[The brothers and Maeve arrive, well dressed for the Winter Dance.]

[As they enter the building, there are many tables set with high quality snacks, and there is music loudly playing.]

[The Prince sneaks in behind the brothers and Maeve, stealing a cookie off of the table.]

[Miss Parselle appears and snatches the cookie away.]

Parselle: I don’t think so. Those are for students. 

[She takes a bite out of the cookie.]

Parselle: -and faculty. 

Prince: Aw, come on Mrs. P! Can’t I have just one cookie?

Parselle: No. Off you go. 

[The Prince sulks as he leaves the school.]

[Maeve looks around, hoping to spot Luka, but it’s too crowded.]

[Suddenly, Oliver grabs her hand.]

Oliver: Come on! 

[He drags her further into the school, where there is a makeshift dance floor.]

[He begins to dance with her. It’s obvious she is out of practice and has no idea what she is doing, but he reassures her and helps her figure it out.]

[Oliver spins her over to August. Surprised, he stumbles as he dances, but they eventually find a rhythm.]

[Finally, it’s Ethan’s turn. His dancing is stiffer and more refined than Olivers. Maeve has some trouble keeping up, tripping over his feet. She completely falls over at one point, hitting the ground with a thud.]

[Someone taps her on the shoulder.]

[She looks up to see Luka.]

Maeve: LUKA! 

[She pulls him in for a tight hug. They eventually let go of one another, and Luka holds out his hand for a dance.]

[Neither of them really know how to dance, and it is obvious. Still, they laugh at themselves and their inability.]

[Luka’s voice is low, hard to hear over the blasting pop music.]

Luka: I am so happy to be back. 

[Maeve is shocked. She smiles wide, her teeth shining in the colorful light.]

[She pulls Luka in for a hug and rests her head on his shoulder.]

Maeve: I’m so sorry I didn’t come back for you- they wouldn’t let me and- 

Luka: It’s ok, Maeve… Why don’t we go and talk to your friends? 

Maeve: Ok! Yeah. Let’s do that. 

[They head over to the brothers’ group. They are bored, it seems as though their friends haven't come back yet.]

[August perks up as he notices Luka walking over.]

Luka: Hello. People. 

[Luka is fidgeting with his fingers.]

Oliver: You can talk? 

Maeve: Yeah, of course he can! 

[Luka attempts to smile.]

[Ethan stands up straight, staring at Luka. Luka, on edge, begins to back up. Suddenly, Ethan takes a knee and bows his head.]

Ethan: I’m sincerely sorry for how I treated you. 

[Luka pats him on the head.]

Luka: It’s ok. I’m glad you are looking out for Maeve. 

[Luka’s voice cracks and becomes coarse at the word “Maeve”.]

Luka: I’m gonna go get water. Thanks, Royal Highnesses.

Maeve: You don’t have to call them that! 

August: I don’t know- I kinda like it. 

Maeve: August! 

[Luka rushes off to a table. There he meets Elle, who pulls him away from the party to talk with him.]

~~~

[Maeve chatted with the boys for a while longer, until realizing that Luka has been gone for way too long.]

[Amelia appears behind her.]

Amelia: Looking for Luka? 

Maeve: Yeah? Did you do something to him? 

Amelia: No. Elle was going to apologize to him. I think they are in her dorm. 

Maeve: It’s been a while. Let’s go. 

Amelia: Maeve! No! 

[Maeve ignores Amelia, heading towards the girls dorm. She looks at each name tag, until she finds the one labeled “Elle and Amelia”. Amelia jumps in the way.]

Amelia: You really shouldn’t do this Maeve. Just leave them- 

[Maeve shoves her away and swings open the door.]

[Inside of Elle’s pink infested dorm room, Luka and Elle are sitting on her bed.]

[Elle has pinned Luka’s arms and is kissing him, Luka is not reciprocating.]

Maeve: What the hell? Elle? Luka? 

[Elle messily takes herself off of Luka, and Luka jumps up.]

[He tries to say something, but his voice just isn’t there.]

[Elle smiles.]

