It wasn't until lunchtime that Layla responded to my messages.
"Sorry, I don't have one. Try to borrow someone else's."
"Oh no problem." I was a little bit disappointed. For some reason, I have the feeling that Layla seems cold to me, not as close and comfortable as before. "Layla, shall we have lunch together?"
I bit my lip, hesitated a bit before sending the message.
"Sorry, I'm busy." Layla responded very quickly. But soon, she sent another message. "By the way... are you going with Garrick Harvey?"
"I haven't invited him yet. You want to ask him out for lunch?"
"Oh no... I mean I just remembered that I'm free this afternoon, it would be more fun if Garrick Harvey was with us."
I looked at the text messages on my phone and suddenly realized that my friend Layla has a crush on Garrick. If so, I don't mind helping her out a bit.
"Okay, then let me invite him."
Not knowing if telepathy works or not, Garrick Harvey happened to be standing right in the garden. The dressing room window was facing that way again, so I opened the door and called out.
"Hey Garrick, would you like to have lunch with me and my friends?"
"Oh Esther Joan? I was going to find you and ask you out for lunch. Do we have telepathy?"
I giggled, as expected Garrick and I always had similar thoughts.
The three of us met for lunch, Layla seemed more relaxed and joking than usual, the anxiety about our friendship disappeared.
"What? Has your ballet outfit been damaged by someone?" Garrick asked surprised.
"Um, but that's okay. I've already washed it. Maybe I'll borrow the dryer in the afternoon to dry it." I said calmly, then slowly savored the cheese sandwich.
"Who's aiming for you, Esther? Can you guess?"
I raised my eyebrows slightly at Garrick's question. How could I tell him that the person who played the prank on me was my sister Kaylin Joan and also his childhood friend. So I shook my head.
"Eh, what's going on?"
Layla pointed to Kaylin's group of friends who were eating together. A teacher suddenly came and took Jade and some girls away. Seeing their bewildered expressions, even Kaylin was dumbfounded.
"Come on, let's go and see what happened."
Layla took my hand and led me towards the academy's office. Garrick wasn't with us, maybe he wasn't excited about such things.
"I ask you to write a report and clearly explain why you did these actions. If the explanation is not satisfactory, the academy will punish you." The female teacher said sternly.
"Ma'am, this... this is just a misunderstanding." Jade said uneasily, she hesitated and couldn't say anything more.
Layla and I stood by the window, surreptitiously listening to the conversation in the office. We looked at each other and both saw the confusion in each other's eyes.
"Misunderstanding? You think Malibu Academy's discipline is a joke? Cameras in the flower garden outside the changing room captured footage of the children stealing a classmate's ballet costume and damaging it. Are you still in denial?"
Some young ladies were so scared that they burst into tears. Previously, they were arrogant and rude, and no one could control them. Unexpectedly, the incident was revealed this time, not only that, the teachers at the academy also wanted to punish them.
If their parents found out that they were causing trouble at the prestigious Malibu academy and embarrassing the family, they would be reprimanded and suffer many consequences.
"We're really sorry ma'am. We just wanted to make fun of that classmate, we know we're too much. We're wrong."
Jade couldn't keep her composure anymore, she hastily admitted all her sins to ask for forgiveness. The evidence that they bully their classmates is so clear, they can't deny it.
"Okay, then apologize to that classmate and compensate her for the loss of her outfit. For the time being, the academy won't make this public. But if you make the same mistake again, it won't be as simple as this. In addition, you will have to clean up at the academy's flower garden after school for the next 7 days."
I felt my heart beat a little faster when I heard the conversation in the office. I thought I would have to quietly endure the bullying of Kaylin's friends, but did not expect the teachers in the school to severely punish them. This makes me feel very comforted.
"Well, this is the first time I've seen a Malibu academy teacher so strict. You're lucky Esther, a lot of people really want to protect you."
I heard Layla say that and didn't answer, just sighed. I never expected myself to get into such trouble. But Layla made me feel like I was at the center of the problem.
Even so, I ignored Layla's words and went back to the practice room with her.
Soon after, Jade brought a brand new ballet outfit back to my closet. She and her friends quickly apologized to me and left in shame.
Regarding the list of excellent students who passed the periodic assessment at Malibu academy with high scores, Miss Jenny personally sent a notice to each student.
"Wow, so you'll be joining the Royals from now on. So spending a little more time with Garrick Harvey. So jealous of you."
Layla looked at the notice in my hand, her expression filled with regret. Given Layla's ability, it might take a few more years for her to be qualified to enter Royal, considering that she has to practice really hard. I know Layla has a crush on Garrick, and when she sees me and Garrick getting along, she doesn't feel comfortable at all.
"Me and Garrick only collaborated on one ballet. Maybe there won't be another chance later. You know, officially Garrick is Kaylin's partner."
"Who knows if Garrick will choose you or Kaylin? It's possible that he likes you more, and many of your classmates are also rumored to be having an ambiguous relationship."
Layla totally didn't realize how much jealousy she had in her voice towards me. However, I don't want to expose it. I just consider it a momentary dissatisfaction of her friend. Anyway, I don't want to ruin this beautiful friendship just because of Layla's unstable mood.