Allie

"Oh, my gosh," squealed one of the girls in my class. She quickly grabbed a chair next to me, tucking a lock of dark hair behind her ear. Her wide eyes were completely glued to the brand spanking new black pumps that I was wearing. Vanessa Hayes was one of the prettiest girls in my class. She was tall, with long jet-black hair, cerulean blue eyes, and a fair complexion. "Is that from Irena Sofranko's recent Fall collection?" She asked. "A pair costs an arm and a leg. How could you possibly afford them?"

I shrugged and smiled sweetly in return.

A cheerleader named Bunny, with a sandy blonde pixie cut hair clapped her hands in excitement. "You will definitely be prom Queen, Allie. I'm positive the whole school will vote for you. Oh, hail Queen Allie!"

What a suck up. I beamed at all the praises that was being thrown at me left and right. It was really nice to be the center of attention. Seriously, that's what you get when you're the Alpha female of Viento Vista High. What Allie wants, Allie gets. I'm all sugar and spice and everything nice.

"Oh, I'll definitely be prom Queen." I said in a confident tone, inspecting my newly French-manicured nail tips. The girls surrounded me in their blue and white cheerleading uniform with smiles that reached all the way up to their ears.

"And guess who will be prom King?" My best friend, Agatha, said in a sing song voice, motioning Bunny to scoot over so she could sit down next to me.

"Archer Holland." Natalie scoffed behind me as she rolled her eyes.

That was Natalie Peterson. My co-captain for Viento Vista's cheerleading squad. She's one of my best friends, but at the same time she's also my arch rival when it comes to everything, especially to Archer Holland, Viento Vista High's Alpha male. The number one hottie and quarterback of the football team.

No, Archer's not my boyfriend. I mean, not yet. But he'll soon be. Just watch me work my magic.

"Wow, Allie, I'd kill to be in your shoes for one day," Vanessa gushed, fanning herself. "Archer freaking Holland. You're one lucky girl."

One lucky girl?

Sure, I consider myself lucky, but Archer still hasn't asked me out on a date yet. And it has been years. I wanted to correct her but it was best if I kept my mouth shut. Rumors had spread like wildfire that Archer had his eyes on me since Freshman year. God, I wish it was true.

"Speak of the devil," Aggie pointed towards the door. "There he is now."

"All salt, no fries." I muttered as I glanced at Natalie who just said something negative about me behind my back. She simply grinned, tossing her straight blonde hair over her shoulders.

Archer and Frankie Corleone came through the door exchanging man hugs and fist pumps to everyone they saw along the way. I immediately fixed my hair as Archer strode over, nodding to me before he sat down in his seat.

"Hey," he said, winking at me with his sexy pair of eyes. "Sup?"

"Hey there, Archer." I said a little breathlessly. Archer Holland was well known to make girls weak in the knees. Tall, dark, handsome, and a set of dimples to die for. It was true. Every time he looked at me with those light green eyes, I couldn't help but crumble in front of him. Everyone dubbed the phenomenon as The Archer Effect.

"How's it goin', babe?" Archer reached over to take my hand and gazed meaningfully into my hazel eyes. I closed my eyes, shaking my head for a brief moment. When I opened them, he was talking to that girl Vanessa. I couldn't believe it. I did it again. I was only imagining Archer holding my hand. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose in disappointment. This was seriously getting way out of hand. This needed to stop once and for all.

When will Archer realize that I'm the girl for him?

Ms. Fontanilla, our English teacher, entered the classroom, ten minutes late as usual. She lives all the way from Temecula, so she fights traffic every morning making her a part of the tardy list. She was always disorganized, and judging by the way she looked every morning, her physical appearance desperately screamed for a makeover. Our teacher was only thirty years old, but she looked like she was already in her fifties. Instead of heels, she wore tennis shoes along with her tweed suit.

Not good. Not good at all. It's a freaking fashion faux pas, if you asked me. She needed some work. Lots of it.

A dark brown-haired boy came barreling through the door just as Ms. Fontanilla was about to write on the board. As he made his way to his chair, I purposely placed my leg in his path, making him trip over, and everyone erupted in laughter, giggles and wolf whistles. He quickly stood up and gave me the deadliest glare he could muster.

That boy right there was Rich Carson.

The number one class geek. Okay, not number one, but he was on my imaginary list. Someone told me once that he was on the swim team. Not sure if the rumors were true since I hardly ever notice him. To be honest, I never liked geeks or nerds in my school. I don't know why? They just irritate me, I guess. Between you and me, and as much as I hate to admit, Rich was a cute geek. While all the boys in school drooled over me, he seemed to be the only pathetic soul who refused to worship me.

"You know what, Allie?" Rich blurted out. "You're such a bitch."

