The following morning was the second day of the Annual Celebration of Veteris and the day held the same amount of excitement as the first day, or maybe more. When the clock struck nine in the morning, the speakers turned on, either to make announcements or for the music to be played to keep up the mood of the celebration.

  Julie was in her dorm, drying her hair after a head bath.

  It would be a lie if she said that she wasn't nervous about this evening. All these days she had performed the rehearsal in front of a small number of students who were part of the play. But after seeing the number of people in the theatre of the university yesterday, she wondered if she would be able to play her part without stuttering.

  In the back of her mind, a memory was attached to the stage, when she was studying in her previous university and not in Veteris. Her thoughts drifted to the past…


  Some of the students stood at the stage, rehearsing, and Julie was carrying the boxes in her arms, by helping the drama club. When she heard the teacher question, who was directing the play,

  'Where is the pole that is supposed to be here? Julianne?!'

  Julie stopped walking and came forward, 'I placed it here a while ago,' she looked at the stage.

  'Where did it go then? I gave you the responsibility for it, why aren't you taking care of it?' asked the teacher. She turned to look at the other students and asked, 'Did anyone see the pole?'

  'I don't think the pole was even brought here, Mr. Webston. I have been here the entire time,' informed one of the students.

  Hearing this, Julie frowned, 'You are lying. I placed it right in front of you.'

  'And why would I lie?' asked the student, looking offended by her words. 'You must be trying to spoil the play because we got the chance to act in the play while you are here picking up things,' saying this, the boy shrugged his shoulders.

  'I heard she wanted to play the role, saying she felt it was unfair that she didn't get it,' said another student, who was her ex-best friend's friend now. 'Mr. Webston, Julianne must have hid it somewhere to spoil the play.'

  Julianne clenched her hands, turning to look at the teacher, she said, 'I would never do anything like that Mr. Webston. These people are lying. Please give me some time and I will go take a look at where the pole is.'

  The teacher held a grim expression on his face, and Julie quickly went in search of the pole, but after fifteen minutes, she didn't find it. She returned back to the stage and said, 'I don't know where it went. I will try to get another pole ready as quickly as I can.'

  'We all know what you did. Why are you lying, Jules?' questioned Natalie, walking forward. She turned to look at the teacher, 'Mr. Webston, if Julianne wants to take part in the play, I think we should give her a chance, don't you think so?' She offered a polite and sweet smile.

  'Mr. Webston, I do not want any role in it. If I wanted to take part in it, I would have—'

  'That's enough, Ms. Winters,' Julie's words were cut short by the teacher who had an unimpressed look on his face. 'This is not the first time you have been unable to coordinate with the whole team of students. You keep causing trouble. Somebody give her the script.'

  'But I don't want to act,' Julie voiced her thoughts.

  'I don't care anymore. This is your second chance, and if you don't do it properly I will make sure to let it reflect in your final grade of your behaviour,' stated the teacher, folding his hands across his chest. 'Give Ms. Winters the script.'

  Julie didn't know for what she was being punished when it wasn't her fault. Couldn't the teacher see that she was being bullied by the other students, making her stand all alone with not a single support? With the way the teacher looked at her, she wondered if he supported the bullies, not knowing her side of the story.

  Julie was then made to stand at the centre of the little stage, with a sheet given to her. The other students tried to hide their laughter and giggles.

  Her one hand clenched, while the other clenched the sheet of paper. Looking down, she read through the lines. But before she read the dialogues, one of the students commented,

  'I don't think anyone will come to watch the play if she stars in it. Did you look at her?'

  'She shouldn't have even come to help backstage with her incompetence.'

  'She's probably thinking of stealing Natalie's spot, but she should know better than that,' commented another student. 'I can't believe that they were once friends. It's good that Natalie stopped being her friend. Did she even look at herself in the mirror?'

  Julie hadn't been able to concentrate on the lines because of the continuous comments and remarks thrown at her.

  Natalie then said, 'Like Mr. Webston decided, you aren't fit just for a role to play, but you aren't good for anything."

  'Someone else will handle the work that was given to Ms. Winters. You don't have to help around here anymore,' stated Mr. Webston, who then ordered, 'Let's continue with the rehearsal and get some others to get the pole ready as quickly as possible.'

  Julie didn't know what happened, and why she was asked to step out where she wouldn't get any extra credits. Before leaving from there, her eyes met Natalie's eyes, who stared at her.

  'I know you did it,' said Julie.

  Natalie softly smirked at Julie's words, stepping forward and towering an inch above her. She said, 'You are not needed here anymore. Nobody wants you here, so run away and stay in the corner where nobody can ever see you.'

