Do it again

PLAY ALONG

As the news of Scarlet and Kelly's "relationship" spread through the school corridors, the reactions were diverse, fueled by curiosity, skepticism, and, in some cases, outright hostility. The mean girls, led by the ever-snide Jessica, treated the situation as juicy gossip.

"So, the ice queen and the call girl," Jessica purred, her eyes narrowed. "Never thought I'd see that in a million years."

Her posse snickered, eyes flitting towards Kelly, who walked with Scarlet, head held high. Sarah, Kelly's former best friend, watched from the sidelines, a mix of hurt and jealousy simmering beneath her facade.

One lunch break, the girls cornered Scarlet in the cafeteria. Jessica led the charge, a smirk curling her lips. "So, Scarlet," she drawled, "what made you go from tragic rebel to... this?"

Scarlet, instead of rising to the bait, simply blinked her green eyes and offered a demure smile. "Oh, Jessica, darling," she cooed, her voice dripping with feigned sweetness. "Don't be jealous. Kelly and I simply have a thing for each other."

The cafeteria erupted in murmurs. Scarlet leaned closer, her voice barely a whisper. "And besides," she added, her eyes twinkling with mischief, "a girl needs her wild side sometimes. It keeps things spicy, wouldn't you agree?"

Jessica froze, speechless for the first time anyone could remember. The other girls gaped, unsure if Scarlet was putting on an act or genuinely embracing the rumor. Sarah, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes, sensing a game being played.

Scarlet, enjoying the stunned silence, took Kelly's hand and winked. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a poetry slam to dominate and a dance routine to perfect. Come along, my muse."

With a flourish, Scarlet pulled Kelly away, leaving the gossip-mongers in their dust. The news of Scarlet's unexpected "transformation" spread like wildfire. Some found it amusing, others baffling, but none could deny it had thrown the usual social dynamics into a hilarious uproar.

Kelly, swept along by the tide of Scarlet's playful performance, couldn't help but laugh. "You were amazing back there! I don't think anyone knew what to say."

Scarlet winked. "Let them whisper. It's more fun that way. Besides, it might just be the perfect weapon against these turtles."

Kelly watched Scarlet navigate the school hallways like a queen surveying her kingdom. Heads turned, whispers fluttered, but Scarlet, with a cool flick of her hair and a smirk that dared anyone to mess with her, marched on. It was mesmerizing, almost hypnotic.

Kelly breathed, catching up to her friend. "You're something else, you know that Scar?"

Scarlet chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent shivers down Kelly's spine. "Just gotta stay one step ahead of the gossip mill, right? Besides, if you can't laugh at the whispers, you might as well cry. And trust me, mascara running is not a good look."

Kelly laughed, the sound a bubbly counterpoint to Scarlet's husky amusement. "True enough. But seriously, the way you shut down Max yesterday... legendary. I almost felt bad for him, almost."

Scarlet raised an eyebrow, a playful challenge in her eyes. "Almost? But not quite?"

Kelly grinned. "Okay, okay, not even a little bit. But man, he was like a deflated balloon. You just poked him with a needle and whoosh, gone."

They walked in comfortable silence for a moment, the sun casting long shadows through the hallway trees. Then, Kelly added, "So what is it with you and Max? Sometimes I wonder why he can't just leave you alone? What exactly happened in your breakup?"