Six: The first prank
1366 Words
The footsteps stopped.
Scarlett's heart hammered against her chest as she reached for the flashlight she kept in her backpack. Its weak beam cut through the darkness.
"Who's there?" she asked again, her voice steadier this time.
No answer.
Slowly, she climbed the stairs, each creak of the wooden steps making her grip tighten around the flashlight.
Her uncle's room was empty.
Vanessa's room was empty.
Mrs. Brown's room was empty.
Then she heard a familiar voice downstairs.
"Oh, look who's scared."
The lights flickered back on.
Scarlett rushed down the stairs to find Mrs. Brown and Vanessa standing in the living room, laughing.
"You..." Scarlett exhaled sharply.
Mrs. Brown folded her arms.
"You should've seen your face."
"So you turned off the power?"
Vanessa held up the house's main switch key with a grin.
"It was hilarious."
Scarlett looked from one to the other.
"You both knew I'd think someone had broken in."
"And?" Mrs. Brown replied coldly. "Nothing happened, did it?"
Scarlett glanced at the mysterious letter still clutched in her hand.
She quickly folded it and slipped it into her pocket before either of them noticed.
"I'm going to my room."
"Not yet," Mrs. Brown snapped.
"The dishes."
Scarlett looked at the sink overflowing with dirty plates.
She hadn't even eaten dinner.
Quietly, she rolled up her sleeves.
---
The next morning...
Scarlett arrived at Dulwich Academy exhausted.
Dark circles framed her eyes, and despite her best efforts, she couldn't stop thinking about the letter.
The staircase will soon end.
What did it mean?
She had no answers.
As she approached her locker, she noticed a crowd of students gathered nearby.
Whispers filled the hallway.
"She's here."
"Watch this."
Scarlett frowned.
Something wasn't right.
She reached for her locker handle.
The moment she opened it—
WHOOSH!
A cloud of glitter exploded into her face.
Pink, silver, and gold sparkles rained over her hair, uniform, shoes, and backpack.
The hallway erupted with laughter.
Scarlett stood frozen, blinking glitter from her eyes.
Slowly, she closed the locker door.
Then she turned around.
Standing a few metres away were Ashton, Ethan, Ryan, and Noah.
Ethan looked horrified.
Ryan sighed.
Noah looked mildly amused.
Ashton...
Was trying—and failing—not to laugh.
Scarlett walked straight toward him.
"So," she said calmly, "this was your idea?"
Ashton raised both hands.
"I'll admit..."
He chuckled.
"It was supposed to be funny."
"It wasn't."
"No?"
She smiled.
"Not for you."
Before Ashton could react, Scarlett grabbed the unopened bottle of water from his hand.
Twist.
Splash!
Ice-cold water poured over his perfectly styled hair and expensive blazer.
The hallway fell silent.
Students stared with mouths hanging open.
Water dripped from Ashton's face.
Scarlett handed him the empty bottle.
"There."
"We're even."
She walked away without looking back.
Three seconds later...
Ethan burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Ryan covered his mouth to hide a smile.
Even Noah let out a quiet chuckle.
Ashton stood completely still.
Then, to everyone's surprise...
He laughed too.
"Interesting," he murmured.
"Very interesting."
---
During lunch, the entire school was buzzing.
"The scholarship girl soaked Ashton Smith!"
"I can't believe she did that."
"She's fearless."
Scarlett ignored the attention and headed toward the library.
She had barely stepped inside when Mrs. Harrison called her over.
"Scarlett, the principal would like to see you."
Scarlett's stomach dropped.
Great.
She hadn't even been at Dulwich Academy for a week.
Was she already in trouble?
As she knocked on the principal's office door, a familiar deep voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Scarlett opened the door.
Her eyes widened.
Sitting comfortably across from the principal, dressed in another impeccable suit, was William Smith.
He looked up from his conversation and smiled warmly.
"Miss Brown."
Scarlett blinked.
"What... is he doing here?"
William's smile only deepened.
"I believe this is our second meeting."
Scarlett had a strange feeling that this meeting was about to change her life... though she had no idea how.Chapter Nine: A Dangerous Lie
Monday morning at Dulwich Academy was unusually lively.
