"Hey Ma, what do you think my mate will be like?"

"Um, well, there's no way to know, Any" she turned to look at me with a smile "What do you want him to be like?" I thought about the question for a bit.

"Well, I'd like him to be someone kind, romantic, but not too sappy, someone who loves me and takes care of me, oh, also someone who pays attention to detail and likes to go on dates with me" I finished while taking a slice of the tangerine I had been peeling.

"What a beautiful description. What about his physical appearance? I thought that would be the first thing you'd mention."

"Well, I don't really know, maybe someone a little handsome, I don't really like to comment on other people's appearance" she smiled and I looked away.

(...)

Three years ago...

The bell for the start of classes had rung. I was on my way to class with Lily, my friend.

"Hey Any, did you do the physics homework?"

"Of course, here you go" I took the book out of my backpack.

"Thank you so so much! Muak muak" she hugged me and I laughed.

"Yaaa"

"Guys, please everyone take a seat" the professor entered.

"Today a new classmate joins the course, please introduce yourself."

Wow, it's rare to receive a new classmate in the middle of the year.

"Good morning! I'm Alicia Wilson, I hope we get along well!"

With hair as black as night and beautiful green eyes, skin of a light tan that made a beautiful contrast, in addition to those pretty freckles on her face.

She's... Very pretty.

Everyone applauded; when looking for a seat, several boys asked her to occupy the seat next to them. So, until the professor himself had to assign her seat and it was next to mine.

"Hello" I greeted with a smile.

"Hello" she replied in the same way.

Classes continued until recess, everyone began to put their things away.

When I finished, I looked up and our eyes met with Lily, she motioned for me to talk to Alicia and invite her to eat with us.

"Um" we approached to get her attention "Alicia, right?"

"Oh hello" she blushed "yes, nice to meet you. And you?" we smiled

"I'm Anya" I introduced myself.

"Her friends call her Any and I'm Liliana, but you can call me Lily" she introduced herself with a big smile, typical of her.

"We're going to the cafeteria, do you want to come with us?" I offered, I could see her eyes light up.

"Yes, I want to, thank you!"

Together we headed to the cafeteria, there we would meet with the others.

"We're hereee~" I left my tray to sit next to Dan.

"You took longer than usual" Lyra pointed out.

Suddenly, someone came running and took some of my food.

"Excusse meee"

"Hey Luck, that was rude!" I protested and the others laughed.

"It's just that... Uf..." he seemed agitated, so he paused for a moment and took a breath before speaking "we're going to play a basketball game with... Wow" he was stunned, we all looked in the same direction.

It was Alicia, she seemed to have bumped into someone.

It can't be

The person Alicia bumped into was none other than Ethan Harrington, one of the triplets, son of the leader of our pack.

I got up instinctively, I was about to approach, until I saw the scene.

She was sobbing and apologizing, she looked really vulnerable and small, while he, contrary to his normal behavior that would be one more rough and indifferent, approached her and gave her a sweet smile, I could see him denying and helping her recover, she smiled back at him and gradually calmed down.

"Any..." Lily put her hand on my shoulder, I turned to see her.

"It's okay, please don't say anything, she doesn't know" everyone nodded.

My friends knew the attraction I felt for him, although of course, it had always been something unilateral, because he has never noticed me.

Alicia joined the group, and soon integrated perfectly. She always had a smile for me and seemed very grateful for my kindness.

"Um by the way, what year is that guy in? I never expected to find such cute guys around here" she said with a blush as she looked in the direction of the table where the triplets and their friends were.

"His name is Ethan Harrington, one of the sons of the pack leader" Lyra informed.

"He and his two brothers are like the princes of this place, they are the greatest pride of the school and they are in third year" Lily.

"Each one has exceptional skills" said Luck with some envy, clearly he saw them as rivals.

"They are a year older than us" said Alicia and the others nodded.

The bell rang again indicating the return to classes.

"I don't want to go to math class~" Lily complained and I laughed.

"The topics are not complicated, and if you don't understand them, you know that I will explain it to you" she hugged me.

"Hey girls" Alicia.

"Mm?" we both turned to see her.

"You... Haven't woken up yet, have you?"

"Well, we hope to do it this year. What about you?" I asked.

"I also hope to do it this year" she became shy.

"What sudden personality changes, from one moment to another she goes from being charming and charismatic, to someone shy and"adorable"as many might consider, it's weird..."

Thus began the second half of our second year of high school and I definitely wouldn't expect it to be a matter of weeks for my quiet and friendly school life to completely fall apart, I didn't know I had put the hunter in my own group of friends.

.......

.......

.......

.......

.......

^^^To be continued...^^^

Narrator POV:

Although Alicia was friendly and charming to Anya in public, in private she began to weave a web of intrigues against her.

It all started a few days later, while Anya and Lily were in line to buy their lunch, Alicia stayed at the table with the rest of the group.

"I don't know how to say this, but I've noticed that Anya has been acting very strange lately. She seems to always be seeking attention, don't you think?" Alicia said with feigned concern on her face, and of course that was overlooked.

Everyone present exchanged glances, confused and intrigued to know what the raven-haired girl was referring to.

