The next morning I had made up my mind to start a fresh beginning. A new start to a new life that can be hopefully less depressing. I called out to mom and asked her to have my breakfast ready. Then I packed my bag and was ready to leave.

"Where are you going, Cal?" Grandma asked.

"I'm going to Lucy's. I haven't seen her since forever. Dina is going to meet us there too." I turn back and answer.

"That's great. You'll have a nice change of mind." Grandma said with an encouraging smile to lift my heart.

"Yes. Okay, bye. I'm going to be late!" I exclaimed as I put on my headphones and rode my bicycle towards Lucy's house. She lived in a very big house, she had her own swimming pool in her backyard and also a little garden.

As I reached, I rang the doorbell. To my surprise, James opened the door. "Hey! Long time no see! Lucy told me you'll come."

"Yes. I.." Just then I remembered Eva saying that he likes her. For some reason, I just wanted to ignore him for that. "Yeah..umm thanks for opening the door. "I say as I continue my trail into the house.

"Hey, Cal! Is my elder brother troubling you?" Lucy asked in a light tone.

"Nope. Not at all. When is Dina coming?" I asked as we walked towards her room trying to divert the attention.

"She'll probably reach any minute." Just then the doorbell rang.

"Looks like she's here. " Lucy said as she walked towards the door.
Just then James came up to me. He said, "what's up with you today? You don't seem like the same full of beans girl from school."

"Nothing, just busy and hectic and probably stressful life. " I said daring not to look at him right into his eyes.
"I know. But that doesn't really seem it."

"James, it's nothing.", I asserted. "Plus you have other people to worry about. ", indicating Evanthia.

He looked offended, said "Fine." and walked away. I felt sad for him as I saw him move away from my view. He probably didn't even know why I'm upset. But I didn't have a place to discharge the anger that I had against Evanthia. The fact that James, one boy who I had really liked for the first time, liked her, really pained me. My thoughts were interrupted by Dina who literally jumped on me.

"Caaaaaaaaal! Where were you for so many days? Oh my god! I missed you so much!" Dina exclaimed.

"Calm down Dina! I'm right here." I replied.
"By the way, where's Evanthia? She went on a trip with you right?" Dina asked.

"How could both of you just go on a trip without us?" Lucy added.
"Wait. How do you know that we went on a trip?" I asked.

"We went to your house to ask you why you missed homecoming. Your grandma told us that you both went on a trip together." Lucy replied.

"Homecoming reminds me...you will not believe what happened, Callidora!!" Dina exclaimed.

"What happened?" I asked widening my eyes.

"Lucy found someone!" Dina exclaimed.

I couldn't believe it. "Who's the lucky guy?" I asked.

"Not a guy, a girl!" Dina replied.

"What! Lucy, you didn't tell me that you were a lesbian! Tell me more! Now! What's her name?" I asked with joy.

"Her name is Stacey. She's in senior high too." Lucy said, her eyes sparkling.

"Stacey? You mean the Stacey who is Caleb's  babysitter?" I enquired.

"Yes. She's great right?" Lucy asked.
"I haven't met her yet. I've only spoken to her on the phone. She sounds like a nice person." I said.

"Yes. Wait until I tell you the whole story!" Dina said.

"My ears are always open to gossip!" I said.

"Good to know. Okay, so this is what happened. Lucy and I went to the homecoming dance together as we obviously didn't have partners. As you know, I'm always honored to be one of the DJ's of the school dance, so I went to do my job. Little did I realize, Stacey approached Lucy and asked her for a dance. They danced all night on the 80s songs I played and also spoke quite a bit. And then they--" Dina said.

"Then nothing. Nothing at all!" Lucy interrupted, ruffling her hands over Dina's mouth to prevent her words.

"Then what? You kissed?" I asked.
Lucy and Dina stared at one another.

"Oh my god! What did I miss?" I exclaimed.

"It was just a short and gentle kiss. I promise!" Lucy said.

"Lucy, you shouldn't kiss a stranger you've spent only two hours with!" I said.

