I never thought she’d hit me.

The sting on my cheek was sharp, but not nearly as painful as the silence that followed. Roxanne’s hand hung frozen midair, her breathing heavy — eyes glassy with something between anger and heartbreak.

For a moment, all I could do was stare at her. The room felt too small, suffocating, as if the walls themselves were listening. The smell of coffee and rain filled the air, but it did nothing to cut through the weight pressing on my chest.

“How can you not see it, Eve?” she said, voice trembling. “He’s using you.”

Ryan.

The name alone was enough to tighten my grip on the edge of the table. I shook my head, forcing out a laugh that sounded weaker than I wanted it to. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Rox. You never liked him from the start.”

Her jaw tightened, eyes flashing with something unreadable. “Because I see him for who he is! You’re just—” She stopped, swallowing hard. “You’re just too blinded to notice.”

That’s when I snapped.

I stood up, my voice rising without meaning to. “Why are you doing this? Are you that jealous of him? Or is this just your way of controlling me again?”

The moment the words left my mouth, I saw her flinch. Her eyes — those same eyes that once looked at me with quiet understanding — now looked shattered. “You really think that little of me?” she whispered.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Because part of me did believe it.

She exhaled shakily, tears threatening to spill but never falling. “You think I want to break you two up because I like Ryan?” Her voice cracked on his name, like saying it hurt her. “God, Eve, I’m trying to protect you.”

“From what?” I shot back, feeling my throat tighten. “From being happy?”

And that’s when she slapped me.

The sound echoed — sharp, final. The kind of sound that doesn’t fade from memory.

Her eyes were wide with regret, but she didn’t apologize. She just stood there, staring at me like she wanted to say a thousand things but couldn’t find the right one.

Then she turned and walked away.

And I let her.

Because at that moment, all I could think was that Roxanne wasn’t the person I thought she was.

She wasn’t my best friend.

She wasn’t my safe place.

She was the one who wanted to ruin everything I loved.

At least, that’s what I thought.

ROXANNE

The soft buzz of her alarm clock broke the silence of dawn. Roxanne groaned, burying her face in her pillow before rolling over. First day of senior high. She had been waiting for this for years, yet her chest felt tight, not with nerves, but with the weight of expectations. Being student council president ever since Grade 1 had set a standard she couldn’t easily shake off. People expected her to lead, excel, and never falter.

Dragging herself out of bed, she went through her school daily routine, shower, uniform, neatly tied hair. Her reflection in the mirror looked calm and composed, but only because she had practiced that expression for years. Perfect Roxanne, the girl everyone could rely on. If only there was someone to break her chains.

The classroom was alive with chatter when she arrived. Familiar faces filled the rows, each greeting her with smiles and nods. She returned them politely, her mind already planning the first council meeting of the year.

Then the teacher walked in, a tall woman with a warm smile. “Good morning, class. Before we begin, I’d like to introduce a new student joining us this year.”

Roxanne looked up and her breath hitched.

She stepped in, the kind of girl who made the morning feel like it shifted a few degrees warmer. Eve. Bright as summer, with hair that caught the light and brown, candied eyes that lingered just a moment too long on everything. She had a slim figure and a gentle presence, the kind that made people naturally turn their heads.

“This is Eve. Please make her feel welcome,” the teacher said.

Roxanne rarely stared at anyone. But something about Eve felt like a melody she’d always wanted to hum and listen.

Lunchtime came with whispers in the air, student council elections were coming up. It was tradition, even if Roxanne had held the presidency every year since anyone could remember. Still, she found herself at the bulletin board, staring at the empty candidate list, when Eve’s name appeared in fragile, confident handwriting the next day.

“She’s running?” Roxanne murmured.

The other officers glanced at her, curious for a reaction. Roxanne only smiled politely, masking the ripple in her chest.

Later that afternoon, Eve approached her with that same summer-like brightness. “You’re Roxanne, right? I heard you’ve been president forever. Would you… maybe show me the ropes?”

Roxanne agreed. Of course, she did. Because how could she ever refuse those eyes?

They spent the next few weeks together: planning, organizing, debating. Eve was earnest, enthusiastic, and full of ideas, but… something was off. Roxanne's plans often missed details. Her calculations were logical, till now. Roxanne found herself correcting her mistakes a lot.

It was then she noticed the gap between them. Not in kindness, not in charm but in intellect.

Eve was a sharper strategist than Roxanne was. She was cautious, neat with her plans, a dreamer and a tactician. And as much as Roxanne liked her… she couldn’t help but see how far apart their worlds might be.

“Enemies,” she told herself that night, lying awake. “Competitors at best.”