"What are you talking about?" Dan asked, with a tone more defensive than he expected.

"Uh," Alicia raised her hands and put on the most innocent expression she could, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you, it's just that..." she took her left arm with her right hand while looking thoughtful about whether or not to continue with the story.

"Come on, you can say it," Lyra said.

"Yesterday I had a question in science class, when I asked the question, she immediately answered instead of the teacher and... I don't want to say it, because maybe I just misinterpreted it, but, after answering she turned to look at me badly, followed by something like 'that's basic knowledge'," her voice broke as she recounted this, "I had never felt so stupid," she lowered her head, holding back tears.

Everyone was silent, they weren't really sure, Anya had never behaved like that, but, knowing that she felt something for Ethan, after Alicia and his interaction during the first day, perhaps feelings of jealousy and envy had arisen that encouraged her to behave like that.

"Really? I hadn't noticed anything strange..." Luck said, not entirely believing it.

"Yes, even Lily mentioned it to me. Anya has been talking badly about you behind my back. It's a shame, because I really thought we were friends," she spoke in a serious tone.

"Alicia you..." Dan.

"Please, don't tell her anything about this, I don't want her to get upset, this is just something I wanted to share with you," she interrupted him after noticing that Lily and Anya were approaching them.

"Wednesdays always have a terrible line," Anya mentioned and the others continued the conversation.

However, that strange atmosphere did not go unnoticed by her.

Over time, Alicia's comments began to affect the group's perception of Anya. Small rumors and lies turned into distrust and isolation.

Anya walked through the halls, feeling increasingly alone. Her friends avoided her and whispered things behind her back. She ran into the triplets, so she greeted them with a smile.

They had known each other for quite some time because the leader and her father had been friends for a long time, sometimes they were even invited to meetings at the leader's mansion, normally they had a cordial relationship, so she felt confident in greeting them, but they looked at her with disdain and walked away without saying a word.

"What's happening? Why is everyone avoiding me?" she felt confused and certainly hurt.

That's how Anya realized that little by little all her friends, even classmates, were beginning to ignore her, conversations in which she was included, now she was excluded or ignored.

After thinking about it for a few days, she came to the conclusion that it had all started after Alicia's appearance.

Anya POV:

"Maybe she said some things that were misinterpreted, I'm sure that's what it was..." I sighed tiredly.

Since Alicia arrived, little by little she has become the center of everything, of the classroom, of my group of friends, she became the teachers' favorite, and she even managed to get Ethan's attention, something that I never could in all these years.

Therefore, I need to talk to her, find out if she is the cause of all this and if not, at least I will have removed the weight of that doubt from me.

The next day I ran into Alicia in the hallway.

"Hello!" I approached and she turned around, I could see her discomfort "Can we talk?"

"Um but make it quick, okay? I don't want to be late for class, let's go to the courtyard."

And so it was, I followed her.

"Okay," I took a breath before speaking, "I've noticed that our friends are drifting away from me, even my classmates, as well as other people and I really need to know why, that's why I want to ask you if maybe you've said something that could be misinterpreted with the others or..."

"Me?" she was surprised "Anya, I don't know what you're talking about. I've always tried to be your friend."

"Then why do I feel like everyone hates me all of a sudden?" I began to despair "Seriously, what have you been saying about me?"

"Maybe you should ask yourself what you've done to make everyone drift away," she said while smiling coldly, then she turned around and left; I sighed disappointed.

The situation worsened when I found out that Alicia had told Ethan that I had spoken badly about him and his brothers, a lie that he believed due to Alicia's influence.

The real beginning of my hell starts from today.

I was walking towards the exit when I was surrounded by a group of girls, they grabbed me by each arm and dragged me carelessly to the backyard.

"Let go of me! What do you want?!" they threw me hard to the floor, in front of me I could see some shoes, no, rather they were three pairs of shoes, I looked up "Guys..."

"Shut up," Damien ordered in a cold tone.

I could see how furious they were, but, I noticed someone else, Alicia was there too.

"Who do you think you are to talk shit about us eh?" Gael continued, increasingly hurtful.

"You should already know how inferior you are, your father and your family are nothing more than pawns who serve our father," Ethan continued, finally tears began to fall.

"Why? Why are they so cruel to me? I haven't said anything..."

I wanted to get up and tell them that I hadn't said anything bad about them, I wanted to ask who their source of information was, but the answer was more than clear, I wanted to do so many things, but my legs didn't respond and the knot in my throat didn't help either.

"I didn't, please, you must believe me, she is the one who is lying," I pleaded in whispers with a broken voice.

I could hear the gasp that Alicia released in surprise, in addition to the bitter laughter of two of the brothers.

"And why should we believe you?" Ethan took a step forward "Alicia at least has proof. You only have excuses," he said with a tone full of mockery.

.......

.......

.......

.......

.......

^^^To be continued...^^^

"Evidence? What evidence are you talking about? That's impossible."

"You know what's the funniest thing, Anya?" He approached, his gaze cold and indifferent. "Your supposed feelings for me. As if I would ever consider being with you. You're such a fool. I mean, just look at you, the whales in the ocean seem slimmer than you," laughter and mockery echoed after his comment.