  Julie stared at Natalie and then asked, 'Why are you doing this? We were once friends and I never did anything bad to you.'

  Natalie laughed at her words, 'Are you sure you can say that? The worst thing is, you did everything without knowing and it has caused me so much pain. I am taking everything away from you.'

  Julie nodded her head, 'Take it. I don't need it anyways,' and she walked away from there.

  Julie's thoughts broke away from the past, and she returned to the dorm. She took a deep breath before exhaling the air through her lips.

  Thankfully things were different now. Thanks to Conner and Melanie's help, she had practised many times before getting on the rehearsal stage, making it seem as if she was able to act. But her friends weren't the only ones who helped her.

  Roman had encouraged her with his actions, trying to get the best out of her and be at par with him. She had tried to use the negative comments to improve herself, be better than the last time, and prove them wrong.

  "Everything is going to be great today," Julie assured herself, looking at the mirror. If her mother was still alive, she would have loved for her to come and see her on the stage.

  Picking up the notebook from the table, she wrote a note to Roman if he were to come by the dorm later as she hadn't seen him this morning and it was noon now—


  'I am going to the theatre after lunch. Maybe not immediately, but after looking at some of the stalls with Mel and Conner. Ms. Piper said the makeup and costumes for the girls would be done sooner than the boys. See you there later.'

  Tearing out the page, she folded and placed it near the window. This morning when she had woken up, Roman had dropped a letter to her, letting her know that he had somewhere to be and would meet her later.

  Julie picked up the photo strips that they had received yesterday from the photo booth. There were four pictures, and each one of them was unique compared to the other one. A smile appeared on her lips. Staring at the last one, where both looked at each other, she wondered why Roman had not kissed her.

  Last night, after watching the play in the theatre, Roman and Julie had gone their separate ways with their friends. It made her wonder if she had done something he disapproved of, as he hadn't said much to her. But she couldn't recollect anything that stuck out from the usual.

  After having her meal and spending some time with her friends, Julie made her way to the building, where the theatre had been built many years ago when Veteris was still a town. It was fascinating to see that they hadn't modified too many things and had instead preserved it the way it had been.

  Entering the theatre, Julie walked down the stairs. The only lights inside the theatre that had been turned on were at the stage, leaving the area of the red seats to be dark and empty. Julie heard the students' voices that came from behind the curtain, letting her know that everyone in there was busy getting the stage ready for the evening's show.

  Making her way behind the curtains, Julie saw the students at work.

  "Looks like our female lead for the play is here," commented one of the students, and for a moment, Julie was sure the next comment was going to be negative, as the students who were picked were delinquents. But the guy then asked, "Are you ready for this evening's play?"

  Julie nodded her head, "Yes, I am," a small and awkward smile formed on her lips.

  "Make sure you get all the lines right. I have a bet that you will shine better than Eleanor. A black horse," said the boy.

  The small smile on Julie's lips broadened, and she said, "Thank you for that."

  After being kicked from his former role in the play, Caleb, who was part of the backstage prop department, said to her, "All the others are in the backstage rooms. Ms. Piper has already taken the girls to check the fitting of the clothes once again."

  "Thanks," said Julie.

  She reached the backrooms, which was where the makeup and costumes would be worn. There were four rooms, and it had been divided between the girls and the boys.

  Entering the room, she caught sight of Olivia and two more girls, who were being helped by the students in charge of the costumes. Ms. Piper, who stood in the room, said, "I need you to splash some red patches of paint on the dress later. She needs to look as if she came after fighting the war."

  "Would you like me to paint it now, Ms. Piper?" asked one of the students.

  "Not now, but an hour before the play starts," said the teacher, who was directing the play. Julie noticed how everyone looked busy, walking back and forth to arrange things for the play. Noticing Julie at the entrance, Ms. Piper said, "It is good to see you here, dear. Did you eat?"

  "I did. Even brought some snacks if you want to have them," Julie raised her hand that held the bags in them.

  "What a sweetheart you are," appreciated Ms. Piper, then said, "We have only Aurora and the two others for help. The other girls are taking their damn sweet time. I clearly told them that I need them here on time. And did anyone see where Ms. Eleanor is? Hopefully not daydreaming somewhere," saying those words, the woman walked outside the room to see if she should get hold of the other female lead of her play.

  Julie walked inside the room, placing the snacks on the table. She came to stand in front of Olivia.

  "How are you doing, Julie?" inquired Olivia, her blue eyes trained on the human girl.

  "A little anxious. I have never done anything like this before, in front of so many people," confessed Julie. "How about you?"

