Two little girls had their friendship set

They made a plan before school began

To always forgive and forget

They played in the sun, together was fun

With innocent eyes that never told lies

And hair that smelled like sugar and plum

They forgave each other for all that was bad

Forgave crimes countless of times

Got a little sad but never stayed mad

But then time flew by and one got married

More time flew by, she had a baby she carried

The other felt lonely and thought it unfair

With feelings of jealously, she had an affair

Her friend discovered she slept with her man

So she begged for forgiveness, said it wasn't her plan

Her friend stayed calm, said it was okay

And just like that, they did not see each other for days

Until one night as the guilty one slept

By her night stand, her friend had a plan with a knife in her hand

"I will forgive and forget once you pay your debt"

And then she left the house with no regret

With red eyes from days of countless cries

And hair that smelled like someone just died

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"Wow," Abby walked slowly, eyeing the dozens of crosses and saint statues that littered Jules' room, "I guess its really not an exaggeration when people say you can figure out a lot about a person by observing their room."

Jules awkwardly stood by the door. She never had a friend come over to her house before.

"Alright, lets begin! We have about an hour and a half to get you ready for tonight. I'm so excited! We are gonna make everyone's head turn your way when you arrive. Where's your closet?"

Jules pointed to the door at the right side of her bed and Abby did not waste a second to open it. However, her excitement seemed to die down quickly once she saw all the long sleeve shirts and sweaters and dresses that seemed to go down to Jules' toes. In her excitement to dress up her friend, she had forgotten about Jules' very modest taste in clothing. All the outfits were simply suitable for going to Church and seemed to not have any other purpose.

Abby, who was very good at fashionable trends, had never once seen a closet where she couldn't make a magical outfit appear. Being the social butterfly that she is, she has helped countless people with dressing up. She has worked with a classmate that only owned black clothes and even helped a classmate that only owned tie die clothes go to a business meeting. Jules' closet however, was no doubt her hardest challenge yet.

"By any chance, do you have any other clothes stored anywhere?" Abby asked. Her hopes were shot down quickly when Jules shook her head.

"Alright, in that case, we'll just have to use process of elimination."

Abby was not gonna let Jules wear mom jeans to a fancy party so she eliminated all the pant options. Since Jules didn't own any skirts, Abby eliminated all the long sleeve shirts and sweaters that reminded her of sleep deprived college students in a library before finals. The only thing Jules had left were dresses. After a quick analysis, Abby pulled out a white dress. Although she wasn't a fan of the ruffled collar, it was the only dress without a flower print on it.

Abby gave Jules the biggest puppy dog eyes she could muster.

"Jules, can I please cut this dress a little bit? Pretty please with a cherry on top?"

Jules shook her head immediately.

"Sorry Abby. This dress means a lot to my mother. She wore it the day I was born. Besides, I think it looks beautiful the way it is." The dress reminded Jules of when her mother was most happiest.

When Abby saw Jules' reminiscent smile as she stared at the clean white fabric, she couldn't help but smile too.

"You know what. Fashion is what you want it to be. As long as you're happy with they way you look, I'm happy too!"

Abby's company gave Jules immense joy. After some convincing, Jules let her put some light makeup on her face and tie her hair into braids. While do so, they laughed about the random-est of things that ranged from stuff Abby read about celebrities in magazines to how Jules' golden brown hair braided made Abby hungry because it reminded her of twisted cinnamon sticks.

Jules' heart was so full from her new found friendship that she couldn't help but burst with gratitude.

"Thank you Abby for being my friend. I thank God everyday for your friendship. I cherish it with all my heart. I've never had a close friend at my old town. And you've treated me with kindness since the moment we met."

A few seconds of silence passed after Jules' expression of gratitude . She was just about to apologize for being too emotional but then she started feeling pressure at the right side of her head.

"Abby?"

The pressure on her head continued.

"Ow!"

The loud sound made Abby come out of her trance.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry Jules. I was thinking about something and got distracted. I didn't mean to braid too tightly , let me fix it real quick. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. It's fine."

Once Abby finished tying up Jules' hair, she turned Jules around and gave her a smile.

"I'm thankful for your friendship too. Now go put on your dress! I'm excited to see the results."

Jules complied and when she came out of the restroom, Abby clapped happily.

"You look great! You actually pull off the dress quite well. Although, if I had a body like yours, I don't think i'd ever want to hide it. Maybe that's why God would bless a modest girl with such beauty. He knew I would walk around naked if I looked like you."

Jules blushed. She didn't know how to reply to Abby's frivolous comment.

Abby suddenly came up to her and engulfed one of her hands in both of hers. The jocular atmosphere dispersed at once and left tension in its wake.

"Hey, on a serious note, please be careful tonight. No matter what you do, stay true to yourself. If you encounter a moment where you don 't know if you should do something or not, look at your dress and think of your mom. You said it reminds you of when she gave birth to you right?"

