The Queenbee’s Downfall

5: Bashers and Press-con Part 1

Chapter 5: The Rise Of The Hate

"Oh my God, is this for real?!", Talulah asked me incredulously.

Tired of talking, I nodded. We’re inside my room, not literally. She immediately heads straight to my home when she heard the news from me. Fawn, on the other hand, wasn’t allowed to leave their house because there were murders, crimes, and whatnot spreading across town. Her parents are afraid of what might happen to her once she decides to go out.

So she FaceTimed me and Talulah.

"Seriously? You're going to tame my baby? Can we switch lives now? Like, right now because I want to know everything about him, please?", Fawn begged.

We can see how her eyes twinkle as she daydreams about that stupid boy.

I rolled my eyes at her. "Can you not? I am having lots of problems and all you prioritize is to care and think about that jerk? Hello! It's me, Caitlyn? Your sweet, lovable, and most caring best friend?", I reminded her.

Both of them just laughed at me which made me roll my eyes in annoyance.

I am seriously on the verge of being mad here, how come they are acting this way? Are they really my best friends? I feel like I am being betrayed!

"Cait, of course, you're my best friend but Heath is my future man. You should support me..” Fawn jested.

"It is I whom you should support first because there’s, literally, uncertainty in being “the future wife of Heath Evans,” I mockingly said which she laughed at.

"You should stop teasing Caitlyn, Fawn, we should help her out in making this new punishment a success.” Talulah butted in.

"That! You girls should be like that. Thumbs up to you, Tal, in that part.” I said smiling as I showed her my thumb.

"Fine, fine. What did the contract say?”, Fawn asked.

"Did the paper talk?" Talulah jested.

"Whatever!", she rolled her eyes.

I put a scowl on my face. "Can’t you two be serious and pay attention to what’s important? We only have one day for planning things out and then you guys keep on talking about nonsense.”

This punishment is annoying me! My head is boiling in anger, my blood is about to reach its highest peak from that nuisance bad boy and these girls keep on heightening my irritation. Tch!

"Chill," they both said.

I rose from my pink beanbag in a fury and flounced towards my pink fluffy queen-sized bed before lying down.

"And what must have been written in the contract handed by our beloved, and most liable Principal for you to be this wrathful, Queen Caitlyn?", she playfully bowed as she said those words.

"Just...!", I annoyingly said, couldn’t continue what I want to say next.

"Gosh, our Queen is being far-fetched," Fawn said with a laugh. "Tal, get the contract so we can start planning."

Talulah cleared her throat. "May I request the Royal Highness to hand me the Contract of Punishment?", the witch continued teasing as she held out her hand.

I chose not to speak and just put the paper in her hand. This meeting would be a total waste if the night might end with, us, just teasing each other and not create a single plan.

"Let's see," she touched her chin acting like a detective.

Minutes past and Fawn and I kept staring at her, patiently waiting for her to finish reading the contract, and I am in awe because of how sexy Talulah is right now.

My best friend is so pretty! Her stance suits the role of being a Lawyer if ever she chooses to pursue studying Law. She'd be one of those beautiful lawyers here in town, and I am sure that she'd be the most amazing lawyer of all lawyers in the country.

"It says here that you only have to follow 3 rules... “ she said after a while.

I got up and sat straight. "Really? Oh my God, this is good news!”

Talulah glanced at me. "Don't celebrate just yet, it has only three rules but that doesn't mean it won't be difficult."

"Why?", Fawn and I simultaneously said.

My heartbeat quickened when her eyes became dangerous as she glanced at me. "Listen very well, Caitlyn, for what I'm about to inform and explain to you... there are consequences indicated here within each rule. Failure to comply with the objectives given to you will result in expulsion."

For a moment there, I couldn’t open my mouth. I wanted to laugh at how stupid and ridiculous the contract is. Expulsion? This is so serious. But when Talulah’s face remained unsmiling, I knew that this was indeed a big-of-a-role.

"What?!", Fawn and I said.

"Both of you know the history of Liberty University, yeah? It was Heath’s family who further developed and flourished the school, the reason why it thrived real fast. So if you endanger their precious son, you will be expelled. Not just that, the Evans family will sue you for attempted murder, and even if your mother works her ass off just to have the best lawyer for you, you will still lose,

"Remember, Heath Evan’s family is very influential, they can and are capable of reversing the facts. Veracity is within the grasps of their hands, and no one could ever take that from them."

I swallowed hard. I wasn’t even able to talk because of what I heard. I knew from the very beginning, when I stepped foot on this school, the first day of my Freshmen year, every living being knew that the Evans saved the failing economy of Comoros, our town, and soon thrived.

