After the day off due to December 6 being Saint Nicholas day, Cady went to Old Orchard Mall entering "Lavender Young", the moderately priced soap, skin care cosmetics and perfume store where Janis worked for her part-time job. She told her goth friend Regis is seeking for a face-wash cream due to few rash growing from his cheek, although she couldn't see clear and he might have been overreacting for a single pimple.
Smirking, Janis replaced the container of face cleansing gel with foot cream. Trivial but it was a first step of sabotaging him behind his back. Entering school, Cady asked couple of questions to Janis regarding of when they will carry on the next steps, gradually worried if they won't have quality time to hang out.
"We will have urgent meeting at Wednesday after school." Janis spoke.
"I can't," Cady shook her head, "I have to tutor Aaron at that time…"
"Oh."
Cady was inwardly aghast. '… "Oh"…? That's it? No other questions when?' Exhaling to get her composure, she turned to Janis.
"Where's Damian?"
"He'll be busy with his Choir class and for student Yearbook committee."
Both paused at the mentioning of Yearbook Committee and glanced at one another.
"What is the other club that is involved with Yearbook Committee?" Cady wondered.
Then both smiled.
"Newspaper Club."
Newspaper Club. A group in charge of school news, gossips and articles who is closely connected to Yearbook Committee. From Cady's memories, one of the victims she saw was a girl from Yearbook Committee as the editor named Lilian Hart. She had ombré black to blue hair, smoky makeup and pair of brown eyes. Her brother, Leonard Hart, was and still is in a Newspaper Club which he gave her a high-quality pictures for annual Yearbook. The club of news and gossip has ONE purpose that kept them going.
RUIN the life of Regis George.
"Meet me again before the lunch. Okay?" Cady nodded as Janis smiled.
As Janis parted away, she walked upstair to reach to the first class. Cady's ears perked as she heard whispers and murmurs among several students. Her eyes glanced towards group of—as she remembered—Baking Club, who Damian befriended.
"Have you seen that new student teacher~?" Nikki Tamura, one of the Asian nerds asked to her fellow club friends.
"Oh yeah~! He's a total hunk~!" Sophia sighed, blushing.
"I heard he attended this school few years before…" Lindsey, one of the Unfriendly Black Hottie, shrugged as if she doesn't care but it was obvious she does.
"Looks like Darryl is gonna fanboy over him." The Japanese-American girl giggled.
"Oh, who can't blame him… that new student teacher is kinda hot," Lindsey huffed but cleared her throat, "he may be hotter than Regis George."
Cady blinked, but nonetheless continued to walk the stairs, reaching to the floor where her locker was located. She rushed towards, didn't have a time to look to the front as she was looking for the number of her locker. Then, the auburn-haired girl found herself tripped on her bottom as she bumped onto someone causing her to drop her bag and so the other dropped the papers. Cady winced in pain until she heard a voice belonged to a young man.
"Ah! I'm so sorry…! Are you alright? Did you got hurt somewhere?"
Her green eyes gazed on to the young man who somehow reminded her of Ms. Norbury. He kneeled to match their eye contact, forming an apologetic smile as his reddish eyes gazed at her with concern. Soothing brown hair, classic yet calming gray and white suit with blue trie, vague but lingering scent of botanical shampoo and refreshing cologne loomed around him. He didn't seem like a student and based on his outfits and attitude, he must be the new student teacher the girls talked about at the stairs.
"Ah… yes! I'm okay…," Cady replied nervously before softly ended with stunned whisper of, "…wow."
"Oh, thank goodness." He smiled again as he helped her up.
What that Unfriendly Black Hottie Lindsay said was right after all. With gentle smile, tall height with perfect physique matching with a suit. He was truly, gentlemanly hot.
She was snapped back to real world as soon as they heard her favorite teacher approached to them in hurry.
"There you are! Cass, you left these!" Ms. Norbury handed him the planner as his face brightened in relief.
"Oh! Thank you, mom!"
