Chapter 250: THE PROM QUEEN

CHAPTER 250

THE PROM QUEEN

MILLY

“This is not right!” Poppy slams her hands on the table hard.

I lean backwards and exhale slowly.

“What isn’t right?” Camden asks, just as exhausted.

The past week has been filled with campaigns for Prom Queen – this is a new activity in Riverfield High, and everyone is excited. Normally, no one challenges Poppy for Prom Queen. She doesn’t even campaign. She intimidates anyone who comes close, bullies everyone openly, throws money around, and is rude to the teacher and staff, reminding them that her parents donated this or that. This is routine; it has always happened this way, but Pandora’s decision to run for Prom Queen has thrown the school into a frenzy. Most want to see Poppy be put in her place, while some are supporting her with the mindset of why change what has already worked.

Darcy and I have been sharing out her campaign stickers; even the boys have been helping. Pandora dominates the track team effortlessly, and she’s nice enough to have friends there. Her motto is Confidence, kindness and change.

Principal Beaumont decided to host a public debate, giving both candidates a fair chance to sway the students. Ultimately, the votes decide, and we still have a few more weeks until Prom night.

As the head of the student council committee, I get to sit in the chair, alongside Kai, Camden, and other heads of the school clubs. Poppy obviously has a problem with that.

“This seating is not impartial!” She throws her hands in the air.

Principal Beaumont joined a few minutes ago. She glances at her wristwatch and reminds her sternly. “We are on a timer here, Ms Barnes. This debate isn’t the only thing happening today. You have classes, and practice after, so if I were you, I’d get to the point quickly.”

“Pandora’s best friend and boyfriend are on the council. They will never sway in my favour. This is unjust, and I say we cancel the whole thing. Why do I need to do this stupid debate anyway?” She asks, hand on her hips.

“This ‘stupid’ debate is a chance for you to show your classmates and juniors that you are fit to be Prom Queen, one last time. You are not convincing the council. Think of them as ceremonial heads, as decorative. Your job is the students of Riverfield High. Why should they vote for you in a few weeks? Why you and not her?” Ms Olive explains slowly.

“And Millicent and Kai have been on the student council for years. Millicent is even on the board. This is not about you. Camden and the others are here too, as they’ve always been. Now, you have ten minutes to make your stance – use it wisely; there will not be follow-ups.” She adds plainly and hits the bell.

I glance at Pandora and smile. She is dressed in a corporate dress, and her hair is pinned up in a bun. She is putting effort into this, and not only doing it out of spite, even though the spite is real. Darcy is seated beside her, while Romeo and Jordan are with the football team, watching. I thought he would have to convince the team to be present, but he didn’t have to – everyone is done with Poppy.

“Students of Riverfield High.” Poppy begins with flair, throwing her hair backwards. “For years, I have been your Prom Queen. I have been fair and just, taking care of you, giving you fashion advice, and leading the cheer squad. This debate is supposed to be a chance for me to prove my worth, but you know who I am; you know what I have done to help you. I pose a better question – should Prom Queen really be someone who transferred halfway through senior year?”

She glances at Pandora in disdain. “She has been here for five minutes. She doesn’t know our traditions and culture, and she definitely doesn’t know you as much as I do. I have spent years building this community. This isn’t a popularity contest or a beauty pageant; this is about representing Riverfield, and I have done that judiciously for years. Do not vote for her because this is clearly motivated by rage and insecurity – she hates that I didn’t let her join the cheer squad, which isn’t my fault. She wasn’t good enough for the cheer squad, and she isn’t good enough for Prom Queen.”

“Do you know how hurt I feel at this backstabbing? When Pandora joined Riverfield High, I approached her and tried to be her friend, but she rejected me out of whatever misguided loyalty she has for her other friends. None of that matters – Vote for me. Choose me. Thank you.” She curtsies, and her friends clap loudly, cheering for her.

“Do you have anything else to add, Poppy? You will have no other chance to speak.” Camden tells her.

“I am done.” She insists, and he nods.

“Pandora, the stand is yours.” He urges her forward.

Kai is tense beside me as she walks to the podium.

“I joined Riverfield High halfway through senior school. I crossed the oceans to be here, and while I am a scientist first, I cannot be blind to what might just be destiny.” She articulates carefully, and everyone hangs on to her words.

“In the past few days, I have met up with at least seventy-five per cent of the school populace, and everyone had a story to tell about Poppy Barnes – the bully. She has remained Prom Queen because she eliminated her opposition, spread rumours about them, isolated them and pushed some to drop out of school. She doesn’t care about you; she cares about her image, her shoes, and her new bags. I, on the other hand, am deeply motivated to put her in her place. Maybe those are the wrong motivations, but hers are surely worse.” She pauses and continues.

“Why must we bow down to force? Why should you be afraid to come to school every morning? Why should you be scared of wearing your favourite shoe? Who cares if you like Spiderman? Why, on earth, should you be punished for being smart, for being a dork? Bullying has gone out of style, Poppy, and so have those last season's shoes.” She glances at Poppy, with a smirk.

“Ooh, burn!” Tyler hollers from the back and everyone laughs.

Poppy is about to explode. “You cannot –”

“One more word from you, Ms Barnes and you are disqualified!” Principal Beaumont snaps.

“High School is a whole new experience for everyone. We are making and losing friends, trying to find our place in life, working through hard subjects, pushing through AP classes, adding extracurriculars, and sports activities. It is a lot to handle, but it is supposed to be fun. We are supposed to find ourselves, and if that means being a dork, a nerd, a superhero geek, or a fashionista, then so be it. What isn’t right is being a bully. Why should you hurt other people because they do not fit into your standards? Why should we box ourselves in? Why should we remain one colour when we can be diverse? Why should we bend backwards to please other people? High School isn’t a prison. It is the beginning of the rest of our lives where we make mistakes, fix our errors, fall in and out of love.”

My chest tightens at her words. If only I had a Pandora years ago, my life would have been so much better.

“When I came here, I thought the smartest thing I could do was stay alone, but I was wrong. Riverfield High has given me everything. It has given me my best friends, a class full of smart students who challenge me and make me want to be better, a team of athletes who push me to run faster, and teachers who care deeply about their students. Riverfield High has the potential to be a good school, but it is in your hands to make the decision. Weed out the shafts, or the coming students will be corrupted. Bullying is never okay. Violence is not the answer. This is bigger than a crown for me. It is about confidence, about challenging the current system and building better ones. We all come from different homes, bearing burdens we cannot share. School should be a haven, a place to put your worries at the door, and not somewhere you run from.” She exhales, shoulders squared in determination. “My name is Pandora Gilmore. Vote for me. Thank you.”

The entire hall explodes in applause, cheers and confetti. She is going to win.