Thump thump thump thump.
No.
Whispers began to rise as everyone questioned what was happening.
It can't be happening. This isn't Vivian that's here right now.
Fayth's eyes were caught in terror. She should have known Vivian would be behind all these vulgar rumors. She should've known it from the first rumor. Nevertheless, her in the Academy was the very last thing Fayth expected.
Thump thump thump thump.
Fayth's heart jumped back and forth like a tennis ball inside her chest. Her right hand began shaking uncontrollably.
"Hey Charles." Vivian winked at Charles, who was as tense as Fayth. He stared at Vivian and wondered what the hell she was doing in the Academy.
Fayth could only sit there frozen, terrified to the bones. She still couldn't comprehend or wrap her mind around the fact that Vivian was standing before her. In the Academy. Under the spotlight of her past, present and possibly her future.
It's happening, the tip of the first domino... the aroma of blood before the lion's nose.
"You're the one who knocked out one of Dawn's Angels?" Katerina asked, smirking.
Vivian looked up at her, the smile on her face disappearing. "Do I know you?"
Long silence.
"Then shut the hell up." Vivian demanded, her tone more rude and cold than anyone in the Academy could pull off. She looked back at Fayth. Smiling, she said, "Who would have known you'd embrace the style I signed off to you so many times, but you refused to take part of. I gotta say though, it's not as hot as I thought it'd be on you Fay–"
Fayth jumped off her chair, her body colliding against Vivian's and knocking it down to the floor. She quickly covered her mouth and silenced her as she turned and fake smiled at the F.A.I.T.H. members. "Sorry, my friend here is a bit crazy. I think she walked into the wrong building or something. Charles?" Fayth looked at Charles. "Can you come help me give Vivian a tour of the Academy?"
"Damn." Vivian said, standing up and walking away with Fayth and Charles. "If you didn't want me to talk, you could have just told me."
In the piano room.
Fayth pushed Vivian by the collar against the wall, fuming. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Calm down babe. I'm not here to bite some ass, don't worry."
Fayth let her go and paced in front of her. "How did you find out that I was here?"
"I didn't."
Fayth dropped her head back and laughed. "Uha, tell me another joke."
"Don't be sarcastic with me. I didn't."
Fayth pointed at Charles. "Did you tell her?" She demanded.
Charles put his arms up in defense. "I didn't. I'm as surprised as you are."
Fayth looked back at Vivian and while withholding so much anger she asked again, "Who told you?"
"No one. I was transferred here."
"Why?"
"Apparently, I'm not fit for a public school. I needed to be in a dumb ass prestigious one. And with my colorful record, they decided that here is the better option because of some faith program or some shit. So they transferred me here."
"How did you know I was here?"
"I didn't. Until I saw your picture on the freshmen 'nice to meet you' wall. Turns out you're in F.A.I.T.H. too. After asking a few questions, I found out some things about you. Rude things, so... they ended up getting hurt." She snorted. "Rihanna Gessner? Fifteen? You weren't going to tell anyone you're actually seventeen right?"
"Listen–"
"No, you listen. I finally have something on you. I'm holding the ball, I call off the game. So this is how it's going to go down. We're both going to attend this shitty school, and we're going to have fun like old times, alright?"
"I can't." Fayth said, gritting her teeth. "You don't understand."
"I don't have to understand. You always lead me. Give me a chance. Let me do it this time. Believe me, I can make you proud."
Fayth jabbed a finger on Vivian's chest. "I don't need you to make me proud. Just leave. This place is hell. Hell."
"Then why are you in it?"
Fayth stared at Vivian. Anger devoured her muscles as the temptation of beating her into a pulp became vital. Charles put a hand on her shoulder, and squeezed, calming her down.
"Vivi, you need to leave." Fayth finally breathed. "I need this. That's all you need to know."
"What if I know more than you think I do?"
"I don't think you'll ever know what's inside here." Fayth pointed at her head. "And I hope that you'll never do. I can't be sorry enough. I regret–"
Anger covered Vivian's expression and her eyes stung. "Don't apologize for shit to me."
"Please leave. I can't have anyone know my secrets in here. It's enough that you and Charles do."
"When did I ever become a snitch to you?!" Vivian pushed Fayth by the shoulder and stormed across the room. "I'm never damn good enough for you." She slammed the door behind her, so hard that a crack was audible afterwards.
"Charles, follow her."
"On it."
Fayth's phone rang. She pulled it out of her pocket and without bothering to check the caller ID, she answered.
"Vincent, do you know who enrolled into the Academy?"
"Who?" Vincent's voice was too questioning, dedicating that he had no idea.
"Vivian."
There was a long silence on his end. Surely, he must be as surprised as Fayth had been back when she saw Vivian in the in dining area.
"Get out of there." Vincent demanded, suddenly angry.
"What?" Fayth stumbled on her words, wondering why Vincent had become upset so fast.
"I said get the hell out of there. Just walk out of the Academy. I'll send a car out front."
"Vincent, it's not–"
"RIGHT. NOW!" He demanded, his tone this time harsh and more infuriated that it had ever been.
"Vincent, no, I can't, okay? Maybe I wanted to leave this place a week ago, but you stopped me, and I'm glad you did. I'm finally healing Vincent. I finally found somewhere I fit in. I even love someone now. Imagine me dating Jessie? All my problems will go away."
"Fayth, you don't understand. You and that, that–" He let out an angry groan. "You and Vivian shouldn't be in the same place together. Not now. Not. Now."
"I'll be okay. I promise. This can be apart of my thing here."
"Right now is a very sensitive time for you Fayth. The last thing I need is that manipulative child to be around you. She'll use any means to ruin everything you've built for yourself so far."
"No, she won't. Our relationship was never like that."
"And that's exactly why I believe in what I just said."
"Can you just trust me Vincent? Please. Just trust me."
There was a long silence that followed. However, a minute later Vincent sighed and said. "Please be careful."
"I love you. I'll talk to you later–"
"Actually, I called you to tell you something.."
"What is it?"
Vincent sighed. "I didn't know how I was going to break it to you, and I'm not even sure it's a good idea now..."
"What is it?"
"They...They found out about your parents."
Fayth's heart raced. Her jaw dropped an inch and she stared at the wall in front of her with shock. "They found out?" She breathed.
"Yes, it's out everywhere right now."
"What about Vivian? Do you think she knows?"
Silence.
"I think so. Her parents would have told her."
Fayth let out an angry growl. "I have to go Vincent."
She hung up the phone and ran for the door. Turns out that when Vivi had said she knew more than Fayth thought she did, she had really meant it.