Tourists and locals crowded the place at some point. But I can’t believe that’s how big of an influence they are to us.

How can a surname be that powerful?! How can they be so manipulative? This is so unfair!

For a moment, silence ate the atmosphere, letting us recall the past achievements of the Evans. To think that the governor and all of the Barangay Captains are in favor of them, I won’t doubt if the townsmen patronize their clan.

"Oh my God. I am so doomed... “ I whispered, almost the fear in me escape my lips.

"Are you serious?!", Fawn asked in a shrieking tone, slightly amazed.

My eardrums were almost shattered by the power of her voice. It’s Talulah’s fault, she connected my phone to her speaker.

"I'm not lying, those are straight facts," Talulah turned to me and looked at me intently. "And that's also the reason why you have to take this punishment seriously. You can’t carelessly do whatever you want. If the Evans find out that you endangered Heath. . ." My heart pounded when she trailed on.

"W-what?"

"Hide, where they cannot see you," Talulah’s eyes weren’t faltering as she said those.

"Are you even serious about everything? Where did you even get that ridiculous information?", I can hear the uneasiness in Fawn’s voice.

"I thought you’re obsessed about Heath? Why does it seemed I know more about him than you do?", she smirked when Fawn’s face was displeased by that fact.

Fawn loves to compete with her so Talulah was just as excited about teasing her.

"Is it my fault that I don’t like reading?", she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Just start reading the contract and get this over with," it’s clear that Fawn’s pissed.

Talulah let out a heartily laugh. "Anyway... the first rule is very basic. You have to be his buddy every PE class."

"What?! Why does she have to be with my baby?!", Fawn grimaced.

Can't she just stop fan-girl-ing about him? Their attention should only be focused on me! Then again, I am not surprised about that first rule. Mr. Hennigan told me firsthand.

Why is it that whenever Heath’s the topic, my existence would always be ignored?

"I'm sorry girl, we have to endure watching them together. Remember, this is for our best friend's sake. Caitlyn can’t fail this because when that happens, she’ll repeat Senior year."

"What?!", now I'm the one who screamed. "Why do I have to go back to being a Senior in high school?"

"Do you want her bugging us in our dorm rooms when we study for college?", my jaw gradually dropped when Talulah ignored my question and frontstab me.

"Oh my God, you're right," and the malevolent Fawn nodded. "I think I can endure this, besides, I still have Brad."

"It is vital to let me explain first and show me your violent reactions after this discussion so that this meeting is adjourned and I can go home. I still have homework to do— and by the way Cait, you don't need to worry about your projects, homework, and such, I’ll do it for you," Talulah smiled at me sweetly.

If that's her way of melting my anger, it's damn working. I narrowed my eyes at her before rolling them heavenwards, which she just chuckled.

"As I was saying, there will be consequences when you lose sight of Heath Evans and that is; increasing a month of your academic year for each time he escapes from you. In short terms, you won’t be joining our batch’s graduation because you’ll be too busy compensating for what you’ve violated with regards to the contract.

“You have to report everything to Principal Hennigan; what Heath did, how was he during class and. . . " she stared at the paper carefully. "You have to record everything, so I think this punishment is requiring you to bring your camera."

Talulah gave me a malevolent glare when I was about to speak. Right, I must listen first before giving violent reactions. I rolled my eyes at her.

She took a deep breath. "The second rule is; you have to stop him from leaving the campus along with his friends and other rebels who're with him."

"He leaves the school?", Fawn asked.

"Well, it is what’s written in the contract. I didn’t know anything about that until now, and I just found out that he was cutting class during Math, English, and Art period.” Talulah added.

"But those classes are my favorite! Don't tell me I have to follow him wherever he goes?", I exclaimed.

"Apparently, yes, failure to stop him from leaving the school would subject to your first warning."

"But how am I going to stop him? I mean, we’re only classmates during PE, how would I know if he leaves his classes already?"

She squinted her eyes and looked at the paper again. "It says here that someone will text and inform you regarding his location. I guess you don’t have to worry about anything because Mr. Hennigan will secretly help you."

"Hey, guys, I gotta go. Mom is asking for my help, just tell me the rest of the details on Monday. I will also start accomplishing my pending school paperwork." Shocked, we stared at Fawn which made her looked at us questioningly. "What's with the look girls?"

"New life?”, I teased.

"This is new, did an angel possessed you?", Talulah added.

Both of us giggled when her face wrinkled in displeased before ending the call. It's rare to see Fawn prioritize her studies and set aside gossiping about boys throughout the years we, three, have been together.

