The after party was canceled after the carnival event and so it was moved to Beatrice's birthday and the loyal people that look up and respect Beatrice, decided to not just only throw that after party for everyone but to also celebrate their president's birthday.

Beatrice found herself lost in her own thoughts, the council were in the brief meeting regarding their next school activities. They were discussing the upcoming campaigns of every department for the new set of officers for each department. The older girl seemed lost in her own train of thoughts, she could still feel the younger girl's lips against hers, she trace her lips with her fingertips as she reminisce the memory back at the carnival.

She could not believe that she had kissed Ava, she could still feel the soft lips against hers and it was addicting. Beatrice closed her eyes and let out a heavy sigh thinking about it, she's now inside the library with her laptop and her books scattered open on the table, with her pens and highlighter pens scattered. Studying for few days straight for their tests gives her so much headaches and she couldn't concentrate at the dorm, Ava tried to talk to her as if nothing happened but Beatrice couldn't push her thoughts aside, every time she closes her eyes, she recalls the memory that night where their lips touched.

"Please have mercy on me." Beatrice breathlessly whispered.

The kiss made her crave for Ava, knowing that she is indeed in-love with the younger girl. If kissing her that way was not a good plan to do, she would want to kiss Ava in such romantic, soft and gentle way under the moonlight. Beatrice was scared for the kiss not because of Ava avoiding her although, it will hurt her. What she didn't like about herself after getting something she wished to have is her craving.

Now she craves more, weird but being in-love to your best friend can result to so many things and you wouldn't even notice it, Beatrice wanted to release stress and unrelaxed. Beatrice looked at her watch and saw that it was 10:30 in the evening, she took this as her chance to go to the swimming pool building, their team was put in halt because of the events that lasted for few days and it made Beatrice somehow stressed out.

Beatrice stood up and left her stuff on the table and unlock the door and lock it again when she got out of the library, she headed straight to the locker room near the swimming pool building to get change in her swimming suit and swim to relax. After changing, she quickly headed to the pool area where she stretched herself before diving down the water, as soon as she felt the water embraced her body.

She could feel the calmness coming all together and her only focus is her mind being free from thoughts and remain focus on reaching the end of the line, Beatrice took her time swimming towards the end of the line just like how she would tell herself every time the game is on, she will only focus on winning in the end no matter what happens. Beatrice didn't want to disappoint her parents again, she didn't want to fail them again.

Beatrice continued making her way through the water like a sea creature, swimming underneath the ocean along with the small fishes and big fishes as if she was the mermaid and a child of a ruler of the ocean. Beatrice finally reached the end of the pool and kick her way back to the other end where she started off, she continued swimming her way towards the end of the line and when she did, she finally stopped to take a deep breath. As soon as she removed her eye-goggles, she saw a figure standing in front near the pool.

"Ava?" Beatrice call out her name.

"Why are you avoiding me?" Ava asked. The tone of her voice was different, it sounded disappointed. She was looking at Beatrice and the older girl seemed astonished, she was trying to read the younger girl's expression and mind.

"I'm... Not avoiding you Ava. I'm just being my usual self." Beatrice replied, as she swam towards the ladder and lifted herself up off the pool. Ava was looking right up to her, Beatrice could feel herself getting nervous all of a sudden because the young girl is near her and she was half naked from having a swim, a one lap swim that got her out of frustrations only to find herself back in that position.

"I need another lap." Beatrice muttered out loud, her accent coming out to which Ava smirked, Beatrice was confused of what she saw.

"Why are you smiling?" Beatrice asked.

"Nothing, am I not allowed to smile, Ms. Hansen?" Ava asked.

"Ms. Hansen? Really?" Beatrice replied. Stretching herself again before she would jump back to the water. Ava suddenly laugh and Beatrice found herself halting. She turn around and saw the young girl sitting down on the other side.

"You always use that authoritarian voice to me too, you sound exactly like that to almost everyone but I will have to admit and will not deny, it gives me butterflies." Ava said, smiling at her.

