Ava awoke to the sound of her alarm clock, felt her eyes heavy from crying, and fell asleep from crying. She looked around her dorm room and noticed that it was quiet; she was also experiencing mood swings due to her period; she could feel her stomach growling, and she was hungry once more. Ava completed her morning routine first before heading down to the cafeteria to purchase something to fill her stomach. She walks down the hall, looking as if she hasn't left her room in a week.

She headed straight to the cafeteria where Sam and Dana were sitting and immediately stood up and ran to Ava when they saw her. Camila, Luna, Clara, and Lea approached them as well, looking at Ava with sadness, Ava just forced a smile and sat down on the chair.

"Hey... How are you?" Camila asked.

"I feel like shit," Ava replied and gave her twin sister a sarcastic smile.

"I'll go buy something to eat," Dana said, pulling Sam with her.

"We heard what happened, are you feeling a little better?" Luna asked.

"I don't know, so many things happened yesterday and I don't know how I would put things together," Ava replied.

"JC was in the clinic, Beatrice was nowhere to be found though. The coach was looking for her again, he didn't want her to miss another practice." Luna said.

"Maybe she's still back at the dorm room, I didn't get to check her. I was really hungry and my head is so heavy." Ava replied.

"Here, we bought you some food to eat. You look a hot mess." Dana said, giving the food she bought for her friend.

"Thank you, my cramps and my mood swings are all over the place, plus JC and... Beatrice. I don't know where to even start at all." Ava replied.

"Well, who do you want to deal with first? Your boyfriend or your best friend?" Camila asked.

"Honestly, I would want to deal with both but I just need to think and let everything sink in. Everything is suddenly happening so quickly and I just don't know how to catch up." Ava replied.

"What really happened that night, Ava? What happened?" Luna asked. Ava was staring into spaces and putting her thoughts together and trying to remember what exactly happened that night.

.

"Beatrice gave me a ride home because I was not on campus when we arrived. JC was standing near the parking lot in the middle of the road. I remember getting out of the car to talk to JC, and that's when things got heated because he was drunk. He tried to talk to me and give me a reason, but the only words that came out of his mouth were... Please let me explain," Ava responded.

"But what about Beatrice? What did she do?" Camila asked.

"At first, she didn't involve herself but JC was drunk like I said, she tried to stop JC from hurting me and..." Ava was cut off from telling her story when Camila grabbed Ava's wrists and revealed the bruises on her skin.

"Your brothers have a habit of hurting people." An unfamiliar voice spoke from behind. They glance in the direction where two elder people stood in front of them.

"Mom, dad... What are you two doing here?" Lea asked. Hugging her parents.

"There was an incident and they asked us to come. They want to talk to us about your brothers." Mr. Lawrence replied.

"I never thought they would still cause problems here. I thought everything is doing well." Mrs. Lawrence commented.

"Right, not until you count how many times they got in trouble, especially Travis." Luna whispered but it was loud enough to be heard by Camila and the others. Ava kept her head down and just mind her own thing when suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. She look up and it was JC's mother.

"Hi, dear. You must be Ava." She said.

"Uh-I'm... Yes, I'm Ava. Nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Lawrence." Ava replied.

"We heard so much about you, but... Are you okay? You look like you're not fine." Mrs. Lawrence asked.

"I'm fine, Mrs. Lawrence. I'm just having a rough week." Ava replied, giving the older woman a fake smile.

"I'll take you to the office, ma. I'm sure that's where they'll ask you." Lea spoke.

"I'll see you around, Ava. Nice to meet you as well." Mrs. Lawrence said to Ava and her husband who just nod his head and smile at her.

"How long have you and JC been dating again?" Dana asked.

"About 6 months well, I can't count the month right now so more like 5 months," Ava replied, chuckling at her own comment.

"You have to go back to your dorm and take a shower Ava, you need to attend the classes you missed. We can't make up more excuses to you anymore." Sam said.

"I know, I know thank you. I'll just eat this and then go back upstairs." Ava replied.

"Do you need us to come with you back to the dorm?" Dana asked.

