"Congrats, Courtney."

"Thanks, Tim, Wallace, Eugene."

All three boys wore goofy grins at hearing their names spoken by Courtney as she kept heading towards the main quad. A lunch table with a place to prop up her aching ankle was calling to her. As was everyone that she passed.

"Courtney, I voted for you!"

"Thanks, Jacqueline."

"Hey Courtney, I just wanted to say congrats on winning."

"Thanks. Remind me of your name again?

"Henry."

"Okay, got it. Thanks, Henry."

"Senior Class President!"

Courtney smiled. "Thanks, Edwin. I would be nowhere without voters like you."

"I know!"

"Congratulations on the win, Courtney."

"Thanks, Sharon. No, Shannon. Sorry about that."

"No worries!"

"Courtney, you won!"

"I did? No way?!"

"Congrats."

"Thanks, Juliet."

"Congrats on the win Miss President."

"Thanks, voter Miko."

So close, so close, just keep moving. Eventually, I will get there. Or die on the way. Maybe she could get all the happy voters to carry her there. A bit over the top but it was that or start crawling at some point. And that was a no-go. She might be wearing shorts underneath this dress but that was another disastrous video ready to be made. And also a terrible start to her Presidency.

"Courtney, I made a gif of you from that video!"

Oh, thank you. Exactly what I wanted: more ways for my embarrassment to be long-lasting.

"Javier, you've immortalized me. There is no higher honor, I can now die knowing I've reached the pinnacle of my success."

And die she might if she couldn't reach that stupid table. Where was a strong male who felt the need to impress a girl by proving he could carry her when you needed one?

Seriously? Did no one want to carry the new Senior Class President? Maybe offer to push her around on a scooter? She'd gladly sit on a skateboard and paddle her way to the table with her crutches. She just needed a skateboard.

Kyle blocked Courtney's path. Oh, look a strong male. But there was no way she'd let him carry her. It would only serve to make an awkward situation with Aiden worse. Right then with his long looks and attempts at talking to her but not saying anything it was already at a high level of awkwardness.

"How is it that you won when you weren't even trying?" he asked.

"Magical powers."

"You mean you're hot."

Ah, so bluntly and degradedly put.

"It's so like you. Don't do any work and win," Kyle laughed.

Yes, you're right. I don't do any work. My high GPA: didn't stay up late studying after practice, I bribed the teachers. Cheer captain: didn't work tirelessly for three years to win that role, I promised all the girls new dresses. Prominent member of the student council: haven't taken part in every meeting, done every mindless gopher task. I'm popular so that's just given, right?

Ah, it's so nice to be a hot blonde that does nothing but wins it all.

"Yay me!" Courtney said, plowing onward.

Getting to this lunch table might be the last thing I ever do.

But with Kyle as a wall against one side, Courtney managed to survive that last stretch to the lunch table. She sank gratefully to the bench and planted her foot on the other side.

Cheerleaders and football players flocked around her like excited birds but she was searching the skies for only one. Lynn wasn't among the usual group.

"I voted for you," Kimber said. "Because honestly, you did a good job last year with Winter formal."

"Thank you, Kim. Have you seen Lynn?"

"Sorry, I don't have any classes with her today."

"So when's the celebration party?" Rosa asked.

That single word set the whole group off like a bomb.

"Party?"

"When?

"Did someone say party?"

"A celebration party, right?"

"A Celebration party!"

"A party, I'm in!"

"Courtney when is it?"

"Can't be tonight, we have a game."

"Tomorrow would be good."

"Cory throw the party tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow works for me."

"Me too."

"Same."

"I'll be there."

"I can make it tomorrow."

"I can't, I have to work tomorrow."

"Come afterward. It will last long enough."

"Tomorrow."

"Right, Cory?"

Wow, is this what it's like to be an exhibit at the zoo when a field trip full of elementary kids comes? Never going to the zoo again. If I do, I'm walking around and apologizing to each animal.

Kimber nudged Courtney's arm. "Cory? Tomorrow?"

Technically, if any of the people who voted deserved to celebrate the win, it was these friends. After all, they voted 'cause they knew her and not only from a video. She smiled. Lynn, please don't hate me.

"Tomorrow it is. Starts at six. My house, spread the word."

Hands jostled her as voices cheered in her ears. Thank you, I did want to have deafness to my list of injuries. Ow! That's my ankle! It's cool, I wanted to be in more pain than before, how'd you know? Firetruck! That hurts.