"What?" Beatrice asked.

She watch the younger girl approach her and what happened next was beyond her expectation, Ava tiptoed to reach her and grab her face to kiss her. It was a quick kiss, Ava smiled to the kiss and break free before she turn around and slowly walk away. Beatrice was still confuse of what was happening, Ava playfully look back at the older girl who was confused and giggled as she exited the pool area except she went to the locker room.

"Ava! Wait!" Beatrice exclaimed. Ava's giggle became louder as she knew, Beatrice would follow her and Beatrice did follow her, they both got to the lockers and Beatrice looked for the young girl who decided to play a little hide and seek with her.

"Ava, this is not funny. What was that kiss for?!" Beatrice hissed.

"Oh come on! You don't think that I did not feel that butterflies overflowing in your stomach. The way your eyes nervously stared into mine. You really think you could hide that from me." Ava replied, hiding behind to one of the lockers, continuously playing hide and seek with the older girl who seem to obviously lose her patience.

"Ava!" Beatrice called her name, her deep voice echoing in a threat, Ava eventually show up from her hiding place with an innocent smile to which confuse Beatrice because Ava was acting strangely and she could not read her unlike the usual whenever they were together, she was not sure what really is going to happen. Beatrice stood in front of the younger girl who was looking up to her and showed a different aura to which Beatrice was flabbergast.

The next thing happen was Ava kissing her again and Beatrice found herself grabbing Ava gently by the waist and pulling her against her, Beatrice was kissing Ava gently and she was not being aggressive or showing any aggressiveness towards the younger girl as she wanted to feel and memorize every bit of the detail. Until she found herself waking up from a loud alarm.

RINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!

Beatrice jolted up from her seat and confused and feeling a little hot. She was inside their main office, she fell asleep in front of her computer and her other things scattered around the table, she fell asleep, she was tired from everything. Having problems again in sleeping before and this is the outcome every time, Beatrice started to have trouble in sleeping and sometimes, hallucinating or maladaptive daydreaming.

"Fuck." Beatrice hissed as she stood up and ran her hand through her hair and sighed heavily. She look through the table desk where she usually sit and found her medication bottle, she stopped taking them for a while now. She grab a bottle of water from the small fridge and took a pill and swallow it. Gulping the water, the door of the main office swung open to see it was one of the teachers.

Mrs. Teller was taken back from seeing Beatrice early in the morning inside the office, she noticed the opened laptop, scattered notes and pens on the table and three cups of mugs set on the table as well. Mrs. Teller noticed the tiredness in Beatrice's eyes, Mrs. Teller suddenly worry about the girl in front of her and so she cleared her throat and put her things on the nearer desk, searching for something on her table, grabbing a pen then sign something before turning around to face the student.

"Ms. Hansen. Would you mind taking the day off?" She asked, handing her the paper.

"Ma'am?" Beatrice asked, taking the paper from Mrs. Teller.

"Sign it, take a break Hansen. You've got so many things weighing on your shoulders." Mrs. Teller said.

"You should hear my thoughts then." Beatrice murmured.

Mrs. Teller looked at her with concern and tried to read the young woman, trying to read her expression, Mrs. Teller is the youngest sister of the owner of the school. She aspire to be a teacher like their mother and so ended up like her, she was loved by everybody around the university and she used to work where Beatrice studied high school.

"Beatrice. What's wrong, sweetie?" Mrs. Teller asked.

"I'm just thinking about so many things but I will be alright, you know I will be alright. Somehow?" Beatrice mutter softly.

"Somehow? Really? Beatrice, you've grown so much. You manage to get out of the mess that you were once in and you've been fighting for too long." Mrs. Teller said softly.

Beatrice looked at the woman who stood in for her mother when her real mother couldn't even act like a mother to her when she needed her, and she wished that Mrs. Teller had been her mother instead of the woman she calls mom, who doesn't treat her the way she deserves to be treated because of the mistakes she made as a teen.

