The Queenbee’s Downfall

4: The Trouble With The System Part 1

Chapter 4: The Rules of Punishment

Just one more. Just a little more and I will certainly cry even if I don’t want to.

It's been, well, a day since that stupid and horrible incident happened. And I'm still here inside the house! And I can't do anything but watch the sunrise up, up above the sky and blind my eyes from its hurtful rays.

I grunted loud when I heard the door of my room open.

"Oh honey, I know that deep down you’ve been longing to go out and play with your friends in the park. We're just gonna have to be patient for another two days so you can go play.”

"Mom," I called in an annoyed tone. "I don't need any of your teasings today, can't you see that my life as a Queen is about to be over?"

Instead of being concerned about my future, Mommy chose to laugh at my outcry of distress.

"What is it about being the Queen of your school? You're already the boss inside our house, I've spoiled you enough outside the boundaries of school before. Aren’t you contented enough to just reign here and not at Liberty University?"

Defeated by how fair her point is, I sighed before rolling my eyes heavenwards.

"I've already explained everything to you last night, mom. I am not going to explain it again."

"Right. To be enthroned as the Queenbee has its luxurious privileges. But darling, haven’t you noticed that to be a royalty has its flaws and enemies? You also told me that you and Sharpay had been fighting, countless times, just for one delirious throne, to the extent of, her, pouring you a bucketful of eggs and bacon. Aren’t you afraid of what she’s capable of?"

I know that she’s just worried, but this is a fight where I could only be the victor. And I am the only one that is on the frontline to defeat her, no one else. Slumping on my pink beanbag beside the window, I was leaning on the side of my full-length mirror.

"Why should I be afraid? I’ve overcome that minor obstacle without breaking a sweat, why must I backdown now? If there is one that should be, it’s her."

Smirking, I looked at my mom who had been quiet while staring at my beautiful almond eyes. Her eyes were full of emotions that I couldn't even name. From her eyebrows that were slightly crooked to restraining herself from frowning. From having a serious face, her eyes became soft, but eventually, she pushed all of it away. It's like, a battle between curiosity and understanding is happening inside her head as if her mind and heart suddenly became two, and not as one.

I can't help but notice her facial features, she's aging badly.

"Mom, I think you should try having a break and going to a salon and spa, it would be very helpful," I smiled at her not minding her sudden glare.

She’s my mother, all right. She is easily irritated when it comes to physical appearance, hihi.

After a while, she took a deep breath.

"I understand that you're doing this for yourself, Caitlyn—"

"I'm not... “ I cut her off.

Mommy looked a tad stunned. Slowly, her features softened, almost guilty.

"Then to whom?"

I averted my eyes.

"I'm not doing this to boost my pride nor ego, or to prove to myself that I can do better and be better than anyone else. I'm not doing this for any of that sort," I closed my eyes, hesitating whether to say it or not as the memories of yesterday started flashing in my mind.

In the end, I chose to blurt it out loud so that she may understand me clearly. "I'm doing this for dad."

We both fell silent. With the mere mention of dad, I know mom would be back to her usual cold self. Just as always. It's as if her emotions are set to be like that every time we talked about Dad. Barely.

The loud ringing of her phone broke our silence. Mom cleared her throat before taking the phone out of her coat’s pocket and looked at the screen.

"Duty calls. Have to go to work."

And with that, she left. I just sighed silently. What's new?

It was afternoon when I went to school. It seems that Mr. Hennigan wants to talk to me, and I am so darn late. It’s Mommy’s fault. She did not inform me that I was told to go to school. If I have not opened my email, I may have had, yet again, another bad record for not attending my meeting with the Principal.

If Eagle Press-con finds about it they’ll, yet again, spread another wildfire throughout the entire campus. Misleading the viewers and audiences to believe that what was written in the news article about me yesterday would be true. Which isn't.

Seeing that no people are roaming around when it’s lunchtime, it’s quite strange. Supposedly, the cafeteria should be packed with students. I bought a drink there since I’m thirsty and some burger, before continuing my walk. The green and vast grass should be filled with Varsities of each sport playing football or baseball. Couples and groups of friends should also be scattered across half of the field.

Surprisingly, not a single student could be spotted around the said areas.

Weird.

About 1 pm, I arrived at Mr. Hennigan’s office. I knocked on the door first before I went inside. Mr. Hennigan’s serious eyes were the first to greet me. I suppressed myself from rolling my eyes. His disturbing stares are creeping me.

What's wrong with him?

"Good afternoon, Sir... " I greeted, trying my best to look jolly.

He then smiled after a while before gesturing me to sit down. I sat on the brown leather sofa and waited for him to speak.

"I’m positive that your Mommy told you about your punishment?"

"Yes."

Mr. Hennigan slightly nodded. "Okay, I think it's about time you start doing your work."

My eyes caught the walkie-talkie and the small camera in his hands. Wait, what?

When he saw the confusion on my face, he frowned.

"What's with that look, Ms. Montero?"

"W-What do you mean by... work?", I stammered.

"I thought your mother already told you?"

"About the House Arrest and her background about it, yes. She told me her past life."

I saw how he closed his eyes with frustration evident all over his face before leaning back on his black swivel chair.

"You both are impossible."

I absentmindedly shrugged. I can’t blame him if he said those. He and mom are friends, and I can say that there's a lot of resemblance between me and her when it comes to our personality.

*.*.*

I kicked the rocks I walk past out of irritation as I made my way to the back of the building. I hate this school! It’s very frustrating! Why does this school even have to invent House Arrest?! I’m okay with detention. Students are fine with such mild punishment but why do they need to have this?!

