She hurried back home, her chest tight with emotion. The moment she stepped inside, the tears came rushing, raw, uncontrollable sobs that left her shaken. She felt trapped in her own thoughts, overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next.
How could her friends be capable of something so dangerous?
And those drugs… where on earth did, they even get them?
The next day, Angela stayed indoors, avoiding the outside world as she tried to gather her thoughts. She needed time, time to think, to breathe, to make sense of everything.
A sudden knock on the door broke the silence.
Her heart skipped. Chris?
She moved quickly and pulled the door open, but her expectation faded the moment she saw who it was.
Susan.
Angela's expression hardened.
"What do you want?" she asked, already attempting to shut the door.
"Angela, we need to talk," Susan said firmly as she stepped inside without waiting for permission. She made herself comfortable, settling into a seat like she belonged there.
"We have nothing to talk about. Just leave."
"Relax, Angie," Susan replied, her tone edged with mock patience. "Don't start acting like the perfect girl. We used to be just like you, stubborn, unwilling. But when things got hard… we adapted."
Angela frowned, confusion and irritation flickering across her face.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
"You can't walk away from this," Susan continued, leaning back with a knowing look. "But fine, if you're so determined, we won't force you. We'll leave you alone."
Angela hesitated, then spoke again, her voice edged with suspicion.
"And those drugs… where did you get them?"
Susan let out a faint, unimpressed scoff.
"You ask too many questions. You know me well enough, I always find a way."
A wave of discomfort washed over Angela. She shook her head firmly.
"I'm not interested anymore. I'm out. Please… just go."
"Alright," Susan said, rising to her feet. "But don't forget this, the Angela I know always comes running back when things fall apart." She paused at the door, her gaze sharp. "And by then… it might be too late."
With that, she slammed the door behind her.
Angela released a long breath, her eyes lingering on the door long after Susan was gone.
Those girls are planning something… something really bad, she thought, unease settling deep within her.
The rest of the holiday dragged on endlessly for Angela, each day blending into the next with a dull, lifeless rhythm. Without her former friends, there were no more parties, no late-night outings, no excitement to break the silence.
At times, a quiet ache settled in her chest, making her question her decision. Still, she held onto it firmly, it was for the best… or at least, that's what she kept telling herself.
Most days, she found comfort by the riverside, spending time with the younger children. Their laughter, innocent and carefree, brought her a sense of peace she hadn't realized she needed.
She was especially relieved when Elsa came to visit. The moment they sat together, Angela poured everything out, every detail, every fear, every doubt she had been carrying.
"I warned you, Angela," Elsa said, her voice firm but not unkind. "Those girls were never the kind of friends you should keep. You did the right thing walking away before it got worse."
Angela hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly.
"But… I'm worried."
"Worried?" Elsa echoed, her brows knitting together. "Angela, staying away from them is the safest thing you can do. And I know you're strong enough to stick to that. Sometimes I even wonder how you managed to grow such good values… especially when you've had no one guiding you and you've been surrounded by the wrong crowd."
Angela let out a quiet breath, shaking her head.
"Come on, Elsa, I'm not a child. There's so much ahead of me… and sometimes I can't help but feel like my path is being blocked somehow," she admitted, her voice laced with uncertainty.
"No, Angela," Elsa said, reaching for her hand. "Your path isn't blocked, but you do need to make better choices. Be true to yourself. And if I were you, I would never go back to those girls." She gave her a reassuring smile. "You've got me. That's enough. You don't need people who only bring trouble into your life."
A small smile formed on Angela's lips, her heart easing.
"Thank you, Elsa. Honestly… it's better to have one true friend than a crowd of people who don't value you."
*
Angela woke up the next morning with a heaviness she couldn't quite shake. The thought of returning to school filled her with mixed emotions. She had grown used to the quiet solitude of home, and the idea of stepping back into that environment didn't excite her.
Yet, somewhere beneath that reluctance, there was a flicker of anticipation, she would get to see Chris again.
With that thought in mind, she got ready and made her way to school.
She was already seated in class when Fiona walked in, accompanied by her group. Their arrival stirred excitement, drawing attention from nearly everyone around. Laughter and greetings filled the room as students welcomed them back.
Angela felt a wave of discomfort. Without hesitation, she rose to leave, but before she could take a step, Fiona approached her.
"Hello, Angela," Fiona said with a smug smile. "It's been a while. Well… I'm back now, looking better than ever. Fresher than you, don't you think?"
Angela met her gaze, unfazed.
"Oh, I can see that clearly," she replied, her tone calm but edged with sarcasm.
Fiona's smile sharpened.
"Good. Because I didn't just come back for nothing. I'm here to remind you of your place."
Angela let out a faint, humourless chuckle.
"Really? Fiona, you might want to be careful not to overstep. I'm always ready to put you right back where you belong."
With that, she turned and walked out of the classroom without another glance.
Lisa shook her head, watching her leave.
"That Angela… she never backs down. Always so bold."
Fiona folded her arms slowly, a calculating smile creeping onto her face.
"Hm… bold, yes," she murmured. "But I have something better planned for her."
Throughout the entire day, Angela kept glancing around the school, her eyes unconsciously searching for one person.
Chris.
But he was nowhere to be seen.
A quiet unease settled within her, growing stronger with each passing hour. By the time classes were over, she couldn't ignore it anymore. She needed answers.
She spotted Leam and quickly walked up to him.
"What about Chris? Isn't he resuming today?" she asked, trying to sound casual, though concern was evident in her voice.
Leam shrugged lightly.
"I'm not really sure. I heard he's been unwell… he might show up soon."
Angela's expression shifted instantly.
"Sick? What happened?" she asked, her worry now impossible to hide.
Leam gave her a curious look, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
"Are you really that concerned? You should be asking about Jerry, not Chris."
Angela forced a small smile, masking her uneasiness.
"I was just asking out of concern," she replied quickly. "Anyway… I have to go."
Without waiting for another word, she turned and walked away, her thoughts already racing.
The next day, Angela arrived at school earlier than usual, her eyes instinctively scanning the surroundings once again.
Still no sign of him.
Before she could sink deeper into her thoughts, Elsa approached her, her face glowing with excitement.
"Guess what?" she said, barely able to contain her enthusiasm.
Angela looked at her, slightly puzzled.
"What is it?"