  "The same," chuckled the blonde girl and said, "None of us ever took part in the play, so it's the first time for us. It's good though, one of the memories to hold on to when we graduate from here. But I will be here, as I have plans to apply for a position in the infirmary."

  "I am sure you will get it with ease, you already have experience by helping in the infirmary," responded Julie, and she wondered if Roman had any plans to work in a hospital. The most Roman had taken an interest in the infirmary was sending students after beating and breaking their bones, thought Julie to herself.

  Hearing the sounds of someone's shoes clicking on the floor, the girls turned to look at the door and noticed Eleanor. She appeared to be excited with a wide smile on her lips.

  "I am sorry for making all of you wait for me," said Eleanor, taking her feathery coat off her body. "I got caught up while trying to rehearse again in my room and make sure I would deliver all my lines perfectly," and she laughed.

  Aurora, who was in charge of the costumes with some other students, stared at Eleanore before saying, "At the moment we are occupied with the others, so take a seat and wait for your turn."

  Eleanor wanted to remark on this, but seeing Olivia staring at her, she smiled, "Of course, I will wait," and she sat down on the chair that was in front of the mirror. From the corner of her eyes, she looked at Julie and then looked forward at her reflection in the oval mirror. Eleanor said, "Aren't I the luckiest one, to be going through a wedding on the stage and kissing too at the end of the play as the scene is of our wedding."

  Hearing Eleanor's words, Julie pursed her lips because what Eleanor said right now was true.

  Roman wouldn't be kissing just her but also Eleanor to make the wedding scene look perfect. She took the petty girl's words with a grain of salt. While also knowing that more than her having to think about kissing, Roman was the one who was more annoyed with it.

  After twenty minutes, the other girls entered the room and started to help the students who would be on the stage tonight with their costumes.

  "How is it going?" questioned Ms. Piper, who returned to the room.

  "Eleanor's dress needs one more line of stitch as she seems to have lost some weight," said the student, while showing the loose-fitting of the gown that Eleanor wore right now.

  "I didn't want to put on weight and barely ate anything," remarked Eleanor, coyly pushing her hair behind her shoulder.

  "Well get to it then, there's no time to wait," said Ms. Piper.

  On the other side of the room, Julie noticed the girl bringing her white and navy costume dress in a box placed a few days ago.

  "Let me go and get my tape," said the girl, handing the dress to Julie. Julie took out the dress from the bow and went behind the wooden divider to change her clothes. But when she was done wearing it, she felt air breezing near her thigh and knee.

  When Julie moved her hand on the bottom side of the skirt, she noticed it was torn. Her eyes went wide. When did the skirt tear?! The skirt of her dress didn't have many frills to hide the tear in the fabric. The last time she had worn it, it was in perfect condition.

  The girl returned with her tape, and her jaw went slack on seeing the cut, "W-what happened to the dress?!"

  Julie shook her head, "When I wore it, it was already like this. Did anyone check the gown again?"

  "No. We made sure to lock the room so that no one would enter," said the girl, who looked more worried than Julie. "Oh my God, we don't have enough time to stitch another costume right now. Let me go and get the thread box and see if I can fix it."

  "What's going on?" came the murmurs in the room, trying to look at where Julie stood with her back facing them. "Did something happen?"

  Ms. Piper, hearing the commotion behind the wooden divider, made her way there and asked, "What's the matter?"

  "Ms. Piper, the g-gown," said the girl. "It has been damaged."

  Ms. Piper walked around, bending, she took a look at the tear. A deep frown appeared on her face, "Did you all not check the gowns and the ornaments that are being used today?"

  "We did, Ms. Piper. I don't know how this happened," said the girl, who turned her head to look at Julie, "She said that the gown was already in this state when she wore it."

  When some of the girls who were getting ready came to check it, Ms. Piper quickly shooed them away, "Get back to your places while we try to get this one solved." She then said to the girl in charge of Julie's costume, "See if you can fix it here. There's still time."

  But when the girl took a closer look at the back of Julie's dress, she placed her hand, and soon the fabric there tore.

  Julie had imagined the worst thing to be was to trip and fall on the stage. Never had she imagined that her costume would turn this way, where it was unsuitable to wear it on the stage.

  Her hands clenched, and she noticed Ms. Piper's lips set in a thin line. "I cannot believe this is happening right now. Damn kids," she cursed under her breath.

  "What are we going to do, Ms. Piper? We don't have a spare for Julie to wear," said the girl, twiddling her fingers.

  "Is it not possible to stitch it back?" asked Julie, "With the lights and the distance, I don't think anyone will be able to notice it."

