life miserable!"
"I know but I forgive him anyways." Raven walks up to Elsword but not in a threatening manner.
"Fine I'll try to get along with red head over here! But I'm only doing this because you asked Eve." We walk inside the building in awkward silence. Whispers filled the halls as we walked by people.
"Ew I knew she was a slut."
"Look she infected Elsword and Raven."
"I feel sorry for them."
"I wonder what tortures she put them through." We stop dead at our tracks as we bump into a familiar purple haired girl.
"Well look who it is." She looks at me like I have a contagious diesis. "You witch, first you got Raven and now Elsword? Don't you know when to stop?"
"Shut up Aisha!" I reply. With Elsword and Raven by my side I have my confidence to stand up to Aisha. I mentally pat myself on the back.
"Whatever; Elsword, Chung's at the back in case you were wondering. Raven lets go we don't need to stick around with this clown." The guys flinch. No, no, no! They must realize how humiliating it really is hanging with me! Great I knew nothing good ever happens to me; I hope I can find another knife today.
"Shut up! In case you haven't noticed the real slut here is you!" Raven hisses. Aisha's jaw drops.
"Y-you'd rather hang out with her than with me?!"
"Just go away or I promise by the end of the day your face will be as purple as your hair!" Elsword speaks up. Aisha whimpers as she quickly runs away.
"The irony; first it was Aisha who was defending you from me."
"Now it's the other way around." I sigh. "I wish I could make her our friend again."
"Just forget about her. Besides she's not as cool or hot as us." Elsword and Raven high five each other. I roll my eyes while on the inside I did a happy dance. At least they aren't fighting with each other.
"Well I'll see you later." I announce as I gather my stuff. The guys wave me goodbye and I hurry to history class. Quickly taking my seat I rest my head on my hand as I get ready to doze off for the rest of the lesson.
"Oh Eve good timing!" I look up to see Mrs. Helen and a blonde girl. The blonde girl had her hair tied up in a high pony tail, pink tank top, and shorts.
"This is Rena. She just transferred here so can you show her around?" I nod.
"Okay you can sit by Eve."
"Okay." She simply replies. We sit in awkward silence. "So your name is Eve?"
"Er yes." I answer dumbly.
"That's a nice name!"
"Can I see your time table?" Rena hands it to me.
"Cool we have every class together!" Her smile widens.
"That's so cool! This is going to be awesome!"
"But you shouldn't hang out with me. I don't want to make you a laughing stock."
"I'm guessing you're a nerd." I nod shamefully. "Who cares? You're really nice and I bet the people picking on you are jealous because you're so pretty and smart!"
"Alright class let's get started!" Mrs. Helen announces. I sigh as I prepare to be bored to death.
(Rena's POV)
"One more block till lunch!" I chime. Eve giggles as we head to science. "I hate science as much as I hate history!"
"You shouldn't hate it! Science is very important; we need to have a good understanding of how things work on this planet!" Eve explains in a strict tone.
"Okay I admit science is important, but why history? The people are already dead so why learn about them?! They aren't going to come back and be like; oooh fear me unless you know my life story!" We laugh as we enter the crowded classroom.
The teacher assigned me to my seat; luckily I'm seated by Eve again. Today is my lucky day! "You will be working with a partner for this lab." The teacher announces. I look over at Eve; she smiles and nods. "I will assign you your partners." Well there goes my hopes and dreams.
"First Rena and Chung!" Wait Chung?! Could it be . . . no there's lots of Chungs in the world; besides I bet I Chung I know forgot about me a long time ago . . . The teacher continues to read the list of names. "Okay go sit with your partners; I'll hand out the sheets, and remember to read the instructions carefully before doing anything!"
People start to move around the classroom; I decide to stay seated. I hate walking around. "My goodness! Rena?! Is that really you?!" I look up to see a familiar Pikachu like boy.
"Chung it is you!" We hug each other, and quickly split apart before anyone noticed.
Chung and I were great friends as kids, but he had to move away when we entered 3rd grade. I always thought I would never see him again, but boy was I wrong. "So what are you doing here? I thought your family hated moving."
"They do, but my dad got a new job here so we moved." I explain. "How about you? What was it like to grow up here?"
"Boring I really missed the days when we went to school together." I nod. Working on the lab was hard epically when you have so much to say to your partner.
