"Your Prom Queen, ladies and gents..."
They finally fell into a hushed silence.
"...is...Aubrey Posen!"
"No!"
Chloe was shouting from the back of the room. But her ill-timed shout was swallowed by the band playing a loud tune and scattered applause as Aubrey Posen ascended the steps onto the stage. Chloe watched in horror as Aubrey accepted her title, looking overwhelmed as she was crowned Prom Queen.
"What the fuck? Chloe!" Stacie was now shouting. "I thought you said..."
"There must be a mistake!" Chloe said furiously. "Coach must have read out the wrong name!"
"I present to you your Prom King and Queen," Coach Benson was saying now. "And they will now lead the dance."
Both Chloe and Stacie were trying pushing through the crowd, desperate to reach the stage. Jesse had offered his arm to Aubrey and was now leading her onto the dancefloor. The spotlight was trained on them and Luke had cued in a song for them to slow dance to.
"Where's Beca?" Stacie asked, realising she did not see the tiny brunette during the announcements. Chloe stopped short. "I don't know. Is she with Luke?"
A quick glance at the DJ console gave them the answer. Luke was all alone, headphones on, concentrating on the decks. Where was she?
"I can't believe this! This is a disaster!" Chloe was rubbing her temples. This was a huge, HUGE mistake. And on her watch. She got to put this right. If they get to Coach Benson in time, they may be able to make things right.
Both Stacie and her could not move fast enough through the crowd. Why are there so many people? It looked like Coach Benson was already walking off the stage and heading towards the exit.
"Coach!" Coach! Wait up!"
Aubrey was smiling graciously, nodding at the crowd around her. Ah, just as it was supposed to be. Here she was, crowned Prom Queen, dancing with her perfect Prom King. Aubrey just sighed happily.
"Isn't this great, Jesse?" she trilled. "This is just so perfect!"
"Umm..yeah..congratulations, Aubrey," Jesse answered. He had a fixed smile on his face as he whirled her round the dancefloor. "I knew you always wanted this."
"Thanks," Aubrey said happily. Aubrey was looking round her court. Everything was going to be as it should. The natural order was going to be restored. She turned back to face Jesse and in a fit of magnanimity, she loftily said, "I just wanted you to know, Jesse, that I forgive you."
"Wha..?" Jesse responded, a little confused.
"I forgive you," Aubrey said solemnly. "For breaking up with me. It was not your fault, Jess. You were confused and that witch probably used some sort of voodoo spell on you."
"Aubrey, you are talking shit again," Jesse said, shaking his head in disbelief. Aubrey laughed lightly; the sound grating on his nerves.
"Oh Jesse! When are you going to realise we are meant to be?" Aubrey said. She fixed her green eyes on him in an unnerving stare. "If you and Beca are MEANT to be together, you would be together by now. What are you both? Still friends?"
His silence was answer enough and she dug her claws deeper onto his back.
"She's still with that hot British DJ, isn't she?" Aubrey whispered and she smiled knowingly at the heartbreak on his face.
Aubrey pressed herself closer, rubbing herself slightly into him. She whispered seductively into his ear, "Come on, baby...we were good together, weren't we? The sex was great, wasn't it? Tell me you don't remember that time at the lake. That was amazing, wasn't it"
Jesse cleared his throat and looked away. Aubrey smiled triumphantly. Of course he would remember that time at the lake. She gave him the most amazing blowjob. With teeth and everything.
"You know..." she continued, purring into his ear. "I touch myself sometimes thinking of you."
Jesse's hand clenched tightly on her waist.
"So how about it, Jesse?"
Jesse was still silent.
"You know you wanna, baby. I can feel you getting excited already. Do you want to step outside for a second? We can go down to the stands. Or to the back of your car."
She was now running her hand down his front, towards his crotch. Jesse caught her hand and held it tight.
"Let's take this outside, shall we?" Jesse replied huskily.
"Coach!" "Coach! Wait up!"
Assistant Coach Benson heard the shouts after him. He stopped and faced the two girls who came running up to him. They were in the hallway now, away from the gym and the sounds of the raucous prom was now a dull throb in his ears.
"Hey, girls...What's the matter?"
Chloe and Stacie panted a while, trying to catch their breaths.
"Prom..Queen," Chloe panted. She gulped down another breath before finally being able to speak. "Beca. Beca was supposed to be Prom Queen."