"I knew that you'd say that. But that kiss really meant something to both of us. It wasn't just a kiss, it was love. I could feel it. Believe me." Lucy clarified.

"Okay." I sighed. "If you say so. I haven't experienced love anyways. So I have no right to stop you. But dude, really, you don't fall in love in high school."

"Please don't say that, Cal. Also, I'm sure you'll find one soon."

"That's only if I get out of the mess created by me first. " I said absentmindedly.

"What mess?" Lucy asked.

"What's wrong, Cal?" Dina asked.

"N..nothing. It's just a small thing. Nothing to worry about." I said. I remembered grandma warning me not to tell anyone about Bellendis.

"Is it about Evanthia? Is she okay?" Dina asked me.

"Where is she?" Lucy asked. "Why didn't she come with you?" Dina asked again.

"Did anything happen to her?" Lucy asked me.

"Is she lost?" Dina asked.

"You can tell us."

"We'll help you out."

I couldn't hear anymore. I clenched my fist so tight that I felt my nails piercing through my skin. I shut my eyes so tight to stop crying, but the efforts were not of any use.

"Stop! Just stop it both of you! I don't want to hear anything about her!" I screamed and tears filled my eyes.
Dina and Lucy stopped talking and stared at me in shock.

"What happened Cal? What's wrong?" Dina asked as she embraced me. Tears rolled down my cheek. No matter how much I tried to stop them, they wouldn't stop.

Lucy got me some water and Dina calmed me down.

"Tell us, Cal. We'll help you out." Dina said.

"Plus, venting out your emotions will make you feel better. " Lucy suggested.

"She...she betrayed me. " I said.

"What? Evanthia betrayed you? Why in the world would she do that?" Dina asked.

"Even I don't know. But she did. She lied to me all this time. She pretended to be my best friend even though she hated me all throughout so that she could steal my notes and get good grades." I said as I wiped my tears.

"It clearly doesn't sound like a thing she would do. " Dina said.

"So, do you think I'm lying?" I asked.

"No. Not at all. Why would I think that? I trust you, Cal. But I really can't believe that she did that." Dina explained herself.

"She was Zina's best friend from fifth grade! Did you know about that guys?" I asked.

"Woah! Seriously?" Lucy exclaimed.

"I know right! I felt as though a whole building had fallen upon me when I heard that." I said.

"No, Cal. I mean. Seriously? You so cannot believe that! Evanthia hated Zina from the time she even knew her!" Lucy exclaimed.

"That cannot be true. Eva told me that herself." I said.

"Well, she definitely lied then. " Dina said.

"Why would she lie?" I asked.

"I don't know. But I know that they both really hated each other." Dina said.

Just then, a sudden horrid thought occurred to me. What if they were lying to me too?

"I just don't know who to trust anymore. I mean how do I know that you guys are saying the truth?" I asked.

"Cal, we would never betray you. " Lucy said.

"How can you doubt us? We would never hurt you, Cal." Dina assured.

"Eva didn't warn me before she did either. I'm sorry but if you guys want me to believe you, then I need to see some proof." I said.

"Okay. I will get you proof. I know for a fact that Zina and Eva hated each other." Lucy said.

"Thanks. I'll wait for it." I said.

"Let's go and grab some ice cream!" Dina suggested with excitement in her eyes and innocence in her cheerful voice.

"I have to take grandma for her routine checkup. You guys go ahead. I'll see you later." I said as we got up and went towards the door.

"Oh! I just realized, I left my phone somewhere." I said and went in search of my phone.

I searched for it everywhere but I just couldn't find it. After checking the rooms, the kitchen, and the dining, I went to the backyard. I spotted my phone on a wooden table. As I ran to get it, my leg slipped on something and I fell into the swimming pool. I was in a state of shock. The water was so cold.

My thoughts escaped to the river in Bellendis. All of a sudden I felt as though I was in drowning in the wish-granting river and as though I had forgotten swimming. I cried for help.