Chapter 1 - Perfect Smiles
717 Words
Rain poured softly over Valencia City, covering the glass windows of Ravenwood Academy with silver streaks as students hurried through the crowded hallways.
Inside the campus, everything looked perfect.
Expensive uniforms. Bright smiles. Laughter echoing through every corner.
Prom posters covered nearly every wall.
MASQUERADE NIGHT - ONE WEEK LEFT
The most awaited event of the year.
At Ravenwood Academy, prom wasn't just a dance.
It was reputation.
Status.
Power.
And nobody represented that better than the Ravenwood Five.
The moment Seraphina Elise Navarro walked through the hallway beside her closest friends, students immediately noticed.
Not because she demanded attention.
But because she naturally had it.
Beautiful without trying. Quiet without seeming cold. The kind of person everyone trusted instantly.
Beside her walked: Celestine Mae Alvarado, Adrian Lucas Monteverde, Damien Levi Fernandez, and Rafael Zion Castillo.
The perfect friend group.
At least from the outside.
"Oh my God, if Professor Cortez makes us practice that stupid entrance dance one more time, I'm actually transferring schools," Celestine complained dramatically.
Adrian laughed beside her. "You say that every single year."
"Because every single year this school gets more dramatic."
"That's because you're dramatic," Rafael replied.
Celestine gasped loudly. "Excuse me?"
Damien laughed quietly while Seraphina shook her head smiling.
The five continued through the hallway while students glanced at them from every direction.
Near the lockers, groups of students crowded together talking about prom outfits, relationship rumors, and upcoming exams.
Sofia Ramirez stood near the bulletin board organizing journalism club papers while Noah Valencia balanced a basketball against his shoulder nearby. Patricia Gomez rehearsed theater lines dramatically to herself while Vince Herrera whispered fresh gossip to anyone willing to listen.
"You guys ready for prom?" Noah asked as the group passed by.
"Obviously," Celestine answered confidently. "We're carrying the whole event."
"More like ruining it," Adrian muttered.
She hit his arm immediately.
At lunch, the five gathered at their usual table near the academy gardens while students secretly watched from nearby tables.
Some admired them.
Others envied them.
Sofia leaned toward her friends and whispered loudly enough to hear:
"They seriously act like they own the school."
Celestine smirked. "We kinda do."
Adrian nearly choked on his drink laughing.
Meanwhile, Seraphina quietly listened to everyone talk while scrolling through prom decorations on her phone.
Completely normal.
Completely harmless.
Then suddenly-
Buzz.
Damien looked down at his phone.
Buzz.
Adrian's phone lit up next.
Buzz.
Celestine froze.
Buzz.
Rafael frowned quietly.
One by one, all five looked down at the same message.
Unknown Number
" One of you is lying. "
Silence immediately fell over the table.
"What the hell?" Adrian muttered.
Celestine laughed nervously. "Okay, that's creepy."
"Probably Vince trying to start drama again," Damien said.
"I didn't send anything," Vince shouted from another table after overhearing them.
A few students laughed awkwardly.
Rafael stared at his screen longer than everyone else before quickly locking his phone.
"People seriously need hobbies," he muttered.
Seraphina smiled softly.
"It's probably just someone trying to scare us before prom."
Her calm voice immediately eased the tension.
Because that was what Seraphina always did.
She made situations feel lighter.
Safer.
That was why everyone loved her.
The conversation quickly returned to normal after that.
Prom plans. Dance rehearsals. Teacher complaints.
By dismissal time, rain flooded the streets outside the academy while students rushed toward waiting cars beneath umbrellas.
"See you tomorrow," Damien called out.
Seraphina smiled warmly. "Drive safe."
As her driver opened the car door for her, Celestine suddenly grabbed Seraphina's arm dramatically.
"If my prom makeup gets ruined next week because of this weather, I'm blaming the universe."
Seraphina laughed softly.
"You blame the universe for everything."
"Because everything is against me."
"That sounds like a personal problem."
The group laughed together one last time before separating for the night.
Hours later, inside the massive Navarro mansion, Seraphina sat comfortably on her bedroom floor surrounded by magazines, sketching dress ideas for prom while soft music played quietly in the background.
Her phone suddenly buzzed beside her.
Unknown Number.
" Prom night will change everything. "
Seraphina blinked at the message before letting out a quiet laugh.
Probably another prank.
She tossed her phone onto the bed carelessly and continued sketching her dress design while rain continued pouring outside her bedroom windows.
- Writer
