Unmasked ≫ J.G

XXII. Hope

"Mom!" I shouted as I opened the front door. "Mom where are you?!"

"What's the matter honey?" She frantically ran out of the living room, "Jack? What a pleasant surprise." She smiled.

"Nice to see you too, Miss White." Jack shook her hand firmly, "You have a lovely home."

"Oh thank you, I decorated it myself. A little class and elegance with a modern day them-"

I shook my head and waved my hands, "Forget about that." I interjected, "Remember last year at the pageant against Mikaela Owens?" I asked.

She sucked in a breath, "How could I forget that awful little girl? She went absolutely crazy a few years back. Accusing me of rigging th-"

"The pageant yeah, I know. Do you remember what happened to the voting cards?" I inquired, biting my lip.

"They keep them. The people who hold the pageants usually keep all of the votes."

"Usually? What's that mean?" I questioned.

"Well the parents or participates are allowed to see or take them if asked. Why?" She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Mikaela is harassing me, threatening to take something away from me. She wants something from me and I believe it has to do with the pageant." I explained.

My moms eyes widen, "She's what? Why haven't you called the police?"

"No offense mom but what could the police do? She hasn't physically harmed me."

"Yet!" She exclaimed, "May I recall when she broke a girls leg because she was afraid of losing." She reminded me.

I sighed, "A restraining order won't stop her. Maybe if I just give her the crown and sash she'll le-"

"You will do no such thing." My mom said sternly.

"But mom-"

"You worked hard and long for that crown and sash. You will not just give it away."

I scoffed, "If it means getting her off my back, I'll do it."

"Brielle, there's gotta be another way." She whined.

I shrugged, "At this moment, it doesn't feel like it. Do you have the voting cards and paperwork?" I asked.

"Well, I-It's in my office but why -"

"Come on Jack." I ran up the stairs, Jack following behind me.

I walked to the office and opened the door. I groaned internally at all the bins of paperwork, "You've got to be shitting me." I groaned, throwing my head back in frustration.

"I'll help you." Jack rubbed my shoulders, "Just tell me what we're looking for exactly."

I blew a raspberry before nodding. This was probably gonna take a while.

* * * *

I sipped my tea slowly as I looked through the fifth bin in the past hour. I was tired and irritated.

All the bins I've looked through either had nothing to do with pageants, had something to do with her business or was just junk. I was close to just giving up.

I could tell Jack was clearly bored but he still stuck around, which I really appreciated.

"Jack, you know you can leave whenever you want. Don't feel obligated to be here." I reminded him.

"It's fine, Bri." He said slowly, too interested in a paper that he was reading.

I furrowed my eyebrows and stood up from my sitting position and walked over to Jack, "What is it?" I asked.