EVE

Roxanne…

She’s... well, alright as a friend. She helps struggling students with their math and other homework. She's also really smart, but she lacks the knowledge of small details, which always seems so strange for a student council president. “For someone who has been a student council president for a long time.” I murmured. But really, I do admire her confidence and leadership, it's one thing I have always looked up to her ever since I transferred to this school.

This morning was no exception, while I was looking through my locker I heard my name across the hallways, “Eve!” Roxanne screams my name excitedly while she runs towards me. “Guess what!“ She asked me with too much enthusiasm early in the morning, “You're invited for my birthday party, this Saturday at 9000 Brooklyn St., the biggest house on the block. Also bring a swimsuit.” she said. Her tone sounded like she was excited for me to come. “Oh, Thank you for the invite but I'll think about it” I said knowing full well I didn't know how to swim.

Roxanne and I were still talking when suddenly I heard a masculine voice that could make my stomach turn in all ways. It was Ryan, the hottest jock and the troublemaker.

Ryan is the infamous troublemaker and the hockey captain, he was so perfect with that fluffy, curly hair. Those deep blue eyes that could drown a whole city with just a look, that one look got me feeling weird inside and don't even get me started with that body of his.. that man has the body of a greek god. If self-control didn't exist, I would have kissed those lips. Those dimples too are so cute like the way he smiles and laughs at a joke got me flying to the moon and back.

“Yo Roxanne, Am I invited?” he smirked knowing full well he will be, since Roxanne and Ryan were childhood friends, at least that's what I heard from her and the friends around her.

“Of course you are, even without an invitation you'd sneak into the party.” Roxanne said dryly and rolled her eyes at his remark.

But something inside started turning, and it made me somewhat excited for Roxanne's party. First,it would be great for me to socialize for the campaign and second, I could see Ryan shirtless with the rest of his team in the pool, swimming. The thrill of the thought that I could use the party as an excuse to get more votes and maybe, just maybe out-throw Roxanne as the president. I mean I'm not trying to outrank her, I just want to try to be the president for once and see what the power can give me and it would be nice, if i do win and Ryan would ask me out and we would be the most dynamic couple in school and it could get me more fame and Roxanne has now.

Saturday then arrived, just like I anticipated the party was loud and crowded making my first plan wheels move and of course I took all the opportunity I got with socializing but the only thing that made me stop in my tracks was the water. I never was a fan of water.

“Save yourself!” echoed through my thoughts and shivered down my spine. Save yourself… were the last lines I heard from my mother before she saved me from the flood that trapped us both in our attic. She somehow managed to push me out through the tiny window in the attic and told me to get on the roof and screamed for help… But as rescuers came it was all too late, as rescuers pulled her out the house. She was white as a ghost, she was dead… The rescuers tried their best, but they were too late. So each time I see a deep pool or big puddle my heart tightens at the memory.

I was lost in thought when a hand on my shoulder sent me back to reality. “Are you okay?” Roxanne looked at me with concern all over her face “You looked like you'd seen a ghost” she said as she led me to the main room of the party. “Yeah, I just remembered something I didn't want to talk about” I said, reassuring her that I was okay.

After she introduced me to her friends, she showed me her room, the room I would be sleeping with her. I then placed my bag down on my sleeping bag. “Woah, your room is so big, bigger than mine” I said, still shocked from how big and clean her room is. I looked around her room and sat on the bed next to her. ”Thanks” she said, smiling at me. And I swear I saw this girl blush at me for a second but maybe she was embarrassed or shy about her room. Roxanne got up and walked out the room and I followed her to go back to the party.

As Roxanne was hosting the party, I was in the backyard near the pool, spacing out about my mother's last words before she… I then snapped out my thoughts from a voice that called me. “Hey Eve,I didn't know you would come to the party” He smirked. It was Nathan, an annoying pip squeak that can't keep his mouth shut and Ryan's dog, I mean his best friend that follows him and his dares. “Of course I would be, it is my friend's party and she wants me to be here on her birthday” I said with the driest tone I could muster.

Nathan then said something that could make my blood run cold “You should join us in the pool”. I looked at him, trying not to panic “I'm good, don't want to get wet this late in the night”. But this man was persistent with me getting wet “come on, a bit of splash won't hurt anyone”. He said oblivious to anything.

After a bit of back and forth, Nathan snapped and picked me up and threw me in the pool.

As the water and my body connected, my mind went blank and I couldn't think. I tried to paddle back up with my arms but it only made me sink even deeper in the water. I was panicking, I could hear my own heart beating as I sank deeper in the pool and my vision went blurry. Before I knew it, I was unconscious.