She took in a slow breath, trying to control the pain.

I need to find Lynn.

Using her crutches, they did come in handy, Courtney left the chattering group, who were already making plans for her party. Well, that was kind of them taking over her life for her. Phew, she didn't feel like running it anyway.

"Aubrey," Courtney said, spotting her one sane friend at that moment. "Have you seen Lynn?"

"I thought I saw her heading towards the Council room."

"Thanks."

"Congrats by the way! I didn't see that one coming."

"That makes two of us."

Courtney crossed the quad, smiling and throwing out thank yous as students threw out congratulations. By the time, Courtney made it away from the mass of admirers, the term 'thank you' had lost all meaning. She pulled up short when she rounded a corner and came face to face with Max.

"You seriously had to do that?" Max asked, her normal scowl replaced by a look of disbelief.

How vague of you. So yes, I did, I had to walk into my closet, avoid the dark section, and pick something colorful. For you I can imagine that's scary, but color doesn't have to be the death of anyone.

"Can you be more specific?" Courtney asked.

Max crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. Still wearing leather in this heat. Maybe she just ran really cold. Like reptiles. Nope, that was mean. She was sticking to her aesthetic.

"You couldn't have let Lynn win? I saw how much she worked this week to get votes."

Yeah, I know because I was right there with her. But you know what, yes, my life is so pathetic I needed to win in order to feel better about myself. The colorful clothes don't cut it for me anymore.

"You didn't have to betray your friend like that," Max said, accusingly.

Oh Max, we had a good thing going this week. I was polite to you, you ignored me. I said something to draw attention to Micah and you looked at me like I was suspicious. Why destroy something so beautiful?

"As hard as this is to believe," Courtney said. "I was as surprised as everyone else."

Max pushed herself off the fall. "Sure." She shook her head. "I thought for a second that maybe you were...but I was right about you. All the same."

She walked off leaving behind a strong scent of righteous indignation.

Not a good perfume to wear. Cloying and often unwarranted.

Courtney continued onto the Council room, grateful that most of the students weren't located along her path. As she reached the room, she slowed her pace, which wasn't saying much since it was pretty slow to begin with. The door lay open and from inside she heard two people talking.

"Just tell me," Lynn said.

"I'm not going to do that," Miguel said.

"Seriously, she won by so many votes you won't even share?"

Courtney leaned against the wall, resting her head against the rough surface.

"No, I'm not telling you because you will overthink about it. Let it be, Lynn."

A beat of silence.

"Do you think she campaigned against me instead of helping?"

Et tu, Brute?

"No," Miguel said, sharply. So he did have loyalty after all. "This is Courtney. I saw her handing out the candy and telling people to vote for you. She also ate one out of every ten pieces but so did everyone else."

Oh! That was not needed, Miguel. Though maybe it would make Lynn feel better.

Another stretch of silence. A quiet sob. Oh girl, no.

"I wanted to win this one thing."

Courtney closed her eyes. I know.

"I know," Miguel said. "But this isn't the end of the world. It's one position."

Lynn didn't respond, her crying making it too difficult. Courtney didn't move. What could she do? What could she even say? She'd never heard of someone giving their position to someone else? Would Lynn even accept it knowing that most of the seniors had voted for Courtney? It would probably make everything worse.

"Don't hold this against her," Miguel said.

When did he grow a heart?

"Lynn?"

But she didn't reply and Courtney quietly slipped away.

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

Boiling butterscotch!

Quick, leave your pots and pans and hands full of thoughts! We have business to get down to. 💭💬🗯

*Plops into my desk chair and yells* Miguel, get in here!

*Faintly* You understand you don't control me.

*clears throat* Uh, hey Miguel would you mind coming in here? Pretty please.

Fine, but you have a minute. Don't waste my time.

How much did she win by? We all want to know.

Why should I tell you?

Because you know you want to.

Fine. She won by 15%.

Oh. Well, that's not that much, right?

Considering she wasn't even on the ballot and there were three other legit campaigners, actually it is.

Oh...

Minute it up. I'm leaving.

Thanks, Miguel! You're golden!

Yeah, I know, I don't need you to tell me.

Awww, it's always nice to feel wanted and needed by my abusive characters.

Vote, vote! Comment, comment! Follow, follow! Meme, meme!