Reversal (School For Good And Evil)

It's Not My Fault

Sophie's POV:
"We've noticed something about your grades,"
Professor Dovey, the Dean of Good school was seated across from Sophie in her office, concern in her eyes.
"At the beginning of each year, based on a few preliminary tests and impressions, we predict the scores each student will achieve."
Sophie looked at her, confused. How was this her problem?
"You were predicted to be a star pupil,"
Here, Sophie beamed. This was why she had been called into the office - she must be getting an award! So, instead of telling the seemingly perplexed Dean to cut to the chase, Sophie plastered on a demure smile and adjusted her skirts.
"Yes, and?" She said, a slight hint of impatience slipping in. Dovey seemed to notice this, and sat up straighter, eyes narrowing.
"You have fallen far below these predicted scores,"
Sophie blinked.
Fallen? Far below? This couldn't be right - she was a princess! This was her destiny! What she was made to do! How could she be falling behind, so early in the year too?
The Dean looked at her, sympathy in her eyes.
"I just wanted to check in on you, to see if anything has been troubling you, thus causing your marks to suffer for it,"
Sophie scowled. If there was anything that she hated more than being bad at something (which she was surely not in this case), it was the fake sympathy coating Dovey's equally plastic smile. But then again, maybe she had a point. Maybe all of this sneaking around at night with Agatha was finally taking its toll - and her future was taking the brunt of it. Actually, yes - that explained everything perfectly. She had done nothing wrong, she was still the perfect, sweet, charming girl she had always been. She had been born for one purpose - to be a princess. In fact, she wasn't just devoid of blame, she was the victim in this situation. Without Agatha, Sophie would be at the top of the leaderboard right now, enjoying the benefits that such status brought to her. Without Agatha, Sophie wouldn't be here, being lectured by the head of her school for her falling grades. Without Agatha, everything would be fine, good even. Perfect. It was all Agatha's fault.

Sophie had always known that she was a witch, rotten to the core - and now, when Sophie finally had a good thing, a good life, Agatha couldn't help but be jealous. Just like she couldn't help it in Gavaldon. Sophie had always been the better person, Agatha was her good deed after all, and now, after everything she had done for her, Agatha still tried to bring her down. To take what she had. To ruin her. So she wasn't going to lose any sleep over this meeting, in fact, she would do the opposite - sleep comfortably, because now she had found the root of all of her problems. And the only way to destroy a plant was to remove the roots.

Agatha had to go.

No more moonlit missions, Schoolmaster escapades, quests for their freedom. No. It had to end. It had to end now.

"Yes, you are right, Professor Dovey, something has been troubling me lately, but don't worry, because I can and will, handle it,"

"That's good to hear, Sophie, as long as you know how to get yourself back on track," the Dean said, a faraway look on her face, as if she really didn't care much either way. In fact, it appeared that she didn't even want to be there, that it wasn't her idea at all...

Snap out of it Sophie, she told herself. Her intentions were not what mattered - getting rid of Agatha was all that she needed to focus herself on, not the Dean's daily life.

As Sophie left the room, she couldn't help but shake the feeling that it might have been her fault her marks were so low. She could have smiled just that bit more brightly in Beautification, said her manners in a voice just a pinch sweeter in Good Deeds. But as quickly these thoughts appeared, she shook them away.
It was not her fault.
She chanted the words under her breath, a mantra, designed to keep her steady, safe from the thoughts threatening to topple her.
You're not good enough to be here. Even Agatha could do better than you.
Agatha. It was all because of Agatha.
It's not my fault.
Sophie walked down the corridor, paying no attention to anything around her.
It's not my fault.
That meant she didn't notice when she bumped into a gnome, headed for the Dean's office.
It's not my fault. It's -
Agatha. That was the name on the sheet of paper the gnome was holding, as he shuffled, somewhat hurriedly (it was always hard to tell with them) towards the room. Injured. Explosion. Unconscious. The words practically jumped out of the paper, burning themselves into Sophie's eyes.
Agatha. Her Agatha. She was injured - hurt so badly the Dean's needed to know. Sophie had to do something, to find her, help her, anything.

But wait.

Hadn't Agatha not only abandoned her, but betrayed her too by sabotaging her? Wasn't Agatha the reason she was here?

Sophie stopped. She wiped the tears forming in her eyes, blinking furiously. She inhaled slowly. Then exhaled once.

Sophie picked herself up, shoulders back, head up, as she walked down the hall, away from the Gnome, the Deans, Agatha -

without a second glance.