He frowned a little. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. We counted it three times. Her name was on the card."
"There must be a mistake. I saw Aubrey's name on the card."
"It couldn't be! Beca won by a landslide. Aubrey wasn't even second."
"It was definitely Aubrey's name on the card, Chloe."
Chloe was trying to keep her voice even despite her rising temper, "No, it was Beca's name. I wrote it down myself. If you still have the card..."
Coach Benson patted his jackets, searching for the cards. Then he remembered what he had done with it. "I handed the cards over to Aubrey. She asked for it. Probably wanted to keep it as a keepsake."
"Chloe! The ballot papers!" Stacie piped up.
"Oh god, yes! I still have the ballot papers!" Chloe yelled a little excitedly. "If you wait here, Coach, I'll get them now."
Chloe was about to turn away, ready to run and fetch the ballot papers she had kept safely in her locker.
"There's no need, Chloe."
Chloe was rooted to the spot, momentarily confused. There was no need?
"We have proof, Coach. This is all a huge mistake. I had two other committee members witnessing the count." Chloe was gabbling now. Surely Coach would want to set things straight?
"Now, now Chloe. It's over and done with," Coach Benson said. "We've already crowned a Prom Queen."
"But Coach..."
"No buts, Chloe," he was saying. He stared hard at both of them, the impatient note in his voice clear. "If this is a mistake, it's hugely embarrassing. Can you imagine what Aubrey's dad will do if we take back the crown? You don't want the school to get sued, do you Chloe?"
Chloe was staring at the coach in confusion "No...but Beca ..."
As soon as they were out of the double doors, Aubrey pushed him against the wall and with her hands pressing his shoulders into the wall, Aubrey kissed him hard. She was laughing into the kiss. Her prom night was getting better and better. She felt Jesse's hands on hers, curling round and lifting them off him. Her hands were pushed away and behind her back. Oh. He was being so forceful and dominant. Poor baby must be hungry for her. Aubrey giggled.
Jesse was pushing her off him.
"Stop that, Aubrey."
"Oh sweetie, you don't mean that," Aubrey purred. She tried lunging forward to kiss him again.
"Stop that right now!" Jesse whispered angrily, jerking his body away and putting some distance between them. "I didn't want to make a scene inside. That's the only reason I'm taking this here."
Aubrey threw Jesse a frustrated look. She straightened up, now realising while she had been kissing him, he was not kissing her back. She had practically threw herself at him. Aubrey felt two hot spots of embarrassment burning on her cheeks.
"You still hard up for that freak, isn't it?" she said nastily.
"Don't call her that." Jesse was now looking at her with near hate. How in the world did he get himself into this situation? The last thing he wanted was to be here, on his prom night, arguing with his crazy ex-girlfriend.
"Jesus! What do you see in her?" Aubrey replied, not hiding her disgust now. "She's someone's girlfriend, Jesse! Get over it! Now come back to me where you belong."
"It does not matter whether Beca is with someone else," Jesse said through gritted teeth. "There is no way we are getting back together, Bree."
"You don't know what you are saying, Jesse."
"As a matter of fact, I do. This might surprise you, Aubrey, but not many people think you are that perfect," Jesse said. He was growing more and more impatient with this crazy girl. He had had enough of this farce. " I'm going to find Beca now. Goodbye, Bree. Good luck with everything."
Jesse was about to step away but Aubrey was still blocking his way, practically spitting at him.
"Beca. Always Beca!" she snarled. "Even when you were with me, it was always Beca this and Beca that. You had such a boner for her I'm surprised you haven't fuck her already!"
"Watch your mouth, Aubrey!"
"And she was so in love with you. It's pathetic!"
"I'm done talking to you, Aubrey!" Jesse said hotly, trying to step away. She was talking so much nonsense. He was getting angrier and could not think straight.
"Fuck Jesse! Both you and Beca are so fucking dense! Anyone can see what's happening between the both of you," Aubrey yelled. "Why the hell did you think I asked YOU out all those months ago? I don't want that freak to get her claws into you before I do!"
"I told you NOT to call her that."
"Oh? What are you going to do?" Aubrey was saying now. "She's a freak and a slut. And after tonight, the whole school is going to know!"
Jesse was raised to treat women nicely. But oh god, did he felt like slapping that vicious harpy of a woman before him. She was standing just there, staring at him, her face pinched, her eyes narrowed into slits. How in the world did he ever thought she was pretty once? Then what Aubrey just said registered in his mind and Jesse felt a little sick.