  Ms. Piper shook her head, taking a closer look at the dress and she said, "The gown was sabotaged in a way where if you wear it and walk in it for more than ten minutes, it might tear and fall apart on the stage. See if there's any similar dress from last year's play, or of the year before that. Quick."

  Julie looked around the room, trying to see who might have done it, and her eyes fell on Eleanor, who was changing her clothes by giving the gown back to the girl that she would be wearing.

  Could it be her who had done it? Her eyes narrowed at Eleanor.

  "Once you are ready, I want you to move to the next room and sit there. The students assigned to you will be there to check on your clothes and your makeup," ordered Ms. Piper. Turning to Julie, she said, "Why don't you change back and take a seat, dear. Mariot should be here soon to tell us if there's gowns," she patted Julie's back.

  If she didn't have a costume to wear, the whole play would be ruined, her character was important to the play, thought Julie in her mind. Which would mean at any cost, she would have to manage by wearing the torn costume.

  Not knowing what else to do, Julie went to one of the girls who was getting dressed and asked, "Do you need any help?"

  "A helping hand! If you don't mind, could you hold this piece of cloth in here," said the girl.

  Time was quick to pass, but Julie's gown was still not in a wearable state, but Julie kept herself occupied. One by one, the girls started to get ready with their makeup and hair done to represent the periodic drama. But not as old as what Mr. Evans' play had showcased yesterday.

  Olivia was ready with her soldier's uniform, where red paint had been splattered on the front part of her dark green dress. Eleanor was in her golden yellow gown, her black hair curled and a necklace that shone brighter than anything. She was the prettiest looking girl in the room, and she took in the compliments that were showered upon her.

  Girls who got ready were sent to the front room, while some had just started to get ready.

  "Winters!"

  Julie turned her eyes to the door, and noticed Roman standing there.

  Walking outside the room, she noticed Roman wore his costume but without a coat. His hair was a mess, as if they were yet to be styled. She asked him, "Why aren't you in the room getting ready?"

  "I heard from Olivia that something happened with your costume," Roman had a frown on his face.

  "Mm, it turned into a modern dress because of the slits in the front of the skirt and then back," Julie smiled, feeling her heart skip a beat at the way he now looked. Roman Moltenore looked like someone from that high society, who could still ruin a girl in bed. She then said, "Ms. Piper and Mariot are trying to fix the dress as we speak."

  "You haven't gotten ready nor is your dress ready," remarked Roman, and he caught her hand and said, "Come with me."

  They walked away from there and made their way towards another room at the back, walking to another side of the corridor, where Ms. Piper stood in front of the sewing machine with the girl, who sat behind the sewing machine. Upon hearing the footsteps, Ms. Piper turned to see who it was.

  Roman questioned, "How long is it going to take for the dress to be fixed?"

  "More than thirty minutes or an hour. Mariot is trying to fix it in a way so that it doesn't tear again," a sigh escaped from Ms. Piper's lips.

  "Why not find something else for her to wear?" Roman looked around the room.

  "We have only the ones from the seventeenth century. It won't work well with the other outfits on the stage. It will stand out to be very odd," explained Ms. Piper, "I did consider picking the one's from the gallery, but you know how all of them have already been locked since this post noon as the exhibition of it has come to an end to make space for the others."

  "Can I have a word with you at the side," said Roman, walking towards the wall with Ms. Piper. For a moment to Julie, it looked like Roman and Ms. Piper were of the same level and didn't share a student-teacher relationship.

  When Ms. Piper moved to the side, Roman questioned, "Are there any other dresses that you have access to. What about your clothes? I doubt you have thrown them in the fire."

  Ms. Piper pursed her lips, and she then said, "I think there was one, but it's in Laurette's manor. I believe it has never been worn before," she turned to look at Julie, who was watching the dress being fixed. Looking at the watch on her wrist, she said, "We don't have much time. I will go and bring it here."

  "I will get it," offered Roman, and the vampiress subtly raised her eyebrows. "Tell me where it is."

  "I placed it in the cellar in a wooden trunk. It's olive green in colour and you will probably find it in the corner. If you're going, hurry. I need to alter the dress so that it fits her," said Ms. Piper.

  Roman spared a look at Julie, who stared back at him and saw him leave the room.

  "Mariot dear, wait for Roman. He will get the dress and you can then alter it to Julie's size. And Julie," said Ms. Piper. Julie tore her eyes away from the door where Roman had disappeared, and heard the woman say,

  "As I am the only one who knows how the dress looks, let me help you with the makeup and hair."