"It's a good thing that she ended the call," what Talulah whispered did not escape my ears.

"Why?"

She looked at me for a second, it’s as if she’s having second thoughts whether she’d tell me or not. I watched her as she sighed. "Because what I'm about to tell you, it would surely break her 'p*****t' heart.”

I chuckled before asking. "What?"

"Last, and the most important rule is to never fall in love with Heath Evans."

I was in a daze for a moment. It seemed like it’s not sinking in my head properly. It’s like my brain is malfunctioning, so she continued talking.

"Don't you dare fall in love with the bad boy, failure to comply with the said rule would subject you to expulsion and banishment from our country."

Another couple of seconds passed, and Talulah was frowning when she heard my laughter. I couldn’t help but chortle hard at what I heard.

"That rule is so stupid!", I said in between my breath. "Oh my God, it's so cliche and a pure insult to my beautiful self," I accidentally snorted like a pig because of laughing too hard.

"I'm serious, Cait."

I inhaled deeply trying to control myself. "And I'm also serious Tal, do you really think that Caitlyn Montero, the girl with good grades who owns a beyond-this-world beauty, would fall for that stupid bad boy? Geez, whoever made this contract needs to grow up."

"But—"

"Tal, enough. I'm pretty sure I won't be falling to that guy if that's what you're worried about. I mean, does that have to be the first thing in your mind instead of 'me' ending up running to you crying because I messed up this punishment?"

She just stared at me for a couple of seconds, probably taking into consideration what I've mentioned about that college thing she made up awhile ago. Eventually, she let out a soft chuckle.

"Fine. Just promise me that you won't ever mention this to Fawn."

"Why not? She has the right to know everything, she's our best friend."

"Just... don't. You know how her mind works, right? Explaining something to an obsessive person is more difficult than curling a frizzy hair."

Even if I wanted to protest, I couldn’t defend my friend further but to keep it a secret from Fawn. Talulah’s right, our friend wouldn’t be able to understand my situation if he only listened to what her mind is telling her.

"Okay...” I sighed.

"By the way, the second page contains the date the day you’ll start, and when the punishment ends."

"When must I start?"

"Your punishment will automatically take effect on Thursday, and it'll be ineffective at the end of the school year."

I narrowed my eyes as I think of something. "But Thursday is our practice day, and I can't miss this opportunity!"

She just shrugged at me. "You can never complain, it is indicated here the dates of when Heath Evans leaves the campus."

My eyebrows slightly rose. "Wow, he has a specified schedule. What are the days?"

"Every Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays."

I felt indolent. "Those are all important dates of mine, can it not be adjusted?"

"For what? So that Heath may discover and learn that you’ll be guarding and watching his every move? Okay, go to his usual hangout and beg him to change his everyday schedule of escaping and entirely let yourself be defeated by other candidates for the Valedictorian title and lose your throne."

I kicked the comforter off my bed before pouting in irritation. "Why do you have to mention those?”

"Stop that. If you dislike following the rules and disobey what’s written in the contract, feel free to kiss your crown goodbye."

I rolled my eyes at her. Why did my school years has to be like this?

"All right, I’ll head home now. I still need to finish everything that’s needed to be prioritized, and you...”

"Ouch!”, I complained when she used the folder to lightly smack my head. “Do you need to assault me?“

She scoffed before shaking her head. "You’re always overreacting. The paper is only a thin piece of wood, it’s not made of steel.” She placed the contract on my bedside table. "Read it if you don’t want to fail, plan critically and choose the wises decision you had come up to before executing it. Remember, you’ll be a 4th-year student again next year if the punishment, indeed, backfired."

Talulah planted a motherly kiss on my forehead before she left my house.

The dismay and irritation I felt disappeared. It may be “cringey” to others, but I like the way Talulah acts motherly towards us. It only shows how much she loves me and Fawn, and I thank her for that.

Why do I have to be the one who’ll discipline Heath Evans? Do I look like a hardworking nanny? With how beautiful and godly my charm is, they would think that I am fit to be their arrogant son’s babysitter?

I deeply sighed. Mom is out of town again. She’s with her boss. She’s a Secretary of a law firm, that’s why mostly she’s out of town or the country. And that’s the reason why I had to board myself in the school. At least, I have someone with me other than Mommy.

The school allows the students to leave campus every weekend. So I don't have to worry about asking for permission to go home every Saturday and Sunday. Besides, I have my Privilege pass, so I don't have to worry about anything.

What I need to focus on now is that stupid, egotistic boy! Everything that’s happening to me is all his fault!