#NOT. THIS. EX || ONC 2025

"The queen bee may rule the hive, but she's not immune to the sting of betrayal."

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Clio Herrera is about to find out that being the cheerleader is the least of her worries when the eye of the star athlete she once caught moves on to another.

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Wellington High is governed by only three golden rules. One, Clio Herrera and Thayer McGowan are clearly, obviously, indisputably endgame. Two, the cafeteria's mysterious Jell-O mold is not to be trifled with - it's been known to curse those who dare to eat it. Three, absolutely avoid her - as in, Clio "The Queen Bee" Herrera, whose sharp tongue and quick wit can destroy reputations with a single, perfectly-arched eyebrow.

Hence, her life seems completely upended when the top rule is made a mockery of and her popular, swoon-worthy boyfriend dumps her for the new girl in school. Struggling to maintain her reputation and the morale of her cheer squad, she makes an attempt to move on. Enter Adler S. Rykard, brooding and mysterious leader of Wellington's small but thriving art club and Clio herself isn't too sure why the canon even was in the first place.

Regardless, castes are there for a reason and despite a chance at real love, there was still one heart stopping jock who should have been endgame but was now too deeply immersed in a cliche to realize.

In that case, all Clio could do was be herself.

Bold, blonde and beautiful.

Unapologetically.

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WRITTEN FOR THE 2025 OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST.

PROMPTS USED: 25 and 31.