It has been a week since Lia's fight and reconciliation with Asher. Surprisingly, it's the first time both of them ever fought after they became a couple, regardless it proved the fact they were no different than other couples out there; relationships weren't all rainbows and sunshine all the time.

Ben and Lia were in the hallway preparing for their next class but the ever-enthusiastic boy was in a sullen mood for the first time in history.

Apparently, after Asher and Lia told him during his stay in the hospital that there were chances he might be a supernatural creature, he had high expectations for the outcome.

Unfortunately, he turned out to be a conduit for spirits and power-hungry creatures to exploit, as Ben crudely put.

"Like seriously, come-on " Lia tried to brighten his expression, " Being a medium isn't that bad, moreover you get to see ghosts as you always imagined "

Ben was an avid paranormalist, everyone knew that. So being a medium, he won't have any difficulty performing his kinky theories - on himself.

Lia knew she was being a bad friend by saying this but she was grateful she won't have to worry about his unexpected tests anymore.

"Says someone who can bring down a building with her scream " He snarked.

Her cheeks flushed at once, she wasn't trying to be proud but her power does sound kind of cool coming from his mouth, but it does have it's cons.

"Yeah, my power kind of looks cool but there's a high probability of hurting the innocent while using it " She pointed out the disadvantage to him but Ben just rolled his eyes and lounged against her locker.

"You can perfect that with constant practice but I'm literally a slave to these spirits or whatever they're called " he argued with an irritated frown on his face.

"Asher says you can ward them off from manipulating your body with constant practice. You're supposed to be their messenger, not their slave"

"You have the vampire and werewolf to teach you, but who do I have? Mediums who died years ago? "

"Perhaps, you should summon one of them?"

There was a trace of confusion on Ben's face, "Summon who? "

"Your predecessors? The past mediums? " Lia suggested.

Ben sighed and rubbed his temple, "Tell me you're kidding me "

"I don't think I'm joking "

"You're telling me to summon my ancestor from many, many, many years ago. This is like telling an eighth-grader to solve twelfth-grade mathematics. I don't even get the hang of this gift as you guys call it " he complained while gesturing and all.

Lia placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it tenderly, "Hey, I've got you. We are going to work this out somehow and together, alright? " She assured him, prompting a grateful smile.

"Yeah, that's how it should be " Lia patted him on the back upon seeing his grin, "I hate the gloomy Ben"

Suddenly, someone slow claps from behind, "What a sight to behold, the murderer and the weirdo "

Lia snorted inwardly, she already knew who was whining that drainage called her mouth by this time of the day.

"Caroline" She flashed a smile that didn't reach her cheeks," What a pleasant surprise to see you and… your new maidservants? "

"Y-you " One of the new minions by her side took a step forward, intending to react to Lia's provocation but Caroline gestured to her to shut it.

"Linda left you, Alexa has not been laid to rest, yet you've gotten their replacements already, where is your loyalty? " Ben who usually doesn't try to get involved with their daily quibbles said sarcastically this time.

Caroline's eyes flashed, "Birds of the same feather flock together. You seem to have gained morale after joining her squad "

There was a mocking glint in Ben's eyes, "Of course " he retorted proudly, "At least compared to some other fool, I don't need to worry about her auditioning for new friends "

"I'm going to rip out your disgusting face " Caroline lunged at Ben who immediately hid behind Lia, using her as a shield.

Like a mother hen protecting her chick, Lia stepped forward with a heated glare as she puffed out her chest challengingly

Caroline took a step back with a look of disbelief," Fine " She chuckled, then tucked her hair behind her ear.

"You can gloat all you want, but I promise you, you will never go scot-free for what you did to Alexa " She swore through gritted teeth and clenched fist shaking with anger.

Lia sighed inwardly, why wouldn't Caroline let her be. The bimbo has this delusion that she has a hand in Alexa's death.