"It's 'Ms. Norbury' in school, young man." The math teacher grinned.
"Oh yeah…! Right, right! Sorry, mom—I mean, Ms. Norbury…~." Her son giggled awkwardly, embarrassed even but smiling in bashful manner.
The several seconds of silence filled the hall as Cady's eyes widened.
"What the—mom…?!" She gasped.
"Oh! Cady, I see you've met my son~! Meet Cassius Norbury. He will be a student teacher in Study Halls," then she turned to her son, "Cass, this is Cady Heron. She is one of my top students in Calculus class."
"Nice to…meet you." Cady greeted politely.
"Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Heron," the young man smiled as he returned her bag, "and I believe this is yours?"
She only nodded as she retrieved her bag.
"I gotta be off to teacher's conference. Cass, be dear and take Cady to her next class for me?" Ms. Norbury asked.
"Oh, sure, mom—ummm, Ms. Norbury." He chuckled, waving to his mother as the calculus teacher departed downstairs.
Cady stood awkwardly. The student teacher next to her must have known North Shore high school since he attended before as of now, he returned as assisting teacher, in her Study Hall class.
"Are you alright?" He asked, tilting his head.
"Uhh, this was awkward first impression…, not that you're awkward, I'm the awkward one. You're gorgeous—wait, what…?!" She shook her head, embarrassed of her ranting.
However, Cassius only laughed heartily.
"Thank you…~. Were you going to your first class?"
"Yes… my first class today is a Study Hall…" she answered.
"Oh! Then I can take you to the classroom." He offered his accompany to the same destination as she nodded.
Cady followed him to the halls, cheeks heating in embarrassment of the fact she might have made a fool of herself in front of young, attractive student teacher. Earning his friendly smile, she blushed a bit as she knew that with Cassius Norbury, she would be able to survive the safari of this teenage world, forgetting Regis for a brief moment.
As Cady and Cassius arrived to the classroom where Study Hall takes place, he opened the door for her as she silently thanked him before entering. As soon as majority of students' attention shifted to him, their eyes widened and murmured to one another. It was obvious to Cady they knew him. What caught her attention was widen eyes belonged to Shana and Regis. Curiosity filled her mind, but she decided not to ask. She sat on her seat which was between Janis and Damian to the left, who seemed bewildered at why Cady was with the student teacher. But sensing her confusion, Janis decided to explain.
"Cassius used to be in same year as me and Damian back in Freshman Year…," Janis whispered to Cady, "but then in Sophomore year, he graduated early and went to the university in England…, although there are another reason why he left North Shore."
"What is that reason?" Cady whispered back.
Before Janis can answer, the Study Hall teacher clapped his hands telling his students to be quiet.
"Okay, Study Hall! We got new student teacher who will be in your class."
Cassius retained his smile, waving to the students ignoring the shocked look of Regis and Shana. The blond Platinum Leader glanced down, regaining his composure as Shana failed to do so. Her eyes shook, didn't seem to notice she dropped her pencil.
'Cass…? Why did he…'
"Hello, students," the student teacher began with his voice gentle, "I'm Cassius Norbury. Some of you from either Junior or Senior Year may remember me since I studied here North Shore High School, but I hope I get to catch up what I missed so I can help you guys with either projects, studies for tests, and other assignments from various subjects. If you have any questions, feel free to ask~."
And just like that, Cassius Norbury received an immediate popularity. Due to his good looks, gentle tone of a voice with hints of firm intelligence and refined British Accent, many school girls seemed to develop an infatuation towards him. Even much more than they were to Regis George. When Cady asked him several questions regarding the parts of her English class assignments she was confused of, Cassius helped her with no hesitation. And this greatly bothered the ruthless school king and his cheerleader mistress.
'Oh no… now I have a teacher crush…' Cady panicked a little through her mind.
As the time flew quick, Cassius bid his students goodbye. As his gaze turned to Regis, his grin widened.
"Cassius Norbury…" Regis stuttered.