Beatrice sat slowly and sighed heavily; she tried to put her words together before speaking but couldn't find the right words to say; she wanted to cry but she'd been so dead inside that all she could hear was her misery. Mrs. Teller approaches Beatrice and taps her shoulder, providing her with all the comfort she required; words don't always comfort, but simply being beside them while they are drowning in their thoughts allows them to breathe.

Beatrice returned to her dorm room after that brief heart-to-heart. She was tired from resting, but she knew she'd just fall asleep again, and she felt strange. She's not sure why, but she's not feeling well. She continued on her way back to her dorm room, but just as she was about to enter it, she noticed something she despised.

It made her sicker to see the love of her life in the arms of the villain. Beatrice tried to balance herself by placing her hand on the wall. She was feeling ill and couldn't describe it, so instead of walking with her head held high, she went back down the stairs and instead headed to the parking garage, unlocking her car doors and driving away. The only place she could think and relax right now.

//

It made her sicker to see the love of her life in the arms of the villain. Beatrice tried to balance herself by placing her hand on the wall. She was feeling ill and couldn't describe it, so instead of walking with her head held high, she went back down the stairs and instead headed to the parking garage, unlocking her car doors and driving away. The only place she could think and relax right now.

Dana and Sam were also busy leading their clubs, while Ava found herself writing words on a story she wanted to finish but always ended up having writer's block, and all she could do next was study her photography, putting all of them in her clear book to create her portfolio for a whole semester project in her major. Ava was still at a loss for words after what happened last Friday night; how can something that appears wrong in the eyes of others feel so right to her? It's extremely addictive.

Now Ava wonders if Beatrice was thinking about it too, thinking about that kiss at the kissing booth, was it weird? She asked herself, over and over again, she was so lost in her own thoughts but was snapped out of her thoughts when somebody clapped their hand making a loud clap that echoed.

"Is everything clear?" The head of their club asked.

Everyone nodded their heads as they planned the after-party for them as well as another party for Beatrice to surprise her on her birthday, which was designed by Lea, Beatrice's other best friend who had witnessed her misery throughout the years of her absence. She envied Lea because she knew everything that had happened to Beatrice. Ava simply looked at her notepad and saw her assigned task, the usual photography student handles the photography part and works with the rest of the students to design the after party, which will be held in the school's gym.

"Are you okay?" Clara asked.

"Yeah, I'm just tired and sleepy. It's been a long day." Ava replied.

"True, we were too busy with the events and now, while being busy for another event we gotta catch up for the lessons." Clara said, sighing heavily as she stood up from sitting down on the ground.

"How's you and the boyfriend?" Clara asked to change the subject in hopes that it will distract Ava from her tiredness.

"Well, he and I are doing great but lately I am just not in the mood for listening to his football matches because it's always the same thing over and over again, same topics every day or every time they hang out. Ava would try to create another topic but it always ends up the same topics.

"Why don't we try to head out of the campus, go bowling with us? Bring Sam and... Her." Clara said, referring to Dana who was talking to Sam and fixing something. Ava could sense something and Clara was eyeing Dana and that immediately gave Ava the hint that Clara likes Dana.

"You like Dana, huh?" Ava asked, smiling and teasing Clara whose cheeks turned read and a smile plastered on her lips as she tries to hide herself blushing, she really is into Dana and she could not resist herself, she was so into Dana lately but knowing the past she had, the trauma of falling in-love with someone again. It ruin herself silently.

Dana then caught the girl's eyes staring at her and so she immediately looked away, Ava and Clara started walking in a different direction, Ava didn't say much but walk beside Clara who suddenly was quiet after earlier.

"Are you okay, Clare?" Ava asked.

"Well, um. You know, I'm just trying to think in a positive note." Clara said.

"Hmm? Positive note?" Ava asked again. She wonders what the older girl meant.