"2 more minutes!" I whisper.
"Still counting down each minute I see." I glare at Chung. I put my head on the table and whine.
"Shut up, you're making a big deal out of nothing." I ignore him. This is the longest two minutes of my life! Finally after what appears to be 3 years the bell rings. I spring up from my seat and pack my stuff up.
"So you want to sit with me? Like good old times?"
"Sorry I'm sitting with Eve today." He looks at me weirdly I flinch as I realize something. "Don't tell me you also pick on her!" He scratches the back of his head.
"Ahahah funny story you see—"
"Chung not cool!"
"Come on she's a nerd and—"
"You hardly even know her! Unless you want to hang with me like the good old times you'll sit with me and Eve for lunch!"
"F-fine, but only because your there!"
"Meet me at her locker!" I wink. Quickly putting my stuff away and grabbing my lunch I head to Eve's locker.
"Oh hey Eve, over here!" Her eyes widen.
"Aren't you going to the cafeteria?"
"I go where you go! That's what friends are for!"
"Hey Eve when did you befriend a hot chick like her?" I look over to see a black haired guy and red haired guy leaning on Eve's shoulders.
Eve looks at me nervously; she points to the black haired guy, "Rena this is Raven, and the other one is Elsword."
"Rena eh? Pretty name." Raven comments.
"The name's good but not as good as the owner." Elsword chuckles. Eve flinches at his comment; oh man that must be her boyfriend! She must hate me now!
"Well um I'm not that pretty! Look at Eve she's smart and pretty! I'm not as smart as her so yeah hahaha . . ." I think I made it worse.
"Chung the heck you doing here?" Elsword points out. I turn around to see Chung leaning on the lockers.
"Hey Chung glad you came to join us."
"Wait you know him?" Raven asks.
"Yeah we were good friends when we were little kids!"
"Same with me and Elsword! We still are!" Eve joins in. Wait friends? Well even if she says that I know she thinks of him as more than a friend . . . I think.
"Come on lets go and eat I'm starving!" Raven complains.
"Um can we go to the library instead? I don't like eating at the cafeteria." We nod as we head for the library.
(Chung's POV)
"I dare you to kiss Elsword!" Raven orders Rena.
"What?! No way!"
"Shh library remember?" The nerd comments. What a loser why would these guys hang with her anyways?
"Sorry." Rena lowers her voice. "Still I won't do it!"
"Okay then your penalty will be to kiss Eve!"
"What the heck?" Rena stares at Raven with disbelief.
"B-but I don't want my first kiss to be with Rena." The nerd fidgets with her hair.
"Elsword or Eve your choice." I tighten my hands into a fist trying not to walk over and punching Raven in the face. Rena is totally freaked out and he's forcing her to do it; sick pervert!
"You don't have to do it." I blurt out.
"Ye-yeah it's going to be awkward either way!" Elsword agrees.
"Change the dare." The nerd playfully punches Raven on the arm.
"Oh fine anything for you." His arm snakes around her shoulder. Her face flushes red; Elsword glares at Raven. Yuck what do they see in that thing anyways?
"Alright I dare you to crawl around the library and snort like a pig!" Rena stares at Raven.
"I hate you!" She gets on all fours as she crawls and snorts like a pig. We laugh our heads off. "O-okay m-my turn!"
We quiet down; or at least try to. "Eve truth or dare?"
"Dare!"
"Okay I dare you to balance 15 books on Chung's knee." We stare at her blankly.
"That's a lame dare." Raven sighs.
"Why Chung of all people?" I hear Elsword mumble.
"Hey I'm just going easy on Eve! Once it's my turn again you boys will wish you were never born!" Rena declares.
"Rena it's not a dare it's more of a challenge." I explain.
"Oh come on! Scared you can't do it?" Rena smirks at me and the nerd.
"Fine to make this interesting how about if we succeed you guys pay us $15.00." The nerd speaks up. "If we can't do it we'll pay each of you $15.00."
"Awesome! Free money; now hurry up and lose." Raven smirks.
"As if; we're going to be the ones that are rich; let's not lose to them!" The nerd smiles at me. I nod; even though I know we're going to lose I'm, still going to do this 'dare'. I never back down from a dare!
