The Swan

Eve Robertson was flying back to her home town for her ten year high school reunion. Nobody was expecting her. They we're expecting to see Misty Diane, the famous author alum from their school. What was hilarious was that "Misty" never went to the school, yet the reunion committee were too ignorant to realize that. Eve had received a phone call from her publisher six months ago informing her that her old high school had invited "Misty" to the upcoming reunion. As a way to celebrate themselves as being the school behind one of the most popular authors in the world. It made Eve laugh. She agreed on the condition that everything be booked under her pen name. She didn't want her real name to be mentioned at all. See, Eve was planning on getting revenge on the people that made her life hell in high school. Eve looked out the window of the plane, thinking about the last time she was at her high school. It was graduation. She smirked as she remembered the embarrassment she suffered while on stage in front of the whole graduating class. *** -12th grade: 1 week until graduation day- Eve walked through the doors at Emerson High School with her head down. She wore her usual black jacket over a black shirt and jeans. Her brown hair is shoulder-lengthed and straight. She doesn't dare look anyone in the eye. She wished to not get beat up today. Eve was the laughing stock of her school. She had one friend, but she had moved out of the school, leaving Eve alone. Eve walked to her locker and opened it after unlocking it. She began her routine of switching books out of her backpack when she heard her. Eve closed her eyes with dread. Should she ignore her? That will get her in more trouble. So she glanced behind her and saw Maria Barnett. Beautiful Maria. Popular Maria. Bully Maria. Every day, Eve came face to face with the girl she hates most in this world. Sure, most students seemed to hate Eve, but Maria was the one that bullied her. Eve was thankful she only had one more week until she could escape. Maria walked up to Eve smirking. She knew she was so much better than this miserable girl. She doesn't hide it. "How dare you look me in the eyes!" Maria questioned Eve. She knocked the books out of Eve's arms. "Uh oh, you better pick those up." As Eve leaned down, Maria kicked the books away. "What's the matter? Are you too clumsy?" She laughed. Sarah Idle and Emily Pran, Maria's two best friends, walked over to see what Maria was doing this time. Emily felt bad for Eve, but doesn't dare speak up or defend her. She's popular as long as she's friends with Maria. Sarah joined in. She stepped on one of the books, ripping the book cover. "You're gonna get in trouble," Sarah said in a sing-song voice. Maria laughed with Sarah. Emily pretended to laugh. Mr. Wright walked up. "Alright girls, that's enough!" He helped Eve pick the books up. He turned and looked at the three girls tormenting Eve. "What's going on?" Maria appeared innocent. "Nothing. Eve dropped her books and we were just helping her pick them up is all." "Mm-hmm," Mr. Wright doubted. But he didn't see what happened so he couldn't do anything about these trouble makers. "Go to class girls." Maria took one more look at Eve menacingly before heading down the hall to her first class. Eve bent over to collect her books and told the teacher thank you. She turned and headed to her first class. *** -Lunchtime - three days until graduation- Eve walked to a table in the cafeteria carrying her lunch tray. luckily, nothing has happened since Monday morning with her bully. As long as she can avoid Maria, she will be fine. However, when she looked up, she saw Maria walking toward her carrying her tray. Eve's heart rate sped up with trepidation. Eve was surprised when Maria sat across from her, as though they were friends. Eve eyed her suspiciously. 'what does she want?' Eve decided to move elsewhere. As she stood, she heard Maria tsk-tsked. "Don't go. Please, stay." "Why?" Maria smiled and pushed the chair back out with her foot for Eve to sit. Eve kept standing. She wasn't stupid. She knew Maria was up to something. Maria took a drink from her soda, not taking her eyes off of Eve. "How are you doing today, Eve?" Eve smirked, "like you care." 'What is she doing?' Eve wondered. She looked around their table as though she would find answers. "Are you planning to go to graduation Saturday?" Maria asked nonchalantly. "Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Eve answered. "I was just curious. No need to be testy," Maria smiled. Eve just sat back in her chair, not believing or trusting Maria's sudden change in attitude toward her. Maria looked past Eve's shoulder and waved. "Oh, there's Emily. I better go." Maria stood and picked her tray up. She began walking away in the direction behind Eve. Eve was left confused. 