Everyone gasped in horror. My jaw dropped. The whole class fell silent. So silent you could practically hear a pin drop in the background. No one has ever called me a bitch before. Especially if it came out from a nobody like Rich Carson himself. My eyes started to well up from the humiliation.

The teacher spun around to what she just heard. "Mr. Carson, what seems to be the problem?" She pushed her thick black rimmed eyeglasses further up her nose.

"It was nothing, Ms. Fontanilla," Rich replied, lowering his head in embarrassment. He quickly opened up his textbook. His whole face was practically beet red. He slid me a look but I averted my eyes back to the front of the class. Throughout the whole period, I had a sinking feeling deep in the pit of my stomach. I don't know what it was, but I hope it won't be that bad.

*

"Let's face it, Allie. You are a bitch." My best friend Aggie stated before she slurped her carton of chocolate milk.

We were at the parking lot leaning on the hood of my car while all the high school seniors dropped off their lists for the annual senior scavenger hunt. Natalie inspected each list before rolling it up and dropping it into the box. After that, she handed them an invitation for her Halloween party where the winners of the scavenger hunt will be announced by her. She was lucky enough to be the hostess this year and I was just wondering what prizes were hidden up her sleeve.

"I'm serious," I squeaked. "That geek's going to get it, I swear. Who does he think he is anyway?"

Aggie gave me a light pat on the shoulder before she pulled her newly dyed red hair into a ponytail. She was one of my best friends. My sidekick since grade school who was my complete opposite. She wasn't a cheerleader, but she was with me all the time, so that made her an immediate member of the popular crowd of Viento Vista.

"So, what are you going to do about it, Allie?" Aggie went on in her most malevolent tone. "You want us to kick him all the way to Geekville?"

"Speak of the devil," Natalie chirped. "Geeks approaching at twelve o'clock."

I groaned as I saw Rich, and his friend, Enzo, walking toward us. He glared at me while he handed Natalie two papers that were rolled up. Natalie forced out a grin and glanced at me before inspecting the list and dropping them into the box.

Natalie handed them the invitation. "Here, you guys are invited to my Halloween party. I hope you guys would make it."

After he read the invitation, something clutched at my stomach as he stared at me darkly with his light blue eyes. "Sure, we'll be there."

*

I stared at myself in front of the mirror, irritated. I think I had already tried on about ten costumes. So far, none had seemed to pass my taste. Most of them didn't fit me well. In short, they all sucked. Feeling hopeless, I stared at the pile of costumes on the floor. I really wanted to burn them all.

"Any luck?" Aggie shouted from the other fitting room.

I rolled my eyes in frustration as I stared at myself wearing the tight sexy black Playboy bunny costume. I sucked in my stomach to make sure I really looked good in it. "Negative," I yelled back. "How about you guys?"

"I've decided that I'll just be a sexy devil again like last year." Natalie said. Of course, that's not really surprising at all. Her choice was perfect.

I stared at the mountainous pile of rejected costumes on the floor and sighed as I hopelessly tried on another one. "So, how are you and your boyfriend, Aggie?" I wriggled my whole body into the skin-tight pleather cat woman costume.

"Well," she groaned. "We were supposed to meet up last week for dinner but he didn't call me back or anything. Then this morning, he called just to say he was really busy."

"Really? You deserve at least a fucking phone call," I said. "I'm telling you, busy is another word for asshole, and asshole is another word for the guy you're dating. I actually read that somewhere in a book."

Natalie snorted from the other room. "Wow, Allie, I guess you do read books after all."

"Of course, I do," I made a face, rolling my eyes at Natalie's sarcastic comment. That bitch. She has always been that snooty little-miss-know-it-all. She doesn't know when to stop. If she would only pump the brakes once in a while, I wouldn't have a problem with her smart mouth.

Aggie sighed. "Actually, I do plan on dumping him on Halloween night. I was seriously going to kick his ass, but I figured breaking up with him will do. I'm so tired of this bullshit."

"Good," I muttered. I hated her boyfriend with a passion ever since Aggie introduced us at the Del Mar fair. He irked me so much that I was so tempted to pour a bucket of fish over his head every time I saw him.

I immediately got out of the cat woman costume that was suffocating me. Either it was too small or I had gained too much weight. I immediately grabbed the last costume that was hanging on the hook.

The sexy Angel costume.

Perfect.

*

Rich

Someone tripped me as I made my way to my seat and it didn't take a genius to figure it out. I immediately knew who it was.

Allie Torres.

She was that popular gorgeous brunette, Viento Vista High's head cheerleader that everyone looked up to. She was sugar and spice alright, but seriously, she's not entirely nice. I didn't really get the hype around her. She was a total bitch. She picked on me all the time and kept calling me a geek.

Now, what have I ever done to her?

