XIII. The Best Plan
Amanda walked with her team to their next class in a slump. She had brainstormed for hours last night and so far she had nothing to show for it. Diana's whole situation was more complex than Amanda had originally thought. She looked over at Jasminka and Constanze.
"Hey you guys have any more ideas about how to help Diana?" Amanda asked and watched as the rest of her wore expressions of annoyance at her prodding.
Constanze held up a sign that said, 'This again?' and Jasminka crickled up her bag of cookies in frustration. They were clearly sick of Amanda's persistence. Amanda noticed this and scratched the back of her head sheepishly.
"Sorry, guys. I probably sound like I'm crazy, talking about Diana all the time. I swear when this is all over, I'm taking a vacation from all of that." Amanda said blissfully thinking about how things used to be before all of this. Jeez, it seemed so long ago.
The team walked into their next class, with both Constanze and Jasminka looking at their leader, puzzled. Amanda realized that she hadn't really clarified what she meant.
"I mean I'm not going to get involved with any more Diana drama anymore. As far as I'm concerned, it's caused me nothing about trouble and not the good kind." Amanda finished swinging her legs up onto the desk in front of her. As everyone else took their seats Professor Urusla entered the room to begin class.
"Hello everyone. Today, I have a special announcement! This year, Luna Nova will be participating in the 40th Annual Magic Scholarship Contest!" Ursula announced happily, magically pulling up the contest poster, decorated with drawings of students casting spells. Amanda corrected her posture and looked at the poster in disbelief. This had to be a sign, someone up there was on her side. This was the solution to Diana's predicament. Professor Urusla continued with her explanation.
"The rules are simple. Frist, in order to participate, the contestant must be nominated by a fellow student, who will submit a written piece explaining why they should receive the scholarship." A grin snaked up one side of Amanda's face; that part would be easy.
"Second, out of all their nominees each school will select one to represent them in the contest by popular vote of it's students." Shit, thought Amanda, a month ago this would have been easy, but now everyone's opinion of Diana was starting to sour.
"Lastly, all selected contestants will compete against each other in the areas of conjuration, healing, illusion and destruction arts." Amanda leaned back in her seat rubbing her chin. She could send in an article about Diana's story and the hate she had received but was that appropriate and more than that would Diana be okay with it? Secondly, how was she going to get the whole school to agree that Diana deserved this scholarship?
Until just recently, Amanda would have scoffed at the idea that Diana deserved any more money or academic awards, she was a snooty rich girl after all and she knew that many students would still see Diana in that way. After class let out Amanda was still twisting and turning the problem in her mind. The only thing that snapped her out of her concentration was the sight of Diana.
She briskly walked straight over to her, pushing other students out of her way and bumping into a tall figure.
"MISS O'NEILL!" Amanda froze mid stride and looked in the direction of the voice. It turned out to be Professor Finnelan, glaring at her. She was the person Amanda had bumped into. More than that all of the students Amanda had pushed out of her way had dropped all of their school supplies in the hallway, creating a huge mess. Amanda groaned, she didn't have time for this. Finnelan continued.
"I have half-a-mind to write you up for this! Showing respect to your fellow students is the foundation of Luna Nova's values."
"Look, I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I just, I really need to talk to Diana." Amanda said straining her neck past the older woman. Diana looked at her and rubbed her temples in agraviation.
"I apologize, Professor, we'll discuss the rest of the Founder's Day preparations another time. I do need to speak with Amanda." Diana said moving to Amanda as Professor Finnelain watched her in disbelief, the idea of Diana not reprimanding Amanda was incredible. The older woman cleared her throat and straightened her posture.
"Yes, of course Diana. I appreciate your help as always."
Diana grabbed Amanda's arm tightly and dragged her away from the scene to a quieter corridor. Diana's grip was surprisingly angry and full of tension.
"Geez, Diana what gives, you don't have to have a death grip on me! Seriously, I'm gonna lose my arm after this!" Amanda complained. Diana let go and turned around in a huff.
"I spoke to my cousins last night." Diana began in a threatening tone. Amanda felt her stomach drop at that sentence. SHIT.
"When I asked them how they found out all of those secrets about me, they said that a few students from Luna Nova broke into the estate and traded them MY DIARY!" Diana boomed. Amanda shrank back from Diana, with wide eyes and sweat coating her neck. She had totally forgotten about telling Diana that part of the story.
"Look, Diana, I can explain, you see I… I just." Amanda spat out and stopped herself. This wasn't going to work.
"You orchestrated this whole thing didn't you! You created this whole problem just so you can swoop in a save the day. That's so egotistical, even for you!" Diana snapped, making Amanda take a step back.
"Diana, I know that's how it seems but the truth is I didn't plan on creating this whole situation just so I could fix it. I… did all of this because back then I wanted to expose you."
Amanda confessed. In response, Diana huffed and started to walk away, but Amanda walked after her continuing to talk.
"You're right, I was being selfish because I didn't understand you, Diana. I didn't get how someone could rally against people that were just like her, but after I figured out parts of your past and talked to you, I realized I was wrong." Diana slowed down and ended up stopping as Amanda walked around Diana to look her in the eye. Diana folded her arms and waited for her to continue.
"I figured out that just because we have different perspectives doesn't mean that one of us has to be the bad guy. Heh, it's kinda like what Professor Urusla told me." Amanda said looking to one side and thinking about that conversation. Diana sighed. Amanda decided to push a little more.
"Look, I know you probably heard about this already, but there's a scholarship contest coming up. I think it's the solution to your financial freedom problem." Amanda said, hoping this would somehow keep Diana on her side. To her surprise, Diana looked caught off guard, by the suggestion.
"Hmm. I wasn't aware of that opportunity. You really think I can win this scholarship?" Diana asked with traces of hope in her eyes. Amanda smirked.
"Hell yeah you can! I'll nominate you, but I just need your permission with something. I know you're not going to like it but I think it's your best chance to get the rest of the school to rally behind you." Amanda explained, careful to paint this in the best possible light. Diana grimaced.
"What do you have in mind?" Diana asked, resigning herself to Amanda.
"Look, you need someone to write the real story of your past. We have to convince people that you've been misunderstood that really you're the underdog, people eat that shit up. What I'm saying is, I want to rework my article I was going to write and instead of exposing you I'll expose the harassment you have received from your family. How's that?" Amanda proposed.
Diana looked around for a moment and finally responded.
"What makes you think that you're qualified to write about me? I'll rather entrust this to the Luna Nova News Crew, than someone upon until recently, was my biggest naysayer." Amanda was more than ready to respond to that.
"Exactly! That's why it will work. Your biggest naysayer turning into your biggest supporter! People will totally eat that shit up. Diana, if I really hated you and wanted all the glory for myself, then why would I want to do something that helps you tremendously but not me?" Amanda reasoned.
Diana's expression softened a little, almost as if she was thinking about their previous conversation yesterday.
"I will agree on one condition. You have to let me read the article before you submit it." Diana stated, her expression hardening as if she were expecting push back. Amanda instead grinned ear to ear and hugged Diana. Diana stiffened uncomfortably and Amanda let go.
"I promise, I'll write an article so good, it will make you look like a saint! Saint Diana Banana Cavendish!" Amanda smirked and then wiped it away when she say Diana didn't find it amusing.
"Don't push it."