Mirroring

Crystal

 Crystal couldn't focus on anything after Andromeda helped her. One, she was plainly surprised that a straight A student would help a top troublemaker, and two, she was full of questions about how Andromeda did the trick. There was no way that a book could be in two places - and Crystal definitely didn't give her homework book to Andromeda. The whole day - even at break times, she avoided her friends any chance she could to not show Andromeda helped her. She kept trying to find Andromeda, but it seemed as if she wanted to avoid Crystal as well. Whenever Crystal tried to talk to her, she seemed to shrink away again, looking ashamed and guilty. Crystal didn't think she did anything wrong, in fact, she seemed to accept the new transfer student, for the first time ever.

It wasn't until the last lesson did Andromeda have any interaction with Crystal apart from the incident with the homework book. Crystal had been called to Ms Hawthorn's office, and she couldn't do anything but obey the order. Expecting the worst, she tottered into Mrs Hawthorn's office for the third time this month. Before, she hadn't really cared about going, but because of the snowboarding trip, she has been especially conscious of her actions. Ms Hawthorn technically didn't have an actual office, just a small area in the staffroom separated by soundproof glass panes. Inside the office, there's just a simple desk, computer, pencils, and drawers on drawers of confiscated student items. This time, to her immense surprise, she wasn't the only one in the office. Andromeda was there too, looking as scared as a mouse would if it had seen a cat, her hair unmoving even though there was a breeze of faint air-con. If Crystal remembered right, Andromeda had never been here before.

Once Crystal arrived, Ms Hawthorn sniggered and began talking. "Tardiness is unacceptable, Student 10." She gave Crystal such a cold look that it almost froze Crystal's veins, just like what her mother always does. "You should have known that by now."

Crystal relaxed. Whatever she was being called here for, it wasn't really serious. Ms Hawthorn will really get to the point if it was. Maybe it was just the makeup she was wearing, and wearing makeup can't earn her a detention.

"I just wanted to say, before I was rudely interrupted," Ms Hawthorn said, casting a pointed stare at Crystal's direction, something her mother absolutely loved to do. "Student 12, your homework is completely identical to Student 10's. Did you willingly, or did Student 10 plan out some elaborate blackmail, give Student 10 your homework to copy?"

Andromeda gulped, looking down at her black leather shoes. This is the closest to trouble Andromeda will ever get, Crystal thought. But as Andromeda thought quickly, something that Crystal admired secretly.

Crystal wasn't worried one bit about the situation, as she usually did copy others' homework by asking them to come to her house, in her room and use the mirror as a bargaining tool. She'd claim she had put some of her makeup or money below the mirror's shadow, and then ask the others to do the favour - first. Only then, would Crystal tell them that they'd just been tricked. This was a "one-time only" trick, but there were many nerds in the school to choose from. However, she never ever will copy from Andromeda, and there is no way that they can have the exact same answers to each question.

"—— me and student 10 sometimes meet at my house to revise for assignments," finished Andromeda.

"Hmm, Student 12..." Ms Hawthorn mused. Crystal knew Ms Hawthorn won't ever question Andromeda's honesty, something that Crystal would never achieve in Ms Hawthorn's ranks. She prayed that Ms Hawthorn won't call their parents to check whether this is true, as a little investigation will make this whole operation collapse.

She was a bit too focused in her thoughts to realise Ms Hawthorn had asked her a question, and now everyone in the office was staring at her. She wished she herself could shrink into the space below the mirror herself.