The second episode of the day began with the entire school in chaos. Students were racing down the corridors and across the fields, their voices echoing with excitement. "You can't miss this match!" someone shouted.
Maddy, Julian, and Addie were swept up in the rush, heading toward the football court where the most talked-about game of the season was about to begin. Everyone said it was going to be wild, the kind of match that people would remember long after the final whistle.
The three of them squeezed their way through the packed crowd, slipping between shoulders and backpacks until they finally found a spot. They sank into their seats, hearts thumping with anticipation, joining hundreds of students who were buzzing as if the whole school had gathered for this one moment.
The football field stood ready, the air heavy with expectation. All eyes were locked on the players who were about to take the field.
That's when five girls in cheerleader outfits marched onto the field. The crowd erupted in cheers and whistles.
Maddie leaned closer to Addie, pointing. "That's the queen bee I told you about, Stella. And of course, she's with her little squad."
Julian scoffed. "Great. Time for one of their shitty cheerleader performances."
The three of them watched as Stella and her friends began forming lines, tossing their hair dramatically as if the game itself wasn't the real event.
That's when the boys started coming, the players. The red team stepped out first, and instantly the whole field erupted. Screams. Shouts. Their name being yelled over and over. But it wasn't really for the team. No, not at all. Every single cheer was aimed at one boy in that blazing red jersey.
Jason.
The golden boy. The star. The one everyone seemed to worship like he was some kind of untouchable god. Girls practically lost their voices screaming for him, waving posters, blowing kisses. Even some of the guys joined in, chanting his name like it was an anthem.
Jason walked onto that field with the kind of confidence that didn't need to be faked. Like he owned it. Like he owned them.
And then, boom, the blue team enters, the cheers double, but again, it's not for the whole squad. It's for Sean. The one and only Sean. Jason's biggest enemy. Red side starts booing, blue side goes feral. And that's when Maddie nudges Addie, pointing straight at him. "That's Sean."
The crowd roared louder than ever as Sean stepped, his easy grin only fueling the chaos. If Jason had stolen attention earlier, Sean now owned it completely. Students rose from the bleachers, stomping and clapping in rhythm, as if the entire building had been waiting just for him.
Julian was the loudest of them all. He shot to his feet, hands cupped around his mouth, cheering as if his life depended on it.
"Oh my god, we all love you Sean!" he shouted, voice cracking but refusing to quiet down. He waved both arms wildly, bouncing with an energy that matched the rest of the crowd, and maybe even outshone it.
The whistle blew, and the match truly began. Both teams spread out across the wide green field, each player locking into their positions. The air was thick with anticipation. For a moment, the bleachers fell silent, every pair of eyes locked on the ball.
The blue team made the first move, charging forward with quick, sharp passes. The red team tightened their defense, boots striking against the grass as they scrambled to block. Cheers rose and fell with every close call.
And then, BAM. The red team broke through, their striker kicking the ball straight past the goalie. GOAL!
The silence shattered. The bleachers shook as everyone leapt to their feet, roaring. Among the chaos, Stella's voice cut through, loud and sharp.
"Yesss, Jason! Go, Jason, go!" she screamed, waving her arms like she owned the field. She shouted his name again and again, as if she were his personal cheerleader, his girlfriend, even though everyone knew how clingy and possessive she could be.
The blue team got even more serious after that single goal. And then, boom! With that seriousness, they scored. The game picked up again and again, everyone holding their breath, desperate to know who would win. Then, boom! The blue team scored again, finally pulling ahead of the red team.
But just when it felt like all hope was lost, the red team struck back. Goal! Now it was tied, 2-2. The next goal would decide who made it to the finals. The tension was insane. And then, boom! The red team scored!
The stadium erupted. Everyone screamed and rushed onto the field. Stella was among them, pushing through the crowd until she reached Jason. "Oh my god, Jason! You won! Honey, I knew you could do it!" she cried. His friends cleared the way, and right there, Jason kissed Stella. Her friends squealed and smiled, while the whole crowd went wild.
But not everyone was cheering. In the stands, Maddie, Addie, and Julian sat fuming. Julian, crashed that his favorite team had lost, muttered, "Ugh, I hate Jason so much." Maddie quickly added, "Me too. Why did he even win? Look at poor Sean, he didn't deserve to lose."
Addie's eyes stayed fixed on Jason kissing Stella, but soon drifted to Sean, who walked slowly back toward the pavilion, shoulders heavy with defeat. Meanwhile, Maddie and Julian ranted nonstop, throwing shade.
As everyone was heading back, one of Jason's friends walked up to Julian.
"Jason's throwing a party at his house. Do you wanna come?" he asked.
Julian's eyes widened. "Oh my god… Jason invited us?"
