Lunch Break.......

Throughout the day whichever period I went I saw everyone snickering and gossiping. I am sure Charlotte has received the treatment she deserves.

Are you sure she deserves such a treatment?

.......Yes! Yes! Yes! She deserves it. She turned my whole life upside down. I hate her.

I had gotten a friend of mine to get Francis to leave the campus and keep him away from the school for most of the day. I walk towards Charlotte's locker to find her crying in Drake's arms. How predictable! I walk up to them and say," So you are now off to chase Drake? Now that you finished the deal you struck with me about Francis, I must say you can be a real good seductress. If you want I can help you." Drake lets go Charlotte and turns around looking furious. "What deal?" He asks calmly. I smirk and ask Charlotte, "Should I....... Or will you tell him the truth?" Charlotte looks at me alarmed and furious. "You! You did this? I clearly remember telling you that I quit. That I can no longer play him. That you could keep your damn bet. I loose. But still. Still you did this! And now you are saying it in front of Drake so he thinks even lower of me?" I bat my eyelashes innocently and say,"How can you lie so easily? Teach me a few tips too please. That day when you said in that party that you will win Francis, over I thought it was impossible, but now I know how you actually managed it." She turns to Drake and pleads,"I swear I was drunk. Yes, I did bet but within a week of being friends with you three I realized the bet isn't worth loosing you all. The bet isn't worth loosing you. You have become a really good friend of mine. And I love Francis I.....I can never do that to him. And moreover why will I do this? Will it not taint my reputation? I didn't do any of this. Please trust me ,Drake." I roll my eyes as I clearly anticipate his answer. He nods and says,"I trust you. I know Francis will trust you to. Once he realizes Julia tricked......" I scowl and interrupt, "Oh hello! I didn't trick her. Your beloved Charlotte couldn't take the fact that Francis likes me. So she herself took the bet. I can prove if you want. All I said was she could never get a boyfriend that's it. So she began chasing my boyfriend. Bloody cheapster!" "She is not cheap! And Francis was never your boyfriend. You were nothing but a toy for him!" comes Candace's protest. When she came here? I didn't notice. I glare at her.

You know she is right. No one ever cares for you. They all care for Charlotte.

Noooo. Francis cares for me. He loves me. He just doesn't know. He will realize it once this bitch leaves him. He will come to me. He has to.

"You are not worth standing anywhere near Francis. Look at him and look at you. You call that clothes. Where did you buy it from? The rag seller? I am saying for the last time. Stay. Away. From. Him." I turn on my heels and walk away. I hear both Drake and Candace consoling her. I don't get it why does Drake care so much about her! She just doesn't deserve it. So what Drake didn't understand? Francis will. He will realize only I am the one who deserves to be the love of his life.

********************
Golden locks in place. Check.

Dramatic and smoky eyes. Check.

Even tone foundation. Check.

Red lipstick. Check.

Enough cleavage displayed. Check.

Skirt above knees. Check.

I am currently in the girl's washroom giving finishing touches to my make up. Earlier in class I had received a message from Francis.

Sometime earlier.....

I was sitting in the class impatiently waiting for Charlotte to break Francis' heart so I could console him and make him mine. I began day dreaming what I will say and do when he finally confesses his undying love for me.

Francis:
Julia I am so sorry. I always loved you and you only. I don't what I was thinking when I started talking with Charlotte. She can never win against you. I guess I was jealous that so many males got to touch you. You are too beautiful for your own good.

Me: Oh Francis! I loved only you. I just wanted to make you jealous. I still love only you.

And then we kiss. Aaaah! I feel like I am in heaven.

Suddenly my dream was broken as a loud sound blared through someone's speakers.

"I am a barbie girl..."

Oops! My phone. I took it out and checked. A missed call from Francis. My heart skipped a beat. At that very moment Miss Raine reached for my phone but I hid it. I simply gathered my belongings and walked out of the class. "Julia! JULIA!........" I heard Miss Raine shout but I flipped her my middle finger and walked away.

Now....

After I reached the bathroom I took out my phone and found a message from Francis.

Come to the canteen at the beginning of the last period. Don't be late. I am waiting. I have a huge surprise for you. Francis. 😎

Ever since then I have been getting ready. I called my other friend Melinoe. She is supposed to be here.....

"Hey Julia."

.......now.

"Hey Mel." I greet her.

Had my life been some stupid teen fiction I am sure it would have been from Charlotte's POV and she would have found my voice shriller than nails on a blackboard and her voice irritating and nasally. To be true Melinoe has a voice like an angel. And I ? Well had my voice been that bad, boys wouldn't have tried that hard to make me moan.