Strangely, it turns out Caroline couldn't recall anything pertaining to that incident that night. So no matter how much the authorities investigated, they couldn't get much from her mouth. But what made Lia surprised was the fact Caroline couldn't remember her.

According to the investigation, Caroline claimed not to know Lia, so couldn't understand why Alexa would mention her in the message in the first place which convinced her that the said Lia must be the murderer.

But the testimony from students and Lia of course contradicted her statements which led to the discovery that Caroline had selective amnesia as a result of shock from that day's horrific events.

Having selective amnesia at such a crucial time? It seemed pretty sketchy and convenient for a cover-up to Lia, who had a strong inkling someone secretly protected her from being discovered.

Anyway, she was grateful for the memory loss; Caroline no longer remembers she's a hybrid. Sadly, it seems memory loss or not, Caroline's hatred for her runs deep.

"I have told you numerous times, I didn't do anything to your friend, even the law has proved that! " Lia defended herself.

After the unexpected visit from the police last week, her mother had sent a lawyer who cleared her name. Though Lia's alibi on the day of the incident wasn't solid, a lot of logical facts suggested she wasn't the culprit and was cleared of all allegations.

Due to their heated argument, a crowd of students had already gathered around them and watched their drama keenly.

Aside from the attack at school last week, Alexa's violent death was currently the trending news. A curfew had already been implemented in Little Town while students were warned against going through forest routes all alone at night till the investigation was over and the routes concluded safely to use.

It seems Alexa's death opened up a whole lot of other issues because cases of people who disappeared abruptly with their buried bodies found days or weeks later in the woods were slowly being unveiled.

Right now, Little Town was cautious

of their security, so strengthened surveillance.

"Goddess Lia, why are you even bothering yourself with her, it's already obvious she is brain dead" Ben taunted her without mercy.

Caroline's cheeks were flushed with anger, she turned towards the crowd and announced, "Like you, all can see, this murderer is set on bullying me. I hope you can bring this issue up in case something does happen to me tomorrow "

There was a great murmuring amongst the crowd, the students were well aware of the power struggle between Caroline Garcia and Lia Darlington.

Though their quibble looked serious, at the end of the day none of them actually thought Lia was capable of murdering Alexa after all, such an altercation between popular students was normal in high school.

"Oi! " Ben, Lia's unshakeable fan and sidekick yapped at Caroline, " What do you mean, bullying? " he turned towards the crowd.

"Are you guys blind or what? Don't you see it's three against two! Aren't we the one being bullied here "

In an instant, the tide was turned against Caroline when the crowd began to mumble in hushed words as they began to consider Ben's words.

"Beside! " They looked up at Ben with rapt attention, he went on, "My goddess Lia was chilling out with me beside her locker, yet these brainless troublemakers don't want us to know peace " He purposely knocked on the blue-painted steel locker to indicate it belongs to Lia and to prove his words.

Caroline looked around only to discover everyone was against her and some pointing accusing fingers. She yelled at the minions by her sides.

"What are you still waiting for, get your ass moving out of here! "

Both of them scampered away amid the boos while Caroline held lia with her glare.

"Don't think this is over " She spat acerbically and stomped away, roughly shoving students who blocked her way to the side.

With Caroline gone, the students slowly dispersed giving Lia the space she wanted.

"Ben Atticus Alcántara Junior " Lia gently intoned his full name, "You're indeed full of surprises when you're not hiding behind my back "

Ben grinned at her sheepishly, "Hehe, I'm not strong enough to take the physical hit but my heart is large enough to contain any emotional ridicules "

Her brow quirked up interestedly, she saw through his trick "So you're trying to say that I'm suitable to be the punching bag?"

"I didn't say it that way " He refuted her accusation with a funny look that drew a peal of laughter from Lia.

But the merry laughter gurgled to a stop in her throat when a girl passed her by and Lia found herself staring into eyes that looked no different than Asher's green ones.