Stardust // Reggie Mantle (3)

Chapter Thirty-Five

It was a known fact at Riverdale High that Cheryl Blossom loved the color red. So much so, in fact, that she had pretty much claimed it for her own. So when Toni showed up to school wearing a fully red outfit, everyone knew it was going to end badly.

"Um, did you have a lobotomy for breakfast?" Cheryl demanded loudly. "You're wearing my signature color."

Caia watched from afar as Toni slowly turned around to face her ex-girlfriend. "You don't own the color red," She shot back. "Red existed before you."

Cheryl sneered at Toni. "Not at Riverdale High," she refuted. "Here, I invented red. I am red." Cheryl snapped her fingers and two underclassmen cronies of Cheryl's walked up on either side of her. "Sorry, but this school's not big enough for both of us, faux Pink Lady. And I was here first. So, to Centerville High, or Westerburg. I don't care." Cheryl began stepping closer to Toni, her two friends following at the same time. "But you have until first bell Monday to clear every trace of yourself out of these halls. Copy?" With that, Cheryl flipped her hair over her shoulder and brushed past Toni and down the hall. Caia rolled her eyes.

Cheryl truly was the reincarnation of Heather Chandler.

*

It was another musical practice when Caia was feeling sad again. Maybe it was the day or the fact that before she had left for school that morning she had come across the Polaroid camera Reggie had gotten her for Christmas a year ago on a shelf in her closet, along with the picture they had taken as practice. They had both looked so happy. Caia had sobbed for a while before downing a few swigs of alcohol and gathering herself together to go to school.

Caia had heard through the grapevine that Reggie and Veronica had broken up after the weird confessional moment on stage. That didn't really make her feel any better, though. She felt bad for Veronica, even though she had basically stolen Caia's boyfriend. No matter what someone did, they didn't deserve to go through a traumatizing event like a divorce alone. But then again, Caia had gone through countless traumatizing events, all alone. For every single one.

Caia was snapped out of her somewhat depressing thoughts when Kevin's voice floated through the air. "Okay, Caia, you're up for Kindergarten Boyfriend." Caia nodded, mounting the stairs and taking her place in the middle of the stage. "Remember, this song is all of Martha's feelings coming to a boil. Really feel her anguish, get into her character," Kevin directed. Caia nodded.

🎶 There was a boy I met in kindergarten. He was sweet, he said that I was smart. He was good at sports and people liked him. And at naptime once we shared a mat. 🎶

Caia glanced toward the back of the auditorium, where Reggie was sitting watching her sing. She couldn't help but realize that as she sang the words to the song, she was singing about him.

🎶 I didn't sleep, I sat and watched him breathing. Watched him dream for nearly half an hour. Oooh, then he woke up. 🎶

Caia remembered how nice it had been to feel loved. To know someone would always be there for you. It hurt that something that good could all go away in an instant, without you having any say in it at all. One moment life feels like a nice dream, and they next moment you've woken up.

🎶 He pulled a scab of once playing kickball, kissed me quick and pressed it in my hand. I took that scab and put it in a locket. All year long I wore it near my heart. 🎶

Caia presses her hand to her chest. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes, but refused to let them fall. She hoped Kevin and everyone else would just think she was getting really into her acting, and not that she was actually upset.

🎶 He didnt care if I was thin or pretty.
And he was mine until we hit first grade. Oooh, then he woke up. 🎶

Caia took a few steps forward so that she stood on the edge of the stage and then began belting out the next words of the song.