Feels like a Dream...

<~-*SEVEN-REGRETS*-~>

Kali's POV

Kali slinks through the school hallways, her mind churning with frustration. The confrontation with Avery yesterday didn’t go as planned. Her victory, once so assured, now feels like a hollow shell. She has been replaying Avery's hurt expression in her mind, each repetition adding to the weight of her own doubts.

She and Alice decided to stay back today, avoiding the usual hangouts to keep their distance from Avery and her friends. Kali finds a spot in the far corner of the school courtyard, hidden behind a row of trees. From here, she can observe without being seen.

Her gaze falls on Avery and her group, who are gathered around a picnic table. The laughter and animated conversation from the group cut through the quiet of the courtyard. Avery’s smile, though still tinged with remnants of the previous day's tension, is genuine. She looks more at ease, her friends’ support evident in the way they interact.

Kali’s heart sinks as she watches. The camaraderie and warmth that radiate from Avery and her friends are a stark contrast to the isolation Kali feels. She had hoped their plan would bring Avery down a notch, but instead, it’s revealed a chasm she hadn’t anticipated—one between her and her former friends.

Alice’s subdued presence beside her is a constant reminder of their failure. Kali’s frustration boils beneath the surface, but she tries to mask it with a scowl. She wants to be angry, to blame Avery and her friends for this shift in her plans. But the satisfaction she once craved is replaced with a growing unease.

As Avery’s laughter rings out across the courtyard, Kali's mind drifts back to the night of the Halloween contest. She remembers the thrill of their supposed victory, the plan she crafted to undermine Avery. Now, that thrill feels tainted by an undercurrent of regret.

Alice shifts uncomfortably beside her, her eyes fixed on the group with a mixture of sadness and guilt. Kali glances at her and sees the same conflicted emotions reflected in Alice's eyes. For a moment, Kali's resolve wavers. She had been so determined to bring Avery down, but now she’s confronted with the reality of the pain they’ve caused.

Alice's POV

Alice stands next to Kali, her gaze fixed on the group of friends enjoying their lunch. The laughter and lightheartedness coming from Avery and her friends are like a knife twisting in her side. She had followed Kali’s lead, thinking it would be a way to reclaim some semblance of control, but now the consequences of their actions are impossible to ignore.

Her heart aches as she watches Avery smile, her usual self, surrounded by friends who clearly care about her. Alice remembers the times when Avery had been kind and supportive, a stark contrast to the cruel prank they had pulled. The guilt she feels now is overwhelming, and it’s hard to reconcile her actions with the person she wants to be.

Alice’s eyes flit to Kali, who seems more composed on the surface but whose clenched fists betray her frustration. Alice wonders if Kali is feeling the same pangs of regret that she is. The plan to humiliate Avery, meant to assert their power, has only highlighted their own failings.

“Why did we do this?” Alice mutters, her voice barely audible. She feels a pang of regret that’s been building ever since the confrontation.

Kali shoots her a sharp look. “We did what we thought was right,” she snaps, though her voice lacks its usual conviction. “It’s just part of the game.”

Alice isn’t convinced. She watches Avery and her friends with a heavy heart, the realization of the harm they’ve caused sinking in. The laughter she hears feels like a distant echo, a reminder of the camaraderie she and Kali once shared with this group. The space between them now feels vast and insurmountable.