Chiara [PUBLISHED] ✔️

Seventeen

The queen is back. And the peasants can either bow down or bow out.

And how is this queen capable of maintaining the perfect facade? Easily, she's blinding us with diamonds and we can't seem to see past the shimmer. We forgot this is the same girl who disappeared for a year without a trace.

And let me remind you what happened on that horrible winter's day. Chiara left the school during lunchtime, ugly tears streaming down her face for everyone to see. A car was waiting outside. She slipped in without a word.

While the rest of the school was busy gossiping about what happened, they missed a key element to the story. Chiara's father negotiating with the dean. He slipped through the backdoor and disappeared in a different car. Why so secretive, Mr Abbot?

On top of that, does anyone remember teachers brave enough to utter under their breath 'they should have expelled her this time?' Most of them shared this sentiment.

So, what was it, Chiara? Was it a sex tape? I think we're all wondering how come we haven't seen one yet. Maybe daddy dearest bought it off someone to keep it a secret. Everyone knows he's done it for mommy more than once.

Or, she's gotten her tactics from her father's side. Bribery and blackmail? I wouldn't put it past her.

Oh, well, innocent until proven guilty. And until then, I wish our queen a long and prosperous reign.

And as for her king - everyone knows he was holding her back. What is Josh Wright if not a tool in other people's games? Dense, blunt and easy to use.

Just the way Chiara likes them.

May this be a warning to future kings – or queens – that wish to rule by her side.

I was way too hungover to deal with this right now. Bryan said nothing substantial, but enough to keep his readers entertained and me worried. I had no idea why Chiara left the school, but I remembered Bryan talking about her father sneaking out, even though the car was up front.

He didn't want to be seen.

And if Chiara went to study abroad, why wouldn't her father want to be seen in the school?

"I don't know how to feel about this." I glanced at Bryan sideways while lying in my bed.

At least I had clean sheets now. Even though all evidence of last night was gone, I vividly remembered parts of the night. And the feeling remained. That awful churning and turning in my stomach.

"Alright, will you tell us what happened now?" Steph clapped her hands and wiggled on the bed.

"I kissed her." I breathed the words out. That scene has been replaying in my mind since I've woken up. It was safe to say that I made peace with fact that it actually happened.

Steph squeaked.

"Where?" Bryan asked.

"On the lips?" I turned my head towards him. Steph was sitting cross-legged on the bed and Bryan was judging me from the floor.

"Really?" Bryan squinted.

"Ah, I'm so happy for you!" Steph clapped again.

"I'm not." Bryan cut her off. "Did you make out with her? Like, did you use tongue?"

"I know how to kiss, Bryan!" I sat upright and crossed my hands on my chest.

"I don't know, Jackie, you're a prude." He threw his hands in the air.

"And you're an asshole." I murmured.

"So, you used tongue?"

"Yes!"