September 10

The box was simply nothing but a bland brown box without its pretty cover. Surprisingly, I felt my hands tremble as if telling me not to open it. Listen to Darren, you dummy!

No, I won't, I told myself. And dug my nail-polish lacking fingers between the flap lid and tried to wry it open.

RINNNNNNGGGGGGGGG!

"Oh my God," I sighed and bent down to dig for my phone from my jeans pocket. I retreated my hands reluctantly from the box and accepted the call.

"ASSHHHEEE!" she screamed into my ears. I didn't introduce you to this nuisance did I?

Her name is Fiona Styles. She adores Blackpink (I'm pretty sure that says a lot about her already) and loves binge-watching Disney series on the weekends and The Flash on the weekdays.

More importantly, she has been my best friend for two years. We met at a robot designing workshop. While I like coding, she likes the mechanics. I personally thought we are the perfect pair.

"Where the jams are you?" she screamed again and I frowned.

"What do you mean?"

She sighed exasperatedly through the phone, "The exhibition! It's happening right now and I'm standing all alone here! Are you coming anytime soon?"

My breath hitched. Shit. The inter-school exhibition. My eyes flitted to the calendar and saw the date. September 10. My heart was pounding now as anxiety kicked in and sent me spiraling downhill.

I whimpered and placed my hand on the table for support."Fiona..I..my robot..it's gone...I can't come.." I don't want to tell you this...but tears were forming at the rims of my eyes.

This exhibition...was my chance to get noticed. Professors from the biggest colleges were to come and it was my one shot at hitting it big. I was about to blame Saye, but then I caught myself. It's my fault. I should have fixed my robot overnight. It was all my fault.

"Carry on without me," I whimpered again. But Fiona wouldn't take none of it, "Ashe! Don't think about anything! Just come, the professors are going to be here soon."

"But-"

"COME," she warned and hung up on me. I stared at the phone in exasperation. Then I glanced at the box again. Maybe I should open it after Darren came.

Ha. There was the normal me again. Influenced by what others told me. Too scared to even open a box.

I stacked the unopened box on top of my cupboard and grabbed my bag before being the last person to finally leave the Hermann household.

I locked the door and walked out of the gate and up the street, all the way back to school, my heart filling with dread with every step I took that was closer to the building.

Because I knew that the few people who cared about winning this exhibition was expecting their competitor Ashe Hermann there. And that included one more person.

Saye.