The nerd picks out some random books and begins to place them on my knee one by one. "Stay calm; try to look somewhere else." The nerd says. I do as she says; my knee grows tired as she continues to stack the books up. "One more hold on." I could feel the last book go on.
"Done!" She chirps. I look down to see the 15 books stacked nicely on top of my knee. "Alright lover boys and girl pay up!"
"Let me grab my wallet from my bag." The nerd gives Rena a funny look. "I'll be back with money I promise!"
"We have to grab our money from the lockers." Elsword announces. "Don't worry we'll be back."
As they leave I place the books back on the table. "We are awesome!" The nerd chimes.
"I was doubting you, but boy you sure proved me wrong." She giggled. Maybe this nerd isn't that bad; anyone who can win me free money is a friend of mine!
"Next time let's bet on $20.00!" I blurt out.
"Or more! We could get rich from them!" Eve explains.
"Unless we lose the bet."
"Tsk, tsk, don't doubt my abilities to win bets." We joke around for a bit till the others returned. I high fived Eve as they gave us our money.
(Eve's POV)
"Bathroom break be back soon." Rena chuckles at me.
"Thank you for telling us that! So what is it number 1 or number 2?" I stick my tongue out like a child.
"Sorry chill." She leans away from me.
I roll my eyes and head off to the restroom; I quickly finish my business, wash my hands, and hurry back to the library. As I'm walking I walk past Aisha; funny today she isn't with her popular friends. I shrug it off and continue to walk; I suddenly get pushed against the wall by none other than Aisha. She looks at me with an angry expression on her face.
"What do you want?" I ask.
"What the heck did you do to them?!" I look at her weirdly.
"What are you talking about?"
"Elsword, Raven, and Chung! They are popular, hot, and everything you're not! Why are they hanging with you?! What did you do to them? Bribe them into liking you; probably you slut! And that Rena girl how dare you take away her chance to be popular, and cool like everyone else! You don't deserve friends!" Aisha hisses.
"I-I didn't do anything! And don't call me a slut!"
"Then how can you explain those pictures? Huh?!"
"I can't! All I know is someone photo shopped them, and why can't I have friends too?! Why can't things be like before? Why did you leave me? What did I do wrong? Did you ever think of me as a friend?" Aisha freezes.
"I- of course I didn't!" She may have said that but the expression on her face tells a different story.
"I wish we could be friends again, but I guess that can't happen; since I don't even know what I did to make you hate me." I put my hand on my chest; stupid pain has to come now! Aisha looks at me with concern.
"Y-you won't understand!"
"I know I won't! The Aisha I knew is no longer here, and honestly I don't know why they hang out with me; they can hang out with you because you're everything I'm not! You were so different back then . . . what the heck happened?" Something hits my left cheek and leaves a burning sensation. I stare at Aisha with shock. "Did you just slap me?!"
"You . . . I hate you so much!" Why is she doing this? What did I ever do? Then something pushes her out of the way and blocks her path to me.
"El-Elsword?" I whimper.
"Stay away from her! If you really want to hurt her you'll have to go through me!" Aisha glares at Elsword then me, and storms off.
"H-how did you know?"
"I saw Aisha heading the same direction you went at first I shrugged it off, but then we heard shouting and I decided to check it out, and that's what I saw her slap you."
"What did I do Els? Why does she hate me?"
"I don't know." He places one hand on my shoulder. "Look what Eve happen just don't pull off the knife scene again." I nod. "Come on let's go back to the others."
"Welcome back love birds." Rena chirps.
"What was with all the shouting?" Chung asks. I nod at Elsword.
"Are you sure?" I nod again. He sighs and begins to tell them what happened.
"How dare she do that?!" Raven pounds his fist on the table.
"That girl is disgusting!" Rena gives me a hug. "Don't believe anything she said!"
"Aisha was never the sweet and caring type anyways." Chung snorts.
"She was a long time ago." Elsword sighs.
"It's okay I don't believe a word she said." I answer honestly. Everyone looks at me with concern. "Really I'm fine; I'm already really happy to have this many friends around." The bell rings interrupting the little moment.
"Okay let's head to class and get this afternoon over with!" I chirp; everyone nods as they return to their happy talkative mood.
