The cursor hovered over the send button, checking over the details.

This time, I had an account using the name Lucy Pritchard and included the email of the Hawthorn Institution principal. As much as I had nothing against Jason Whitmore, Lucy Pritchard was, while somewhat conservative, a modern feminist with class - she'd never just blame the girl for corrupting the young man. That wouldn't be too classy.

Sorry, Jason, but couples go through thick and thin together, don't they? That's the truth of life - the fluff and romance is just an illusion to hide the nasty trials of love and fate and all that jazz.

After glancing over it once more, I pressed the send button.

Perfect.

"Selene! Dinner!" Mom called out.

"Coming!" I screamed back as I plugged my charger into the side of the laptop, turned off the fan and left the room.

I slipped into my fixed spot in the dining room - the spot nearer to the window, next to Sebastian and opposite my parents. The chairs were not labelled or anything weird like that, but for whatever reason, the seating of the family was fixed, and if anyone sat at the wrong spot, they would definitely be ordered to move their ass. It was just a thing that existed.

Mom had come home at early-enough-to-cook-dinner timing, all while complaining and ordering Dad to help out, who was surprisingly home early compared to his regular. My suspicion was raised, but whatever - if they had something to say about it, they'd say it. I looked at the food on the fancy-edged plates. Typical Mom's cooking - definitely healthy, good for not adding more fat to my thighs, but probably not super tasty. The look on my brother's face said he was sharing the same thoughts.

When Mom was done bringing in the final dish, we all settled down to eat, the typical chatter about life and schedules continuing for about five minutes - and then, my parents started sharing glances.

Ah, there it was. Spill, parents.

"Uh, so, I have something important to tell you two," Dad began as we looked at him and the expectant look on Mom's face, "I got a new role at work."

"Oh... cool?" I responded, giving him the 'what-else' look. Sebastian did the same.

"It's a promotion and it's a very good career opportunity, but the job isn't in this country," he elucidated, "It's in Dubai."

And I oop-

"And," Mom continued, her voice abnormally gentle, "After doing research and discussing with each other, your father and I think it's best if the entire family relocates together."

Oh. Okay. We were migrating.

We were freaking migrating.

"We're moving to a desert from here?" Sebastian demanded brattily, echoing my thoughts, "What's so good about Dubai? Isn't it just a hot and sweaty desert?"

"First of all, it's not all desert there. It's actually a pretty modern place, and most of the population is made up of foreigners," Dad said, instantly shaming us for being uncultured swines. "It's also an oil-rich city-"

"Isn't it still hot, though?" I interrupted.

"They have large, air-conditioned malls for a reason," my father said pointedly, "And of course, we'll get an apartment with all the air conditioning you need. It will get hot, but as long as we're all well protected and prepared, it will be okay."

"But what about school? After all the effort put in to get me into this school and we're just going to leave?" I demanded - not that I really loved my school and all that but, really? After trying so hard and spending day and night dreaming about an acceptance letter, let's just say I felt low-key cheated of my effort. Even though it didn't spark joy, I just wanted to get through the full years of secondary school so that I could say that I survived the competitive serpent pit.

Mom just raised her eyebrows, "Selene, you come home and complain about how you hate school and all your classmates and how you have no friends."

"Yeah, Sis," Sebastian snorted, "I should be more upset than you are. I actually have friends in school."

I gasped in horror from their double roasting, "Yeah, but still! And in my defense, boys make friends differently from girls. Don't compare us, okay?"

She sighed, "Okay, both of you! We've already found a decent school for you two in Dubai where you can continue your studies. I know it's going to be a big change, but I think it'll be good for all of us to experience this, and for our family to stick together."

I exchanged a glance with both my parents, who looked on with sympathetic, concerned eyes, and then with my brother. My kid brother, seven years my junior, annoying and yet somewhat cute with his doe eyes. Yet both of us equally uncertain and confused by the life ahead.

Well, this was going to be quite the milestone, I guess.

Warning, teacher approaching, I thought as I walked past the general office and noticed the redheaded woman. My instant response: do a little bow to greet her as we met and get along with our day.

So I did. When I passed Miss Sawyer, I dipped my head the slightest and walked by as she watched pointedly, perhaps-

"Good morning, Selene."

Oh, snap.

"Oh, um, good morning to you too, Miss Sawyer," I quickly responded as my social anxiety meter shot up to the top and threatened to bust through the roof.

Miss Sawyer didn't seem so impressed as her sharp, pretty green eyes glowered, "Remember to greet teachers and guests when you walk by, okay?"

Oh, I'm sorry, was my bow not low enough for her - what are you thinking, Selene, dumbass? Obviously it wasn't good enough for her, you idiotic piece of-

"Uhm, yeah, sorry!" I gasped, quickly turning and quickening my stride as I hurried away towards the staircase.

Upon reaching the top, however, I noticed something fishy. A group, huddled by a corner in the hallway, but not really in the casual chatting way. It was the something-bad-has happened way. And around them, people were talking... but I noticed those surreptitious glances from their darting eyes.

Attracted to the drama as I was, I walked by the huddled group, slowing my pace as I attempted to hear the discussion

The prefects of our year surrounding Rianne - who looked like crap.

Her eyes were bloodshot, her lips were shaky as she kept them pursed, the tear streaks still visible on her face despite being constantly offered tissues. But most importantly, something crucial was missing from her uniform.

Ah, so it's happened.

"And then, like, he just broke up with me over text!" Rianne gasped, a humourless laugh escaping her as she hiccupped between her sobs, "Freaking Whatsapp. I can't believe it."

Jenna Park, Rianne's third-in-command, frowned as she made an attempt to reason, "Well, if he's that terrible, then he doesn't deserve you, Ri. I've been a single lady since forever and I probably don't understand, but the bright side here is that you've gotten rid of a clown with commitment issues."

"Jason's not a clown, Jenna," Rianne sniffed, I am. I should've known better than to date him. I knew he was trouble and I jumped straight into it like it was gonna work out."

Jenna shut her trap, playing subservient - but even I, with my limited social skills, could feel the insincerity that radiated off her entire being. I was betting five bucks that a clique leader would be expelled in no time, losing her prefect tie, boyfriend and her entire gang in a week.

Ah, that's what you get for being a corrupt clown, Ri.

I quickly walked off to my locker and got my morning admin settled, then approaching Avery Castle who was busy dealing with the clutter in hers.

"Hi, Avery."

"Hey," Avery responded, "I'm assuming you heard the morning drama. Apparently, Rianne was caught smoking behind campus with a Hawthorn boy - "

"Yeah, that Jason guy. I heard."

"Even I'm surprised," Avery continued, "I mean, already shocking that the same Rianne with plans to run for Head Prefect got into something like that, but I always thought he was into Addy or something. I was totally not expecting this pairing."

"Well, you shouldn't expect this pairing. I'm not touching Rianne's seconds ever, after this fiasco. Especially not if second-hand smoke comes as part of the package." Both of us turned to see Addison Castle strut over with a snort, giving me a strange look as she threw her arms around Avery. "Are you done? Class is starting."

I saw Avery's eyes widen for just a second as she went back to freeing books from the mess, "Uh, yeah, just... a second... okay!" She arranged them in her arms, "Yeah, let's go. Bye, Selene."

"Bye, Avery. Bye, Addison."

Well, well.

I turned to get a final glance at the group and the wrecked Rianne as the smile returned to my face, genuinely and perfectly wicked.

And another one bites the dust.

As I headed to my next class, the weight in my chest felt significantly satisfied.

Guess I was going to leave this place with something achieved, after all.