'What was that about?' Eve watched Maria as she joined her friends across the cafeteria. Suddenly, Eve felt uneasy. Looking back behind her, she saw Maria talking to her friends and laughing as they glanced back at Eve. The uneasiness grew. *** -Airplane- "Can I get you something to drink?" Eve snapped out of her thoughts and looked up at the stewardess. "Oh, um, sure. Do you have wine?" "Red or white?" The stewardess held up two small bottles of wine. "Red, please," Eve answered. She took the wine glass and took a sip. She glanced out of the window at the clouds surrounding the plane. Sighing, she took another drink before drifting into her memories again. **** -Graduation Day- Eve adjusted her cap once more while looking at herself in the mirror. She moved the tassel to the correct side before making sure her hair was in place. She was thankful it wasn't frizzy today. She was nervous enough. Eve woke up that morning sick to her stomach. She felt so sick she contemplated staying home from the ceremony but really wanted to go. She wanted to show herself and everyone that despite what they thought of her, she still made it. Eve heard a knock at the door. After getting the OK, Eve's grandmother walked in, her face beaming. "Oh, Eve!" She walked up and hugged Eve. Then stepped back to get a good look. "You are beautiful! Your mom would be so proud!" Eve smiled and picked her mother's favorite necklace up from the tray on the dresser. Placing it over her head, she situated the pendant on her chest. Grasping it in her hands, she felt tears welling up. "I hope so Gamma," Eve turned and hugged her grandmother again. Eve's mother died seven years prior in a car accident. Her grandmother took her in when she would have gone into foster care. Eve never knew her father. Following her grandmother out of her bedroom, Eve walked into the kitchen where her grandfather sat, eating his breakfast. "You look so pretty, punkin," Eve's grandfather greeted her using his affectionate pet name he gave her when she was a toddler. "Thank you papaw," Eve walked to him and leaned over, hugging him from behind. She stole a slice of sausage from his plate when he wasn't looking. She walked to the refrigerator to get some orange juice. "I saw that," her grandfather laughed. *** -The Park- Eve was standing alone while her grandparents took their seats in the audience. She felt so nervous. In just two hours, she would be walking across the stage. She hasn't put her gown on yet as she didn't want to chance getting it dirty. Eve sat down at a nearby picnic table. She looked around the area. There were several tables like the one she sat at places around her. A tent was set up with cooks serving lunch before the ceremony. Eve was too nervous to eat anything but did sip from a cup of soda. "Hi Eve!" It was Maria. 'No, not her. Why can't I go one day without seeing her?' Eve turned her head toward Maria. She didn't respond. Suddenly Eve felt nothing but coldness pouring over her. She stood up quickly to see Maria and her two friends laughing at her. Maria had just dumped her entire cup of fruit punch over Eve's head. It dropped down and stained her shirt and pants. Eve felt it seep through to her skin. Shocked and embarrassed, Eve grabbed her gown and cap and ran to the nearby restroom. Once inside, she began to cry. 'Why?!' She couldn't go up in front of her class like this! Eve's grandmother walked in to see what happened. She saw Eve running in the restroom and had a feeling something bad happened. "Eve, sweetheart, what's wrong?" Then she saw the state her granddaughter was in and became angry. Eve looked at her grandmother crying. "Maria poured her fruit punch all over my clothes! How can I go up in front of everyone? This day is ruined!" She cried harder. "Now, don't worry honey. You can still wear your gown even without clothes under it. Now just go and change. I will hold onto your clothes," her grandmother assured her. *** -Later- Eve sat in her chair feeling restless. Her row was next to stand and walk to the stairs leading up to the stage. As the principal called the names of her classmates one by one, Eve became more nervous. She was scared she would fall or do something to embarrass herself. So far, nobody could tell she didn't have clothes on other than her panties and b*a. She hoped it stayed that way. Soon, her row was next. As she followed the girl in front of her, she kept her eyes on the ground to ensure she didn't trip. There were three graduates ahead of her. She watched as the first student climbed the steps to the stage and walked across to the principal who stood in the middle of it. Eve felt her pulse increase as the second student walked across the stage. Suddenly, she felt a strange apprehension. Similar to a premonition if she believed in things like that. Looking around her, she told herself to calm down. She decided it was just her nerves. Finally, the principal called her name. Taking a deep breath, Eve took the first step up to the stage. But before she could go further, she felt a strong tug on her gown. Glancing back, she saw Maria stepping on her gown, sneering at her. RRRIIIPP Eve's gown ripped off of her body, exposing her in front of the entire graduation class. She glanced out to the crowd of people laughing at her and pointing. "What a loser!" "Oh my god, what sort of i***t doesn't wear clothes under her gown?" "I've got it on camera!" Eve heard whispers and bad-mouthing around her. She couldn't stop the tears from her eyes as she ran off the stage, only to fall in the process. She got up and continued to run off the stage, going to the same restroom as before. Once inside, she started bawling. In that moment, she wanted to die.