SCENE 1: THE SETUP (LIBRARY – 3:17 PM)
The Ridgewood High library smelled like old books and desperation. Bee pretended to focus on her laptop while watching Serena Lee from the corner of her eye. The girl had been hovering near her table for ten minutes, pretending to reshelve books while stealing glances at Bee's phone.
Perfect.
With exaggerated carelessness, Bee "accidentally" nudged her phone toward the edge of the table, the screen lighting up with a carefully crafted text thread:
> Aiden (Fake Contact): "You sure Hailey was the one who leaked Brielle's video?"
Unknown (Fake): "Positive. She bragged about it at Luna's party. Proof attached."
The attached image was a masterpiece—a Photoshopped DM from Hailey to Violet dated last spring:
"LOL remember when we framed that basic b*tch? Easiest bet I ever won. Aiden's face when she cried? Priceless."
A shadow fell over the table. Serena's breath hitched.
Bee counted silently in her head. Three... two... one...
Gasp.
She turned slowly, feigning surprise. "Oh! Serena, right?"
The girl looked like she'd seen a ghost. Her fingers trembled as she pointed at the phone. "Is that—?"
Bee snatched it up with a practiced flick of her wrist. "Just some old drama." She paused, letting the lie settle. "Why?"
Serena's throat worked. "No reason."
But her eyes screamed everything.
---
SCENE 2: THE CRACK (GIRLS' BATHROOM – NEXT MORNING)
The bathroom mirror reflected Serena's splotchy face as Bee leaned against the sink, arms crossed.
"You look like hell," Bee observed.
"I didn't sleep." Serena's voice was raw. "I kept thinking about... last year."
Click. Bee's phone appeared between them, recording. "Tell me."
And like a dam breaking, it all spilled out:
"It was supposed to be a joke. Hailey said we'd just... embarrass you a little. But then the video got out, and Aiden—" She choked. "He laughed. They all laughed."
Bee's finger hovered over the stop button. "And you?"
Silence. Then, so quiet it hurt: "I laughed too."
The confession hung between them, thick as smoke. Bee pocketed her phone. "Thanks for the honesty."
Serena's head snapped up. "You're not... mad?"
"Oh, I'm furious." Bee smiled sweetly. "But you're not my target."
---
SCENE 3: THE LEAK (CAFETERIA – 12:03 PM)
Lunchtime at Ridgewood was a battlefield. Bee chose her seat strategically—dead center, where every table could see her.
She didn't have to wait long.
"YOU LYING BITCH!" Hailey's shriek cut through the chatter. She slammed her hands on Bee's table, phone trembling in her grip. The fake screenshot glowed on the screen.
Bee sipped her iced tea. "Problem?"
"Where did you get this? This isn't— I never—"
"Never what?" Bee tilted her head. "Never bet on destroying someone's life? Never bragged about it?" She raised her voice just enough. "Or never thought you'd get caught?"
Heads turned. Phones lifted.
@RidgewoodReveals updated in real time:
"SCANDAL UPDATE: 'Queen' Hailey accused of orchestrating last year's video leak. Comments are... spicy."
Aiden stood so fast his chair clattered to the floor. "What the hell, Hailey?"
The unraveling was beautiful:
Violet edged away like Hailey was contagious
The basketball team abandoned their "Hailey's Court" group chat
Even teachers whispered behind their coffee cups
---
SCENE 4: THE TWIST (BEE'S BEDROOM – 10:47 PM)
Bee reviewed her victory:
Serena: Broken
Hailey: Exposed
Aiden: Losing his damn mind in 27 unread texts
Then—ding.
Kai: "Clever edit. But you missed a key detail."
Attachment: A real screenshot from last year.
Hailey to Aiden:
"The bet's off. I never thought Brielle would actually trust us."
Aiden's Reply:
"Too late. Money's already on the table."
The dates matched the week of the video leak.
Bee's stomach dropped.
It was never personal. Just a game. Just a... bet.
Her reflection in the dark window smirked back at her, bloody-lipped and ruthless.
Well. Now it's mine.