The Stray Souls ["The Diary Keeper" Sequel; "The Dark Legacies" Series]

Chapter 37: Setting sail for adventure

"What?!" Life didn't prepare me for such plot twists. And I've watched enough TV series during my teenage years, so not much can surprise me. "You're having a fling with the son of our headmistress?"

"Lia, speak quieter!"

"No one will hear us here."

"You think so!"

"Caroline, where did you even meet your prince?" I sarcastically asked. "And since when are you even interested in dates?"

"It's not about dates," she confessed, "It's much more serious here."

"He's giving you expensive gifts?" I raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Well then, my congratulations!"

"You're not getting it," my friend seemed reluctant to tell the whole truth. "It's about... Well, Terry is Mrs. Fairfield's son, and I... need good grades on my school transcript."

"What?" I admit, my jaw almost dropped at that moment. "You're dating a guy for the sake of grades?"

"Liandra, I want to get into Harvard. And there, school performance matters. I'm hoping our headmistress will ensure that I receive high marks. I'm dating her son, after all."

"Okay, what will you do after admission? Will you break up with Terry?"

"I'll think about it," Honestly, Caroline didn't look very pleased. "I met him through Instagram. He's very proud and arrogant, so I don't see a future with him. But I also don't want to miss the chance to use him. I don't pity guys like Terry."

The whole situation was quite confusing. Initially, I felt a twinge of happiness when Caroline started dating a guy. It was like she had finally found something outside of school to be excited about - someone who made her smile, who brought a sparkle to her eyes that wasn't just from acing another exam.

But then, as she confessed the real reason behind her newfound romance - to boost her chances of getting into Harvard - I couldn't help but feel a wave of shock wash over me. I mean, don't get me wrong, I knew Caroline was ambitious, but using someone's feelings like that? That was a whole new level of calculating, even for her.

Maybe she wasn't just a cold-hearted opportunist after all. Maybe she was just scared - scared of failing, of disappointing everyone, of not living up to the sky-high expectations she set for herself. I'm not sure, really.

After all, Caroline was just as human as the rest of us - flawed, fragile, and desperately searching for her place in the world. And even though her methods might be questionable, her heart was in the right place - she just wanted to make something of herself, to prove that she was worthy of all the dreams she dared to chase.

As we were strolling along the street, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Maybe it was the way the shadows grew longer as evening approached, casting a cloak of darkness over the city. Or maybe it was the way Caroline's secret hung heavy in my brain.

Despite the passing hours, my mind was still consumed by thoughts of Caroline's dirty secret. It was like a dark cloud looming over our heads, threatening to burst open at any moment and drench us in the cold reality of her deception.

Even as we laughed and chatted, pretending like everything was normal, I couldn't escape the nagging feeling that things would never be the same between us. How could they, when I now knew the truth? Darkness was descending, both literally and metaphorically.

***

I strolled back home in the evening, feeling all tired from the day. And just when I thought I can finally crashed on the couch, I saw a notification blinking on my phone screen. Gmail. Hmm, that's odd, I think. I don't usually get important stuff there. Who could send me a message? I usually use only social networks and messengers.

Curiosity got the best of me, as usual, so I tapped on it and opened up my inbox. And there it was, this email sitting right at the top, practically begging to be read. I clicked on it, wondering what the heck it could be about.

As I start reading, my eyes widen, and a grin slowly spreads across my face.

Subject: Invitation to the Photography Contest Award Ceremony

Dear Liandra Amelia Di Flores,

We are thrilled to inform you that you have been nominated in the upcoming Photography Contest, and we would like to extend our warmest congratulations to you!

Your outstanding talent and creative vision have been recognized, and we cordially invite you to the official award ceremony, which will take place on the 5th of August at 5:00 PM. The ceremony will be held at:

Charleston Photography Center

123 Main Street

Charleston, South Carolina

We are excited to celebrate your achievements alongside other talented photographers and industry professionals. Your presence at the ceremony would make the event truly special.

Please RSVP by 9 PM to confirm your attendance. If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to contact us.

Once again, congratulations on your nomination, and we look forward to honoring your exceptional work at the ceremony.

Best regards,

Mrs. Cooper

Alright, so here's the deal. I've got this invitation to the ceremony in Charleston, and it's like this big deal, you know? But here's one thing - I haven't told my parents anything about it. In fact, they're always so caught up in their own world, they wouldn't even notice if I slipped away for a bit, right?

So, I've been cooking up this plan, laying out every little detail, feeling like some kind of secret agent on a mission. It's exhilarating, honestly. The thought of pulling this off without them knowing? It's like I'm living out some kind of spy movie or something. But I like this feeling of adventures and noone would stop me from any foolishness.

But there was still one thing that somewhat worried me - one of the conditions of the contest was reaching the age of 18, which was clearly far from the truth. Won't that be an obstacle?