The Queen Maker

Fey

By Monday morning, Kingston High already had a new favorite story.

It was not about the upcoming exams, the football match, or the film club festival. It was about me and Drew.

I stood beside him at the entrance, trying to keep my face calm while half the school stared at us like we had suddenly become the most interesting people alive.

Drew glanced at me and smiled.

“Ready?”

“Not even a little.”

He laughed softly before reaching for my hand.

The moment our fingers intertwined, the hallway exploded with whispers.

“Are Drew and Rielle actually dating?”

“They look so good together!”

“I knew something was going on between them.”

Corey was already filming.

“Kingston High, you heard it here first! Drew and Rielle are officially the newest couple in school!”

I wanted to disappear, but Drew only squeezed my hand.

“Relax,” he whispered. “Remember, confidence.”

I lifted my chin and smiled as we walked down the hallway together.

Then I saw Fey.

She was standing beside Molly and Polly, staring at our joined hands with an expression I had never seen on her face before.

She looked furious.

“Why are you holding his hand?” she demanded.

I raised an eyebrow.

“Because I can.”

Fey looked at Drew.

“You’re dating her?”

Drew did not hesitate.

“Yeah.”

The hallway went silent for a second.

Then everyone started talking at once.

Fey’s face tightened.

“This is ridiculous.”

“No one asked you to approve it,” I replied.

Molly grabbed Fey’s arm before she could say anything else.

“Come on, Fey.”

Fey pulled her arm away.

“No. I’m not going anywhere.”

Drew stepped slightly in front of me.

“Fey, don’t start something.”

She looked between us, then smiled in a way that made my stomach twist.

“Fine. Enjoy your little relationship.”

She turned and walked away.

I watched her leave.

“That went well,” I muttered.

Drew chuckled.

“You survived.”

“Barely.”

He looked down at our hands.

“Don’t forget, Rielle. This is supposed to look real.”

I stared at him.

“Right.”

But somehow, the longer he held my hand, the harder it was to remember that it was fake.

By lunchtime, everyone was talking about us.

My follower count had jumped again, and Lisa would not stop showing me the numbers.

“Girl! Look at this!”

She turned her phone toward me.

“Six hundred and twelve!”

I stared at the screen.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously! People are obsessed with you and Drew.”

Fabia laughed.

“You’re becoming famous.”

Pam nodded.

“And Fey definitely hates it.”

I smiled, but before I could answer, I noticed something sitting on the table.

A small white box.

“What is that?”

Lisa pushed it toward me.

“It came for you.”

I opened it carefully.

Inside was a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

There was a small card attached.

For Rielle. — Drew

My heart skipped.

I looked across the cafeteria.

Drew was sitting with some of his friends.

I smiled.

“He sent me flowers.”

Lisa gasped.

“That’s so romantic!”

Fabia leaned closer.

“Open the card again.”

“Why?”

“Because this is adorable.”

I picked up the card again.

Then I sneezed.

“Ah-choo!”

Everyone laughed.

I covered my nose.

“Okay, that’s embarrassing.”

Another sneeze escaped me.

“Ah-choo!”

Drew suddenly appeared beside our table.

“What happened?”

I held up the flowers.

“You sent these?”

He frowned.

“What?”

“The flowers.”

He looked at them.

“I didn’t send you anything.”

I laughed.

“Very funny.”

“I’m serious, Rielle. I didn’t send those.”

My smile disappeared.

“What do you mean?”

Drew picked up the card and studied it.

“I never wrote this.”

I looked at the flowers again.

Something felt wrong.

Before I could say anything, Fey walked over.

She looked at the bouquet and smiled.

“Oh, you got the flowers.”

My eyes narrowed.

“You know about them?”

Fey shrugged.

“Of course I do.”

Drew stepped forward.

“What did you do?”

Fey laughed.

“Nothing that serious.”

My throat felt itchy, and I sneezed again.

“Ah-choo!”

Fey’s smile widened.

“They were sprayed with something that triggers allergies.”

My eyes widened.

“You poisoned me?”

“I didn’t poison you.”

She leaned closer.

“I just wanted you to remember that you aren’t untouchable.”

Drew’s expression hardened.

“Stay away from her.”

Fey looked at him.

“You’re really going to protect her now?”

“Yes.”

Fey’s smile disappeared.

“Then this is going to be more fun than I expected.”

She walked away.

I stared after her.

Drew looked at me.

“Are you okay?”

“I think so.”

He took the flowers from my hands and dropped them into the trash.

“That girl is getting worse.”

I nodded.

“And she’s not going to stop.”

Drew looked at me seriously.

“Then we need to move faster.”

“What’s next?”

“You need your own squad.”

I blinked.

“A squad?”

“Fey has people around her all the time. If you want to challenge her, you need people you can trust.”