Jules nodded. Abby's sudden change in demeanor made her stomach twist with nerves. It was as if Abby was warning her of something to come.

"Well then picture that time. Picture her excitement as she caresses her stomach, overwhelmed with the thought of having a baby girl to love. And then after you imagine the love and joy your mother felt while wearing that dress, ask yourself 'Would my mamma still be smiling if she knew her baby girl was gonna make this choice?'. Make choices that would keep her smiling."

Jules frowned, "Why are you talking like that? You're scaring me."

Abby patted her on the back but avoided eye contact, "No, no, I'm not trying to scare you or anything. It's just always good to be cautious at a party is all. Now stop worrying and go have fun! Jonathan will be there. I told him to keep an eye on you so you'll be fine."

As the two girls said their goodbyes and parted ways, Abby played with her earring up until she got home. Twisting it repeatedly in harsh circles that synced with the worry swirling in her gut. It wasn't until her mom questioned her about it when she walked into her house that she found out her ear was bleeding. Her mother chastised her for the bad habit which always resulted in red and raw earlobes.

It made Abby feel even more sick by reminding her that bad habits were hard to change. It was a slap in the face. A reminder that doubled the guilt boiling deep within her. It wasn't so much as a concern for her throbbing right ear. Rather, it was the very fact that the Academy students were defined by their bad habits. And even Jules, a girl filled completely and deeply with so much love, faith and compassion that it consumed her whole being, could not change those bad habits in one night.

I'm sorry Jules.

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The familiar sound of a bell followed by the sweet aroma of freshly baked pastries greeted Jules as she entered the bakery.

"Jules!," Mrs. Watson, the bakery owner, stood at the register and waved excitedly, "You look stunning. Your mother is in the back finishing up some pies. How was your first week of school?"

Jules truly didn't know how to feel about everything that had happened to her so she provided the best honest answer. "It's been more eventful than I thought it would be."

"Well you must be excited tonight! Your mom told me that you're going to your first party."

Jules laughed nervously and played with the fabric that slightly went past her wrists.

"Is it strange to say that I'm a little scared?"

Mrs. Watson's eyes widened. From observing Maribelle Moore in the bakery for a week, she had had already expected that Maribelle's daughter would be kind and virtuous like her mother. What she didn't expect was Jules' gentle nature. Mrs. Watson was used to the daring and strong personalities of the youths that would frequently come to her shop. They were loud, obnoxious, and too assertive. But the way Jules held herself with her soft voice and bashful expressions made her very transparent. Mrs. Watson could see that she was a tender soul.

"Oh no need to be nervous Jules. Your mother told me that the party is being hosted by Randall Williams. That boy is an angel! The Williams are very famous in this town. They're known for all their charity work. Now sit down and make yourself at home. Ill bring you a pastry on the house."

Mrs. Watson's words calmed her nerves slightly and the delicious blueberry pastry was a good distraction. Jules looked at the iPhone Randall had given her--which Abby had taught her how to use--to see the time. It was 6:45 which meant that her ride would arrive soon. Her foot tapped the floor restlessly.

"Wow sweet pea," Jules' mom walked over with flour all over her apron and arms, "you look beautiful. It's been a while since I last saw you in that dress. And wow, you're hair. I didn't know your friend was so good at doing hair." Ms. Moore stroked her daughter's head and gave her a peck on the cheek. "When are you leaving?"

Before Jules could answer, she felt a buzz come from the phone.

"Oh, my ride has just arrived." She got up and gave her mom a hug.

Her mom held her tightly. "Be careful, have fun, and don't forget our saying baby girl."

"Yes, I know. Don't do anything the Bible tells you not to do." It was a phrase that escaped her lips effortlessly after saying it a countless number of times since she was a child.

"That's my girl," her mom gave her one last kiss before letting her go, "Have fun. I love you."

When Jules walked outside there was a car she had never seen before. It was very long and had a slick black color. People walking by stared at it curiously.

A man wearing a black suit and sunglasses came out of the car.

"Good evening m'am. Are you Jules Moore?"

"Yes sir." She replied almost immediately, intimidated by his professionalism.

He walked over and opened the door for her.

The ride there was silent other than the sound of traffic and the quiet jazz music that played in the background. Jules tried to distract herself by imagining pictures on different cloud shapes--a hobby she often did to pass time as a child. However, that was interrupted when she started noticing more and more birds fly in the sky. They were crows. She looked at the left window and saw dozens of crows perched on the power lines. It made her feel nostalgic. It made her think of Reville Oaks where she would often wake up to the sound of crows squawking. Maybe it was because she's been distracted lately, but she wasn't aware that there were a lot of crows in Dalmellington also.

"Sir, are there a lot of birds in this area?" Jules asked the driver excitedly. It comforted her to have something familiar with all the change she's been going through.

"No Ms. Moore, not regularly. Maybe its the season. I'm not quite familiar with bird migration."

