Hal, Cat and Delta were at the lockers making small talk in the few minutes before the first bell rang, when Ruby made one of her well-practiced entrances.

"Hello, losers," Ruby cooed.
               
"Hello, braindead," Delta said without missing a beat.

Ruby ignored her and instead leaned over to Cat with a smug look on her unblemished face, albeit for scar on her upper lip, hidden as best as she could with makeup. "Ready for the Showdown?"

Cat scoffed loudly. "You can wipe that look off your face before I do it for you today onstage." Cat pouted mockingly. "Don't want to be embarrassed live, do we?"

Ruby pulled back, sizing Cat up. "That won't be necessary. You will be destroyed, Delgado. If you wish to hold onto your dignity, you'll do what's right for you."

"Yep," Cat nodded, nonchalantly, "stay in the game."

During all this, Hal stayed quiet, focusing on the contents of his locker, while stealing looks at his friends' childish, elementary-kids style brawl with Ruby. He preferred Ruby not noticing him. Ruby had been harping about how much more the fees are rumored to go up by the end of the school year, and how financially unstable some of the students are, and how it's a good thing because now the stragglers will finally be washed out. How some of the students here are just bland and untalented and unworthy of receiving the school's highly prestigious education. It has always been about money and what you can achieve with Ruby. And it took Hal every ounce of his strength and patience to not give into the temptation and make the earth swallow the girl. Quite literally.

Ruby cleared her throat pointedly. "So, which Showdown are you in, Aldane?" 

Hal refused to turn.

"I mean,  like, are you keeping it a secret, hoping to make a big entrance?" Ruby continued in the honeyed tone she'd use around Hal. As if he's some kid who couldn't understand the ways of Ruby Grove. "Like, I respect that. Can't wait to see you show off your skills to the whole school." And watch you fail miserably, Ruby seemed to imply.

Hal didn't reply hoping that the girl would get bored and leave. But Ruby didn't seem too keen on letting the topic down.

Ruby leaned in closer. "But if you tell me, I'll keep it our little secret."

Hal half-turned towards Ruby. "I'm in none of them," he said haltingly, shaking his head quickly, as if vibrating.

Ruby pulled back, gasping, her hand on her chest. "Oh, no!" She said with mock concern, her eyebrows drawn together. "Why not? It would have been just wonderful to see you embarrass yourself."

"Back off, Grove," Delta growled immediately. 

Ruby looked at her patronizingly and smiled sweetly. "Make me."

Cat grabbed Delta's arm, holding her back when she physically leapt at Ruby. She stepped in front of Delta, nodding at a growing commotion to their left. "Why not leave us alone? Oh, and maybe get a new boyfriend, while you're at it? It seems that's what you do in your free time. I heard he's free."

Ruby looked towards the crowd, her eyes narrowing, her lips forming a slight smirk. "I don't have time for boys." But her eyes begged to differ. She flipped her blond hair behind her shoulder, giving Hal Cat and Delta one of her manufactured smiles, ignoring Hal. "Besides, I've already met him." With that, she walked off, her hips swinging slightly, making her way away from the crowd, surprising Hal, Cat and Delta.

Cat closed the door to her locker and nudged Hal with her elbows, a light frown still on her face. "Shall we?"

Hal nodded, getting the last of his books and closing the door. Delta grinned at them. "See you in Chem." She patted Hal's shoulder before going in the direction Ruby left.

Cat sighed. They had to go past Kylian Castillo and his group of admirers if they wanted to get to Physics, and Hal knew the very idea of the Castillos revolted Cat. "Why do you hate them so much?" Hal asked as Cat pushed him forward, crouching in an attempt to hide behind Hal.

"Maybe later?" Cat said urgently as they pushed past the actor-model's fan club. "Right now, I just want to get to class without the guy noticing me."

Hal closed his mouth shut, knowing there was no point pushing his friend into spilling. He watched Kylian Castillo as he smiled patiently, waiting for the adoring crowd to give him enough space to reach his locker. He then seemed to give up and decide to head to class without leaving his stuff behind. When he turned around as if to look for someone, his eyes fell on Cat and Hal. Hal watched bewildered as Kylian Castillo's eyes widened at seeing Cat. 