Colorful banners hung from the walls, and students crowded around the notice board in excitement.
Scarlett adjusted her backpack and squeezed through the crowd.
A large poster caught her attention.
DULWICH ACADEMY ANNUAL CHARITY GALA
Parents and guardians are invited.
Students may attend with one guest.
"The Charity Gala is this Friday!" a girl exclaimed.
"I heard Mr. William Smith is sponsoring the entire event again!"
Scarlett glanced at the poster for a few seconds before walking away.
She had more important things to worry about than parties.
---
Meanwhile...
The ARC occupied their usual table in the cafeteria.
Ethan was happily eating a burger while Ryan read a book.
Noah lazily scrolled through his phone.
Ashton rested his basketball beside his chair.
"So," Ethan said with a mischievous grin, "have you finally admitted you like Scarlett?"
Ashton nearly choked on his drink.
"What?"
Ryan didn't even look up from his book.
"You've been talking about her every day."
"I have not."
"You have," Noah replied calmly.
"You've never let anyone pour water on you and live to tell the story."
Ethan laughed.
"Or reject your umbrella."
Ashton sighed dramatically.
"I don't like her."
"No?"
Ryan finally looked up.
"Then why do you keep looking for her?"
Before Ashton could answer, Scarlett walked into the cafeteria carrying a stack of books.
Ethan pointed.
"Perfect timing."
Ashton ignored him.
Or at least he tried to.
His eyes instinctively followed Scarlett until she disappeared into the library.
The other three exchanged knowing smiles.
---
That afternoon...
William Smith arrived at the academy to finalize preparations for the Charity Gala.
Ashton met him near the basketball court.
"You'll be attending on Friday?" William asked.
"Do I have a choice?"
William smiled.
"No."
They walked through the courtyard together.
Just then...
Scarlett hurried past, balancing several books in her arms.
She didn't notice them until she accidentally bumped into Ashton.
"Oh!"
The books slipped from her hands.
"I'm sorry."
She knelt to pick them up.
William immediately bent down to help.
"No harm done."
Scarlett smiled gratefully.
"Thank you, sir."
William handed her the last book.
"I hope you'll attend the Charity Gala."
Scarlett hesitated.
"I... probably won't."
"Why not?"
She forced a small smile.
"I don't really belong at events like that."
Before William could respond, a group of reporters entered the courtyard to photograph the school's sponsor.
Cameras flashed.
One reporter noticed Scarlett standing beside William and Ashton.
"Mr. Smith!" he called.
"Is this the lucky young lady your son has been spending time with?"
Ashton froze.
Students nearby turned to watch.
William looked curiously at his son.
The reporter smiled.
"Is she your son's girlfriend?"
There was a brief silence.
Scarlett opened her mouth to deny it—
But Ashton spoke first.
"...Yes."
Scarlett's eyes widened.
"What?"
The cameras clicked furiously.
Reporters scribbled notes.
William looked from Ashton...
To Scarlett...
Then back again.
Ashton casually slipped an arm around Scarlett's shoulders.
"We've been keeping it private."
Scarlett was too stunned to react.
The reporters congratulated them before moving on with William for photographs.
The moment they were out of earshot...
Scarlett shoved Ashton's arm away.
"Have you completely lost your mind?"
"It was the quickest way to get rid of them."
"You told the entire school I'm your girlfriend!"
"It'll blow over."
Scarlett stared at him in disbelief.
"You are unbelievable."
She turned and stormed away.
Ashton sighed.
"That could've gone better."
Behind him, Ethan, Ryan, and Noah stood speechless.
Ethan finally broke the silence.
"You..."
He pointed at Ashton.
"...are finished."
---
That evening...
The story had already spread across campus.
By the time Scarlett reached home, dozens of students had posted pictures online of Ashton with his arm around her.
At the Smith mansion...
William sat quietly in his study.
He wasn't upset.
He wasn't convinced, either.
He had raised Ashton long enough to know when his son was lying.
Softly, he smiled to himself.
"If they're pretending..."
He closed his laptop.
"...then I suppose I'll just have to find out why."
Little did Ashton know...
The lie he had told so casually...
Was about to turn both their lives upside down.
- Writer
