Girl-ish

"thank you"

"Rory? Where are you?"

"In here." I don't turn to look at Belle when I hear her enter my room.

"Ella wants you to come downstairs for Girls' Night." she says.

"Ha, that's funny." I even let out a little laugh. Having reached Mid-Spirit Week, there is a ton of work to be done concerning plays before the big game, not to mention loads of school work to go along with it.

"She's serious." Belle continues.

"Yeah?" I finally glance up at her, scoffing. "So was I. She crossed a line Saturday night."

"But if you tried it, you could be the first quarterback to win, and—"

"What the hell? I don't want to be Queen, I don't want to be Queen, I don't want to be Queen! Why does everyone feel the need to encourage me to be Queen all of a sudden?"

"But isn't it a good thing? You know, 'cause a lot of other girls want your spot?"

"Yeah, well I'd pass it up to one of those other girls in a fraction of a second if I could, but the nominations are 'not-reconsiderable'." I roll my eyes, remembering the bullshit claims of Mrs. Jameson.

"But if you gave it a chance..." Belle suggests next, and then I realize.

"Why do you sound exactly like Mom right now?" I question coldly.

She doesn't answer. Figures. She thinks she's going to get Belle to convince me, since she can't convince me herself.

Nice fucking try.

"I'm not coming down. I have actual things to do. You just wasted your breath." I go back to my school work without another look up at her.

She leaves in a huff, finally leaving me alone. Ugh. I can already see her transforming into a smaller version of Ella—she's about to fall straight into her trap.

The same trap I used to be in.

If it weren't for my parents' divorce, and my dad taking my side, I might've never freed myself from my mother's clutches, at least until I became 18. I'm definitely more than glad I was able to steal four years of my life back and live the way I wanted.

I had also wanted to protect my stepsister from her once we'd all settled in here, but it became pretty clear early-on that I wasn't going to be able to do that.

Belle's just not like me. I'm sure that when she'd brought up those 'other girls' who'd be pining for my nomination, she was really just implying that she'd also love to have my spot, even if Ella told her to say those things.

Deep down she's the same as Ella. Maybe not as extreme as Ella, but the same.

Which is why, at most times, she's pretty tolerable, but at times like these...she's not.

Once Belle is gone, I start back on my very stressful homework. As soon as I get back into it, I hear my phone vibrate on the nightstand by my bedside.

BZZZ. BZZZ.

One glance and I can tell the text message is from Cam.

Nope. No answering that, my sub commands, and for once, I agree. I can't talk to him right now without feeling guilty.

BZZZ. BZZZ.

Double text. Can't be that important.

BZZZ. BZZZ. BZZZ. BZZZ.
That makes four messages after less than thirty seconds. But if I answer...