"If you ask me, I've always thought she is weird. She was talking about a secret party that teachers and students go to. Isn't that illegal?"

"Not really...?", your heart was pounding.

"Y/n are you out of mind?" Gabriel took a big bite of his sandwich.

"Okay repeat it again, I can't believe it." You clenched your fists and your fingers dug into your palm.

"Rina, Ms. Ritter's daughter, told me she found out about a secret party and now she wants to go there with some of her friends." Gabriel repeated.

It couldn't be true.

You were hoping it was a different party he was talking about.

"And do you know how she found out about it?" You pressed your lips together.

"I know she found a letter at home. It was an invitation."

"Are you alright Y/n?" his voice sounded like a faint echo.

***

"You're such a stupid sneaky egoist. How could you not tell us about this party? How many times have you been there?" Sophie stood in front of you and blocked your way to the exit.

"II thought you guys knew," you lied. What were you supposed to say? Sophie and Scarlett were the last ones you wanted to see at this parties.

"But I don't go there anymore because dangerous things happen there. You shouldn't go either." You nodded.

"Are you kidding? Of course we're going to go tonight!" Scarlett looked at you with a disappointed look on her face.

"That's why you didn't have time to go to the cafeteria with me. We broke your secret Y/n but luckily Rina told us about it."

"You can't go in without an invitation and Rina shouldn't have told you about this party cause now she might get in trouble!", you said.

"Oh no Y/n the only one who's getting in trouble is you. You just lost your friends." Sophie grabbed Scarlett's arm and walked her out of the school building.

"You know what? I have friends who are way better than-"

"Y/n,"

You turned around, startled, seeing Mr. Eastwood's creepy expression. He could pass for a villain.

"Good afternoon Mr. Eastwood." You said politely and tried to slip past him.

"Wait, Y/n", you wish he would stop saying your name in that somber tone. This guy was scary.

"Were those your friends?"

"Why? Have you got your eye on the younger girls again? Should I talk to Harmony?" You crossed your arms, feeling more powerful than Isaac for just a moment.

"What were you guys talking about? It seemed like they were mad at you..." he put his hand on his chin which made him look even more serious.

"That's none of your business, mind your own junk." You noted every single one of his words. You would tell Elizabeth everything.

Mr. Eastwood was not only a suspect, he acted like a suspect.

You couldn't trust anyone.

"Now that you don't seem to have anything more to say, I'm going to leave," it was none of

Mr. Eastwood's business that you would tell Elizabeth everything.

"Uh-uh Y/n, I said wait." Mr. Eastwood blocked the exit with his arm. You held your breath.

His long veiny arm almost touched you.

"I want to ask you something." He said seriously. You hoped so badly that he didn't want anything from you. For a brief moment you wondered if maybe he just needed some advice since Harmony is your best friend after all.

"Well, actually, I want to ask you something."

You leaned against the wall to get as far away from his hairy arms as possible.

"I won't do you any favors until

you move away from me!" you said loud, realizing you were holding your breath.

To your surprise, Mr. Eastwood took a step back, not for your sake, but because Joyce was coming towards you.

"Howdy," she called from far away.

"What's going on here?" She put a hand on Isaac's shoulder and stroked your arm with her other hand.

"We're having a conversation,"

Mr. Eastwood replied in his sickly serious voice.

"Yep," you nodded hesitantly.

"And you're bothering us right now," he scowled at her.

"Well I would leave if you wouldn't block my exit Isaac." She rolled her eyes. Thank God Joyce existed.

Isaac innocently raised his hands and Joyce walked out of the building with a proud smirk. No wonder Lilith hung out with Joyce.

"So. I'll be brief. You're Harmony's best friend and I... I love her. I trust you as much as I trust her so I want to ask you something..." His voice trailed off and he looked around several times to make sure no one heard him.

You silently waited for him to continue. You had absolutely no idea what he was going to ask you.

"Listen, more and more students are going to the parties, which I have no problem with at all. If you have girls in stock, you can bring them all. But most of the girls are curious and like to explore the area. That bothers us. Pardon, that bothers me. Strangers have no business in the private rooms do you understand that?"

"Well, you are faithful and you have been to the parties a number of times. My request is this. You can party as much as you want, you get drinks for free but- always make sure that no one goes into the private rooms under any circumstances.", while talking he seemed to have come closer because meanwhile you were pressing your whole body against the wall.

"At least tell me what's in those private rooms." You held your breath when his face was too close to yours. How had Harmony dealt with it?

"I'll pay you for it Y/n. I'll pay you a lot of money in exchange for asking no questions and always being vigilant. Many would like to take on this small job so make up your mind quickly. You know there are many students."

You stared into the void as Mr. Eastwood left you alone.

His tall, narrow body, resembling that of a male vampire, was getting further and further away from you.

Something was fishy about the whole thing.

Elizabeth should know about it immediately.

***

"Unbelievable," you gave Sophie and Scarlett an annoyed look.

Scarlett was making out with an old man while Sophie filled herself up with drinks.

Lilith was sitting next to Lucy on the couch. Even though she looked tired, she smirked watching the girls dance. Of course, Sophie and Scarlett would have no idea that the teachers were just playing with their feelings and actually making fun of them.

So while the teachers' attention was on the two new visitors, you stood in an inconspicuous corner and looked around searching for Elizabeth.

Mr. Eastwood, who was also in the group of these unhelpful teachers, winked at you and tentatively gave you a thumbs-up.

That idiot really thought you would help him. When Elizabeth would find out about what was happening here, Mr. Eastwood would be amazed. In fact, he had chosen to spend his precious time with Sophie and Scarlett, who were still mad at you, rather than be with Harmony.

