❝everything that drowned me, taught me how to swim❞
{written by two enthusiastic writers who met on the internet}
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Two girls-Alina and Mabel-once best friends are now in rival friend groups at Aquarine High. Both have gone through traumatic experie...
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The booming laughter that centered around one specific table bounced off the cafeteria walls. Their fake shrills made her stomach churn with disgust and a pit of nausea erupted up her throat. Her eyes drifted onto the main round table, positioned in the middle of the cafeteria and by far the rowdiest. They're the prettiest at school, the famous girls and boys roaming Aquarine High. Tara flicked her blonde hair flirtatiously as she was engaged in the conversation.
Gabriela sighed, staring down at her food: uneaten. Tears threatened to fall, but she pushed them back, reminding herself that she should conceal her emotions. Her sadness soon turned into pure anger when he walked past her table. Gabriela scowled, watching him carefully as he made his way to the Elites. Luckily she wasn't there. Mabel had changed since Gabi last saw her. She wasn't wearing comfy clothes, instead more preppy, skin-showing clothes. She seemed confident and she wore bold makeup.
Gabriela should've been there, not Mabel.
It had always been clear to Gabi, to her whole family, that she was going to be part of the exclusive group ever since she was born. It was like her mission, the only reason why she had been given life in the first place. She needed to be up there, not stuck with all these weird people below even if it meant bullying someone. Even if it meant wearing pounds of makeup that made her face droop and outfits that were a bit too skin-showing.
She needed to be up there.
She needed to feel the power of reigning the school's students, herding them up like a shepherd in control, playing with their puppets. Power, popularity, control, it was her source of air. Without it, her lungs would suffocate and her heartbeat would stop beating.
Her eyes were only focused forward, at the Elites, pushing people to the side even if it meant the closest of friends. She always knew Tara would welcome her to the group. She was pretty, preppy, and had one hell of an attitude. Until Mabel showed up and ruined all her plans.
Now, Tara ignored her pleas to join the group, welcoming Mabel under her wing. It made Gabriela furious. She had always planned to join the Elites. She was going to take over the Queen Bee position.
It was funny, really.
That someone who had no characteristics for joining the Elites became one of them. Gabi remembered that time in third grade when she asked Tara if she could sit with them.
Fumbling with her fingers, the nervous feeling didn't disappear. Her eyes were locked on the loud table in the distance. She took a deep breath.
You can do this Gabi, just be nice.
And so she headed over there, with long powerful strides. She could do this. Students from other tables followed her gaze, whispering to their friends.
The group hadn't noticed, too busy chatting and stuffing their mouths full. Even at age eight, they wore clothes worn by thirteen-year-olds. They looked ridiculous. Tara wore a red tub top with short denim shorts and Gabriela wondered how the heck her parents allowed her to wear that.