~~~

[Maeve sprinted back to her room, wanting to throw up.]

[She is now sitting on the floor.]

[There are two gentle knocks on the door.]

[Luka creaks open the door, walks over to Maeve, and sits down in front of her.]

[Maeve’s voice is wobbly, interrupted by the occasional sniffle.]

Maeve: Look, it’s fine if you two are in a relationship- it’s just a lot to take in right now. 

[Luka looks down, and attempts to talk.]

Luka: No- Maeve- we aren’t in love. She kissed me. 

Maeve: Yeah, I saw. 

Luka: I didn’t want to kiss her. She just- out of nowhere, grabbed my wrists and started kissing me. 

Maeve: Really? But why would she do that?

Luka: She must be really lonely. Or maybe she’s trying to break us apart. But what a weird first kiss.

Maeve: Oh god, she was your first kiss?

Luka: Yep. Unfortunate. 

Maeve: That cannot actually count- 

[Maeve cracks a smile, and pulls Luka in for an embrace. He hugs her back tightly and closes his eyes.]

Maeve: I’m sorry I overreacted like that. It’s just this break was awful for me. 

Luka: What do you mean? 

Maeve: Well…

[Maeve explains how her mother didn’t want her and how her brother attempted to kill her and then kidnapped her.]

Luka: That’s- that’s awful! 

[Luka grabs her and hugs her.]

Luka: I need to go and deal with Elle. She has crossed a line. 

Maeve: Okay. Just- be careful, Luka. Do you want me to come with you? 

[Luka turns around and his eyes turn red.]

Luka: No. I’ll be absolutely fine. 

~~~

[Elle is in the courtyard, screaming awful words at Amelia. Amelia stands strong, her face wet with tears.]

[Luka walks swiftly into the courtyard, each step pounding into the grass below.]

Elle: Oh wonderful! Exactly who I wanted to see! Nobody wants you here, Luka! 

Luka lets out a frustrated breath. He grabs Elle by the throat and chokes her. 

[She kicks her legs, but Luka doesn’t falter.]

Amelia: Luka, stop! You are hurting her!

Luka: Why do you defend her? Don’t you know what she’s done? 

Amelia: I know! She’s disgusting! But she doesn’t deserve to die! 

[Luka doesn’t listen to her. Amelia tackles Luka, and Elle falls to the ground. Her limp body hits the floor with a thud.]

[Luka’s eyes change back to their vibrant blue.]

[He sees Elle on the floor and collapses to the ground.]

[The only noises in the courtyard are Luka’s quick breaths, and Amelia’s hurry to get away.]

~~~

[Maeve is in her dorm room, earbuds in her ears.]

[Her door opens, and she sits up.]

[Luka shuffles in. His mouth is sealed shut.]

[He falls into her bed and curls into a ball.]

Maeve: Luka? Are you ok?

[It is as if Maeve doesn’t even exist. ]

[Maeve attempts to figure out what happened, but Luka stays still. She eventually gives up, turns off the lights, and falls asleep next to him in her bed.]

~~~

[There is a knock at the door. Maeve groggily gets up to open it and it’s Miss Parselle.]

[She shoves Maeve aside and walks straight to Luka.]

Parselle: Maeve, Luka. I want you both in my office. 

Maeve: Wha- What’s going-

Parselle: NOW! 

[Miss Parselle rushes out. The two students follow her.]

~~~

[They enter Miss Parselle’s office. The walls are full of files on various students, only interrupted by a shrine behind Miss Parselle’s desk. The shrine has a painting of a blond man.]

[Elle is seated at one of the three chairs in front of the desk. Miss Parselle takes a seat behind the desk.]

[Maeve and Luka sit in the two remaining chairs.]

Parselle: Elle has written me quite a report about this night. Would either of you like to explain? 

[Luka hangs his head.]

Maeve: I have no idea what is going on. 

Parselle: So you have no idea why Elle was unconscious in the courtyard.