“Trust?”

“Or at least people who are useful.”

I laughed.

“That’s comforting.”

“I’m serious.”

He looked around the cafeteria.

“Choose people with different strengths. Someone social, someone creative, someone who isn’t afraid to stand up for you.”

I looked around.

Then I saw Lisa talking excitedly to a group of students.

Fabia was sketching something in her notebook.

Pam was sitting alone, looking like she would scare anyone who tried to bother her.

I smiled.

“I think I know exactly who I want.”

By the end of the day, my new squad was official.

Lisa was the gossip expert who somehow knew everything happening in school before everyone else.

Fabia was creative, confident, and surprisingly good at reading people.

Pam was quiet, intimidating, and completely fearless.

We took a picture together and posted it.

Within minutes, the comments started pouring in.

New queen bee squad?

Rielle’s group is actually so cool.

Fey better watch out.

I stared at the screen.

For the first time, I realized Drew’s plan was actually working.

But popularity came with problems.

The next morning, Marty and Vicky confronted me.

“You’re barely coming to film club anymore,” Marty said.

“I’ve been busy.”

“With your new friends,” Vicky added.

I frowned.

“They’re my friends too.”

Marty crossed her arms.

“You’re changing, Rielle.”

“I’m trying to grow.”

“No,” she replied. “You’re trying to become someone you’re not.”

Her words stayed in my mind long after they walked away.

That evening, Drew called me.

“There’s a party on Friday.”

“Okay?”

“At Fey’s house.”

I nearly dropped my phone.

“You want me to go to Fey’s party?”

“Exactly.”

“Are you insane?”

“Probably.”

I laughed despite myself.

“It’ll be good for your reputation.”

“And what happens if Fey throws me out?”

“She won’t.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I’ll be there.”

My heart beat faster.

“You’ll be there?”

“Of course.”

I smiled.

“Fine. I’ll go.”

Friday night came faster than I expected.

When I arrived at Fey’s house with Drew, everyone turned to look at us.

Lisa nearly screamed when she saw me.

“Rielle! You actually came!”

Drew smiled.

“Of course she did.”

The party was louder and crazier than anything I had ever experienced.

People were taking pictures, dancing, laughing, and talking about everyone else.

For once, I wasn’t standing on the outside watching other people have fun.

I was part of it.

Then the music changed.

A slow song began playing.

Lisa immediately grabbed Fabia.

“Dance time!”

Couples started moving toward the center of the room.

Drew looked at me.

“Come on.”

“You want to dance?”

“Isn’t that what couples do?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Fake couples.”

He smiled.

“Right.”

He placed his hands gently around my waist.

I rested my hands on his shoulders.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

The music played softly around us.

His eyes met mine.

“You’re doing well,” he whispered.

“Thanks.”

“You look beautiful tonight.”

My heart skipped.

“You don’t have to say that.”

“I know.”

His voice became quieter.

“I wanted to.”

I swallowed.

“Drew…”

He moved closer.

I could feel my heart racing.

His eyes dropped to my lips.

He leaned toward me.

I stopped breathing.

Was he actually going to kiss me?

His face was only inches from mine when he suddenly pulled away.

“I’m sorry.”

I stared at him. “What?”

“We shouldn’t.”

My heart sank. “Right.”

He stepped back. “This is fake, remember?”

I forced a smile. “Of course.”

But it hurt more than I expected. I walked away before he could see my face.

I found a quiet corner outside and stared at the night sky.

I had wanted this relationship to feel real.

Maybe I had started wanting something I could never have.

When Drew came outside, I wiped my eyes quickly.

“Rielle…”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not.”

“I said I’m fine.”

He stood silently for a moment.

“I didn’t want to hurt you.”

I looked at him. “Then why did you almost kiss me?”

He had no answer. Neither did I.

Later that night, Drew dropped me off near my house.

I quietly climbed through my window, hoping my parents were asleep.

They weren’t.

The lights came on.

My dad stood in the doorway. “Where have you been?”

I froze. “I can explain.”

“You went to a party, didn’t you?”

I lowered my head. “Yes.”

“With Drew?”

I didn’t answer.

That was enough. “You’re grounded.”

“What?”

“No parties. No going out after school. And no sneaking around.”

“But Dad—”

“No excuses, Rielle.”

I went upstairs, closed my bedroom door, and threw myself onto my bed.

My phone buzzed. A message from Drew.

I’m sorry about tonight.

I stared at it.

Then another message appeared.

We need to talk before Monday. Something happened at the party that you need to know.

My heart started pounding.

I typed back.

What happened?

The typing bubble appeared.

Then disappeared.

It appeared again.

And finally, Drew sent one sentence.

Fey saw us almost kiss, and she just sent me a message saying she’s going to make you pay for it.