EUPHORIA

Caroline: the perfect illusion

### Chapter One: The Perfect Illusion

I was the best person. Everyone's parents always wanted their kids to be like me. Smart, funny, and on my way to Harvard. My life was perfect.

At least, that's how it looked to me.

July 16th, the year I graduated high school, everything seemed set. All my courses were maxed out, and my GPA was perfect. While other kids spent time at parties, drinking, and sex, I buried my nose in books. Now, I had absolutely nothing to worry about. This was going to be the easiest year of my school life.

"Hey, I never got your call last night. I thought you were gonna text me back," Yadarishi Nakamura said. He was a part-time playboy, really good at math, and always there when it mattered. Also, one of my best friends-or more accurately, one of my only friends. I never really had much time for anything outside school.

"Well, aren't you saying anything?" His voice, like a bell, brought me back to reality. In the next few minutes, I'd be late for class, so I needed to end this conversation fast. "I'm so sorry..."

I was so not.

"Yesterday, my dad gave me a really hard time, and after studying, I just fell asleep. I promise it won't happen again," I said, putting on my doll-sad face. It always managed to get to him.

"That won't cut it. You and me, football pitch this afternoon."

"But I have classes this afternoon."

"Figure it out then," he said, disappearing into the wild stretch of colliding students in the hallway.

Never mind him; I had to attend this class. Thrusting my locker open, I pulled out two notebooks. Everything else went back in, even my phone. I couldn't afford it ringing while I was in class. Slamming my locker door, I faced the stampede of students in the hallway and on the stairs, all the way to class.

Waiting there was Mr. Glenon, our principal-or as I liked to call him, Glen Glen.

He never really liked that one.

"Hey, Glen Glen," I said with a smile. His face was a frown. He shook his head and looked at me, not sure if he was happy or not.

"Morning, Miss Caroline. Could I speak with you about something?" He looked at me as if about to tell me someone died. "In my office."

The look on his face was one of worry. I hadn't seen that look since my mother.

"I'll be there. What time?" He still held the look, then took a deep breath, held it, and exhaled.

"Would you kindly escort me to my office? And before you say anything, I'm sorry you have to miss class, but not like you need it. You're already top of it, and that's saying something."

My jaw hung open, but I was left speechless. We were at his office door when he looked at me one last time, then opened the door slowly. Sitting there was no other than Bell Ramsey-the only girl who could keep a straight face and still get under my skin. The latter was rare.

"Miss Caroline, if you would please sit down," Mr. Glenon said. His voice was toned, but he knew what he did. I took the empty seat next to her, my eyes fixed on hers as if looking at the person responsible for all my problems.

She was.

She slid back into her seat with a smug look on her face, her eyes widened, barely trying not to laugh. "Really, this is my new tutor? Are you fucking serious?" I was still staring at her, having no idea what she said. I turned to Mr. Glenon, my eyebrows all the way up.

"No way am I going to work with her. She's irresponsible, childish, and above all else, unbearable," I said, still waiting for an explanation. Mr. Glenon sat upright, facing me. He used his fingers to clear his throat, something he only did when he was nervous or scared.

He had the right to.

"This year, for senior projects, our school thought it would be a great idea to do a magazine for the ice hockey team. So I was wondering if the theatre department and the sports federation could come to an understanding," he said. I took in his words, trying to avoid the presence next to me.

"Sir, with all due respect, I just cannot work with-" I turned to look at her-"this person, for personal reasons." I could see the tear in her eyes, the pumpkin cheeks glowing, and the spread of her lips revealing her set of perfectly aligned teeth.

"Can I tell her? I really want to tell her, sir," she said. He nodded while reaching into his cabinet for his vintage scotch.

"This year, you're graduating high school, but you can't apply for your silly Harvard if you don't have an extracurricular activity, like hockey for instance. Luckily, they included other activities such as photography and magazine making. Long story short, you have to do this with me or apply to a different university." The smile on her face widened as the light in my eyes disappeared, then she started to laugh.

"Sir, this can't be real. I... I can't work with her."

She stood up and was about to leave, then turned to me one last time, making sure I could see her smile. "I'll text you the address to my place so we can get this tutoring thing over with," she said, closing the door slowly, letting the words gradually sink in.

I turned slowly; he was already on his fourth glass. "You'll do great. I know you will. Just pull through and enjoy the little things," he said, gesturing for me to leave. I picked up my notes and stormed out of his office. I just needed to get ready for my next class to clear my head, but waiting for me at my locker was no other than Bell herself. The moment we made eye contact, her stupid smile widened.

She hung herself over my locker and didn't say a word until I got there. "You know you can't avoid me forever, Line," she said, using the stupid nickname she called me.

"And what makes you think I can't, Eliy?" I crossed my arms over my chest. I never knew the presence she commanded, but she was tall and had a strong body, toned, smelled like roses, and her voice was captivating...

Snap out of it, Caroline.

"Aren't you going to reply to your only friend?" her voice brought me back to the present. Yada was standing in front of me, his eyes furious, no sign of his usual smile.

"I missed you in class today. Where were you?" I hadn't seen him frown since 8th grade.

"I'm sorry. Mr. Glenon called me to his office, and it took a while," I said, looking at Ramsey. "But I'm okay now."

"Okay, are we still on for tonight? You said you were coming over to study, and don't forget this afternoon."

This was not going to work.

"She has an appointment tonight, and this afternoon she's busy as well, so I'm not so sure she's free," Bell said. Yada looked at her with curious eyes, then looked at me for an explanation I wasn't sure I wanted to give.

"Don't worry, I'll be free this afternoon, but I have urgent business tonight I can't skip. But I..." Not letting me finish, he walked away without saying a single word.

"You just had to say something, Eliy."

"My fault? It's not my fault you're such a shitty friend."

"Says the self-righteous queen who only cares about herself."

Once I heard the bell for the next class, I left her standing there like a statue.