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Eva doesn't look up, as Diana leads her away from the other girls. She doesn't acknowledge Diana, as she opens the door to her dorm room, closing it behind her. She walks over to the sofa and stiffly sits down. Not looking Diana in the eye.
Diana tries and fails to get Eva to warm up to her. She tries chatting, and when Eva refuses to give anything more then one-word answers she leaves her alone. Deciding to give her space for the night, and try again the next morning. She offers Eva the bed, but she refuses to budge from the sofa. In the night, Diana hears her crying, but when she speaks up Eva goes silent, and when she gets out of bed to try and talk to her Eva says to leave her alone, voice trembling.
The next day is better. Neither of them acknowledge her tears, and after the initial scare of the blackmail, Eva talks a little more. Diana offers to do her make-up, but she turns her nose up at the thought of wearing heavy layers, later agreeing to just mascara. They eat lunch together and Diana sees Eva smile. For a brief moment, before it disappears again.
Take my hand, she wants to say. Don't lock yourself away from everyone. She wants so badly to help her, but it's clear Eva doesn't want her too close, so Diana has to be gradual and patient, not taking it to heart when Eva doesn't feel comfortable around her yet. The night before the tournament, Diana thinks that she might show up to see what's going on, even if she doesn't play. See Eva, check on Damon, too. And maybe Eva might open up just a little more.
Wolfgang is in the water, groaning. Pained, ashen. Diana rushes over to help. She listens to his words, slurred and confusing, and ignores her fear. Just take my hand, she says. Reaching out for him, plastering on a calming smile as Wolfgang nears her, nearly close enough to touch-
She sees the flash of the knife, feels the sting of the blade as Wolfgang screams. She staggers back, cradling her arm, blood flowing from the cut. The taser is by her side, yet no matter how much she wills herself to pull the trigger she can't doom him to death, can't hurt him when he's so clearly not himself. She can't withdraw her helping hand when he's at his most vulnerable. So she lowers her taser to the floor, trying to make sense of his words - and the world explodes around her. She runs with sock feet, slipping in her haste, just making it past the group of people heading down the boiler room. Staggering to her dorm room, she only just gets the door open and runs inside as the announcement goes off. When she walks back down wearing her heels, they are none the wiser.
Diana sits in her empty dorm room. Wolfgang's last words ringing in her mind. Eva's quiet accusation that she deserved it. Her attempts of holding onto them rendered useless. She stares at the ceiling, tears falling from her eyes.
Like a chameleon, I will adapt!
She can't let this happen again. She can't fail any more of her friends.
I'll follow in Wolfgang's footsteps, and achieve what he couldn't accomplish!
She'll never let them down again. Not Grace, who must hate her after what happened. Or Damon, who disappeared without a word into his dorm room. She'll protect them all. She'll save everybody - Diana won't let anyone fall through the cracks, forgotten and ostracised. She plasters on her smile again, wiping her face dry. Practising her mannerisms, masking her fear. Diana will hold onto all of them tight - and she'll never let Tozu manipulate them into killing again.
I'll become something new!