Where was Harmony anyway?

"I'm so late I am sorry." Elizabeth kissed you on the cheek. Her cheeks were cold from the cool air outside.

You pulled her to you and kissed her right on her mouth. The kiss calmed you down and relieved you a lot.

Elizabeth was surprised but you didn't care. You should have just stuck to her plan. Every one of these teachers was crazy and it was time to stop them all before worse things happened.

"I'm so glad you're here." You hugged her desperately and looked over to the corner where the chaos was going on.

"What did I miss?" She looked confused. You were happy that you weren't the only one who found this overall situation strange.

"Don't worry. Did you learn something new? What can you tell me about Lilith?" Her hand gently stroked your arm. Elizabeth noticed that you were nervous.

"I have a lot to tell you," you glanced at where Lilith was sitting, but she was nowhere to be found.

Mr. Eastwood danced with Joyce and Scarlett while Lucy sat alone on that couch.

"Oh my God Lilith must have gone to the private rooms!" You looked deep into Elizabeth's eyes.

"El- Evelyn- Elizabeth- whatever, don't move! I'll be right back." You left her alone and surreptitiously made your way to the private rooms.

Whatever Mr. Eastwood and the other teachers were keeping secret, you would find out in a few seconds.

As you hurried past the bathroom, you noticed that it's door was open. The light was off but something was flickering in the room.

Nervousness rose in you.

There was no reason to be afraid of Lilith. She couldn't hurt you, could she? Was it Lilith in the room at all?

You sneaked in and turned on the light switch. When you noticed Lilith sitting on the floor holding a cigarette, all dressed in black, leaning against the wall, every part of your entire body twitched and you clamped your mouth shut to stifle a screech.

"How come I'm scared to death and you don't even flinch?" You stayed at the door.

"Cause you're not scary... I guess," She leaned her head against the wall while smoke puffed out of her mouth. Only when she opened her eyes you noticed that they were glazed.

"You have to stop this..." you closed the door and slowly approached her before sinking down to the floor next to Lilith as well.

Lilith took the cigarette in her other hand.

"Do you need anything?", hearing her hurt voice made you feel sick.

"Are you all right?" You put your hand on her shoulder and felt her twitch slightly.

"Are you worried about me?" she smirked.

"Of course I am." You tried to look at her but she looked down.

"You shouldn't."

"Please tell me what's bothering you, it's killing me to see you like this. I'd rather want you to go back to the others and celebrate with them." You pressed your lips together.

"Don't play with me Y/n," she gave you a clear look, but this time you couldn't hold the gaze. Seeing Lilith sad made you feel sad as well.

"But I'm-"

"You have two women to choose from and you screw both of them that's what you do." She looked away.

"What?" you asked quietly.

"She's waiting for you so don't make her wait too long."

"Ms. Ritter, what's going on?"

"You know exactly wha-"

"I have no idea you are a mystery to me because you never talk about yourself and your feelings."

"Why did you follow me?" She dropped the cigarette butt and looked at you.

"Because I-" you couldn't tell her.

"Because you had to." Lilith grinned.

"Because she told you," she continued.

"That's not true," you whispered.

"It is. Admit it, I want you to tell me anything you have to say to me."

"There's nothing to-"

'There is!"

"There...is," she repeated more quietly.

You hesitated a moment.

"I think you and Mr. Eastwood are running a criminal business in this building and I followed you to spy on you." You said it and suddenly it felt ridiculous.

"Look at me," she lifted your chin.

"Were you right?" she whispered.

You shrugged.

"I dont know..."

"So you think I'm doing criminal business with Mr. Eastwood." She smirked.

"Uh-huh," you furrowed your brows in exasperation.

"Uh-huh?" She placed her palm on your back and slowly lowered you back onto the carpeted floor.

"Well Y/n, I have to disappoint you. I assure you that I have nothing to do with Mr. Eastwood." She gently pushed you to the ground, supporting herself with one hand.

"Then why are you here?" you trembled.

"Are you that blind? Haven't you got it yet?" She shook her head in astonishment.

You shook your head too.

"How fucking long is it going to take you to fucking understand that I fucking love you?"

Your whole body contracted.

"How can you love someone who isn't right for you?"

"Wha-"

"You told me there is no right person," you whispered.

"You confuse me every time Y/n..." she smiled.

"Is it my fault that I let you be a part of my life? That you made me weak. That I can't resist you..." she murmured, licking her lips.

You tried to reach her lips but she backed away a bit.

"But I won't kiss you because you're already in love with someone else." She blinked.

"No."

"I will never admire or love anyone more than you, Ms. Ritter," you pulled her against you and a soft whimper escaped your lips.

"You fooled me at first," you whispered.

"No, I-"

"I guess we're even now..." you clutched her shoulders and kissed her on those dreamy lips.

Lilith was gorgeous. She was unique. You would never meet someone like her again. There was a certain security when she surrounded you. There was no point in bringing Lilith into it. She's been far too busy with her own stuff. Elizabeth was just a crazy mother who worried way too much.

You would help Mr. Eastwood.

They never meant anything bad for you, the teachers.

The only crazy one was Elizabeth.

"I have something to tell you," you gasped before her lips touched yours again.

"Not now," you felt her on your neck.

"Evelyn's real name is Elizabeth and she is a private investigator," you breathed in.

"Right and I'm the devil," her dark laugh rang into your ear.

"But I'm serious-"

"But I am too," she laughed while her fingers played with the hem of your shirt.

"Oh and now Rina is going to this party too..."

"What!?"