"Aubrey, what have you done now?"
There was some threat implied in her words just now. Aubrey was just smiling nastily now, looking away with something akin to triumph. It dawned on him that he had not seen Beca since she walked off to meet Luke. Come to think of it, he didn't see her when the nominees of the Royal Court was announced.
"Aubrey!" Jese said warningly. "For god's sake, what have you done?"
Aubrey was still wearing that eerie, nasty smile. He knew he would not get anything else from her and he immediately abandoned her in the hallway. He walked quickly into the gym, trying to catch sight of Beca.
No sign of her.
No sign of Chloe or Stacie either.
Jesse went straight to the DJ console, waving wildly to catch Luke's attention. The DJ frowned a little before taking off his headphones and tipping his head at Jesse.
"Have you seen Beca?" Jesse shouted out at him.
"What?" came the shout back.
"Beca! Where is she?"
Luke shrugged, looking slightly bewildered.
"She went to get drinks and didn't come back, " Luke said. "I thought she's was hanging out with you."
Jesse nearly kicked the nearby stage in frustration. He tried calling her on her phone but it went straight to voicemail. He sent her a text quickly, hoping she would reply. Luke was cueing another set list and he came down from the console.
"What's wrong? Where's Beca?"
Jesse's phone beeped with an incoming message. It was from Cody and Jesse quickly opened it. The message made the blood drained from his face.
Bro, something's wrong with Beca.
"Chloe, Coach is right. There must be some sort of mistake."
Chloe spun round in surprise. Stacie's hand was on her arm, steadying her but her eyes were on the older man. She smiled winningly and was now saying contritely, "So sorry, Coach. We'll go back to the party."
She stepped back and pulled Chloe with her. Assistant Coach Bension smiled genially at both of them.
"Have a good time, girls! I'll be in shortly," he said. Then adding casually, "If you need me, at all, I'll be in my office."
Stacie kept her smile and dragged the confused Chloe away.
"Stacie! What the hell is happening?" Chloe hissed. Stacie's hand was still gripping Chloe's arm as they walked back in a hurry towards the gym.
"Something helluva fishy here, Red," Stacie hissed back.
"Do you mean..Coach?" Chloe's mouth fell opened. "What? Coach and Aubrey? What? Why?"
"I don't know," Stacie said, grimly shaking her head. "But God help me, I will find out! I just hope Benji will forgive me."
He nearly fell over skidding down the corridor.
That text.
Once he read it, Jesse had broke into a run, leaving Luke gaping by the side. He didn't have time to explain anything to Luke. Something was wrong with Beca.
Jesse turned another corner and saw the small crowd outside the Science lab. There were three boys milling about arguing with Cody and Miles from the soccer team, who were resolutely standing at the doorway, blocking them. They all looked at his direction as they heard him running towards them.
"Oh hell, party's over. The hero's here," someone was saying sarcastically. Jesse whipped his head round, trying to pinpoint who said that but all the boys just looked away.
Only Cody and Miles looked immensely relieved.
"What the hell's happening here?" Jesse yelled. "Where's Beca?"
"Inside. She's not..." Cody was saying but Jesse was pushing past him into the lab. He hissed loudly when he saw her. Jesse could not believe what was before him. Beca was out cold, slumped back onto a chair.
But that was not the worst part.
Her dress. It was undone. He could not make out whether the straps were torn. She was almost topless, in just her bra. And her skirt was hitched up to her thighs, her legs splayed open. Jesse quickly took off his jacket and covered her up.
"Becs? Beca?" Jesse was shaking her a little, his voice trembling.
He did not quite know what to do. She was unresponsive, her head lolling back in a grosteque angle. He was trying to keep calm but it was impossible. He did not know whether she was hurt. He did not know how long she had been out. Jesse felt a pinprick of tears in his eyes and he felt sick to his stomach. Then anger just shot through him. He stood up and collared the nearest boy.
"What the fuck happened here? What did you do to her?" he yelled.
"Dude! We just got the text from her."
"What text?""
"Calm down, dude. You can join the party."
Jesse nearly hit that slack-jawed boy. He was not making sense.
"Jesse..." Cody was saying now, trying to pull Jesse off. "We found her crashed out like this. Miles and I made sure no one touched her. I text you immediately."
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?"