"Yes, please. I'll find myself awkward with Beatrice... Plus, I haven't spoken to her since last night." Ava replied.

"Awkward? Why?" Sam asked. Ava fell in silence because she remembered the argument between JC and Beatrice where JC said about Beatrice telling her about the cheating and that Beatrice would make a move now toward her. She saw the rage in Beatrice's eyes that night and she could not understand what was happening.

Ava's phone buzzed as a reminder, and she was curious about the remainder. Ava remembered Beatrice inviting her to the annual event out of the country, somewhere in Amsterdam, when she saw the reminder labeled "Three days before the holiday." She recently learned that her parents own a large apartment in Amsterdam with a view of the beach. They were wealthy enough to purchase an entire property for annual events.

Ava was now debating whether or not to go, but she asked herself why she wouldn't want to go? Just because she heard a rumor coming from JC's mouth? But does it really matter to her? Ava considered it; she never hated Beatrice, nor did she despise the fact that she could have a chance with Beatrice if she wasn't dating JC. Ava didn't want the older girl to think she was insane.

Ava took her phone from her pocket and saw a message from Beatrice, but it was from the night before; she had fallen asleep after crying and hadn't had time to check her phone. Ava simply desired a hug from her; she was aware of how much she felt safer in the arms of her best friend, but she was thinking about it. Ava wondered what it meant to truly find someone who cares and loves you more than the person you love.

She finished her meal and was still lost in her own thoughts; her mind was full of ideas but she couldn't focus on just one; her friends walked with her back to her dorm room. As she walked to their dorm, other students' phones began to buzz loudly, as if they were receiving the same notifications.

"She's so beautiful and handsome at the same time!" A student complimented.

"Why does this look like a photoshop?" One student asked.

"I mean she and JC beat up each other last night so they had to remove the bruises on her face for sure." One student replied. Ava suddenly got worried and immediately searched Beatrice's number, but then she read the last message Beatrice sent her.

I'm sorry...

Ava felt a weight on her heart, she has no idea why, and all she wanted to do was find Beatrice and hug her tight, telling her she has nothing to apologize for. She made her way to their dorm's door and unlocked it; the room was quiet and exactly the same as she had left it earlier. She noticed that Beatrice's side was empty, that the bed was made, and that the rest of the shelves were empty.

"Where is she?" Ava whispered. Sam and Dana entered the dorm room and just in time to say about Beatrice flying to Amsterdam.

"It seems like she already did fly herself to Amsterdam," Sam spoke, showing them a picture posted on the news article. It was an article about the Hansen family, announcing to the world about the annual event that is going to happen in the Hansen Palace. Beatrice was on the front page and she was looking right at the camera with a serious expression painted all over her face.

"That woman never smiles in pictures, huh?" Sam commented and turned off his phone. Ava then remembered how she took so many pictures with Beatrice, there was once when she was smiling and it was the day when they visited Cafes & Books and she was having a conversation with Annika.

"Come on, Ava. We got classes." Dana spoke to Ava, Ava just nodded her head and went straight to the shower while her two friends waited for her. Ava started showering, she stood there while the warm water hugs her whole body, letting herself relax. She's been stressing out just because of JC and now she's thinking of Beatrice. How was she? How is she doing? Is she hurting again? Ava couldn't stop thinking about Beatrice knowing she was hurt. She wanted to care about JC but JC was too much already, at first she let the incident of him leaving her alone in the hotel just because she didn't give him what he wants.

Ava rinsed her hair to ensure that there was no shampoo left coated on her hair, she finished showering and changed into her proper clothes, she blow dried her hair and then combed it, she looked at herself one more time after applying a simple make-up on her face but the swollen eyes still explain a lot, she quickly left the bathroom and searched for the eyeglasses she wears whenever she cries and her eyes are swollen from crying

"Let's go?" Dana asked. Ava nodded her head and left the dorm room.

Ava attended her classes and double time with the classes she missed and lessons she missed as well, and it was a good thing that some of her classmates were kind enough to hand her notes, so she decided today she will spend her time in the library studying and catching up with the lessons she had missed, the portfolio project she was almost finished with but she doesn't know the ending of the story of the pictures she gathered together.