Maeve: I have no idea what’s going on, but Luka was with me last night. The only time he was away from me was when he was talking with Elle, but he wouldn’t hurt her. In fact, she kissed him! Without consent! 

[Elle smirks and shakes her head.]

Parselle: Elle wrote that Luka was the reason she was unconscious. I would just like to hear your side of the story. 

Maeve: I’ve told you our side of the story! Luka had nothing to do with it. Elle’s always had a problem with us. She’s hurt us worse. 

Parselle: Should I just believe that Elle lied to me and hurt herself just to frame you? 

Maeve: Yes! Those are the lengths she would go to! Luka is inno- 

Luka: It’s my fault. 

Maeve: What? Luka, no it isn’t.

Luka: I lost control. Amelia tried to stop me. I didn’t stop. I hurt Elle. 

Maeve: Luka, please stop. You didn’t do anything. 

[Luka grabs Maeve’s hand.]

Luka: I did. I was angry. I was out of control. I’m sorry. 

Parselle: I’m trying my best to be forgiving to you demons, but it’s hard. Ever since my husband passed…

Years ago...

[Mr. Parselle is sitting at the same desk that Miss Parselle uses today.] 

[He is writing something in his notebook.]

[His door opens, and a young Eve runs in.]

Father: Eve! What are you doing in dad’s office? 

Eve: I wanted to say hi! And play with dad! 

Father: Alright, Eve. Let’s go outside. 

[Father picks up Eve and takes her outside. He lets her down and they begin to pick flowers together until they hear some shouting.]

[The shouting appears to be coming from an open window. Father grabs Eve’s hand and drags her back inside.]

Eve: I wanted to play outside! 

Father: Later, sweetheart. Dad has to deal with some students. Go find Mommy, ok? 

Eve: Okay! 

[Eve runs off. There is a slight smile on Father’s face.]

[He walks up the stairs and finds the two students arguing in the hallway. One is a demon boy, and the other is an angel.]

[The angel has beaten the demon, both physically and mentally. The angel notices Father and runs away. As the angel lets go of the demon boy, the demon boy curls into a ball.]

[Father walks up to the demon boy.]

Father: What happened? 

[The demon boy is seemingly unresponsive, his body shaking with sobs.]

Father: I know you’ve been having a rough time lately, and I’d be willing to chat with you. 

[The demon boy doesn’t move. Father reaches down and touches him, and he explodes upwards, his eyes bright red.]

Demon Boy: DON’T TOUCH ME YOU FREAK! 

[The demon boy puts up his hand, and pushes Father back into a window.]

Demon Boy: ALL YOU ANGELS! YOU THINK YOU ARE BETTER THAN US! 

Father: Relax! Take deep breathes. You are not yourself right now. 

DB: HOW AM I NOT MYSELF? I JUST LET EVERYTHING INSIDE OF ME OUT! THIS IS MY TRUE SELF. 

F: No- Please, think about what you are doing! 

DB: I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I’M DOING. 

[The Demon Boy shoves Father. He stumbles back out of the window.]

[The Demon Boy looks over, his eyes turning back to normal. He cries.]

Back to the present...

Parselle: I’ve tried to forgive demons after what they did to him. I don’t think I can forgive them any more. 

[Miss Parselle stands.]

Parselle: Luka, I will call your brother. You will go back to the Demon Region and never come back to school. In other words, you are permanently expelled.

Maeve: NO! You can’t- please! 

Parselle: He attacked Elle for no good reason. I have no choice. 

Maeve: He had a reason! She abuses us! She’s done way worse to us! 

Parselle: How come you have never told me? 

Maeve: We were scared! But she stabbed me! She made our lives a living hell! 

[Miss Parselle laughs.]

Parselle: You expect me to believe you were stabbed? When? How come there’s no wound? 

Maeve: It’s been months. Ethan gave me first aid, so the wound closed. 

Parselle: Go get him, and let him prove it. 

[Maeve runs out, leaving Luka, Elle, and Miss Parselle together.]

[Elle is smiling.]

[She slides the notepad and pen on the desk over to herself.]

~~~