Chapter 12
The day of the junior prom dawned fair and bright. Libby spent all day getting ready. Her hair was curled to perfection, and her blue dress fit like a glove. She guessed that Fejiro was off doing whatever guys did to get ready for prom, as he was not answering his phone. Today is a happy day. Today is a happy day. But it wasn't. Eight toed Ben was following her around like a sick dog, the whole freshman class was being forced to wait on Rose hand and foot, and Fejiro seemed like he was off in his own little world.
And Elizabeth. Libby missed Elizabeth. She wished she could force her best friend to look pretty for the prom, only to find Lizzie in a corner reading Virgil or whatever. She would snatch the book from Elizabeth, and get her to dance with Ben. But that's where the fantasy didn't work. Ben hated Elizabeth, just like everyone else at City did. Sigh.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth was so nervous that day that she barely ate anything. It was a Sunday, so she conducted a mini church service for herself, hoping that God would somehow help her in the night's endeavor, if He even existed. She wasn't sure.
That night, on her way to Mr. Oswald's office, Elizabeth sneaked a peak in the gymnasium. She could see Libby having the first dance with Fejiro, wearing a silver crown and sash. Of course. Libby won everything. Fejiro, on the other hand, looked a little reluctant. That surprised Elizabeth. She would have thought that Fejiro would be into this sort of thing. Well, maybe he had changed.
As much as she would have loved to bust down Mr. Oswald's door, Elizabeth knew that the proper thing would be to knock. After all, he wouldn't know it was her until it was too late. So, she took a deep breath, and knocked five times: shave and a haircut.
"Two bits!" Mr. Oswald exclaimed gleefully from behind the door. "Come in, please! It's open, 'cause I know who's a-knockin'!"
"Cut the crap," Elizabeth snapped, striding into the office. "I have news."
"You've been quite the naughty girl over this past year, Elizabeth," Mr. Oswald said, shaking his head like a disapproving father. "The Twisted Bitch of the Bleachers, and School Butcher. Impressive resume. But what news have ya got for me?"
"Magister Hirum has advanced ALS," Elizabeth said bluntly. "He can no longer walk, and the only sound he can make is 'ba.' He's on his deathbed. I hope you're satisfied."
"Oh, I am sorry to hear that." Elizabeth shuddered as he stood up and put a hand on her shoulder. "Monsieur Hirum always did like to … speak out."
Elizabeth turned sharply toward him. "If I was crazy, I would say that YOU are to blame for Magister Hirum's condition!"
"I'm the Wizard of City, not God, Miss Elizabeth." Mr. Oswald started walking leisurely around his office, ignoring Elizabeth's deathly glare. "I did, it so happens, cut off his health care, but who knows the unfortunate events that led to his failing health?"
Elizabeth was speechless with rage for a moment. "You … you monster! Are you a professional? No! You just … conveniently push people out of the way so you can get what you want! You know what? I'm going to report you to the school board!"
Mr. Oswald chuckled. "Who would believe you? The school board knows perfectly well that you are a liar, a dangerous threat to everyone's well being."
"Why, I oughta …"
"But, there is a way out, my dear Elizabeth." He pointed his finger like a college professor. "Join me. Take IB classes. You're smart; you could easily catch up, I'm sure." He leaned in so close to her ear that she could feel his hot breath. It disgusted her. "I could tell everyone that you're the best thing since sliced bread. That's how much power I have."
"You don't deserve it." Her words exploded like four little bombs.
"Well, that's a matter of opinion, Elizabeth. How does that saying go? History is written by the victors, right? Who said that? I forget."
"Winston Churchill." She couldn't believe she was actually playing along with him.
"Ah, yes! The man who got jolly old England through World War II! Admirable, very admirable." He nodded his head thoughtfully.
Elizabeth was now officially sick of this. "Bored now. I don't even care if I get arrested." And she lunged for him.
But Mr. Oswald was too quick. He danced over to the intercom and pushed the button. "ANY MEMBERS OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM IN THE BUILDING MUST REPORT TO MY OFFICE NOW! WE HAVE A MAJOR SITUATION!" His voice was very different from the gentle, fatherly one he had just used with Elizabeth. It was the voice of a dictator.
