(Calvin's Reasoning))

*November 27th, 1941*

*1:52 pm*

*Central Park*

Two days passed since Anya's visit to Judith's place as she was eating lunch with Charlotte and Nancy while discussing the events leading up to now.

"I see, I never knew Judith could be this nice but I'm still thinking she could be manipulating you for her gain so it's best to keep your guard up, you just never know what she's up to" Nancy warned Anya before taking a sip of orange juice from her cup while Charlotte nodded in agreement.

"I agree with Nancy. We all know how Judith can get when she's backed into a corner but in the end, we can't force you to follow our advice so the choice is up to you" Charlotte spoke to Anya before smiling while Anya nodded in an understanding way.

"Don't worry. I'll keep my guard up but Judith seemed serious when she was talking about Emily like she truly hates her for whatever wrong she's done to her" Anya spoke to her friends while placing her head on her fist as she looked at her friends in the process.

"Emily? You mean Judith's cousin? I've heard her talking all about her when I went to summer school in Scotland and every time she was brought up, Judith would get quite annoyed or resentful" Nancy spoke to Anya once more with interest in her voice as this made Anya and Charlotte hunch over with interest while waiting for further developments to this case.

"Correct and did Emily visit Scotland during the summer or did you hear the conversation that Judith had?" Anya asked her friend with curiosity while waiting for an answer as Nancy began to respond.

"No, I only heard Judith talking to her friends about her. All I remember was Judith describing how horrible of a person Emily was since she was the one who even suggested she should go to school or rather boarding school as she would call it" Nancy responded while looking at both of her friends as this revelation surprised Anya and Charlotte.

"Wait, Emily was the one who told Judith's father, her uncle in this case to send her to the school you went to over the summer? I never knew this.." Anya asked Nancy in response to what she just heard while Nancy nodded in confirmation.

"Correct. She caught wind of the news that Judith burned Emma's diary half a year ago and told her uncle, Judith's father in this case about everything which is why she was in school for the summer" Nancy explained to Anya once more while she saw her friends nodding in an understanding way while letting out sounds of wonder.

"Wait, so this Emily girl was the reason why Judith was sent to summer school, right? I don't get how that makes her entirely mean but it's Judith we're talking about.." Charlotte asked Nancy in regards to what she just heard while Anya nodded in agreement.

"I agree with Charlotte; however, how exactly did Emily even know about the diary incident? We never even told anybody and just kept it to ourselves" Anya spoke to Nancy as well while both girls waited for an answer.

"Both of you guys are correct. I overheard that Emily was actually at the festival during that time and apparently, she heard everything from the outside bathroom door but I could be wrong since I did overhear Judith talking" Nancy responded while placing her fingers on her chin as she thought about everything she just explained while Anya and Charlotte nodded.

"Interesting. If that was the case then Emma may have seen her during her attempt to run away so maybe we should ask her but she probably won't remember anyway" Anya spoke out while Charlotte nodded in agreement.

"Good point; however, it still wouldn't hurt to ask but also, it seems like Emily isn't much of a bad person but rather someone who is looking out for her cousin although I could be wrong altogether" Charlotte spoke to Anya while her friend nodded in agreement as Nancy began to speak.

"You guys are on the right page and maybe one day we'll find out Emily but for now, let's discuss something else" Nancy spoke to her friends once more before taking another sip of orange juice from her cup while Anya and Charlotte nodded in an understanding way as suddenly, a familiar voice called out to them and it none other than Calvin himself.

"I see the original trio are here today. How's everyone doing today!?" Calvin spoke to his friends while waving at them with a smile on his face as his presence surprised the three girls.

"C-Calvin?! What brings you here today? It's great to see you and I'm doing good today, thanks for asking' Anya responded while smiling warmly at him while Charlotte and Nancy smiled as well before speaking.

"It's good to see you. I've been meaning to ask you something in regards to you having Judith invite Anya to the winter ball if you don't mind answering the question." Nancy spoke to Calvin while crossing her arms which in turn, made Calvin look at his friend with curiosity.

"Oh yeah, that. Well, I kinda want to reconnect with Judith. She was a good friend and I sure miss hanging out with her which is why I told Judith to invite Anya in hopes of them becoming friends by getting to know each other on a personal level" Calvin responded before chuckling to himself while Nancy looked back with a stern expression on her face before speaking once more.

"You do realize that Judith is a bully, right? She constantly tears down people by ridiculing them to such extremes. I don't see why you were friends with her in the first place.." Nancy spoke to Calvin once more with a stern tone of voice while Charlotte and Anya nodded in agreement.

"She's right. She may have been respectful to you but that still doesn't change the fact that she's just an awful person toward others so please reconsider what you are thinking" Charlotte spoke to Calvin as well with a concerned look on her face while Calvin shrugged them off by smirking.

"Relax! It's gonna be okay. I know Judith can be rough around the edges but she's just been through a lot when she was a kid and I was there for her when our families would meet for tea sessions and stuff" Calvin responded with a mixture of seriousness and relaxation in his voice while Nancy shook her head in disappointment.

"Well, Judith's past does not give her an excuse to be a hateful bully but if you wanna continue being friends with her then be my guess, I won't stop you; however, if Judith is open to changing her ways then that would be good" Nancy spoke to Calvin once more while Anya began to chime into the conversation.

"My friends are right. We care about you and I don't wanna see you lumped into whatever Judith may have planned. I know there's good in her but it seems she shows no interest in ever expressing it with other people but at the end of the day, you are free to do whatever you so we can't force you or anything" Anya advised Calvin as well with concern in her voice while the boy stared at his three friends, taking in the advice he was just given before speaking up once more.

"Don't worry, I'll be okay! I'm used to whatever Judith does at this point so it doesn't bother me in the slightest but I should go now since I have to take Louise shopping for the event as well but I'll catch everyone later" Calvin responded while shrugging off the advice as he got up from the benches in the process while also waving goodbye at his friends.

"Well, okay. We hope you have a good day and please remember what we said as well, okay? Hope that you have a wonderful day" Anya spoke to Calvin for the final time as she, Nancy, and Charlotte waved their friend goodbye as they saw Calvin walking away from them.

"Calvin sure can be stubborn at times but that's what I like about him. He's sweet and stubborn, but his heart is in the right place or at least I hope" Anya spoke to her friends while crossing her arms, making a small pouty face before it eventually turned into a smile while Nancy stared back.

"Could Anya and Judith become friends? I just can't see it but if Judith shows kindness according to her and holds some weight then maybe things could work out in Calvin's favor but I hope the boy knows what he's doing.." Nancy thought to herself before smiling back at her friend's comment along with Charlotte who also smiled.

The Winter Ball was slowly approaching with each passing day. What events are waiting for not just Anya but Calvin, Judith, and even Emily?

3 days until Winter Ball