Cherry likes to gallivant (doing whatever it is that gallivanters do), Mia makes me sob, and MariaVB is a burrito of cray-cray!

Readers- U. Me. Fountain Feels & Tater Meals. I heart y'all.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Race & Royalty

I can do this.

"Our last—but not least—contestant is AnnaBella Swan, from Forks County. At fifteen she enjoys spending time with her family, dancing in the rain, and her greatest wish is for there to be world peace."

I smile, showing my whitened teeth as I walk down the stage, the lights blinding me. World peace my ass.

Rowdy taught me that to get anywhere, I've got to take a piece of this world.

And so I do. I hold my back unnaturally upright as I sashay with my heels. The audience is full and even though Ma is yelling, "That's my baby," my eyes are fixed on Rowdy. He gives me a thumbs up, and I am sweet, calm confidence. He makes me bold. Brave. Deliriously unafraid.

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Lauren Mallory keeps her distance, but that doesn't stop her from glaring at me throughout the competition. After we strut in our swimsuits, I change back into my dress for the questioning portion of the pageant. It's been narrowed down to ten girls and though Lauren is still in the running, I think my baton throwing went extremely well. I even added fire this time and managed not to burn down the building.

The only one smoldering is my boy.

The judges have called us by name and with the remaining contestants left, we stand on the left side of the stage as the announcer calls us over.

"Miss Mallory, aside from pageants, what would you consider to be your greatest accomplishment?"

The microphone is thrust into her face and Lauren freezes with a deer in headlights look. I can tell this is not a question she was expecting. They usually prepare us for questions about education or the essence of a being a true queen. This one comes out of left field, and Lauren is knocked down from her pedestal.

"I … my greatest accomplishment would be … in a society where accomplishments are important…" Lauren stutters, attempting to think of an answer. "Er, I believe I have accomplished … being a good person. I have done this by … volunteering. Yes! I have volunteered in feeding the homeless, and helping others has been my greatest accomplishment."

I roll my eyes at her lies. Feeding the stray puppy you found on the street last week does not count.

"Thank you, Miss Mallory." Lauren smiles widely and stumbles back to the line beside me.

"Fuck!" she hisses between her teeth, whispering to the contestant beside her. "I wasn't expecting that!"

The judges scribble frantically, but you can never tell by their expression what they are thinking. It's not looking good for her though. The questions are worth thirty percent of our score and Lauren looks like she's going to cry.

I don't get a chance to say anything because my name is called next.

"AnnaBella Swan…" I walk gracefully across the runway, standing and holding a wide smile. Ma leans forward in her seat and Rowdy blows me a kiss. He encourages me even though he's hundreds of feet away. My heart thumps in my chest and I wait impatiently for my question.

"If you could redo one event in history, what would it be and why?"

My mouth runs dry as I blink at the beaming, flashing lights. There are lots of things I would redo: wars that have killed people or the invention of money. I would also prevent the medical field from screwing people like Rowdy over.

But as much as these answers seem fitting, I can't bring myself to say them.

I glance over at Lauren and her eyes are bloodshot red. She holds back her tears for the sake of the pageantry, but I know she's going to go full on baby mode once we hit backstage.

I know what that's like.

"AnnaBella?"

The presenter repeats my name and I clear my throat. "If I could redo one event in history, I would allow Lauren Mallory to answer my question. Standing up here on the stage is nerve-wracking. Sometimes we get so focused on what we want to say that we forget that each of us up here is human. And in order to be the best human we can be, we have to show humanity. So I wish to forgo answering this in order to allow Lauren Mallory a do-over."

The crowd murmurs in shock. The judges lean over, whispering to each other, and the head judge nods his head.

"Okay, um, this is different." The lady fumbles over her words. "The judges have agreed to allow Miss Mallory to answer Miss Swan's question."

Lauren's eyes go wide and she has to be coerced by the other ladies to move across the stage.

I stand back several feet as the presenter holds the mic out to Lauren.

Lauren has this expression on her face and I hope she's not angry with me. She smiles brightly and answers the question with ease.

"If I could redo one event in history it would be to stop the invention of weapons, because the world is filled with hatred and crimes. I would want to create a better one by not having weaponries that hurt other people. So many lives would be saved, and that in itself changes history. Thank you."

The crowd cheers for her impeccable answer and in front of everyone, the strangest thing happens.

Lauren Mallory hugs me.

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"Congratulations!"

Rowdy smothers me in kisses and I catch my sparkly crown just before it falls. "Thanks!"

I smile and I'm all giddy and filled with a joy Rowdy makes sure he repeats to me over and over again. Ma's camera flashes so much she causes spots in my eyes. I'm head-in-the-clouds, over-the-moon, love-dizzy happy.

"I'm so proud of you, sweetie!" She wraps me up in a hug as AJ attempts to save my roses from being crushed. I don't even care. They will wilt, but this moment will stay with me forever.

"That was awesome!" Jasper says, patting me on the back.

"Way to go, Cotton!" AJ grins. "That's my sister! My sister won!"

She points and yells to people that pass by, honored just to be related to me. I fix my silky queen sash as Lauren passes me with the smaller, second-place crown on her head. I watch her give her family hugs and as they stroll away, she waves and mouths a simple, quiet word.

Thanks.

Rowdy rolls his eyes, 'cause I guess he was expecting her to show more gratitude, but it doesn't bother me none. I didn't do what I did to be told I'm a great person; I did it because I'm supposed to treat others in the way I expect to be treated.

"You're a better one than me," Rowdy whispers, nudging me and pointing in her direction.

"Why's that?"

"I would've stuffed that crown down her snobby little throat," he says bitterly.

A smile sweeps across my face. "And mess up all these pretty diamonds? I couldn't do that. And besides, I've got to spread the love, remember? Let it overflow, just like you said."

"I reckon." Rowdy smirks and walks through the double doors with me. "But once in a while, it's okay to let a few bitches suffocate and go under."

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Ma is wiped out and exhausted. As soon as we finish eating a celebratory supper in my honor, she leaves the four of us to cause mayhem. "Stay together. And don't go too far! And be back by nine. We've got to leave early in the morning!"

There's a movie theatre down the street from the hotel, and Jasper and Alice Jo leave immediately. AJ doesn't want to spend any more time with me than I want to with her. She's all too happy to abandon me.

Rowdy waves his room card in his hand as we stand in the overcrowded lobby. "Wanna go up to my room?"

Any air I breathe is replaced by a furry of butterflies. "You mean the room right next to ours? I don't think so. If Ma catches me…"

Lauren was right, I will be a cotton ball. Ma would kill me. Then she'd unravel me just to kill me again.

I brought you into this world, she says. I'll take you out.

I'm quite fond of living, thank you very much.

"Oh, come on! When do we ever spend time together?" Rowdy's eyes gleam and he's full of wicked thoughts. Collarbone kisses and sweaty-palm memories flash in my mind. He wants to take me.

I want to let him.

"We see each other every day," I remark sarcastically.

"I meant alone." He raises an eyebrow and those green hues I love so much tempt me. He's intent on devouring me and for a boy with nothing, he knows what it's like to starve.

But he makes me greedy and I crave.

"Fine," I huff. "But if we get caught…"

"We won't." He's so sure of himself as he leads me to the elevator and pushes the up arrow. We wait until the doors slide open with a ding. My nerves are in a bundle as Rowdy presses the white button for the fifth floor. "Besides, you're queen now."

"So?"

Rowdy's arm braces don't deter him as he thrusts me against the mirrored elevator walls, pressing his bulge against my aching center. I swallow as he breathes into my ear and the warmth travels down my neck.

"Let me bow down."