HIGH SCHOOL RETURN OF EMILY

BESTFRIEND As usual, Ethereal Realm College looked as vibrant and enchanting as ever. Emily stood at the gate, taking in the beauty of the campus—the neatly trimmed lawns, the elegant stone buildings bathed in golden sunlight, and the soft hum of students moving about. Despite how much she loved this place, she knew deep down it wasn’t her own efforts that brought her here. Her parents, unfortunately, couldn’t afford such a prestigious institution. She was only able to attend because of her best friend, Harper, whose family was immensely wealthy and owned a conglomerate. They had been sponsoring Emily’s education since childhood, treating her like one of their own. Emily had always felt deeply grateful, though she rarely found the words to express it .As she stood there lost in thought, her mind drifted to memories of home—of the painful day her parents finalized their divorce earlier that year. Things had been hard ever since. Her mother, now a single parent, was doing her best to stay strong, and Emily couldn’t help but wonder how they would’ve survived without Harper’s support. If not for her friend’s kindness, she and her mother might have been struggling just to get by. Her chest tightened slightly at the thought, and she exhaled a deep, shaky breath. “Woof!” a familiar voice barked playfully behind her, and Harper leaped at her with a mischievous grin, nearly startling Emily out of her skin. Her heart raced, anxiety briefly overwhelming her as she clutched her chest. “You scared me!” Emily gasped, turning to face Harper, who was already laughing. “Who else would it be?” Harper teased. “You’ve only got one crazy friend—and that’s me. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already.” Emily shook her head, a smile breaking through her nerves. “I didn’t forget... I was just deep in thought.” Harper pouted dramatically. “Fine. But seriously, why are you standing out here all alone?” Emily glanced back at the campus. “I guess I was just... admiring the school. It’s so beautiful, sometimes I forget it’s real. ”Harper’s face lit up. “I knew it! You were totally admiring it.” “I guess I was,” Emily replied with a soft smile. “It’s hard to ignore how magical it all feels.” Harper leaned in with a cheeky grin. “Well, I brought something magical too.” Emily raised an eyebrow. “What now?” “Guess what I have in my bag…” Harper said, eyes gleaming. “Your favorite.” Emily’s eyes widened with hope. “No way. Don’t tell me... chicken?” Harper nodded proudly. “Yup. Your favorite spicy chicken, just the way you like it.” Emily couldn’t help but laugh, a genuine grin spreading across her face. “You really are the best.” Harper winked. “I know.” And just like that, the weight on Emily’s heart felt a little lighter After a few moments of laughter and catching up, Emily and Harper linked arms and made their way to class, leaning against each other like the inseparable friends they were. Their bond was something everyone noticed—genuine, unbreakable, and full of warmth. As they entered the building, whispers and murmurs followed them. “Those two are always together.” “Harper and Emily again.” “They act like they own the place.” Emily was used to it by now. She’d never been the center of attention before she became friends with Harper. And though she wasn’t sure she liked the spotlight, being beside her best friend made it easier to bear. Later in the day, after a sweaty but fun P.E. class, Harper excused herself to the restroom, leaving Emily alone on the bleachers to catch her breath. She was toweling off her face when a small group of girls approached her, led by none other than Vivian—one of the most arrogant girls in school. “Hey, Emily,” one of the girls said with a smirk. “We’re throwing a party tonight. You wanna come?” Emily looked up, caught off guard. “Uh... no thanks,” she replied, her voice soft but firm. Vivian crossed her arms and scoffed. “Seriously? You think you’re too good for us or something? We’re actually doing you a favor by even inviting you.” Emily's heart sank. She didn’t like confrontations, and her timid nature always made it hard to defend herself. She clenched her fists silently, holding back the rising frustration. She could feel the mockery in their tone, the insincerity dripping from every word. She hated that she couldn't say anything back—hated how powerless she felt in moments like this. “You should know you're no match for us,” Vivian sneered. “We’re just being *nice* right now. You should take the offer before we change our minds.” Emily looked at them, her eyes cold with restrained anger, but she remained silent.