The afternoon dragged by slowly but eventually it was time to go home. Elsword walked me home and as usual, I went straight to my room to finish homework. I tap my pencil on the desk as I try to think of how to do the last question of math. I sigh in defeat and decide to take a small break; heading downstairs I hear my mom complaining about what to make for dinner.
"Oh Eve good timing!" She hands me a piece of paper. " Can you go to the store and buy these? I need them for dinner tonight!" She hands me her wallet.
"Why can't you buy them?"
"Well you need more exercise; it's good for your heart! So get going now honey!"
I roll my eyes and slip on some sandals; I walk in steady pace to the store. Finally reaching the building I quickly buy the food and head back out. As I'm walking I feel a light tap on my shoulder; I turn around and nearly choked.
"Hey can I talk with you?" Aisha asks in a non-threatening way. I look at her weirdly. "I won't take too long."
"Fine lets head to the park to talk." We walk in awkward silence. Finally reaching the park we decided to sit on the swings.
"So are you going to talk?" I demand.
"Been quite a while since we were able to talk like this; you know without choking each other."
"So?"
"It's senior year and things are still a mess, and they say high school is supposed to be the best years of your life."
"Not my high school years." I mumble.
"Or mine's."
"What are you talking about?! You're popular; you have awesome friends, and everything I didn't have. How could you say it wasn't good?"
"Because I did something terrible."
"Picking on me is no big deal." I comment calmly.
"Eve I was the one who put those photos up!" My heart stops as I try to comprehend what she just said.
"P-please tell me you're lying." I whimper.
"I'm not!" Without thinking I slap her; all the hatred I had stored in is slowly revealing itself "How could you?!"
"I-I was jealous!" She screams. "You want a reason for my behaviour?! Well here's your reason! I was and still am jealous of you!"
"What are you jealous of?"
"Did you know Raven likes you?"
"He what?!"
"Well now you know." She sighs. "I had and still have a huge crush on him. He never noticed me though only you . . . so when we were on our last year of I let the jealousy consume me. I thought that if I was popular and what not he would like me. It was hard to change the way I dressed, leaving my gaming life, and leaving my best friend, but I still continued on."
"I see . . ." Was all I could say.
"It got even worse every time he talked with you. And today . . . I felt lonely. Seeing you happy and befriending Elsword again made me mad, and seeing Raven all close to you made me even more mad and jealous. I'm a terrible person . . . I should be feeling happy for my best friend not make her life miserable." She puts her face in her hands and sobs quietly. "I guess I did feel guilty whenever I picked on you, and today I really thought about it, and honestly I do wish we were still close like back then. Me, you, and Elboy; though it's impossible now . . ."
"Look I really hate what you did, and I'm still trying to deny all of this!" I scream.
"I'm greedy, selfish, and filled with jealousy . . . I don't deserve to live, but most importantly . . . I'm sorry."
"Are you serious about all of this?" I ask; she nods. "Then look me in the eyes and tell me that!" She pins her eyes on mines.
"Eve . . . I'm so, so sorry about everything! I ruined your high school life, and hurt you in many different ways! I know I can't fix it, but I'll do anything to somehow make it up to you!" As she says it a waterfall of tears flows down. "You know what? I think I'll just photo shop my pictures to—"
"Don't do that!" I blurt out. "I know personally how painful it is to endure all those mean comments."
"I caused it so I should suffer more and—"
"I don't want to see someone go through what I've been through! As much as I hate your guts I won't let you do this!"
"But how can I make it up to you?"
"You can't undo what you've done." She sobs even harder. "But I will forgive you, and I'd like to ask if you'd like to be my friend again."
She looks at me with shock. "How could you forgive someone like me? After everything I've done!"
"It's been my wish to be with you and Els again; I've always hoped that one day we could be like we were before, it was tough to hold onto that hope considering the stuff I go through To be honest I almost gave up on that, till Elboy saved me, and now I've regained the hope I've held onto for so long." I explain. "True I still kind of hate you, but I won't hate you forever."
"You're too nice."
"Listen as much as I hated you I don't believe in holding grudges. Let's start fresh; so friends?"
"This sounds like a very bad joke." She chuckles. "Alright let's end this stupid war." I hug her and she hugs me back.
"And don't worry I'll help you with Raven!"
"Shut up." She punches me playfully.
"Want to come over for dinner?" I ask.
"Sure!" She helps me carry some bags as we head back to my place.