"It's Mr. Norbury now, Regis," the student teacher reminded friendly, "…long time no see."
"… y-yeah…" Regis merely nodded, left the classroom almost too fast.
Cassius noticed Shana, his eyes briefly lowered then brightened once again.
"Cass….? Is that… really you?" She managed to speak.
"Oh, Shana…," he chuckled, "now I'm Mr. Norbury, may I remind you… How are things with Regis? Does he treat you well?"
His question may have sounded so caring and concerned, but there was a hint of slight interrogation she could hear.
"… How did you…"
"I volunteered to join mother teaching students here as she called me. If you are going to ask me if I came back for… retaliation, no. I don't want to do thing that risk my career."
Shana remained still, conflicted as Cassius waked back to his desk and continued his work. Snapped back to the real world, the cheerleader left the classroom without a word.
At the rooftop of school building, Cady walked up to see Janis and Damian as her two friends were able to talk about Cassius Norbury, why he left the school and why he returned.
"Well, let me tell you something disgusting," Janis began, "Cassius and Shana were dating at their Freshman year."
Cady's eyes widened a little.
"Yeah, and… she got tired of him despite he was devoted to her, worshipping the ground she walked and what did he got? He caught her being pounded in doggy-style by Regis George. Obviously, the blond man-whore staged to be caught in a scene so he and his "cool" friends could humiliate Cassius, calling poor guy a "cuckhold freak". Since then, he… constantly smiled and focused on studying until he left to go to Cambridge University."
The auburn-haired girl listened every word, couldn't help but sympathize with the young student teacher. Although in the end, Shana becomes a victim of Regis' reign of lust and terror. But hearing of his return as student teacher relieved her. Meaning he won't have nothing to do with Shana "Slut" Oman and would be possibly safe from Regis as it is now Cassius that is in upper hand than the Platinums.
"Maybe we can ask him to help us with our revenge on that blond bimbo. I mean, he was victim too! He would at least agree with us." Cady's stark and cynical friend suggested.
"At least we might not fail like from last month." Damian sighed.
True, a month to sabotage Regis George didn't work. Starting from ruining his Autumn outfits to insert the woman hormone pills in his drink. But his "tattered Fall fashion" skyrocketed the trend in North Shore, and because of Regis didn't finish the drink that has the pills inside he didn't develop a "hormone confusion" in himself.
"But as what we have originally planned, we gotta crack Greg Wieners to crack out all Regis' dirty histories…" Janis said as the trio walked downstairs.
"Say crack again." Damian spoke.
"CrAcK." Janis responded immediately.
Cady then received a text message from Greg. It appears that she would be included in the Winter Talent Show with the Platinums with the certain Christmas song.
"Alright, we'll have another meeting tonight."
"I can't," Cady shook her head, "I have to be at the mini-auditorium after school to practice for the Talent Show with Regis and his friends. We're doing this song called…"
"The Jingle Bell Rock." Janis and Damian finished for her.
"Everybody from English-speaking countries knows that song, honey." The goth girl only smirked.
"They do it every year." The overly dramatic boy sighed.
"Well, I have to learn it…," she nearly flinched as Regis called her from the distance, "here he comes…"
Janis and Damian dispersed to the hallway as Cady turned to greet Regis with facade but seemingly genuine smile.
"Hey, sweetie." She began, her voice sugary sweet.
"Why were you with Janis Ian…?" Regis asked as he furrowed his eyebrows.
"Oh, it was about History project and needed my help." She naturally lied while shrugging.
"Aww, you're too nice. Let me tell you something about Janis Ian," he glanced around quickly before continuing, "Janis and I were friends until middle school."
Now that caught her off guard.
"I know, it's so embarrassing, I—whatever… so then, in eighth grade, it was a first year I had relationship with a girl named Sara… she was sweet, a little bit too demanding though… And Janis was weirdly attentive to her. Telling me to not to contact with her, when me and Sara were out she would call me with "What did you two do?" And I couldn't help but confront her why she was so obsessed with me."
