Milly's Wrath

{Part Twenty-Four}

Walking in the school was like a fresh breathe of air. Okay, that sounded really cliche, but that's what it was. After hearing we had won, it was like..indescribable. I felt like I was just told I had all the money in the world, or became President, or was rewarded as Best Person in the World. It was surreal, because I honestly doubted we would win, especially over their little announcement.

Turn out, someone had tipped them off with a video of Illusive taking our clothes form our room. While it was too late to bring back the other team, they were guaranteed a chance next year in Finals. And Illusive was banned form the competition forever, apparently it was their third strike.

When we walked into the school the congratulations were deafening. A large banner was pinned to the walls in our honor, and a news crew was even outside of the school to question us. I didn't realize this was the first time not only our school won this competition, but this entire State. And the leader was a "Newbie", so the story was news-worthy, I guess. My favorite part of the congratulations was seeing Anthony, Three days was really too long, and even he felt the butterflies in my stomach as we greeted each other.

So this morning was good, but school was still...school. I had work to catch up in, and one of my AP teachers still made me take a Summative Assessment. By third period some of the buzz died down, and it felt like a regular day.

I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, assessing myself to kill time. We only had ten minutes until Lunch, and this was review time in my last class I desperately wanted to miss. I could only hear about Whig and Kuhn's Interpretation so much in life, I wanted to rip my hair out.

I was suddenly glad to let Nicole talk me into dressing up today. From the Reporters snapping pictures to random people in the hall to Yearbook, I was happy to be at my best. I had let my hair hang in it's curly fashion down my back against my spring dress. It was spaghetti strap and fit my bust, stench at the waist, and flowed at the bottom to my knees. The top was in a very light pink and the bottom was a baby blue to match my white and pink dotted wedges. Anthony's promise ring was on my finger, the earrings and necklace from him and my parents on my person.

I turned my head when someone entered. I rolled my eyes to see it was London, but decided even she couldn't ruin my mood.

"Congratulations." She said as she stood in the mirror, reapplying mascara. "You guys did good."

"Um...thanks." I applied another coat of lip gloss on my lips before exiting right before the bell rung. I don't know how to take her confrontation, so I would just ignore it all together for now. The thought was pushed to the back of my head when I saw Anthony right outside the door anyway. "You scared me."

"Why is it I always find your little conceited self in the bathroom anyway?" He placed his arm around my shoulder as we walked in the cafeteria. Why was a bathroom so close to where we eat?

"Because I'm absolutely gorgeous and take advantage of it every second of the day." I shivered as we grabbed a tray of food, the air conditioning hitting full force. "Why is it always so cold in here?" I asked once we sat down with everyone else.

"Here." He took off his Varsity Jacket and placed it around me.

"Thanks." I pulled it tighter around me, pushing the tray away. I wanted the food when I grabbed it, but looking at the melted cheese on the pizza now almost made me sick. I looked around the table, noticing people were missing. "Where is everybody?"

"Who cares?" Travis replied to me. "The real question is when is our first interview starting so I can be ready for that?"

I pulled out my phone, ignoring several texts to check my e-mail. "Umm...today the Tribune is coming to ask us some questions in the gym and Saturday ABC 7 wants to cover us."

"I'm not sure how I feel dating a celebrity." Anthony spoke, playfully looking me up and down. "I mean you won a little competition."

"For the first time in over seventy years with e Newbie coach who was in Foster Care all her life...it makes the news. But anyway..I spoke to London today...I think."

"What about?"

"She congratulated me on our win." I took one of his fries, dipping it in the sauce before placing it in my mouth.

"Maybe she's maturing."

"Hump, maybe."

At that moment I saw Kimbrea and Jessica running into the cafeteria, slamming the door behind them. As they got closer I saw the panics on their faces and wondered what it was. When they stopped at me, wordlessly pulling me form my seat I started to panic.

"What?" I questioned as Anthony's jacket fell from my shoulders.

"You have to see this." Kimbrea spoke, running off in front of me.

I followed after her, amazed I could keep up with her Track Star speed in wedges. "See wha-"

I cut myself short as I saw the outside room being covered in white. The bell for next period rung as I bent down to pick up one of the papers and fell to the ground with it.

Staring back at me was a picture of me as a child, probable when I was four. In the picture my eyes were tear stricken, and on the side was a Case number.

It was a photocopied image of my file.

And they were splayed across the hall.