The boy shrugged. "Well… not exactly. He just said the whole school can come if they want, since he won the football match. So I think you should come, with your new friend and Maddie."
Maddie's face lit up. "I'd love to!" she said, though inside she was crumbling, still bitter that the blue team had lost. Before anyone could reply, Jason's friend jogged back to the rest of the team.
Maddie turned to Julian. "Are you really going to go?"
Julian didn't answer right away. His eyes lingered on Jason's friend disappearing into the crowd.
"Hey, Julian," Maddie nudged, "are you going to his party or not?"
Julian finally looked at her. "Well… what about you guys?"
Addie hesitated, then forced a smile. "Maybe we should go. I mean, it'll be fun, after all."
Maddie shrugged. "Okay. If Addie says so."
Everyone headed back toward their dorms, the chatter still buzzing from the match. The air was alive with laughter, footsteps, and plans for Jason's party later that night. Addie walked alongside Julian and Maddie until they reached the hallway that split off to her dorm.
"See you guys at the party." she said, giving them both a quick smile and wave.
"Bye, Addie!" Maddie called. Julian grinned and echoed it, before the two drifted off down the corridor.
Addie slipped her key into the lock, pushed open the door, and stepped inside. The quiet of her room wrapped around her instantly. She shut the door softly, dropped her bag on the chair, and crossed over to the bathroom. The door creaked as she pushed it open, and the light flickered on.
She leaned against the sink, eyes meeting her reflection in the mirror.
[Addie's POV]
What's going on with me? Why does it feel like something is pressing on my chest, heavy and unshakable? I've never felt this way before, like something is stirring inside me, too big for me to name. It's not just nerves… it's more than that. Am I scared? Excited? Or is it something else entirely? I don't even know how to put it into words. It's confusing, overwhelming, and I don't understand why it's happening to me now, of all times.
[End of Addie's POV]
Addie twisted the tap and splashed cold water onto her face, letting the coolness chase away the weight clinging to her chest.
The scene shifts to Jason's house, an extravagant, sprawling place glowing with strings of lights, loud music already spilling out of the wide open doors. The front lawn is buzzing with students; some are grouped outside, laughing and chatting, while others stream inside in groups of two or three, the excitement thick in the air.
Cars keep pulling up, and the driveway looks like a runway of headlights and laughter. Jason's house isn't just a house, it's practically a mansion, and the party vibes make it feel even larger than life.
A sleek black car stops near the entrance, and Julian, Maddie and Addie step out together. They exchange a quick glance, all dressed up and ready to dive into the night. The bass from inside thumps in their chests as they make their way toward the grand doors, blending into the crowd of students heading inside.
As soon as they stepped inside, the house was buzzing. Music blasted through the speakers, lights flashed from every corner, and the crowd was a sea of shiny party dresses and loud laughter. It was super crowded, people squeezed past one another with drinks in their hands, voices overlapping in waves.
Julian spotted Jason's friends, Noah and almost immediately and hurried over with a grin, already laughing at something they said. Maddie's eyes lit up as she caught sight of a classmate across the room, and she slipped away to chat, waving back at Addie with a quick "I'll be right back!"
But Addie… Addie was left standing there. She didn't recognize a single face. For a moment, she froze, her stomach tightening. Everyone seemed to know everyone. The confusion and awkwardness crept up fast, so she did the only thing she could think of, she kept walking further inside, hoping maybe she'd find something, someone.
And then it happened.
Her shoulder bumped hard against another. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" Addie blurted out immediately.
The girl she ran into turned slowly, her movement graceful, almost deliberate. Stella. Her elegant beauty was impossible to miss, the flawless hair, the sharp eyes that seemed to take in everything at once. She gave Addie a look, the kind that wasn't just a look, but a statement.
As Stella turned, her voice was silky but oddly forced, like she was performing for an invisible audience.
"Hello there. Are you new to our school? Because I haven't seen you around."
"Yes, I'm new," Addie said quickly. "Myself, Adriana."
Stella tilted her head, her glossy hair catching the party lights. "Hmm, so what brings you to this party?" She glanced at her group of friends, lowering her voice just enough to sound snide. "Wasn't this supposed to be… you know, a close-friends-only party? I mean, Jason is that kind of person."
Addie blinked, a little taken aback. "Well, Noah asked Julian, Maddie, and me if we could join Jason for his party. And we all agreed."
"Oh, so you're Maddie's friend? You are a junior, I see..." Stella's lips curved in a sly smile.
"Yes."
"Okay, okay. Good luck, then." Stella swirled back to her circle without another glance.
Addie just stood there for a moment, grossed out. Everything about that exchange, from Stella's fake-sweet voice to the way she stretched out her words, felt unbearably cringey.