"Catalina?" He called.

Hal looked openmouthed at Cat who groaned. "Ay, but the universe conspires against me." She huffed, her nose scrunching, as if she sensed a fowl smell coming from him. "Just ignore him."

Hal dutifully obeyed his friend, although not ready to drop the subject, leaving Kylian Castillo behind looking surprised. "He knows you," Hal accused in a high whisper, "he called your name! It's supposed to be impossible."

Cat straightened up. "That a famous boy knows me? What kind of person do you think I am?"

"Definitely not someone who knows the Castillos."

Cat shook her head dismissively, pushing Hal forward because he had slowed down. "Maybe later, Hals," she said almost tiredly.

"Is it cause you're both Spanish? Do you know each other somehow because—"

"Um, no? Jeez."

"Well, don't you want to talk to him?" Hal pushed in the hopes of getting to talk to him, too. "At least to drag him or something?"

"Oh, we'll see him soon enough," Cat said dryly. "I know who his guide is. And let's hope he gets lost despite everything."

***

Kylian Castillo entered their Physics class, just like Cat had promised, almost fifteen minutes late, just like Cat had hoped. Whispered chatters that had died out in the class as the attendance was being checked were revoked once again. Ms. Kenner looked up from the attendance sheet at the sound of the talking. Noticing them, she frowned at the pair at her door.

"Quiet!" Ms. Kenner yelled, and promptly the class quietened. She narrowed her yes at Kylian. Having seen her fair share of obnoxious students and celebrity kids, she was not a woman to take their nonsense.

Kylian Castillo gave a slight wave. "Hey, guys," he looked at Ms. Kenner, "and Ms—?"

"Kenner," she said simply, as if waiting for Kylian to continue.

He nodded. "Yes, Ms. Kenner—"

Ian stepped in front of him, a smug smile on his lips, putting an arm on Kylian Castillo's shoulder, stopping him. Ian turned to Ms. Kenner. "I apologize on behalf of both of us, Ms. Kenner," he said, "we were late because Kylian had an audience with the principal."

Ms. Kenner looked at Ian, raising her eyebrows at his tone. "You're excused. But Mr. Castillo," she said her frown deepening, "I have little tolerance for a misbehaving student. Am I clear?"

"Crystal, ma'am," Kylian nodded solemnly.

"Take a seat," Ms. Kenner said, returning to the attendance sheet. "Antonio Agresti," she drawled, continuing down the attendance sheet.

Antonio, beside Cat, raised his hand. "Here." Kylian Castillo took a seat beside Antonio, which happened to be empty, eyeing Cat uncertainly as she ignored him when he passed her. Ian walked up to Antonio. 

"Come on, dude. Move to the back." Ian jerked his thumb to the back of the class. Antonio started to get up without argument, reaching for his backpack beside his chair, but Cat stopped him.

"Antonio stays," she told Ian matter-of-factly, "you move."

Ian rolled his eyes. "Sure, but the thing is, I am his guide," he jerked his head at Kylian, "and a guide has to be next to his...guidee...? And if Antonio stays, I'll have to sit on your boyfriend's lap."

Cat's neck started flaming up. She huffed and folded her arms. Ms. Kenner cleared her throat loudly from the front. Antonio immediately grabbed his backpack and moved to the back, and Ian settled into the seat. "Ugh. It's warm."

Cat leaned over to Ian. Hal figured this wouldn't end well. "Enjoying it, are you?" Cat scoffed, "I'm surprised you haven't gotten on your knees yet. 'Can I have the great privilege of being kicked by your royal shoe, Kylian?'" 

Kylian heard it, and shot Cat an uncomfortable look, shifting in his seat. Hal guessed his friend intended for the model to hear it. He was surprised at how rudely Cat was behaving at the moment. But then, it wasn't like there was any shortage of that on a daily basis.

Ian chuckled humorlessly. "Jealous much?"