Jules sighed. Her nerves made the long drive even more antagonizing. She decided to replace her cloud picturing with counting the crows that passed by.

"We have arrived Ms. Moore."

Jules did not realize she had fallen asleep. Her sleepy daze quickly faded once she looked out her window.

Most would not define Randall's house as a house. Rather, it looked like a modern castle. The tall walls were constructed with an ashlar design and even had crenelations at the top to imitate the architecture of a medieval castle that Jules had only seen in books before. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

Different colors lit the whole mansion, even the fountain in front of the house. The string lights looked like sparkling golden webs draped over the surrounding trees. If the driver hadn't opened the door for Jules, she would have remained in a frozen trance of awe.

She thanked the kind man for the ride and walked towards the main entrance slowly, taking in the dazzling lights around her. She took a few deep breaths, letting the night's cool air comfort her, before telling the man standing at the entrance her name.

If Jules had thought the outside of the house was stunning, she felt as if she had transported to another world by walking through the door. A world of chandeliers, cream marble floors, and countless delicate gold designs with the most minuscule details. The man outside instructed her to follow the red carpet which led Jules through twists and turns in a hallway that almost seemed endless. Her hands became more clammier as the sound of chatter and music began to rise.

"Jules, I'm glad you made it."

Randall stood against an opened door wearing a white button up shirt with too many buttons undone for Jules' comfort. A loose bow tie hung across his neck. Strangely enough, Jules thought that the casual take on formal clothing suited him.

"Yes, thank you for the ride. You're driver was very polite."

"I'm glad to hear," Randall extended his arm, "May I escort you inside? Everyone has been excited for your arrival."

When Randall led them in, Jules knew instantly that she stuck out like a sore thumb. For one, all the girls were wearing dark colored dresses that tightly hugged their bodies. Jules' long white dress seemed very out of place. Furthermore, as people noticed her presence, more stares came her way and the chatter slowly died down and was replaced with whispering and smirks.

Randall's council friends were the first to approach them.

"Randall, I wasn't aware that you told Jules this was a Halloween party," Skye laughed.

Halloween? Jules scrunched her eyebrows not recognizing the word. Was Skye talking about the Catholic holiday All Hollow's Eve--the night before All Saints Day?

"Ya, you sure know how to choose 'em," Simon said with a yawn.

"She looks like she belongs in that one movie. What was it called again?" Ellen scrunched her eyebrows in thought.

"Cherry?" Ana guessed.

Ellen rolled her eyes, "No, not everything is about food Ana. Oh ya! It's called Carrie! The one where the girl gets pig blood dumped on her."

The mention of pig's blood spurred a craving in Ana. Pig blood sounded yummy now but it sadly wasn't served at the party. She shrugged her shoulders and began squishing the cherries on her plate to imitate blood.

"Stop playing with your food Ana. That's disgusting." Alec grimaced.

"Randall is playing with his food right now but no one is telling him anything." Ana replied mindlessly, too focused on what was going in her mouth rather than out.

Everyone began to cackle but Randall cleared his throat loudly.

"Now, Now. Don't joke too much guys. Jules might think you're being serious."

Sky rolled her eyes.

"Relax Randall, Jules knows we're kidding. Don't you Jules?"

Jules laughed nervously. She didn't quite understand all the references and jokes. She was still trying to figure out what Carrie was.

"Guys give her some space. She's gotten enough attention." Jake said before walking away.

"Ignore him, he's just jealous that the spotlight is not on him. Anyway, follow me Jules, I'll show you where the food is." Ana offered.

Jules looked at Randall for permission. She didn't know if it would be rude to wander off.

"Go ahead. Make sure you have fun. This party is for you."

Jules followed Ana and couldn't be happier at the sight of Jonathan standing by the long table with extravagant foods laid out.

Once he laid eyes on her, his plate of food was quickly forgotten and he stalked towards Jules urgently. Before she could greet him, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the dance floor.

"Jonathan? Wait, what's going on? I don't know how to dance."

"Bare with me Jules. Just follow my steps."

Jules didn't know the source of Jonathan's sudden urgency but complied anyway. Eventually, she got the hang of it and was able to avoid stepping on his toes.

"You need to be careful," Jonathan whispered, "I'm sorry I couldn't warn you before. They would hurt me if I did."

"What are you talking about? You're scaring me."

"I know, I'm sorry. I don't want to scare you but I need to warn you. Don't reveal anything important about yourself. Everything you care about, everything you love, keep it to yourself."

"Jonathan, please tell me what's going on." Jules commanded desperately. Her nerves began boiling up once again and her heart pounded against her chest harshly.

"Jules, calm down. I can't talk to you if you look suspicious."

She tried to plaster a fake smile on her face as they danced repeatedly in circles, their surroundings becoming a blur.

"Look, I can't explain everything now but the people here are not good people. They're gonna try to talk to you and study you. That's why we're dancing so you can avoid them for now."