Copycat Chapter 1:Quadro's Bond

The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a golden glow over St. Clarine High School. The sprawling campus had always been a second home to Ardania, Krishina, Luna, and Jaena. Known as the "Quadro," they’d been inseparable since their early high school years.

No one could deny that Ardania stood out as the unspoken leader of the group. Her poise, grace, and confidence were qualities everyone admired, and even though the other three girls shone in their own ways, it was Ardania who seemed to draw the most attention. It wasn’t just because she was beautiful, though she certainly was—with her long, wavy hair, striking green eyes, and a smile that could light up a room. It was her aura, a kind of magnetism that made her the center of every room she entered.

Krishina, Luna, and Jaena adored Ardania, and not just because of how others admired her. They shared a deep bond, built over years of late-night study sessions, whispered secrets, and unwavering support for one another. They were always there for each other, through thick and thin, and their friendship had survived the tumultuous years of high school.

The Quadro had formed when they were freshmen, and since then, their bond had only grown stronger. Krishina was the academic genius, often found with her nose buried in books, tutoring the others whenever they needed help. Luna was the athletic one, always competing in track and field events and bringing home medals that the group would celebrate over pizza and ice cream. Jaena, the artist of the group, had a talent for turning any piece of paper into a masterpiece with just a few strokes of her pencil.

Ardania, though, was the glue that held them all together. She was the one who organized their weekend outings, planned study schedules, and always knew the right thing to say when one of them was feeling down. Together, they were an unbreakable team, and everyone at school knew it.

But not everyone appreciated the Quadro’s closeness. Saevana, for one, watched from the sidelines, her envy growing day by day. She wasn’t part of their group, though she had her own circle of friends—Aurora, Ishaira, and Patricia. They were close, but their bond wasn’t like the Quadro’s. And no matter how much Saevana tried to convince herself otherwise, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing.

It had all started innocently enough. Saevana had always admired Ardania from afar. Who wouldn’t? Ardania was everything Saevana wished she could be—confident, effortlessly popular, and always at the top of her game. But as the years went on, admiration turned into something darker. Saevana found herself studying Ardania’s every move, her outfits, her mannerisms, the way she spoke, even the way she walked. She began copying little things at first—a hairstyle here, a new phrase there. Her friends, Aurora, Ishaira, and Patricia, didn’t think much of it.

“You look good,” Aurora had said the first time Saevana showed up to school with her hair styled exactly like Ardania’s. “It’s a popular look. Nothing wrong with it.”

That had been all the encouragement Saevana needed. From then on, she started copying more and more of Ardania’s life. She’d scroll through Ardania’s social media, picking out outfits to replicate. When Ardania posted about her favorite book, Saevana made sure to read it too, so she could casually mention it in conversations at school. It was a subtle game of mimicry that no one seemed to notice—at first.

But the prom incident was the first time things had gone too far.

The Prom Incident

The annual St. Clarine High School prom was the event of the year, and Ardania had been looking forward to it for weeks. She’d spent hours picking out the perfect dress—a sleek, silver gown that hugged her curves in all the right places and shimmered under the light. Krishina, Luna, and Jaena had helped her choose it, spending an entire Saturday at the mall trying on dress after dress until they found “the one.”

“I can’t wait for you to wear this,” Jaena had said, grinning as Ardania twirled in front of the mirror. “You’re going to blow everyone away.”

“Definitely,” Luna agreed, snapping pictures on her phone. “You’re going to be the star of the night.”

And Ardania believed them. She knew the dress was perfect. It felt like a reflection of who she was—bold, confident, and a little bit glamorous.

Prom night arrived, and as Ardania and her friends stepped into the beautifully decorated gymnasium, she felt like she was on top of the world. The lights twinkled overhead, casting a soft glow on the crowd of students dancing, chatting, and laughing. She was surrounded by her best friends, and the night was already shaping up to be magical.

But then she saw her.

Saevana.

Wearing the exact same dress.

Ardania’s heart dropped into her stomach. For a moment, she thought it must be a mistake. Maybe Saevana had just happened to choose a similar dress? But no—this was no coincidence. The dress was identical, down to the last detail, and Saevana had even styled her hair the same way Ardania had.

“Are you serious?” Krishina whispered, her eyes narrowing as she stared across the room at Saevana. “She copied your entire look!”

Luna crossed her arms, clearly annoyed. “Does she not realize how obvious this is? She’s trying to be you, Ardania.”

Jaena frowned, glancing between Ardania and Saevana. “This is so weird. Why would she do this?”

Ardania tried to shrug it off, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of discomfort gnawing at her. It wasn’t just the dress—it was everything. The copying had been subtle at first, but now it was impossible to ignore. Saevana wasn’t just inspired by Ardania anymore—she was trying to be her.

to be continued...

2 likes to unlock chapter 2😁

I hope you like it......

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***