Chapter 126: False Fronts

"There you are! I've been waiting for you," exclaimed Sharon the moment Nicole finally arrived home from school.

"What's up?" Nicole inquired.

Seizing Nicole's hand, Sharon led her upstairs to her room. The girls settled on the bed, and Sharon, trying to contain her excitement, began recounting her encounter with Brandon in the library.

"I was hiding from him, and he found me," she shared with a smile. "I thought he'd leave, but he didn't. He actually looked for me."

"He must really like you," Nicole said, feigning enthusiasm to match Sharon's.

"He does, I feel it in my heart. He was so gentle… and kind," Sharon giggled.

"He brings me lunch every day," Sharon added with a glint in her eyes.

"Wow," Nicole exclaimed, playing along.

"And then today…"

"What? What happened?" Nicole asked, still keeping up the act.

"He kissed me," Sharon revealed, screaming. Nicole joined in.

"I'm thinking I should date him. He said he had nothing to do with Molly…"

"Yeah, the entire school is buzzing about it. Molly must be feeling like a fool right now," remarked Nicole.

"She's not an obstacle for us anymore. I really like him, and I…" Sharon began.

"No, Sharon, you can't," Nicole interrupted, holding Sharon's hand.

"Why?" Sharon asked, confused. Despite stating earlier that she could never be with Brandon because of Molly.

Now that Molly was out of the picture, there seemed to be no barrier to dating Brandon. This was Sharon's chance to experience her first love.

"Brandon is in danger, and you are the only one who can help him," Nicole stated, having heard whispers from the flames about what she must do to keep Sharon and Brandon apart.

The flames also conveyed that if Nicole couldn't have Brandon, neither could Sharon.

"What? What do you mean he's in danger?" Sharon asked, panic settling in her eyes.

"I don't know whether I should tell you this or not. I don't want to get anyone in trouble," Nicole said, looking away as if contemplating.

"Please tell me. I don't want Brandon to get hurt."

"Someone told me," Nicole said in hushed tones, as though sharing a secret. "that…that…"

"What?" Sharon asked impatiently.

"...that Molly is going to poison Brandon if she ever sees the two of you together again," Nicole delivered her planned revelation.

"Nooo!" Sharon exclaimed.

"Yes. I knew that girl was evil," Nicole remarked.

"How would she see that through?" Sharon asked, questioning the feasibility of such a plot.

"The football team and the cheerleaders are mostly always together, attending parties, visiting each other's houses. She has access to him. It would be easy for her to poison him."

"She can't do that!" Sharon said, hyperventilating, filled with fear and confusion.

"She said, no one can have Brandon if she can't have him."

"That's crazy. It's up to Brandon to choose who he wants, and he chose me. Not her."

"That is what is driving her crazy," Nicole explained.

"There must be a way to stop her," Sharon insisted. "We must ensure she never attempts such a thing."

"How?" Nicole inquired.

"We will make her intentions known. She cannot get away with it."

"Who are you gon'n say told you. I don't want to get the person who told me in trouble," Nicole said. "Molly could deny it if it comes to light. She cannot even be punished for what she hasn't done yet."

"So what are we going to do?"

"Nothing. You have to let go of Brandon," Nicole hinted.

"No nooo," Sharon cried. "I really like him. I want him to be my first love."

"He can only be your first love if he is alive," Nicole said.

"No…I don't want anything to happen to him…" Sharon cried.

"Then forget about him. There are other guys. Besides, you said you don't have time for boys, remember?" Nicole said, using her own words against her.

"That was before…I found out how wonderful he is…before he kissed me," Sharon cried, holding her face in her hands.

Nicole hugged Sharon, offering comfort while inwardly rejoicing. Sharon was persuaded and emotionally shattered. She was as completely broken, precisely as Nicole intended.

"You must let go of him to protect him," Nicole advised.

Sharon wept and nodded against Nicole's shoulder.

"And you must keep this to yourself… especially from Brandon, okay?" Nicole said, patting her back. "You can't even speak with him anymore."

Her final directive intensified Sharon cry even more, and Nicole had the opportunity to pose as a supportive friend and sister during the consolation. A broad smile adorned her face as Sharon cried her eyes out.

It was too easy.

One down.

One to go.

She would once again consult the flames for guidance on handling Brandon. Nicole needed a plan potent enough to make Brandon hate Sharon. While she already had an idea, the flames would further guide her.