"I would die bef—"

"You are one word from getting detention, the both of you," Ms. Kenner said coldly, eyeing Cat and Ian with her glasses pulled down. That shut the pair up. All the same, Cat started to reach over to smack Ian at the back of his head. Hal caught her hand to stop her.

"Cat, don't—"

"That's it!" Ms. Kenner snapped furiously. "Ten minutes off your lunch, Aldane."

Hal nodded mutely, letting go of Cat's hand. When Ms. Kenner turned around to face the board, writing the day's date, he shot Cat a deadly glare. Cat simply shrugged, clearly plotting to get them into more trouble.

               After suffering ten minutes of the beginning of his lunch break with Ms. Kenner, who seemed to have regretted wasting that ten minutes, Hal searched for Cat in her usual place: the studio. Sure enough, the girl was hunched over one of her designs she was working on for the Fashion Showdown the following evening in the park after school. She was competing against Ruby for Evemore High, amongst the three high schools in the area that were participating. If she wins, she can move on to regionals, then nationals, and maybe even internationals.

"Hey Cat," Hal said softly, afraid of startling her and being at the receiving end of Cat's wrath as he has so stupidly been before. "You owe me an apology," he said more louder. 

Cat paused her work, but didn't look up or reply.

"Okay." Hal sensed something was wrong but he couldn't see Cat's face as it were hidden by her long curls. "Where's Delta?" 

Cat shrugged jerkily in reply. 

Hal gave up all pretense of trying a tactful approach. "So are you going to tell me?"

Cat looked up and Hal saw the anger and spite racing in her eyes. He didn't need more explanations. Only one person could drive her up the wall this much: Ruby. 

Hal groaned inwardly. "What did she do?"

Cat held up a shredded piece of clothing from her other side which was blind to Hal. Hal gasped.

"This is what that bitch did. I swear—" Cat growled. "She ruined it. I saw her walk around with a pair of scissors, she had that nasty smile of hers on her hideous, foundation-caked, badly-contoured, desperately in need of a nose job face of—she even winked at me!" Cat paused to take in a deep breath.

Hal wrung his hands in front of him, nervously. "But it's this eve—"

"You think I don't know that?" Cat snapped, going back to her dress, working furiously. Hal feared his friend would further ruin her hard work out of anger.

"Should we do something about it?" Hal asked tentatively after an awkward pause.

"No," Cat's head snapped up to Hal, "Oh, no, not at all. That would be disgraceful. That girl has no honor, but I do. I'll beat her and show her, I will." She shook the dress angrily in her fist, clutching it tight. 

Hal crouched beside Cat. He couldn't pretend to know how Cat felt, but he understood. He gently eased Cat's fingers loose so the fabric won't get rumpled. "Use one of your older designs. You've never gone wrong when it comes to clothes, not yet."

Cat let out a dry chuckle. "You should be the last one saying that. You know nothing about clothes. Yes, I've gone wrong before, 
Hals!"

Hal rolled his eyes. Between Cat and Delta, he had learned to dress fashionably yet comfortably, except he's always went with comfort over fashion. Partly because he didn't have the time for it. Partly because he didn't have the money.

Hal twisted his head toward the door when he heard hurried footsteps coming closer. Sure enough, Delta stormed in, glaring at Hal.

"I hate your brother!" Delta fumed at him.

"That's not my fault," Hal said, folding his arms as he stood up once again. "Which one though?" He asked before he could stop himself.

Delta rolled her eyes with such vehemence Hal thought the girl could see her brains. "Danny, of course, because I don't see why not he'd be in Evemore High."

"Right," Hal said, starting to get annoyed, "it just slipped. Sorry." Despite that, he motioned slightly towards Cat, to warn Delta.

Delta ignored him. "He's been teasing me all day about it. He even asked about the dance at the end of the year. I hinted back I'd like to go—"

"You're planning far ahead," Hal said at the same time Cat said, "He's out of your league."

Delta swiveled around to face Cat, a million retorts waiting at the tip of her tongue, by the looks of it, but stopped short. "What did she do?" She exclaimed, slapping her forehead in surprise, all her earlier frustration disappearing away.

Cat stood up, calmer than Hal usually preferred her to be. "Signed up for a spectacular defeat."