Two Queens

A/N: The FINAL CHAPTER! Finally! You guys don't know how long I've been waiting for this moment - actually, you kinda do. But still. God, this is the first proper story I have finished in around three years. That's a long time, especially cause I used to pride myself on finishing my stories quickly and efficiently. 

Now I have like 10 stories in the works. Oh well...

Nevertheless, it has been a pleasure sharing this story with you guys! Hopefully, there will be many more to come. After all, I tend to like the self-torture of publishing stuff when I already have a LONG waiting list.

Till next time,

D.L.D

~*O*~ ~*O*~ ~*O*~

~Courtney~

"Thank you for taking the time to listen!"

Applause surrounds me as I take a bow, grinning from ear to ear as I examine the crowd around me. Two weeks. In two weeks I have managed to gather a loyal fanbase, a group of people who would support me no matter what. With undying attention, with perfect loyalty, they watch and listen to everything I do, cheering me on from the sidelines as I amassed more and more followers and voters for my cause.

But, dear reader, you must be wondering why and how I managed to do this. You must be thinking about what happened before, with Heather and the binder and the person who keeps trying to ruin Wawanakwa. The snake of Wawanakwa, the one person who was keeping me and Heather away from our rightful positions. Well, dear reader, you will find out soon enough. All you need to know now, in this version of the present, is that I need to gain followers.

"Vote for Courtney!" Leshawna's voice carries over the rest, badges flying into the air. Eager hands all scramble for the badges, greedy and excited as they pin my face onto their shirts, grinning from ear to ear as they show each other their undying support for me.

With the threat of the snake, support was my only chance at beating them. Gaining followers, friends, would help me much more than just teaming up with Heather. Sure, Heather had a killer mind and wicked planning skills, but they were nothing without people to support me. People, the sheep of the world, were what kept people in power. If you could keep the sheep happy, distract them from everything else, then you could be their leader. No-one would question it.

The snake knew that. Heather knew that. I knew that. So now Heather and I must weaponize it. We both must use the time we're given to amass support and win the hearts of as many people as possible. Otherwise, the snake will win.

Around me, the ruckus hasn't died down. Clusters of students beam at me, clapping and cheering and waving posters as they called for my cause: our cause. 'Vote Courtney for Prom Queen! Make the queen of this school much different from the rest!' My mission was simple; my aims were relatable. And the masses ate it up, lapped it up like a cat with creamy milk, just as I had predicted. There was a reason why I've always been class president.

"You've got someone waiting for you," Gwen speaks to me, her voice little more than a murmur against the roaring crowd. Cautiously, her hand rests on my shoulder as she nods toward the back of the swarm. "She said something about discussing a plan."

Squinting, I try to focus on the back of the crowd. There, hidden beside the taller frame of Alejandro, right at the back, is Heather. My enemy. My ex-friend. I'm not sure what to call her, really. There are too many sides, too many complicated details, for us to ever have a straight forward relationship. Nevertheless, I can spot her there, frowning as she stares right back, her grey eyes piercing and hard as stone.