"Well, you know my reputation. I was link to Beatrice's ex and Beatrice hates me so much. And so everyone who loves Beatrice hates me... You don't... Hate me, right?" Clara replied, stopping Ava from walking as she grabs the younger girl's arm slowly.

"Clara, you're one of the nicest people I've met here. That includes the two knuckleheads, Sam and Dana." Ava said as they both chuckled.

"I mean who knows, Dana probably doesn't like my existence knowing the rumors about me and you know, Quinton." Clara replied.

"Hey, it is in the past and if people will not see the changes from you then they are the problem. To me, you were young. A lot of people here was once a troubled teen, did so many crazy shit during their high school life but that doesn't mean that you will never have the chance to grow into a better person and look at you now. Healing and doing pretty well." Ava said, trying her best to cheer Clara who immediately smiled at what she had said.

"What about you? How's you and Beatrice?" Clara asked.

"Hmm? She and I are good. Doing well." Ava replied.

"I mean you don't feel awkward after that kiss?" Clara asked.

"Why? Should I feel awkward about that?" Ava asked. Clara didn't respond and instead kept her thoughts to herself; she knew about Beatrice's feelings for Ava and didn't want to ruin the perfect love story from happening, even though there's always a chance you'll lose your best friend for good if you try to tell them about how you feel.

"Never mind then. Come on, we gotta gather the materials needed to prepare the hall for the surprise party slash after party!" Clara imitating Julia's high and girly voice which made Ava laughed. The two continued walking until they exited Building A, and headed towards the other building, where the necessary materials are stored in the arts room. They were walking down the hallway when they heard two voices arguing.

"You don't have the fucking right to tell me that you love me when all you did was hurt me and use me!"

"Please, you know how we were! We were stupid and young for goodness' sake! Why do you keep blaming it all on me?!"

"There you go again! Why do you keep playing like you were not the fucking villain here?! You ruined me and my life!"

Ava froze when she recognized that voice. This was the first time she heard her best friend's voice, which was not soft and calm or cold, but rather rage, annoyance, or hatred, as if she had been holding it in for so long and this was the only chance to let it out. They finally noticed the two people standing face to face, one calm and the other losing their cool. Beatrice and Danielle were standing there, facing each other.

"That is why I'm here, Bea. I'm here to apologize for what I did." Danielle spoke softly, tries to grab the older girl's arm but Beatrice yanked her arm away because she was flared with anger.

"Don't fucking touch me!" Beatrice yelled, Ava's heart sank because she could feel the anger and hatred of her best friend, the pain that was still there and it gave her a hard time to move on.

"Bea..." Ava called her name, whispering her best friend's name. Beatrice turned her head in Ava's direction, her expression cold, as if she couldn't see any emotions in the older girl's eyes. Beatrice walked away, and Ava did not hesitate to follow her, while Clara stood in front of her ex, at whom she glared and walked away from Danielle.

Beatrice continued walking with all of her rage building up in her body, and the only way for her to let it out was to go for a swim and sink down under the water, because that was the first thing that came to mind because she was filled with rage, she continued walking without noticing that Ava was following her and calling her name, but the sound of Ava's voice seems faint. Beatrice continued walking until they arrived at the pool's building, swinging the doors harshly and beginning to take off her jacket and shoes before jumping in the pool as the last thing she heard was Ava calling her name.

She let herself sink under the water, her eyes closed, and all she did was listen to her own heart beating, and as soon as her eyes opened, she took advantage of the opportunity to hold her breath before screaming beneath the water. Beatrice found herself calming down but was replaced by the sudden worry as she swam back up the surface where Ava immediately fell down on her knees and was crying.

Beatrice swam near the pool ladder and climbed her way up, instead of letting out her anger all alone as she was used to, here comes the little one who hurt herself because she was following her stupid ass that did not stop when Ava called her so many times. Beatrice dashed towards Ava, who was in excruciating pain.

"What's wrong?!" Beatrice asked, worried and panicking.