To Cady, what Jeremy said was right as Janis' brother's ex had a name Sara and that Regis seduced him, and that's where Janis heard what happened and attempted to break them up for Regis' behavior.
"So then… there was my birthday party where I invited both boys and girls from my homeroom class… and I couldn't invite her because she was lesbian… she was attracted to girls not m—, well, there would be girls in their bathing suit. Later, her mom called my mom… they were arguing and it was so retarded. And Janis dropped out shortly but when she came back in High School sophomore year, she cut off from all her old stuffs and now I guess she's on crack…"
'So that's another reason…, he spread rumors of Janis being a….' Cady didn't get to finish her thoughts as she maintained her acting of concerned girlfriend.
Although it was no doubt Regis acted innocent, lying to her to cover up what he truly did, Cady's hatred towards him was growing. But she couldn't lose her temper right now as she have to save her rage for later when the revenge scheme comes to an end.
"Ready for the practice after school~?" He asked.
"Yeah~! It's my first time doing the Talent Show… hope I won't blow it up…" Cady said, behaving as shy girl.
"Awww, I know you won't. You'll be fine~." Regis briefly kissed on her cheek.
"Thanks." She smiled.
Cady's eyes secretly gazed on Regis' features. Slightly unruly hair, ambiguously erased lip gloss mark on the side of his neck barely covered by his collar, and the scent of strange perfume that didn't belong to her. Her eyes briefly darkened, confirming of his infidelity, but concealed her revulsion soon. As Regis waved and walked his way to next class, Cady waved while battering her eyelashes. As he was no longer in sight, her sweet smile changed from scowl. Though she finds it laughable that he mistook Janis as lesbian, possibly misunderstood the world from "Lebanese".
'…Man-slut. I hope he's ruined soon…' She shivered at the thought of rehearsing with him alone after school, but she spotted the candy cane gram, forming an idea.
Minutes later, Cady was in the English Class while her English teacher was lecturing about the Greek Mythology within the book. Cady noticed how Greg couldn't take his eyes off of Temu who was sitting in front of him focusing on the lecture, writing down on her notebook. His cheeks were blushing and failed to look away from industrious nerd girl. The class was interrupted by Damien in a Santa Claus costume.
"Ho~ ho~ ho~! Candy Cane Grams~!"
"Okay, hurry up." The English teacher rolled her eyes.
Damien began to pass each chosen student he read from the candy cane tag.
"Taylor Zimmerman, two for you~," he gave two pieces to the girl then held up four pieces, "Glen Coco?"
One male student raised his hand.
"FOUR for you, COCO~! You go, Glen Coco~," he passed them to the boy and held up three, "Umm… Cady Heron~?"
Cady raised her hand.
"Oh here you go~." He gave her three pieces.
Before Greg could speak up, Damien cut him off with, "And non for Greg Wieners, bye~" and left the classroom casually.
"Who's that from…?" Greg asked Cady.
"It's from Regis," she then read two other names with smile, "Aaron and Jeremy~. That's so sweet of them."
Greg paused. Regis, that would sound fair, but two other candies from Aaron Samuels and Jeremy Ian?! 'I thought Aaron gave up… and what's Jeremy Ian up to…' Greg thought, panicking. He glanced at Aaron who was blushing as Cady smiled appreciatively to him, conforming what the Silver-tongued Platinum thought was true. Jeremy winked at her, receiving the said girl's flattered giggle. Then again, Greg was somehow glad that Cady was getting more admirers. That way, Regis might realize that he would lose someone that is unlike the other girls.
"Hey…. Hey!" Temu called him out, causing Greg to flinch in surprise.
"Y-yea, yeah, what is it…?" He said, hasty and nervous that his crush was talking to him.
"Pass it backward." The stern Korean-Vietnamese girl commanded and he obeyed within a second.
Greg's cheeks couldn't be more red at the fact how beautiful her cold yet authoritative eyes glow as she glared at him.