💡 Murder in the Moonlight

staying silent

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Tight skirt, perfect hair, gorgeous smile.

I've dreamt of this life for as long as I can remember and now I finally have it. People love me, people want to be me, people notice me. As we strut down the hallway in standard formation, nobody can resist the temptation to stare in awe. Why? We have social standing, they don't. I guess I have Lara to thank for it all; she brought me up from a place of social suffering. And because of her, I'm living the life I've always wished for and I'm not just a lifeless ghost floating throughout each day.

So why can't I help but feel so miserable for myself?

Lara stops in her tracks. She turns to her side; we shuffle beside her.

"Aww, hi there! Why haven't I seen you two before?" Lara puts on a high-pitched voice and an ingenuine smile. From where I'm stood, I can't even see who she's talking to.

"I'm Lara and these are my friends Colleen, Odette and Elizabeth! It's so nice to meet you," she points at us and I wave back awkwardly.

"What's your deal?" one of them finally speaks up. I can actually see the girl now; she has gorgeous pin-straight brunette hair and deep brown eyes that are complimented by her black glasses.

"Do you really think I'm here to mess with you? Aww, that's so sweet! Isn't it, Lizzie?" Lara turns over her shoulder, glaring at me with a fake pout plastered on her face. Her eyes are practically screaming at me to answer similarly and I might just be sick.

"Uh... yeah. Real sweet..." I trail off. My voice is almost as fake as Lara's.

"Would you mind backing off? It's our first day, we don't need it ruined by any bullies," the second girl states as she crosses her arms. I can't help but admire her astonishingly long, blonde hair that rests on her shoulder in a perfect plait. And god, the scarlet uniform compliments her figure so nicely.

"Bullies?" Lara pauses.

"You really think we're here to bully you?"

Neither of the girls respond. Smart decision.

"I make it my duty to welcome all kids to this hellhole with open arms. But just because you've asked, why don't I let you in on a little secret?" she smiles, her tone sweeter than ever. She takes a step forward.

"Mess with me again and I'll make sure your life is ruined. Got it?" Lara's whisper is intimidating and holds an undertone of authority yet she still sounds sweeter than ever. Almost as if she know she's miles above the two.

My eyes dart across the corridor. There's a pretty big crowd forming on either side and quite a lot of rough, athletic boys are holding their phones out to film this argument unfold. I notice a few familiar faces: my old friend Marley nervously pushing her way through the crowd, a girl I've never heard say a word in all my years at this school, whose name I believe is Indah, running the opposite way and him. But his eyes aren't on me. They're on Lara, just like everybody else. Which is only fair. I keep praying in my head that someone – anyone even – will put an end to this. Unfortunately for me, nobody here is intelligent enough for telekinesis.

Lara's orders are endless: no wearing your hair like hers, no coming anywhere near our lockers, no interacting with her "perfect" boyfriend Jojo. No sitting within a 5-seat radius of her in class, no sitting anywhere near us in the cafeteria, no wearing her signature shade of lip gloss. By now, I can feel my lunch crawling up my throat and I'm ready to puke on Lara's perfectly-styled plaid skirt. But I don't. Because as much as I hate accepting the social order of our school, childhood Elizabeth is loving every second of it.

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FLICK, FLICK.