Patrick reached over and took another flyer from Rose. “Just in case,” he drawled.
Her deep fuchsia lips turned down. “Peopledodrive drunk, you know. It’s, like, an actual problem.”
“Thanks!” I said cheerfully, lifting up my skateboard before hiding it under my dress to head into the cafeteria.
The rest of prom was mind-numbingly boring, as expected. If I saw another guy dancing along to Bruno Mars in a sexy fashion in front of his date, I would torch him. And for some reason, the theme of our dance was1001 Arabian Nights, which I found offensive. It just manifested in colorful scarves draped around the cafeteria and rugs tossed on the floor.
We passed the time by taking Snapchats of people making out or groping one another on the dance floor.
Then it was time for prom queen and king announcements, and the lights dimmed before Rose stepped on the stage. Everything was dark except for a spotlight on her and the flickering LED candles hanging in decorative Moroccan-style lamps. “Good evening, junior class of Elysian High!”
Everyone cheered. Except for Cynthia, who booed. Always the subtle subversive, that one.
“It’s the time you’ve all been waiting for! The prom king and queen announcements!” More cheers. Someone yelled, “CLARA!” I waved from my slouched position.
Rose opened up an envelope dramatically. You’d think this was the Oscars. “Drumroll, please!” she commanded. We thumped the tables with our hands, Felix and Patrick doing it with gusto—making the table bounce.
“Elysian High’s junior prom king is Daniel Gonzales! And the prom queen is… oh. Clara Shin.”
There were some audible gasps and then roaring cheers. Istood up, pumping my arms in the air before giving Patrick, Felix, and Cynthia high fives. Patrick handed me my skateboard from its hiding spot under the table, and I stood on it with Patrick and Felix on either side of me, pushing me toward the stage. Slowly making my way, I waved my right hand like a beauty-pageant contestant, smiling widely. Daniel Gonzales and Rose were waiting for me, him awkwardly wearing a crown and her glaring at me.
Before I got up onstage, Patrick leaned over and whispered, “It’s all ready.”
I nodded. “Wait until I sayhonorbefore dropping it.”
Rather than take the stairs to the stage, I hoisted myself up, hiking up my dress enough to get a few catcalls. I flipped my middle finger in their general direction, then walked over to Rose. She placed a tiara on my head, every part of her resisting—like a ghost was trying to wrestle the crown away from her.
She also handed me a pink satin sash, her fingers extended toward me with distaste. Instead of taking it, I bowed my head forward, waiting for her to place it on me. She muttered something unintelligible as she tossed it over my head.
Everyone cheered as I faced the crowd, and I soaked it all in, closing my eyes like a complete weirdo. Then I glanced at Daniel. “Do you have a speech?”
He made a face. “A speech?No.”
“Okay, good.” I faced the crowd again and stepped up to the microphone. “Dear wonderful classmates. I can’t believe I’ve finally become the queen of your hearts. I’ve dreamed, nay,prayedfor this moment since I was a little girl.” Several people laughed. Rose cleared her throat loudly behind me. I kept going. “I promise you, that in my reign as queen for the next two hours, I will keep things interesting. Things willnotbe boring.” I looked over at Felix by the side of the stage, nodding slightly. “It will truly be anhonor.”
As soon as the word was out of my mouth, something cold and wet doused the top of my head, knocking my crown off into my hands. Within seconds, I was covered head to toe in blood.
Some people screamed, a few laughed. I blinked, the fake blood dripping off my eyelashes. When I glanced to my right, I saw Felix immediately dart off. Excellent. I smiled, and I could feel the red liquid slip over my bared teeth. My head turned toward everyone slowly, and I raised my arms. The laughter turned nervous.
And now for the finale. Dramatically holding up my crown, I opened my mouth to let out a scream, but before I could, someone shoved me so hard from the left that I toppled over, slipping in the blood.
I wiped off my face and saw Rose Carver towering over me, her gold heels planted on the bloody stage somewhat precariously.What in the WORLD?Before I could react, she bent over and snatched the crown from my hand.
She pointed it at me, as if brandishing a sword. “You. Little.Freak.” The word was picked up by the microphone, and it reverberated throughout the cafeteria. You could hear a pin drop.
Laughter bubbled out of me, uncontrollable. This was goingso much better than planned! I knew Rose was uptight, but this was new levels of cray. I pushed myself off the floor, my hands slipping a little. I could see a few teachers headed for the stage. “You’retotallygoing to get suspended for that,” I said gleefully.
The fireballs in her eyes were growing huge. “You think this isfunny? Iseverythinga joke to you? Youruined prom!”
I rolled my eyes, reached over, and snatched the crown from her. “Get alife.” I was about to place it back on my head when Rose’s hands grasped for mine.
I held on to the tiara, enjoying watching her struggle to stay balanced. But then one of those beautiful heels slipped, and she knocked into me. We crashed onto the floor, me backward, and a sharp pain shot up my back as she fell on top of me with a surprisedoof.
“Getoff,” I screeched, feeling panicky—being smashed by a five-foot-nine ballerina made of pure muscle was on my top ten list of nightmares. I struggled to push her off.
“I’mtrying!” she screamed. But she punctuated that by kneeing me in the stomach.
“OW!” I yelled.
