Chapter 3

Was it Elvira?

I thought about it for a moment, but something still felt off.

We'd been in the same major for years and had joined a bunch of big competitions together.

Elvira had never once tried to sabotage me.

It just didn't make sense for her to target me over a simple school celebration show.

Even with the national competition coming up, there was just no reason for it.

We'd already competed in tons of national contests together. But...

After turning it over in my mind, I couldn't help but think Elvira was the one who'd always held the most resentment toward me.

So... could it really be her?

I shook my head, telling myself to let it go for now.

Anyway, her act was about to start soon.

If Elvira really did set this up, she'd be the one to trip up.

I took another short break and finally felt myself recovered.

Now, I was ready to run through my dance steps again.

I had brought a backup pair of dance shoes. I double-checked them, found nothing wrong, and crouched down to slip them on.

Just then, a piece of chocolate was offered to me.

I looked up and saw it was a junior from my department.

The girl was in her dance costume, clearly one of the group performance members.

She seemed a bit nervous as she spoke up. "Lucy, you don't look so well. If it's low blood sugar, I have some chocolate—"

Before she could finish, Nadia, who had just come back from buying something, cut her off. "Mabel, what do you think you're doing?"

Mabel Mitchell jumped, startled, then quickly recovered and explained, "Nadia, I was just giving Lucy some chocolate. She doesn't look so good."

Nadia shot her a look. "Who asked for your fake concern? Have you already forgotten what you did before the art exams?"

Mabel's face went pale.

"I've already learned my lesson. This chocolate is fine, honestly. The packaging hasn't even been opened," Mabel said.

But Nadia wasn't buying it. "Who knows if you've really changed? Just get out of here.

"If you keep pestering us, I'll tell everyone at Crestmoor University about you putting laxatives in people's stuff. Let's see who'll still talk to you then," Nadia snapped.

Mabel looked absolutely mortified.

But she didn't say another word.

She just turned and walked away.

Then Nadia plopped down next to me, practically fuming as she started ranting about what happened back then.

"Back in high school, she was in the same class as my best friend. Right before the art exams, she made my friend a cup of honey water. My friend took a sip, thought it tasted off, and spat it out immediately. Turns out, Mabel'd slipped laxatives into it.

"Luckily, my friend didn't drink much, but it still messed her up, and she almost missed out on her dream college."

"The cops had to get involved, and the Mitchell family ended up shelling out a ton of money to settle things.

"After that, she transferred schools. I never thought I'd run into her here at Crestmoor University. I hadn't even spotted her until now.

"I'm telling you, she's definitely the one behind this!" Nadia said, her voice full of conviction.

Hearing Nadia lay it all out, I couldn't help but think Mabel really might be the culprit.

If she'd already played dirty once before, then pulling the same stunt again wouldn't be out of character at all.

I didn't really know Mabel, but her name had popped up on the competition list before.

She was competing in the national contest too.

If anyone had a reason to pull something like this, it was her.

I kept running through my dance steps, my thoughts turning as I practiced.

If Mabel really was the one behind this, then getting back at her would be like doing a public service.

Soon, the group dance act kicked off.

All the girls headed out onto the stage.

I stopped my practice and sat with Nadia, both of us glued to the show.

Once the number was over, they absolutely nailed it.

Not one of them messed up.

Forget about falling—nobody even slipped.

I kept a close eye on their dance shoes.

Not a single shoelace came undone.

I'd been watching them from start to finish, and I was sure nobody had swapped out their shoes.

That just didn't add up.

If Elvira, Mabel, or anyone else really did mess with those shoes, with all those jumps and spins, any tampered shoelaces would've come undone in no time.

Nadia was just as confused as I was.

"Seriously, it wasn't them trying to mess with you? Or maybe that switch you did didn't work?" Nadia said, her brows furrowed in disbelief.

I shook my head.

I was positive my trick worked.

But if it wasn't them, then who did it?

My transfer trick worked on anyone, not just them.