Forgetting about her cringiest conversation with Stella, Addie started moving further into the house until her eyes landed on the drinks table. A crowd of people was already gathered there, laughing and chatting as they clinked their glasses. Curious, Addie stepped closer, picked up a glass, and took a sip.
The taste hit her instantly. It wasn't juice, it was vodka. She made that classic first-timer face, scrunching her nose as the burn slid down her throat. Quickly, she placed the glass back on the table, trying to play it cool. But within seconds, she felt something strange, like the ground was shifting beneath her feet.
The room was too crowded, too loud, and the air felt heavy. Addie just wanted to step out, breathe some fresh air. But Jason's house was massive, almost like a maze, and she couldn't find the way back outside. Instead, after weaving through a sea of strangers and flashing lights, she stumbled into the pool area.
The scene there was completely different. Everyone was in short, stylish dresses or designer outfits, drinks in hand, laughing under the glow of neon lights. Jason himself was there, surrounded by his group of friends. But Addie, already dizzy from just that one sip, couldn't take in much of her surroundings.
The music pounded through her chest, the crowd blurred before her eyes, and before she even realized it, she lost her balance. With one wrong step, she toppled forward and fell straight into the pool with a loud splash.
Gasps erupted instantly. Everyone turned their heads. Some people rushed to the edge, shocked, while others wrinkled their noses in disgust.
"Bro, who even is she?" someone muttered.
"Oh my god…" another whispered, staring.
And in that moment, Addie, soaked and shivering in the pool, became the uninvited center of attention.
Because of the loud noise, Maddie drifted toward the pool area, only to freeze in shock. Her eyes widened.
Addie was in the pool.
Gasps and whispers spread like wildfire among the crowd. Phones were already out. Just then, Stella strutted over with her group, smirking. She gave Addie a disgusted look and drawled loud enough for everyone to hear,
"Oh. My. God. So embarrassing."
Maddie's heart dropped. Without thinking, she rushed forward.
"Oh my gosh, Addie!" she cried.
One of Jason's friends, standing nearby, glanced between them.
"Maddie, do you…know her?"
"Yes! She's my friend! Now help her out!" Maddie snapped.
He quickly leaned over, pulling Addie out of the pool. But as Addie's drenched figure climbed onto the tiles, the whispers around her grew louder, sharper, crueler. She could feel every pair of eyes burning into her.
Jason himself stood nearby, silent but watching, and the entire poolside seemed to shrink in on her. Her face burned with humiliation.
Maddie reached out, worried.
"Oh my gosh, Addie... are you okay?"
But Addie didn't feel okay. Not even close. The water clung to her dress, her hair stuck to her face, and the sound of people whispering and laughing wrapped around her like chains. She felt so small. So embarrassed.
Her throat tightened. With trembling hands, she brushed her wet dress down, trying to regain some dignity. But the humiliation hit harder than the cold water ever could.
Suddenly, overwhelmed, she bolted. She shoved through the crowd, not caring who stood in her way, desperate to escape.
Maddie's voice echoed after her.
"Addie! Wait! Where are you going? Addie, wait!"
But Addie didn't stop. Tears blurred her vision as she stumbled out of the pool area, past the glittering lights of Jason's perfect party, and into the night. Her chest ached, her breaths coming short and sharp.
All she wanted was to disappear.
And as Maddie saw Addie vanishing into the crowd, her heart sank. She pushed through the noise, calling out desperately, "Julian! Where are you? Julian!" Her voice cracked as she asked random people, "Have you seen Julian? Please?" But nobody seemed to know.
Finally, breathless, she climbed upstairs and swung open the first door she found.
Her entire world froze.
Julian. Kissing Noah.
The two broke apart immediately, wide-eyed, their faces still flushed. The silence was heavier than the party noise downstairs. Julian stared at Maddie, his lips parted in shock, while Noah quickly looked away, guilt painted across his face.
Maddie's throat went dry. For a moment, she couldn't even breathe. Then, in a voice almost trembling, she muttered, "Addie left."
Addie was running, more like stumbling, through the campus, tears streaming down her face. The whole place was silent, almost haunting, because everyone else was at Jason's party. Her cries echoed across the empty grounds, raw and broken, filling the quiet night.
She kept walking, blinded by embarrassment, her sobs shaking her body.
Sean was there. Sitting alone on one of the benches, lost in his own thoughts. He hadn't expected to hear someone crying, but when he looked up, he saw her. Addie.
She didn't notice him. She just kept moving, broken, fragile, almost like she wanted to disappear.
Sean's eyes followed her. He could hear every crack in her voice, every painful sob. He wanted to say something, call out, stop her, but before he could even process what was happening, Addie was already vanishing into the darkness of the campus.