Mr. Hennigan and I talked about the rules of the punishment in terms of my chance of still being the holder of the Valedictorian title. He told me that my name could only be back in the List of Qualified Students for Valedictorian if the lofty walls, filled with vandals, were restored to their original state.

Meaning, I have to paint every damn wall back to its original color! And if I could do that within a month, I’d be competing once more against the other top students in our batch.

How can I even do that when a bunch of delinquents keeps on thrashing the school? And speaking of which!

"Hey!"

They immediately scurried away after seeing me, leaving their stupid and ridiculous tools behind. I was slightly taken aback by the unusual reaction I received before I started covering their graffiti using the creamy white paint Mr. Hennigan handed me earlier.

Those men, they weren’t affected by my charm. The boys weren’t shaken by their one and only, Caitlyn Montero. The Queenbee of Liberty University. Could it be?

No, it cannot be! This shouldn’t be possible! I cannot allow the charm of a Caitlyn Montero to gradually become useless!

"Mark my words, I will give everyone the punishment they deserve... " I whispered.

"When would that day come?", a familiar voice called out behind me.

Eyebrows creasing, I harshly turned around to the pale and annoyingly extra man with the brush accidentally whipping the fully-loaded paintbrush on his clothes. My irritation towards him seemed to disappear like a bubble when I saw what was happening to his T-shirt. Not again.

I slowly looked up at his serious eyes. And gone was the usual smug look on his face. His menacing dark orbs are making my knees wobble in fear when I should be the one affecting him with my limitless charm.

"You cost me my favorite shirt yesterday, and now this?", he said in a low voice as if controlling the anger that wants to break loose.

"It's not my fault that you're stupid!", it’s a good thing that I did not stammer, even if I should not be acting this way.

I heard from Talulah yesterday that he's a gangster. Like a real gangster who fights people like him. And he doesn’t even hide his identity. Is that the reason why Mrs. Evans wants to cage him in this school?

When his lips pursed and his gaze seemed to penetrate my soul, I knew that I made a wrong move. The atmosphere changed, and it spelled danger.

I backed away when he starting stepping closer to me, still, his eyes locked with mine.

"I-If you had not allowed your slaves to defecate various parts of of the school, countless times, that wouldn’t happen to you— " I gasped when I felt my branded clothes touched the wet wall that I painted. "My clothes... " I gutturally shrieked.

I tried to step forward but quickly regretted it because I accidentally bumped into his hard chest. He neared me real fast! Heath put each of his hands on the wall, trapping me between them. I had no choice but to lean on the wall even though my clothes and hair were sticky.

"What makes you think that I ordered them to do it?"

His minty breath attacked my nose. I couldn’t bear his heavy stares so I looked away. Though I am uneasy with his face a few inches from mine, I tried to be brave.

Silently taking a deep breath, I fiercely spoke. "You are the only guy the rebels choose to obey, who else?"

I gasped loudly when Heath suddenly touched my soft and rosy cheeks, strongly making me push him away. This bad boy is ruining my composure and I hate it!

He took a few steps back while plastering that annoying smirk on his face.

"Oh no, my face! It's full of paint!", I can feel the stickiness sinking through my skin.

Heath’s booming laughter increased the stress and irritation that’s slowly building up inside me.

"How dare you do this to me! Don’t you even know me?!"

The bad boy smirked as he put his hands inside the pocket of his pants.

"Nope. Who are you again?"

My jaw dropped because of that. Is he for real? He doesn’t know anything about me?! If that’s true then... that's unfair! I know his name and little details regarding his reputation, and now he’s blatantly telling me he doesn’t know me? The righteous and the great, Caitlyn Montero?

This guy is getting on my nerves!

"Oh wait, I think I know you...” he said after a brief silence.

I froze for a moment. Even I don’t understand why I was hoping that he might know something about me. Maybe my pride is kicking in.

"You’re that woman with the Hello Kitty panties."

It was as if cold water was poured on me as his words rang in my ear. My eyebrows creased in a thin line as my eyes narrowed, trying to ignore my cheeks heating up because of embarrassment as Heath continue to smirk at me like that.

"You peeping tom!"

Heath rolled his eyes at me.

"It's not my fault you left the door of the locker room open."

I couldn’t exactly speak because something flashed in my mind. The unwanted memory of my ridiculous and long-forgotten scandal kept on replaying as if a broken CD player. Enraged at the possible theory slowly forming inside my head, I shot dagger glares at him.

It was him?!

"You’re the guy who spread that video?!"

"I guess so.” He replied as he tilted his head, contradicting his cold and uninterested look.

My breathing became uneven. He’s so confident and a despicable jerk! I growled loud and clear as anger engulfed me. I don’t care anymore. Not a single student can be seen here though it’s Friday. I angrily threw the paintbrush towards him but he immediately dodged it by crouching down. He continues to laugh as he adjusts himself.

"Whoa, you gotta calm your t**s there girl."

I gasped loudly.

"How dare you, you perverted creature! You rude and ill-mannered boy!", I took the bucketful of paint and splashed it on him.

Red paint-filled his face as well as his clothes. I controlled my laughter when I saw how messed up he is right now. I am still not satisfied with what I did to this man, he must be punished for the rude person that he is!

I choose to throw the empty bucket at him, and the feeling of winning a shooting game overjoyed me as I smirk at his frame.

The gasping sound was the next thing I heard, not one, but a lot. I was stunned to realize how a bunch of students is now standing not far from us as their cellphones filmed me and Heath. They were all wearing the same shocked faces as they looked at me and Heath Evans.

Oh no. I'm doomed! Mr. Hennigan is shaking his head as he stares at me in disappointment. And even if I wanted to be angry as Sharpay’s minions give me those condescending sneers, I silently lowered my head in embarrassment.