The Academy

[Raven]

Trick shrank, almost pulling his hands away. "I don't know, Cristel... I.. I've been trying to figure it out for a year. I thought you were just upset at first, but it's been more than a year now..." He managed to resume the dance, though it was obvious he was distracted due to the number of mistakes he was making.

[Gifted]

He sounded so sincere that Cristel was shocked. Could he honestly not know? No, there was no way... it was his fault, how could he not know... she tried to keep the correct level of ice in her tone that the situation called for, though it was obvious she was slipping. "You don't think the science class incident could have anything to do with it?"

[Raven]

"That's what I just said, Cristel... I... Well, I no one talks to me anymore. That can't be the reason for the entire school..." Trick's voice didn't raise above a whisper. "I've been so lonely and no one will tell me why.."

[Gifted]

Cristel was touched by his pain. He, unlike her, hadn't even chose this way, he didn't have to alienate himself from everyone. And he had once been her friend. So, although normally she'd have replied with some cutting remark, this time she decided to tell her the truth.
She didn't sugar coat it or even make an effort not to be rude, though. No use breaking character.
"Nobody likes you, Trick, because you don't know when you've gone too far." Cristel said lowly. "You need to figure out that your pranks aren't funny. The science class incident is a perfect example. You shouldn't be screwing with another persons work, and do you know what happened to Ruby because of you? You look at what that explosion did to me and Ruby, and you think that's funny?"

[Raven]

Trick stopped dead at that, mostly out of surprise. "You think I'd do that? No one would speak to me because of some rumor? I never tampered with your things, Cristel. Or Ruby's." One of the other dancers bumped them, reminding Trick of their assignment.
"1331, get with the program. You don't want to cost both you and your partner your grades," the teacher said.
Trick took Cristel's hands again, and continued in a quiet voice. "I promise, I didn't. If someone messed with your things, it wasn't me."

[Gifted]

"That's not the only incident, Trick. It's just the only one I care about. and it wasn't a 'rumour', she was telling the truth. I have mind reading powers, you think I don't check these things?" But even as she said this she trespassed upon Trick's thoughts -the first time she'd bothered in over a year- and was immediately confused. She'd known as soon as it happened that Ruby's friend hadn't been lying. Cristel had been desperate for answers when it first happened, so much so she'd cross-examined every lead. The girl had been telling the pure, unaltered truth as she knew it.
But checking now, it was clear Trick wasn't lying either. She frowned "But that doesn't make any sense..."
Watch yourself That thought was from Yaz. Until then she hadn't realized she'd spoken her thought aloud. She looked embarrassed and quickly tried to cover up her mistake. "Look Trick, either that was you, or it was one of Ruby's old friends messing with my head one last time, in which case I'dve caught the lie as soon as I heard it, because I practically cross-examined the poor girl. Come on, we've got to actually pay attention to the class or you're going to make us both fail."

[Raven]

"But I didn't do it!" Trick insisted. "I was nowhere near your science project, I was asleep until class almost started." That wasn't the entire truth. But Trick didn't know why he had gaps in his memory. He didn't know how else to explain it. "I swear it, Cristel. I didn't make that happen. And I don't know of anything else I did, either. I'm always careful that no one gets hurt!"

[Gifted]

"So you're saying you have a doppleganger running around intentionally making life miserable for you? or a clone? Or an evil twin?" Cristel said skeptically. She resumed paying attention to the teacher.

[Raven]

"I don't know, Cristel. Powers are a thing. What if it was a shapeshifter or something?" he asked, frustrated she didn't believe him. She could read his mind and tell that he wasn't lying."

[Gifted]

"Like I said, this was not the only incident. It's just the only one I care about."

[Raven]

"Maybe he's trying to make it mo-" Trick stopped midsentance and stumbled a bit before he caught himself as Encore emerged.

[Gifted]

"What? Make it what?" Cristel said impatiently after Trick didn't continue.

[Raven]

"What are you talking about?" Encore asked, having no memory of the conversation.

[Gifted]

"Finish your sentence." Cristel snapped

[Raven]

"What fucking sentence?" Encore demanded, glaring.