Damien simply looked away, while Gael continued his taunts. Then I turned to look at Alicia, and she was laughing as well, but more discreetly.

"Let's go already, this loser doesn't deserve any more of our time," Damien said, being the first to leave, followed by his brothers and, of course, Alicia, who was holding onto Ethan's arm.

Before leaving, she turned around one last time, just to look at me with a smile, as if she had won. Well, she actually did.

When I was about to get up, the same girls threw me to the ground again.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"We haven't settled the score with you yet, we know what you said, you damn blabbermouth."

They didn't even give me a chance to defend myself. The same two girls from before held me by each arm while the other punched me in the abdomen. Before leaving, they threatened me, of course, not to say anything, because, after all, absolutely no one would believe me, since "I myself ruined my reputation with my lies."

I still remember how I barely managed to get up to return home before nightfall, the pain I felt the next day from the blows, and the indifference of everyone at school, was the worst situation I had never imagined living.

The harassment continued with insults, shoves, sometimes they beat me in the backyard just because, they excluded me from group activities in class, I started eating alone because now my friends avoided me, so I also stopped going to the cafeteria and simply went to the library to hide from everyone. Alicia now sat at the table with the triplets and their friends, everyone seemed to continue with their lives, while I sank into mine.

Narrator's Pov:

One week before "Initiation Night":

Anya heads to the school cafeteria. She hasn't eaten there in weeks, preferring to avoid the stares and whispers. But today, she decided she had endured enough and wanted to reclaim a part of her old life.

She enters and goes to the line to buy her lunch. She feels the eyes of others on her, but she tries to ignore them. She takes her tray and heads to an empty table.

Alicia, who was watching from another table with her friends, including Ethan and his brothers, watched her with a malicious smile.

"Look who decided to join us today. I think it's time to give her a special welcome."

"Don't do anything stupid, Alicia." He looked at her with a serious expression, but she ignored him.

"Sure, sure. I just want to talk to her." She gave him a fake smile.

Alicia gets up and heads towards Anya, who is sitting alone, beginning to eat her lunch.

Anya's Pov:

"Hi, Anya. I haven't seen you around here lately. Can I sit down?" She approached with a smile and friendly voice.

"What the hell? Whatever, if I reject her, I'll be frowned upon, it's better to avoid more problems."

"Uh, sure, you can sit down if you want."

At first, it's nothing more than a trivial conversation, I could even say boring, because my answers were nothing more than affirmations, negations, and short responses. I really wanted her to leave and not get me into more trouble, but it seems that was too much to ask for what was coming.

"You know, Anya, it really hurts me that you keep talking badly about all of us. I don't understand why you're so cruel," she blurted out of nowhere and in a loud voice to be heard by everyone.

"What are you talking about?" I was confused. "I haven't said anything about anyone." I started to feel nervous, scared by the reaction of others.

"How can you lie like that? We all know what you've been saying! I just wanted to be your friend, but it seems that's not possible." She had a sad expression.

"She really is a very good actress, I don't understand why she's doing this."

"That's not true! You're the one who's been lying about me."

She, in a dramatic movement, throws her tray of food on the floor and "trips", falling and causing everyone in the cafeteria to turn and look.

"DAMN IT, WHAT IS SHE DOING?"

"Ouch, Anya! Why did you do that?" She started crying and complaining about the supposed pain.

I could hear the loud sound of a chair being moved, it was Ethan who got up and quickly came to us with an unfriendly face.

"What the hell is going on here?" He sounded very upset.

"I don't know, she suddenly pretended to fall and..." I tried to explain, but he ignored me, just to help her up.

"Are you okay?" He looked very worried, something that would never be directed at me.

"I think I twisted my ankle... All because of her," she said amidst sobs.

"What kind of person are you, Anya? First the rumors and now this. You're pathetic." He looked at me with contempt, that was the only feeling he seemed to be able to arouse in me, disgust, hate, contempt...

"It's not true! I didn't do anything!" It was my last attempt to defend myself as tears welled up, threatening to descend without permission in front of everyone.

"Everyone here has seen what you really are." He took a step forward while raising the tone of his voice to be heard by everyone. "A fake, cruel, and now violent person. Do you think you're better than everyone else? Or do you need to get noticed because your physique doesn't help you?"

And that was the trigger for my tears to run freely down my cheeks without permission.

I had never had problems with my physique, it's true that I'm not as slim as Alicia, but I'm not fat either, I just stay in the average size, the only "fat" thing I could consider on my body were my thighs, since yes, they are wide, but do I really look that big?

After that comment, the cafeteria went completely silent. Everyone watches the scene with a mixture of surprise and morbid curiosity.

"Stop, please stop," I pleaded.

"No. We've had enough of your lies. You better leave before things get worse for you."

With my dignity on the floor, I decided to take my tray with trembling hands and tears flowing freely down my face.

I feel so humiliated and shattered. The cafeteria remained silent as I walked towards the exit, feeling everyone's gaze on my back.

.......

.......

.......

.......

.......

^^^To be continued...^^^