Chapter 19: The Calm Before the Storm
Some days at St. Agatha's feel like walking straight into a hurricane, and today was definitely one of those days. You'd think after all the madness Bianca's pulled, we'd get a break. But nope. She's like a magnet for chaos, and trust me, I'm starting to think she's got some secret deal with the universe to keep things as wild as possible.
I woke up this morning feeling oddly calm, a sensation I've learned to distrust after living here. You know that uneasy feeling when everything is suspiciously quiet? Yeah, that one. It set off alarm bells in my chest, and I knew it was only a matter of time before something exploded — literally or figuratively.
As I got ready, I couldn't shake the feeling Bianca was plotting something big. The thought made me tighten my grip on my phone and text Lena: Heads up. Bianca's up to no good again. Can you meet me at the lockers?
I got a quick reply: Already here. And I've got a bad feeling too.
When I arrived, Lena was waiting with that signature knowing smirk she always wears when she's ready to unravel a mystery. She's the kind of person who sees through all the nonsense and somehow always knows what's coming next. She leaned in close and whispered, "Aria, Bianca's got something huge planned. This isn't one of her usual pranks. It feels... different."
I raised an eyebrow. "How do you know?"
Lena glanced over her shoulder, then lowered her voice. "I caught her dragging this giant bag that looked way too heavy for cupcakes or glitter. And she's been whispering with her usual crew like it's some secret mission."
My heart skipped a beat. Bianca's "usual" was anything but small.
I sighed and said, "Great. Just what we needed."
We weren't the only ones watching. Phoenix and Jace soon appeared, their faces serious. Jace had that quiet, watchful look, like he was ready for anything, while Phoenix's protective gaze kept scanning the hallways. Zara caught up with us too, her sharp eyes darting around suspiciously. Lately, things had been weird between Zara and me — thanks to Bianca's meddling — but when it mattered, we were still a team.
We shadowed Bianca as she slinked into the cafeteria kitchen, the heavy bag hanging from her arm. Our pulse rates climbed. What was she planning? A prank? A disaster?
Suddenly, a deafening BANG shook the entire building.
The cafeteria erupted in chaos. Flour dust hung thick in the air, coating everything in a ghostly white haze. Frosting splattered against walls, tables, and even my clothes. Cupcakes—what I assumed were the contents of Bianca's bag—burst like colorful little bombs, raining sugary shrapnel everywhere.
Screams filled the air as students ducked and scrambled to safety, slipping on the mess. Sprinkles floated down like confetti in a twisted celebration of disaster.
Bianca, naturally, tried to sneak away, her face twisted in a mix of glee and panic. But Zara was faster. She grabbed Bianca's arm with a fierce grip and planted her firmly in place.
"Not so fast," Zara hissed.
Out of nowhere, Lena appeared on the other side, blocking any escape route with a smirk. "We saw everything, Bianca. You're not getting away with this."
At that moment, Sister Agnes entered the scene, her stern gaze sweeping over the destruction. Even she looked exhausted — no doubt from years of dealing with chaos like this. Her eyes narrowed sharply as she took in the frosting-smeared walls, bits of cupcake stuck in hair, and Bianca standing there like she'd just lost a war.
"Bianca," Sister Agnes said coldly, "explain this... catastrophe."
Bianca's smirk faltered, and her mouth twitched as she scrambled to form excuses. "I—I was just trying to brighten the day! You know, bring some fun to the cafeteria... It was supposed to be a surprise party thing... not like this—"
Her lies fell flat. None of us were buying it.
Later, as we helped clean up (yes, including Bianca — to her chagrin), I caught Phoenix glancing my way with a little smile. "You alright?"
I wiped a glob of frosting off my arm and nodded. "Yeah. I'm good. Thanks for backing me up."
He shrugged like it was no big deal, but I knew better. Moments like this—when the chaos calmed and we stood together—reminded me how lucky I was to have friends who had my back.
But even amid the frosting-covered floors and sticky tables, my mind was racing.
Why was Bianca so obsessed with messing with me?
What was she really after?
And when would it all end?
Later that night, I found myself sitting in the dimly lit common room, the echoes of the day's disaster replaying in my mind. Lena plopped down beside me with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate, her face unreadable.
"You're thinking about today, aren't you?" she asked softly.
I nodded, wrapping my hands around the warm cup. "It's like... no matter what I do, Bianca's always one step ahead. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just a target to her."
Lena gave a small smile. "You're not. You're her biggest challenge. And that's why she's always trying to take you down."
I sighed and took a sip of my drink. "I wish I could just ignore her, but it's impossible."
"Yeah," Lena said, voice steady. "But you don't have to do it alone. We're all in this together."
Her words gave me a little spark of hope. Maybe with friends like these, I really could survive this madness.
Just then, my phone buzzed. A message from Phoenix.
Meet me by the courtyard? Need to talk.
I glanced at Lena. "Looks like my evening just got busier."
She grinned. "Go get 'em, Aria."
As I stepped outside into the cool night air, the stars twinkled above like tiny promises. Despite all the mess Bianca had caused, despite the chaos and the betrayals, I felt something shift inside me.
Maybe this storm wasn't just about surviving anymore. Maybe it was about finding strength I never knew I had — and maybe, just maybe, a little bit of love in the madness.
I smiled, ready to face whatever came next.