The Masks We Wear

Chapter 12| This Isn't Right

"Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom."
—Thomas Jefferson

{ E L E N A ' S      P O V }

It has been two months since I've revealed my secret to Scarlett. I knew I was walking on a tightrope there, when I risked my reputation by telling her.

She wasn't that type of person to go around telling people's secrets. That and because I Y owed that much to her, after what I've put her through. Today's the day of the photography competition, so I'd have no choice but to talk to her today.

I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't avoiding her.

I just didn't want to see the look of pity on her face.

The thing I hated the most when you tell people your story is the 'I'm sorry'. Why would they say 'I'm sorry'? It's not like they could've done anything to help prevent it. Sorry is an apology. What is there to apologize?

Perhaps that was an oversimplification. But I just really do hate it when people apologize to me after I tell them what happened.

Therefore I simply chose to tell a limited amount of people.

Anyways, I was nervous and excited for today's competition. We have six people entering, me, Scarlett, one of my 'friends' Chloe, and three others whom I didn't know.

As I said, today was a big day. It's the day the Photography club has been preparing for months. Maybe it doesn't seem too much of a big deal, but we all know that this was a huge step for us. Most people only care about the prize, but to be frank, I wanted bragging rights.

Call it my cheer leading instinct. 

"Elena! You're going to be late!" My mother called out grumpily. Since Autumn had gone back to Princeton, it was my mom who was back to helping me get up, and go to school on time. 

"Yeah! Coming!" I shouted back. I quickly got ready, and headed downstairs. 

Since it was a competition, we had to get to the school early, and there would be a bus there that would bring me and the rest of the people who are going to the center. 

It wasn't that early, but well, my mom she's not the nicest person when it's early. 

***
The bus ride to the competition wasn't much, I guess. I sat beside Chloe, but didn't talk much. I prefer looking out the window, and also taking a few pictures of the landscape if there was a nice spot. 

Chloe, however, didn't get the clue. 

She was practically a chatterbox the entire way, babbling about some Prada bag that her parents wouldn't buy her. 

When we got there, we had to immediately go down to the main hall, since we arrived there late due to the traffic of the early work load of people in the morning. 

Anyways, when we got there, well, to say we were shocked was an understatement. The different competitions all had such a wide variety of colours, and selection. Ours was good, at least that's what I thought before. 

Needless to say, all of our egos shrank the moment we saw our competition. 

As we sat down and waited for our school name to be called,one of the guys in the group that was up before smirked at me. 

The nerve! 

And no, it wasn't those type of flirty smirks, it was those smirks that think you can't do better than them. 

I glared at  the guy, and bared my teeth. 

After a few other schools went up there, it certainly wasn't helping. 

Finally, our name got called from the announcer. 

We all slowly trudged up the stairs up the stage, all silently wishing that the humiliation would be over soon. 

One by one, we revealed our photos. Me, Scarlett and Freya were going to be the last couple of people showing the pictures we've taken the past couple of months, and in that order.

I opened my bag, and held out my picture for everyone to see.

Some gasps took over the crowd. Bewildered, I craned my neck so that I could see what it was. 

It was most definitely NOT a picture I took. 

It was a picture of me. Laughing standing on a rock with my arms spread out. The background, with red, orange, and yellow leaves just brought out me. My chocolate eyes stood out, crinkling from the smile, and my laugh was genuine. My hair flew around, and normally should have looked disgusting, but it somehow seemed... Pretty, a casual type, a carefree type. 

Scarlett, whilst still looking shocked got her photo out. It was a gorgeous landscape, with the vivid details of falling leaves with a slight canopy of snow on top of them. 

Freya went last. Hers, true to her hair colour was an aesthetic like photo with her starring in it, her bold hair making a statement. 

It was done. We rushed back to our chairs, and watched the other schools. The guy who smirked at me before begrudgingly gave me a look, then went back to watching the show. 

***

"And the winner for the annual Fall themed competition goes to... Goldwaves High!" 

There was a moment of stunned silence. Then, we regained our senses, and jumped right off, screaming and shouting with joy, hugging or clapping one another's shoulders. 

We did it. 

As we were loading up the people who went on the bus, I heard an oomph. 

I turned around to see a group of boys tripping Scarlett. 

I casually walked over to them and offered my hand to Scarlett. She accepted it with gratitude, and hurried off onto the bus. 

"Oh, and next time boys, do remember that she's one of the main reasons WE won." I smirked at them. 

"Bastards." I muttered under my breath. 

***

OKAY SO CRINGEY EWEWWEWEW WHAT IS THIS OH GOD. THIS IS HORRIBLE IM SORRY BUT THE DEADLINE FOR THIS IS COMING UP AROUND THE CORNER AND I WAS IN A RUSH OKAY IM SORRY THIS IS THE WORST CHAPTER ON EARTH EWEWEWEW

~VIV