Everyone jumped at the bellow and their eyes swivelled to the doorway. Luke was striding through, anger billowing off him. He walked straight to Beca and Jesse nearly pounced at him when he laid his hands on her. Only Cody's hands gripping him made Jesse stay in his place.
"Beca? Beca? Can you hear me?" Seeing her so unresponsive, Luke quickly checked her breathing and felt her skin. She was breathing unevenly and her skin was clammy. Luke turned towards the boys, eyes were squinted with anger but his voice was calm. "Jesse, call 911. Now!"
Jesse quickly walked to the doorway and dialled 911. He almost could not speak properly to the response team on the other line. He rubbed his face in distress, eyes still on Beca's inert form. It was a frightening sight. After tucking Jesse's jacket more securely round her, Luke straightened up and faced the group of boys.
"So you boys think it's fun to drug a girl and rape her?"
Jesse nearly dropped his phone. The full import of what nearly happened to Beca bore down on him and his head was spinning.
"Who the fuck did this?" Luke was now shouting angrily and not one peep came out of the crowd. Two of the boys were inching away, trying to make a run for it but Jesse was now blocking their escape route. Luke was over in two strides and grabbed one.
"Don't even think about it," he threatened.
"Dude...honest. We found her like this." the boy was saying shakily. "All I got was all these sexy texts from her. Said she wanted to party and to meet her here. I didn't know she text like a bunch of other guys."
There was another commotion when two more guys appeared.
"Whoaaa..." one of them said, looking impressed. He was leering a little. "Is this the Beca Mitchell party? Looks like I need to take a number."
The sound of his nose being broken was sickening.
Jesse could only see a red mist in front of him. How dare he? How fucking dare he say such stupid filth? He grabbed the lapels of the boy's cheap jacket and Jesse drew back his hand to hit that stupid fucker again. He was going to beat the hell out of him.
He felt himself being pulled back and he was ready to turn round and hit the person who was trying to stop him.
"Jesse! Have you called 911?"
Luke's calm voice cut through his anger.
God, he only had one thing to do.
Call 911. Beca was still in danger. Jesse shook that red mist out of his head.
"Yeah. I've called them. They're coming."
Later at the hospital
Luke offered him a cup of hot coffee and Jesse grudgingly accepted it. They were now in the waiting room. Jesse sipped the hot liquid, not tasting it one bit. He was tired and worried. They had been waiting for a couple of hours for any news and none had been forthcoming. If anything happened to her, Jesse didn't know what he would do.
The arrival of the wailing ambulance had thrown the prom into pandemonium. The majority did not quite know what happened and various hysterical rumours from gun shooting to someone committing suicide flared up. The chaperones had their hands full trying to calm down the hysteria.
Luckily they managed to found Chloe and Stacie amongst the commotion and quickly explained what happened. Chloe, who despite being extremely worried about Beca, was calm enough and between her and Luke, they briefed the full incident to Principal Owen and the senior teachers. The paramedics had carted Beca immediately to ER with Luke accompanying her. Jesse had wanted to go with her but the others needed a ride and he drove all of them in his car.
"Jesse?"
Jesse looked up immediately at the familiar voice. He stood up and gulped a little.
"Mrs. Mitchell!...Umm..Rosie...Dr. Rosie."
Beca's mom was standing in front of him, clipboard in hand.
"I was not expecting to see my daughter in my ER tonight," the older lady said, a little sternly. Her eyes scanned the sheets on her clipboard before looking up at the pale, worried faces in front of her. Her eyes swivelled between Jesse and Luke who had stood up as well. "You boys want to tell me what happened?"
"I...we.. are not exactly sure," Jesse said miserably. Chloe, Stacie and Benji stood up as well, coming closer and Beca's mom nodded at them in turn. She looked at Luke curiously, "Who are you?"
"Oh. This is Luke... umm.. Beca's boyfriend," Jesse said, quickly introducing the two."Luke, this is Beca's mom. She's the attending physician here."
Rosie Mitchell gave Luke an appraising look before nodding.
"So. Between her boyfriend and the boy who took her to prom, Beca managed to get herself drugged?" Both of them shifted uneasily on their feet, feeling more than a little guilty. Rosie just shook her head resignedly. "I heard you guys took care of her. Thank you."
"Is she...is Beca alright?" Jesse could not quite kept the tremble out of his voice.
"She's going to be OK."
"Was she..." