The Julies: Diamond Years.

I stood up, annoyed.

"Excuse me?" I said sharply.

But he was already walking away, not even turning back.

"That would only be right coming from someone who's blind or shortsighted," I added raising my voice.

"Which are you?"

He stopped in his tracks. Still didn't turn around.

Gasps from the watching students.

 "She didn't just say that to Desmond… did she?"

"Who even is she?"

"That girl's crazy."

He let out a small scoff, almost to himself. Not quite a response. Not even a defense, just a cold mocking dismissal.

"Shortsighted," he muttered, before walking off.

His cocky, snobbish ass.

***

In the corner of the hallway, Edmond had watched the entire scene unfold, amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Huh. Her audacity… It's actually refreshing," he said to himself.

Emily stood beside him, arm folded.

First, she clapped back at Rose and Ivy—Rose and Ivy, the certified twin terrors of Diamond. Bullies with designer shoes and family money. Even seniors tiptoe around them.

And now she was talking back to Desmond?

 "She didn't just come for Desmond, did she?" Emily asked.

"I literally saved her from Rose and Ivy minutes ago—and now she's out here throwing stones at my friend? The irony."

"Ironically," Julius said, suddenly beside them, "you might've just saved them from her."

Edmond raised a brow. Julius extended a hand, casual and cool.

"Julius," he introduced himself.

Edmond nodded. "Edmond."

"Hmm. Just know… it can get a little dangerous around here."

 "Good thing I have my friends," Julius replied.

Edmond's smile faded slightly. He looks ahead not at Julius, and said quietly…

"Friendship. Some people once had it."

Something about the way he said it made Julius pause. It sounded like more than a sentence. But he didn't press. Everyone had their past.

***

Elsewhere, Laura had also witnessed the Desmond scene—and she was fuming.

 "I've been trying to talk to him all day, and he just stands there talking to some new girl?" she spat in disgust.

"Apparently that's not a tae and tar," Kim said dryly from beside her.

 "Kim, no one asked for your nerdy commentary," Emily said with an eye roll.

 "I'm not nerdy. I'm just self-aware."

Before Kim could blink, Laura had grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked it back. From afar, it might look like a casual lean in conversation except for the girls subtly shielding them from view.

"Seems the break made you forget who I am," Laura whispered sharply .

"I'm Laura freaking Wellington. Wel-ling-ton. Let it sink into that over-analyzing brain of yours."

She shoved Kim aside and stalked off.

Juliet had caught the tail end of it and walked up just as Kim straightened herself.

 "Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.

" I'm fine. Honestly….I just enjoy watching Laura showcase her insecurities," Kim said, brushing herself off.

"Almost going bald doesn't sound very enjoyable."

"Laura keeps trying to remind people of her status. But if you have to remind people of your position, are you really all that?."

Juliet gives a small knowing smile "Fair point. Still… people seem to like her."

"Mixed feelings".Kim said. "Shes...a competition. Then she held out a hand. "I'm Kim by the way. Didn't introduce myself earlier."

Juliet took it. I know 

"How did you—?"

"The same way you know my name and my friends'. You might've talked a bit too loudly while shopping on Saturday."

Kim gasped. "Whoa.Okay, sharp ears."

"We're both in Science then," Kim said. "So we've got Biology together."

Juliet checked her watch and picked up her pace. "And if we keep walking this slow, they'll lock us out."

Kim followed her. "You know your friend just had a verbal showdown with Desmond right here in the hall?"

"Juliana?" Juliet smirked.

"I didn't expect less.

Juliana's POV

I'm standing in front of our class building with Matthew, who's busy sketching in his notebook again—probably another weird concept or a person's face. We're waiting for Juliet and Julius while students stream out in groups, laughing, shouting, piling into cars.

Julius joins us, waving goodbye to a group of girls who giggle as they walk away.

"That was fast. Captain Julius reporting for duty," I tease.

"Stop. They're just my classmates," he says, brushing me off with a smirk. He gives Matt a quick fist bump too.

"He doesn't talk much, does he?" I ask, glancing at Matt.

"He's cool. We're all new here. It'll only get better," Julius says.

Juliet finally joins us, and we start walking together.

"How was your first day?" I ask.

"Great. My classmates seem nice."

 "Classmates," I echo, unimpressed. "We know."

"Mine was good," Julius adds. "I'm in the same class as Kim and… Desmond."

"Oh God," I groan, and even Matt lets out a quiet laugh.

"I heard you made new friends," Juliet says with a smirk.

"You mean enemies? Yes. A whole bunch. Rich, arrogant, stupid, and shortsighted."

 "You might as well add 'handsome,'" Juliet replies slyly.

"At least she added 'rich,'" Julius chuckles.

I let out a silent scream, clawing the air in frustration while they all laugh louder.

"I need new friends," I mutter.

"You should calm down," Juliet says gently. "You don't even know him."

"Him? I'm not even talking about him. I'm talking about every sick person I met today. Sick… and shortsighted."

***

Flashback

Desmond slams Raymond against the wall.

Raymond shoves him back, breaking Desmond's grip on his shirt. They're inches from throwing punches.

"Guys!" Edmond's voice cuts through the tension as he steps between them.

"I thought you were smart, Des. But you're just dumb… and shortsighted."

Shortsighted. That exact word.

Desmond stares at his reflection later that night, still dressed, his knuckles clenched at his side.

"They think I'm shortsighted," he says to the mirror, his voice cold, scoffing.

"They don't get to decide."

****

Juliana's POV

Tuesday.

Wednesday.

Peaceful—almost like I didn't almost start a fight on Monday. Except for the occasional glare from the twins, things feel normal. School is just school.

Thursday

After lunch with Julius, Juliet, and even Matt (who joined us this time), I'm rushing to class. Matt already left—I had to use the restroom.

As I turn a corner, I trip over something.

I stagger forward, catching myself just in time.

It's the hallway bin. Someone must've shoved it out of place.

"Watch where you're walking."

That voice. Familiar.

I look up.

But it's not who I expect.

It's Raymond—leaning against the wall in a crisp blue shirt, white trousers, white sneakers. He still wears his hair weaved in the front like Monday, but styled differently today. Pose like a damn model.

I roll my eyes and start picking up the scattered trash—thankfully just wrappers and paper, nothing gross.

"Mixed race people… aren't they the most beautiful?" he says, stepping closer.

What the hell?

"They mix cultures, characters, attributes… looks. Even strengths and weaknesses. They're always striking. Like God handpicked their features."

I dust my palms and move the basket back into place. I can't tell if he's giving a lecture or flirting.

 "Hi. My name is—"

"Raymond," I cut in.

"You could've let me finish. That would've been more lady-like."

"I don't want to be lady-like. Not with you."

"Ouch," he grins. I roll my eyes again.

 "Don't you have class?"

"We don't use the same timetable. And besides… I can study you."

God, this boy. 

I start walking.

"I heard you had a fight with Desmond," he calls.

"And you're here to question me as his best friend?"

 "Hell no. I fucking hate him. I'm here to say… well done."

"Tell that to yourself," I reply. "I'm not here to be mixed up in your enmity or rivalry or whatever crap you've got going on."

I walk off. But I can still feel him smirking behind me.

Juliana's POV

Friday.

The Student Council's first open session—well, not really a session. More like a glorified meet-and-greet since it's the start of a new school year.

It's tagged "Know the Voices of Diamond." That's what they call the student union here—Voices of Diamond. I heard they hold these open sessions once a month, or whenever there's a crisis. Same girl who told me about Rose and Ivy filled me in on that.

We're seated in the Grand Hall. The student council members are standing on the elevated stage like royalty. There are thirteen of them in total.

Ten are seniors from 12th grade, holding major positions like President, Vice President, General Secretary, Treasurer, Event Coordinator—you name it. They were all elected last semester.

The remaining three are juniors: two from 11th grade—Raymond and Laura from our class—and one girl from 10th. Apparently, junior seats grow in number as the semester progresses. By the second semester, they'll bring in even more because the seniors will be busy prepping for final exams.

"Desmond and Edmond used to be in the student council in 10th grade, but they dropped out last semester," someone said behind us, startling us a bit.

We turn to see a grinning girl.

"Hi. I'm Nancy," she says.

"Yes, her name is Nancy," I mumble to my friends.

"She sneaks up on people a lot, doesn't she?" Juliet whispers.

I nod.

"So, what happened? Why did they leave?" Juliet's in full detective mode now.

Nancy leans in like she's sharing classified intel. "They used to be close—Desmond, Edmond, Raymond. But they had a huge fight in early 10th grade. Word is, there was even an outburst during a council meeting. It's just a rumor, but everyone knows they're enemies now. Some say it's because of Laura."

As Nancy talks, my eyes scan the hall. I don't see Desmond anywhere—until I do. He walks in quietly, leans against the back wall, and watches the stage with his usual icy stare. That pose, that position, there's something about that pose that is familiar.

The council members start introducing themselves and promising to be the "voice of the students." Blah blah blah.

"The president's name is Savion Ross," she says.

"Ross? That sounds expensive," Julius mutters beside me.

"It is," Nancy replies with a knowing grin. "He's Laura's cousin."

"She's the Diamond Encyclopedia," Juliet whispers to me.

She's not wrong.

Now Raymond's speaking. The crowd erupts in cheers.

"That guy's more popular than some of the seniors," Juliet notes.

"Yeah, he's a good flirt," I reply.

"As a junior council rep, I say this, trust me to represent your best interest so bring your best to the table," Raymond says, and the student body cheers again.

Then something cuts through the noise—cold and sharp, but quiet enough to feel out of place.

"Should we?" Desmond's voice.

***

Laura tenses immediately. The student head turn toward the sound. Silence, whispers, gasp.

Raymond turns toward the back. "You said?"

"Should we trust someone who switches faces from day to night?"

Not now. Edmond mutters something under his breath from where he's standing near the side.

"If you've got something to say, Desmond, say it. Don't dress it in riddles," Raymond snaps.

"If you're the one representing them," Desmond replies coldly, "then their fate is sealed. It's a nightmare."

"Coming from a coward who left the council?" Raymond shoots back. "Don't blame me for the choices you were too scared to make."

Scared? Desmond scoffs. "I'm not scared of anything. And you fucking know that."

Edmond sighs. "These two only speak when they're seconds from tearing each other apart."

"Gosh,this is so embarrassing," someone whispers.

Raymond looks like he's ready to strike when Savion finally cuts in, jaw clenched. "Stop that. Now."

Laura exhales like she's been holding her breath.

Desmond turns and walks out without another word.

Savion takes control again and rushes to wrap up the session.

"Wow". Matt mutter beside the group.

"What a way to crash the first open session," Juliet says.

"Crazy…" Julius drawls.

"Not Voices of Diamond," I say, shaking my head.

"Voices of Drama," Julius says, giving me a fist bump.

"Or Desmond. Voice of Desmond," Matt adds from behind us.

We all pause.

"Hmmm," we hum in unison, nodding in agreement like that made way too much sense.