Chapter 258: You have stolen my life.
CHAPTER 258
You have stolen my life.
MILLY
Principal Beaumont takes the microphone and exhales deeply, shoulders slumping. She presses her fingers to her temple before speaking.
“Thank you so much, Millicent. Thank you, Romeo. Thank you, Padme, Lia and Calla. Thank you, everyone.” She says, and continues. “I have tried and failed to curb bullying at Riverfield High. It is a problem which has always bothered me, and I am glad we are working towards a lasting solution. I will speak to the student council committee, and a few teachers – perhaps there are ways to make our school a more comfortable home for everyone. It needs to be a home away from home.”
“Now, let’s shelve the heavy discussion and keep up the Prom spirit. What do you say to that?”
“Yes!” The students chorus and I giggle.
Romeo takes my hand, smiles at me, and leads me off the stage.
Pandora wraps her arms around me and kisses my cheeks. “You are the best. I love you so much.”
“You are my best friend, Dora, and as Romeo said, we must take care of one another.” I shrug, and she smiles.
“Now, shall we pick up where we left off?” Camden smiles, and Jordan stands beside him.
“The Prom Queen for –”
“Wait!” Poppy screams, and everyone groans.
“Oh, what is it again?”
“What is her problem?”
“Has she always been this annoying?”
“She is getting on my nerves!”
This is long overdue. Poppy is very annoying.
“What, Poppy?” Jordan snaps, glaring at her. “We do not have time for this.”
“I know, I know, I’m sorry.” She whispers somberly, and the security guard lets her go.
“I know I am the last person you all want to hear from, but I am sorry for all I have done. Since I have been Prom Queen all this time, it is tradition for me to pass the crown. Let me hand it over to Pandora. Consider it a branch of the olive tree.” She says, looking meek. Tradition? Please.
“Bullshit.” I scoff and turn to Pandora. “Do not let your guard down for one second. She is full of crap.”
“I am counting on it.” Pandora nods, shoulders squared in determination.
“Tradition? Really?” Camden snorts, about to shoo her off the stage when Pandora speaks up. “Let her do it.”
Everyone turns to her.
“Dora.” Darcy frowns, confused.
“What are you doing, Pandora?” Kai narrows his gaze in suspicion.
“Being a Queen.” She kisses him softly on the lips and gets ready to walk to the stage.
“The Prom Queen for Riverfield High this year is Pandora Gilmore!” Camden announces one more time, and still, everyone cheers, confetti popping.
I chuckle, leaning into Romeo. How do they even have so much confetti?
Pandora walks up to the podium, holding her head high. I smile, heart swelling with pride. The past year is centered to this very moment, and it makes it all worth it.
Poppy takes the award from Camden, who glares at her, reluctant to give it to her, but eventually does.
The room is waiting, watching. My stomach twists, and I brace myself for whatever Poppy has planned.
She stares at the award with hunger in her eyes before turning to Pandora.
“You …” She pauses, glances at her friends, at the crowd, at Romeo, then at me. A sneer curls on her lips, and she shows her true self.
“You stole my life.”
There she is.
“I stole your life?” Pandora raises her brow, unsurprised.
“No, she.” She points at me.
“Poppy.” The Principal warns.
“Oh, really?” My mouth twitches in amusement. “How did I steal your life?”
“You, with your fat hips, big chest, and … and know-it-all attitude! You seduced him, and you stole him from me! You found new friends, filled their heads with bullshit, and now, she has stolen my fucking crown!” She seethes bitterly.
“Give it up. You lost!” Tyler booes from the crowd. Everyone is done with her bullshit.
“I am Poppy Barnes!” She screeches, stomping her feet, “The Fucking Queen, and you are all peasants, unworthy of my attention, of my –”
“Hand me the crown, Poppy. It is mine. No one wants to listen to your self-righteous crap. Read the damn room.” Pandora cuts her off with a bored expression.
Poppy turns to her, red with rage.
She swings her hand, swinging the crown at Pandora, who shields it with her arm. My eyes widen, and horror sinks in my belly as a thin drop of blood drips from Pandora’s arm.
The hall falls deathly silent in the second that follows.
Pandora glances at her arm and smiles smugly as if she was waiting for this to happen. Kai is halfway to the stage, but he stops.
She swings her fist and slams it down on Poppy’s face, breaking her nose.
The crack reverberates through the hall, bouncing off the walls.
Then, she shoves her hard on the ground, stepping on her hands with her heels as she bends to pick up her crown.
Poppy screams in pain, writhing on the ground.
“I … I am going to … to have you arrested for … for assault!” Poppy threatens, crying crocodile tears.
“The entire hall saw you assault me first, and that was self-defence, but bring it on, girl. I am ready for you.” She hisses at her, exhales deeply and hands Camden, who’s shell-shocked, the crown.
Everyone is stunned, unable to believe what just happened.
“Oh, dear.” Darcy looks pale.
Jordan wipes away the blood from her arm. Poppy is still on the ground, crying at the top of her voice, but no one pays her any attention.
“Pandora Gilmore, everyone, your no-nonsense Prom Queen!” Camden announces with a smile and places the crown on her head.
Once again, the hall explodes in cheers and confetti.
Poppy cries louder, and the principal nods at the security guard who grabs her arm, pulling her out of the hall. She screams, thrashes against him, scratching at his arm, but he doesn’t budge. Everyone laughs and points at her. Some take pictures of her humiliation, and my mouth twitches in amusement.
What a roller coaster.