The bell rang, and her fourth period was over; her cramps were mild and she could handle them; she was craving something else this time, but she didn't know where to get it; she considered calling Luna and asking if there were any stores where she could buy snacks while she was taking notes in the library.

"Hello? Luna? Is there any store near here for snacks? The cafeteria doesn't have them and I'm literally craving for something of my liking." Ava spoke.

"You sound like Beatrice when you talk right now." Luna replied.

"What?" Ava asked.

"Nevermind, I don't think there's any store near here but I can ask a favor to a friend, send me the lists?" Luna said.

"Lifesaver! Thank you, please deliver it to my dorm room." Ava replied.

Ava went straight to the library after making the phone call to write notes and study some of the terms, exams week after the holiday is the worst opening of school after a long weekend is something Ava doesn't want to meet but will have to by the end of the day. Ava kept writing until she finished the four different lessons from different subjects and answered the homework that was due on Friday.

Ava closed her notebooks and set down her pen before stretching her arms and back from sitting for too long on the chair. She checked her phone for messages and saw an unfamiliar phone number with the message "Treats," assuming that the snacks she ordered had already arrived in the dorm. Ava gathered her belongings and placed them inside her backpack before leaving the library.

Ava walked down the hall thinking about what to tell Beatrice, she kept thinking about Beatrice, her best friend the entire time she was trying to make her notes and other things she missed because she was absent, she was distracting herself from her own thoughts when she heard a familiar voice and it seemed like they were arguing about something not until she recognized two voices that she recognized. Lea and JC were there.

"You caused too many problems back home JC and now this? What the hell do you think you're doing?!" His father yelled.

"Dad, please. Screaming at them won't do any good!" Lea hissed.

"Don't tell me what to do. Your brothers are nothing but headaches, I spoiled you with all the things you want and studying properly and behaving for the whole school year and this is what you give me instead! Offenses! Travis, what the hell do you think you're doing? Assaulting a woman, let alone your school's president? Beatrice Hansen, Hansen child for goodness' sake, Travis!" His father yelled.

"What is everyone's deal with her?! Is she really that special for even my own parents think so high of that bitch?!" Travis stopped talking because his father smack him on the face.

"That bitch you're calling is the daughter of the Hansen family, the people who help us with money and continuously fund our company so it won't go to bankruptcy. Whatever you are wearing, the payment for this phone, those shoes were their money, everything that I gave you to have your stupid parties, stupid gifts to be given to your friends. Hansen's money! So you better show some respect!" Mr. Lawrence spat and gave Travis another beating on his face.

"And you! Harassing Beatrice as well, you have no shame! How many more women are you going to put on risk just because you have nothing but uncontrollable anger?!" He slapped JC on his face and the two boys remained their mouths shut. Ava stood there in shock to hear such things, the respect people have for Beatrice and her family is explicit. Ava just shook her head and made her way in another direction just so she could avoid the Lawrence family.

She went straight to her dorm room, entering the room felt empty, she got used to seeing Beatrice on her desk doing her homework where she would usually approach the older girl and give her back hugs or bother the older girl just so Beatrice would hug her. Ava didn't mind being called a big baby. It was always something Ava felt whenever she was around Beatrice; she never felt that way around anyone else, not even JC.

Ava checked her phone but there were no messages from Beatrice; she wanted to make the first move but didn't know what to tell the older girl; she might end up calling Beatrice and crying out loud because she hadn't seen her the moment she woke up and telling the older girl how much she needs her. Ava feels like she's going insane and has no idea what she's doing.

When she entered the room, she noticed a paper bag with a large letter on it. The younger girl was surprised to see what it was; she opened the paper bags to find her favorites and cravings, as well as her favorite drinks and sweets. There was an envelope beside the other paper bag as she was going through the paper bag. The envelope was baby pink. Ava opened the envelope and read the message inside.

