I lost my temper and screamed out loud. A sudden, intense energy surged through me, and I felt myself blacking out. I vaguely remembered Bella shouting my name, and I saw Stacy and Oppra rushing towards me, with another person behind them. When I came to, I was lying in my bed, staring at the ceiling. I heard Kelvin's voice say, "She's awake." I turned to see him standing there, and my eyes widened in surprise.
"Kelvin!" I exclaimed, jumping out of bed. "Who let you in? Don't you know this is my private space?" I stammered, trying to compose myself. Bella and the others entered without knocking, and Bella said, "We did let ourselves in. Didn't we warn you not to meet Mrs. Dallas? You're lucky to be safe."
Oppra chimed in, "But you didn't look like yourself when you were fighting. Were you possessed or something?" Kelvin nodded in agreement. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
"How did you guys find me, and why did you involve Kelvin?" I asked, my voice firm. Stacy explained, "We knew you were in danger when you disappeared from your room."
I raised an eyebrow. "So, why are you all still here?"
Oppra smirked. "Okay, fine. We'll leave, and you'll never remember how you...defended yourself against a teacher and transformed into a mysterious figure. You'll wake up in your boring room, with no memory of what happened."
I hesitated, curiosity getting the better of me. "Tell me everything."
Bella smiled slyly. "On one condition: you have to join our group." I scoffed, "I don't think so."
Bella's smile didn't waver. "Suit yourself. But you're missing out on the fun." Kelvin spoke up, "Aria, can't you use that trick you did when we were kids? You know, the one where you made those kids tell the truth about our dog?"
I glared at Kelvin, but Bella's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea! Aria, can you cast a spell on us to make us tell the truth just because we want to be friends?"
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not doing that." Bella's smile turned cold, and she turned to leave. "I think we're done here. We should've left you in the woods."
But then I hesitated. The group seemed intriguing, and I didn't want to be left out. "Hey, wait," I said, my voice measured. "I'm not sure about this...but I'll think about joining your group. Not because I want to be friends, but because the group sounds...interesting."
Bella turned back, a smile spreading across her face. "Really? You'll join us?" I nodded, a small, calculated smile on my face. "Yes, I'll join. But don't expect me to be all smiles and sunshine."
The others cheered, and Bella grinned. "So, who's going to tell the story?" I asked, my eyes locked on Oppra. "I am," she said, sitting down on the couch.
*****
As the months flew by, our bond grew stronger, fueled by our nocturnal escapades and thirst for discovery. Our group, though infamous, remained exclusive, with a strict no-admissions policy. Kelvin, however, had managed to insinuate himself into our ranks, often tagging along despite our initial reluctance.
I couldn't help but marvel at the camaraderie that had developed between us. For the first time, I felt unshackled, free to indulge my whims and fancies, albeit within the safety of our tight-knit circle.
One Saturday morning, I woke up feeling peculiarly buoyant. As I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my roommates and Kelvin burst into my room, their faces aglow with excitement. "Happy Birthday!" they chorused in perfect harmony. I was taken aback, my eyes widening in surprise as I muttered to myself, "Today is my birthday!"
My roommates were laden with gifts and a sumptuous cake, while Kelvin brandished a confetti cannon, which he promptly fired, showering me with colorful streamers. "Happy birthday, baby! May all your dreams come true and more!" he exclaimed, enveloping me in a warm hug. I felt a flutter in my chest, but the excitement of the moment drowned out any other emotions.
The day wore on, and our celebration showed no signs of abating. As we lingered over lunch, Stacy piped up, "Guys, let's play Truth or Dare!" The room fell silent, with each of us exchanging skeptical glances.
"I don't know, Stacy," Oppra said, her brow furrowed. "It could get out of hand." Bella nodded in agreement. "Yeah, let's not risk it. We don't want any awkward moments."
Kelvin, however, was undeterred. "Come on, it'll be fun! We can handle it." I hesitated, weighing the pros and cons, before shaking my head. "I'm not sure...I don't want to spill any secrets."
But Stacy was relentless, her enthusiasm infectious. "That's the point! We'll get to know each other better. And who knows, it might be fun!" She paused, surveying our skeptical faces. "If anyone's too chicken, just say so."
The gauntlet had been thrown. Oppra raised an eyebrow. "Fine, but if things get weird, I'm blaming you, Stacy." Bella shrugged. "I'm in, but don't say I didn't warn you." I sighed, throwing caution to the wind. "Okay, fine. Let's do this".