"It's simple," Enzo took a bite of his licorice while we walked toward the student parking lot. "You need to worship her, man. Kiss the ground she walks on."

I shot him a look like he was some idiot high on drugs. There was no way in hell I would worship someone like her. Even if she was the last female on earth.

I snorted. "I'm telling you right now, Enzo, Allie would get a taste of her own medicine one day. Just watch."

Enzo chuckled, shaking his head. "Dude, do I sense some kind of retaliation? What are you gonna do about it?"

What am I going to do about it? Crud. I haven't thought about anything yet.

"I don't know," I murmured, scratching my chin in deep thought. "I'll think of something."

As we walked out of the school campus, I saw Allie, Aggie, Natalie, and the rest of the cheerleaders at the parking lot, sitting on the hood of their cars with students handing them their lists for the scavenger hunt.

The scavenger hunt.

Of course. I've completely forgotten about it. They were collecting all the lists today. A light bulb appeared at the top of my head. I quickly grabbed my notebook inside my bag and ripped off a page, writing things down in top speed.

"Wait a sec," Enzo eyed me carefully. "Are my eyes deceiving me? Don't tell me you're going to join the Senior scavenger hunt? Because if you are, you're fucking insane, man."

I ignored him, quickly rolling up the paper in my hands. Enzo decided to join in, too, for fun. His idea of fun? Meeting new girls. Their laughter faded as soon as we approached them. I could see Allie giving me the death glare since she was seriously pissed at me for humiliating her in class today.

Well, she started it.

I handed my list to Natalie. In return, she handed me a black envelope sealed with a silver bat sticker. It was an invitation for Natalie's Halloween party. In the back was the printed instructions for the scavenger hunt.

ATTENTION: Boils and Ghouls

You must pick a list the day before All Hallow's Eve. Pick a partner for your quest to seek the items on your list. The first three winners will be awarded with a surprise. Party will start at nine o'clock sharp.

Wear your best costume.

Good luck!

At the end of it was Natalie's address. I stared at it for a brief moment. Okay, this looked easy. I mean, how hard could it be?

*

"I couldn't believe we just joined the scavenger hunt." Enzo shook his head in disbelief. I could feel the excitement in his voice. We entered a small costume shop at the mall that was covered with cob webs and giant tarantulas plastered outside the windows.

I blew out a short breath. "Well, me neither. I honestly don't know what came over me. Maybe we should back out."

"Are you kidding me? I ain't backin' out."

The store was a bit dark and stuffy. The smell of rubber lingered in the air. There were a few giggles coming from nearby. A few minutes later, two girls emerged from the fitting rooms. It was our friends, Natasha and Karin. Natasha was dressed up as Bat girl and Karin as Poison Ivy.

"Hey, guys," Karin chirped, walking over to us, "Have you two decided on your costumes yet?"

I placed a hand at the back of my neck and looked around the heavily decorated store. It's been a while since I've worn a Halloween costume. I think the last time I went trick-or-treating was around the sixth grade.

"Hmm, I'll probably get a super hero costume," I said as I browsed the racks. Natasha stifled a laugh, nudging Karin, and they both started giggling again. "Why, what's so funny?"

Karin pressed her lips together, shaking her head. "Nothing."

"C'mon, Rich," Natasha shook her head. "You can't go as a super hero."

I rolled my eyes at them, leaving the girls in a fit of giggles as they made their way back inside the fitting rooms. I turned to Enzo. "Okay, what's wrong with me going as a super hero? I mean, is there a private joke that I don't know about?"

Enzo shrugged. "I don't know, man. I guess you're just not hot enough to be a super hero. That's what they've been trying to tell you."

Wait. I'm not hot enough? Okay, we'll see about that.

I pulled out an unknown costume from the rack labeled The Masked Crusader and inspected the size before entering the checkout line. The lady behind the counter who looked like a life-sized doll on steroids was taking forever to ring up the customer before us. The entrance door chimed, and Allie, along with her friends, came in like they owned the place. I quickly turned my head that way she wouldn't be able to see me. Disappointment niggled at my gut.

Out of all the places. Why here?

"Fuck, it's Allie," I whispered to Enzo, immediately blocking the side of my face with my hand. I was afraid that Allie would spot me. Enzo turned his head in their direction. Fortunately, they had already made their way to one of the aisles, disappearing from our view. Thankfully, it was our turn to pay. I couldn't give less of a fuck, but I really wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

"Dude, it's just Allie. Not death." He joked.

I threw him a death glare as I handed the money to the cashier. "Ha-ha, very funny."

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*

This was originally published on Wattpad back in October 2011. This was a paid novel on Tapas Media in 2017 for 4 and a half years. Now I am posting it on the Radish Fiction app under a Wait-to-unlock model. Please follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok for more sneak peeks.

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XOXO

Katie