Melinoe and I exchange airy kisses. She then complements me,"Oooh! You look hot! Francis is totally gonna loose his calm and might jump you immediately." "You think so?" I ask biting my lips nervously. "Oh yea!" she nods furiously. I squeal and hug her. This one of the reasons why I called Melinoe instead of Emily. When I forwarded Francis' text to Melinoe she agreed to help me get ready. Had it been Emily she would have given me a big fat lecture on feminism and self-esteem and would have probably even beaten up Francis. Like the rest of the girls of Riverdale she too had a crush on Francis but it kind of shifted to Austin once she realized I love him. Now she cannot stop talking about Austin. I hope she doesn't fall for Austin because it is impossible to find a single fault with Candace Auburn. She is simply flawless. Me and Melinoe are partners in crime. Emily often reprimands us but clears up our mess anyway. I know she loves us both like sisters and I guess that's why she hates Francis and Austin. Because of us. I know she will be a little angry but once Francis proposes me she will forgive me. She cannot be angry for long. She is too sweet for that.

As if realizing my train of thoughts she looks at me nervously and asks,"You told Emily? " I shook my head. "She will kill you first and then kill me when she knows that I knew but didn't tell her. But okay for you I will die a martyr. " She says saluting me dramatically. I roll my eyes.

Just then the bell rings. "That's my cue to leave." I say. She nods and says,"All the best, bitch." I chuckle and reply "Thanks." before running away. Francis I am coming.

***********

I reach the canteen only to find white roses and violets decorating the canteen to perfection. Oh. My. God. This is so beautiful. This is all for me? Francis remembered me telling him that violets are my favorite flowers. My hands fly to my mouth as tears of sheer happiness threaten to fall from my eyes. I am falling a little more in love with him.

If that is even possible.

All my happiness vanishes when my eyes land on Charlotte standing on the other door of the canteen with a similar expression. Then her eyes land on mine. Her happiness vanishes too as both of us glare at each other. Francis did this for me. Why is she here?

Are you sure this for you? I think this is for Charlotte.

No. No. NO! Francis is mine. MINE!

Suddenly everyone emerges out of their hiding places and scream, "SURPRISE!" Neither of our gazes waver as we continue to shoot each other death glares. Suddenly a breathtaking male voice is heard, "Today I am going to propose the girl of my dreams. I have put her through a lot of torment. She deserves solace. Solace that she will find in my arms." "Awwww." The canteen cooes. I am not interested in what the others say. My undivided attention is on the painfully handsome boy in front of me. Francis. My Francis. Finally. "Would you please come forward, love?" I take a step with a triumphant smile on my face. I move forward from my peripheral vision I see Charlotte closing her eyes taking a deep breath and turning around. I see Francis frowning I follow his line of vision. Charlotte. My hands curl into a fist. But he called me. He texted me not her. "Will you leave without answering me Latte?" She turns around, her hand on her mouth as she mouths"Me?" The Francis I know would have given a sarcastic reply but this is Charlotte's Francis. He smiles and nods. "Will you, Charlotte Sawyer Gray, be my, Francis Jerald Johansen's girlfriend?" Tears of happiness stream down her eyes. She nods furiously as Francis walks up to her and lifts her up circling with her in the air. That should have been me. Francis was supposed to propose me. He texted me. Why did he ask me to come then? To witness this? As if on cue Francis puts her down and with the smirk that use to make my heart stop, heck! it still does, he announces,"To be honest I was too scared to ask her out for the fear of rejection. But thanks to a really good friend of mine I realized that if I didn't propose her soon I might really loose her. Thank you Julia for your help." I can't take it anymore. I run away and out of the canteen.

No one stops me.

They are busy rejoicing her happiness.

No one is bothered about my loss.

I dash into a nearby abandoned classroom. I burst into tears the moment my butt touches one of the chairs. I can't keep it in me anymore. I wail loudly.

No one hears.

Where are you Emily? I take out my phone to find a message from Melinoe.

Kevin and me are going to keep Emily away. You enjoy with your lover boy. 💞 Mel.

I let out a frustrated cry and throw my cellphone. It shatters into pieces. I keep crying.

*****************

Hey my beautiful buttercups I hope you like this chapter.
Do you think what Francis did was right?
What do you think will happen when Emily finds out?

Comment your answers to me. If you can please read my other book, "The Avenger and Her Knight" and my poetry book, "The Other Side."

Vote. Comment. Share.

💞💋💞 Reina