Revelations

* Three years prior.

The night was still warm despite the lack of the heat from the sun. You'd come to the annual opening ceremony that Ravenwood celebrates for its newest students. The fact that they actually serve an alcoholic punch is surprising considering the prestigious position that they represent. Although it's certainly helped as most, if not all, of the students came alone nobody would be getting along with anybody. As it happens the entire field is littered in laughs, and tales being thrown around.

You wander through the crowd on the field nursing a half-drunk cup of punch, slowly winding your way back for a refill. Maybe I should've stayed at home. Talking with new people sucks, I don't even have to yet so why bother. Then an attractive glossy haired brunette brushes past you. "Excuse me." She says, barely audible over the sound of the surrounding crowd and steady music. The sincerity behind her eyes causes your heart to leap into your throat and rendering you unable to reply as she slinks back into the enveloping darkness.

"No its... Okay." You breathe out. "Wow." If there's girls like that here then I am in for an exciting four years. Joining the co-ed dorms could be the best move I could've chosen. You continue to press forward to the punch bowls on the table with a selection of half-eaten plates of foods. You chug the rest of your drink that remains and slowly refill it as you picture the curves of that girls face through the darkness.

"Hey." A girl pats your shoulder out of view. "I think your cup is full." You then realise that you're overflowing as the liquid drips down your hand. You quickly take a few gulps to stop it from spilling before shaking your punch-covered hand.

"Thanks. My mind was elsewhere." She takes your hand and places a napkin in it.

"Elsewhere when there's a party going on around us? Where else would you want to be?" You dry your hand awkwardly while trying not to spill your drink.

"Anywhere not surrounded by pretentious snobs who will inherit their families money after living a life of luxury." You pause and spy the girl next to you wearily. She has a cute face, small-slim body and long braided red hair. "Sorry. Drunk me is kinda dumb and rambles a bit." A smile spreads on her face.

"He's probably more honest than most here... Although he is here as well which suggests... You know." She playfully nudges you.

"Yep, guilty as charged. I am now a rich snob kid." You sigh.

"It's not about the money though." She steps closer. "It's about what you do that determines who you are." Your face heats up, and not from the low levels of ****. "I heard from a second year that there is a fireworks display soon. I know the best place to see it from, want to come with?" She offers a hand to which you gladly accept.

She drags you through the crowd until you're at the edge of the fenced perimeter. The sounds are much quieter over here so you can mostly talk without having to shout. You share some funnier events from your previous schools and how you ended up getting to come to Ravenwood.

"Damn, spoiled rich kid here." The girl yells into the night while pointing from above at you. You both chuckle.

"Alright, enough about me. What about you? How come you're attending-" You deepen your voice, "Ravenwood, prestigious academy, for the prestige and filthy rich?" She playfully swats you and swirls her drink around her cup.

"My dad... He has a long time friend on the administration board. My dad asked him for a place and he let me attend and covered all of my expenses, even if they were only the cheaper requirements. Such as co-ed dorms, living a longer walk from the college than most. Also my dad doesn't live in Ashfield so I'm practically all alone..." She muses to herself, looking deeply into her drink.

"So not filthy rich then..." Your tone softens.

"Haha... No I'm not..." She grins when looking back at you. "But you know how that is. This is an opportunity that I'll take to get a better life for my dad and me!"

"You're so radiant..." You blurt out, hypnotised by her deep blue eyes that you can only just make out in the low light. Her cheeks turn a shade darker.

"I just have a positive outlook... Hopeful of my future." She curls the braid behind her ear while smiling bashfully at you.

"I- I- I hope we can be friends in college." You stammer nervously with bright cheeks and wide eyes which only get wider as she leans closer. A whizzing sound zooms up the air followed by bright flash and a loud popping. Her thin glossy lips connect to yours as you stand paralysed in shock. There's another flash which you pay no mind to as you melt into the kiss with this beautiful red head. "I'm Michael." You breathe out as she breaks the kiss.

A bright array of colours light up the night sky, reflecting of the girls face as she speaks. "I'm Samantha." She smiles warmly. "Nice to meet you Michael."

"Samantha, that's a beautiful name... To match a beautiful girl." You gaze longingly into her glistening blue eyes as they reflect the vibrant lights in the sky.

* The present time, in the gym.

"Samantha... That's a beautiful name..." Sam's eyes tear up. "To match a beautiful girl..." You mutter.

"You... Remember?" She gasps.

"Not exactly. What happened? I don't understand, why don't I remember?" You ask confused.

"I don't know, but when I saw you the next time in the dorm it was like it was your first time seeing me... I didn't tell you because I was worried you were doing it on purpose but when you **** me into talking with you I figured you didn't remember even though it wasn't too long after meeting that night."

You take a step back as tears pour from your eyes uncontrollably. Your hand reaches up to check they are from you. "Why?" You don't know which bit you're asking but you know you feel a sadness come crashing down.

"Michael I-" Sam steps closer with bright red cheeks and her own tears in her eyes. "I l-li- I've always liked you. Since we first met I felt like we were connected. It's eaten away at me for not telling you when we met in the apartment but I couldn't, not when you were infatuated with Heather. I didn't want to get turned down by you because you had feelings for someone else so I lied, pretended to date other people and have dates with them so you'd see me as the girl from the party and not the ice-walling fiery-tempered girl that keeps everyone at arms length with heavy sarcasm and trouble dealing with my emotions when I'm sober."

You drop to your knees and chuckle lightheartedly as tears continue to pour. "Just the romantic confession I've always longed for." She joins in your teary laughter on the floor as well.