Two minutes later, a voice Elizabeth knew all too well was heard coming into the office. "I am here, Mr. Oswald! The others will be coming shortly. What is the situation?" Fejiro Akelemo. In a tux.
"Fejiro!" Elizabeth exclaimed stupidly.
"Be silent, bitch! I have you ensnared now!"
"Fejiro …" His heart ached as he saw the hurt in her eyes. "Please, not you too."
"I said be silent!" Then, without warning, Fejiro punched Mr. Oswald in the face. Elizabeth gasped as the principal fell to the floor.
"Fejiro," Elizabeth whispered. "You frightened me."
"I am sorry for that, Bet." He looked into her eyes. Those eyes …
Suddenly, a streak of sparkly blue flew into the office, and Elizabeth found herself wrapped tightly in Libby's arms. "Lizzie!" Libby exclaimed. "You're okay! Omigod! I missed you! You're, like, nowhere!"
Elizabeth gently extracted herself from the blonde's suffocating embrace. "Hey, Libby," she said, chuckling. "I missed you too."
"Fejiro!" Libby shrieked, turning to her boyfriend. "Are you deficient?! Look what you did to Mr. Oswald!"
"I had too, Libby," he said, walking over to Elizabeth. "Best he doesn't notice our escape."
"Our escape?! What on Earth do you mean?"
Fejiro shook his head solemnly. "Not your escape, Libby. You are staying here, as you so chose. But I am going with Elizabet."
"What?!" Libby screamed. "Now I know you're insane!"
"Fejiro," Elizabeth whispered again, as if that was her lifeline. "I don't understand …" She did not dare believe her ears.
"Elizabet Melina Thornberg," Fejiro said grandly, getting down on one knee and making Elizabeth's thoughts race. "I am hopelessly, eternally, and completely in love with you. Will you let me come with you and make my heart whole again?"
"Fejiro …" Happy tears streamed down her face, but she didn't care at that moment. "Yes. Yes!" He was being a cheese ball, and she knew it, but all that mattered then was … Fejiro loves me. Fejiro loves me!
"Yes!" Fejiro repeated excitedly. He stood up and took her hands, sending positive pulses through her arms. "Then we must go now! To where you live!"
"I will show you!" And they rushed past Libby without even saying goodbye, hand in hand.
"Wake up, you!" Libby shouted, kicking Mr. Oswald. "You've just lost your most dangerous student and your quarterback! And I've lost my boyfriend." At this sudden realization, Libby sunk down into a heap as Mrs. Grufuld came in, looking very confused. But on the floor, Libby noticed a photo of a young woman with a much younger Mr. Oswald. An old girlfriend, Libby surmised. But at the time, she was too heartbroken to notice the young woman's resemblance to her former best friend.
"Libby?" Mrs. Grufuld asked, jolting her back to reality. "Mr. Oswald? Are you alright? What on Earth is going on? Did Fejiro Akelemo secure the Bitch?"
"He did," Mr. Oswald answered, for Libby was now in tears. "Just not in the way we all expected, if you know what I mean."
"Oh." Mrs. Grufuld was silent for a moment. "Well, it sounds like we need a Plan B."
"Yes … especially with Akelemo now protecting her."
"Use her sister." Mrs. Grufuld and Mr. Oswald turned to see Libby speaking quietly, still sitting in her corner. "Spread some rumor. Make her think her sister is in danger somehow. She'll rush to her side … and you'll have her. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go home now. Good night." Libby left the office sadly.
"Wow," Mr. Oswald said. "Libby Balter actually has a good plan."
"Yes," Mrs. Grufuld agreed. "But Elizabeth's very smart. I don't think she would fall for just a rumor."
Mr. Oswald's eyes widened. "You're actually thinking about harming Rose Thornberg?!"
"Yes. My daughter and her husband can't seem to get along, and today they shipped their daughter to me for a while. Yes …" She thought a little more. "I'll need a space in the student parking lot, a smart car, crude oil … and my granddaughter."
The limo that Fejiro had hired for Libby and himself did not come and Libby took the bus home with a heavy heart. I'm not that girl.