"Every moment I had with you, I cherish it. Every memory I remember of you, I treasure it. This is my first apology for not saying goodbye, but I was hoping you will be my first and last dance at the ball. I miss you, sunny."

B.H.

Ava thought to herself, "There was an invitation with plane tickets." Beatrice still wants her to attend the annual gathering. Ava smiled involuntarily as she read the letter, knowing who it was from. Ava remained cheerful throughout. Only her best friend could satisfy her cravings right now, but she wonders how Beatrice knew she needed some of these today, when earlier she had asked Luna for a favor. Ava put it all together in a matter of seconds. Luna informed Beatrice, and Beatrice did what she does best: she sent all of these people here.

Ava was enjoying her moment when she heard someone knock on her door. She wondered who it was, but her instincts told her who it was. She approached the door and took a deep breath before opening it; Lea and JC were standing in front of it; Ava was perplexed, but Lea spoke.

"He wanted to talk to you, plus I don't trust him anymore so I came with him, I'll wait for you out here." Lea spoke coldly to JC.

JC was also in a state of disarray; he was covered in bruises and had band-aids on his forehead. Ava stepped to the side to allow JC to enter the room, then closed the door behind her and stood against it, her instincts telling her to stay a few feet away from him. JC became aware of the sudden atmosphere between them and simply stood far away from Ava.

"I... I don't know what else to tell you... But, I'm sorry." JC said.

"I don't know if I can forgive you, JC. And now, you had the nerve to hurt... Beatrice. I didn't like that." Ava replied, her voice soft. She was feeling uncomfortable at the moment but she tried to not show any uneasiness.

"Do you love her?" JC asked.

"What?" Ava asked back, she was confused with the question.

"Are you in love with her?" JC asked again.

"JC, please make sense! Why are you asking me these stupid questions?" Ava complained.

"Because she's in love with you! Can't you see that?! So, I'm asking you if you're in love with her! Because I can never, ever accept defeat from that woman!" JC replied, the tone in his voice was sad. Ava let everything sink in and she couldn't just deal with JC anymore.

"It doesn't matter whether I have feelings for Beatrice or not, what matters now is... Me ending this." Ava replied.

"No... Ava, please let's talk about this." JC begged. Tried to approach Ava.

"Don't come near me." Ava reminded JC.

"I don't trust you anymore and I don't know if... I still love you in the way I love you." Ava said.

JC didn't say anything, he just started crying after hearing those words from the woman he loved so dearly, the two just stood there in silence and Ava was just not having it anymore and would want JC to leave the room.

"I'm not sure what other secrets you have, but I just hope you face the consequences like a real person rather than a coward. Please leave, I need to rest," Ava said, her voice trembling and tears streaming down her cheeks. Ava opened the door and waited for JC to leave the room; JC looked at Ava, who did not look back; JC wondered to himself why Ava let him go so easily; was he not worth it? Was he not enough to prove his love for her, enough for her to say I forgive you or, at the very least, I love you one last time before he left?

JC exited the room, and Ava immediately shut the door; she sobbed and sat on the floor, her back against the door; she sobbed again, and this time she had difficulty catching her breath. She was holding all of her pain inside her heart, thinking that crying in one day would make it all go away, but she was mistaken. She was crying aloud because her heart had been broken.

Ava felt very lonely without her best friend to hug her tightly and assure her that everything would be fine and that she was safe. Ava couldn't help but reach for her phone and dial Beatrice's number; she needed to talk to her best friend. Even just hearing the older girl's voice will calm her down. She waited for her to answer the phone, and after a few rings, someone answered, but it wasn't Beatrice.

"This is Janna, Beatrice's personal assistant. How may I help you?" The woman named Janna answered.

"P-please... C-can you give the t-the phone to Beatrice?" Ava pleaded.

"She's busy-" Ava cut her off.

"Just tell her it's Ava and it's urgent! Please!"Ava pleaded.

"Who is that? And why are you touching my phone?" Ava heard Beatrice's voice in the background.

"Miss, someone named Ava is calling. I-I... She's hysterical..." Janna spoke, and Ava could hear the footsteps and a sound like somebody grabbed the phone.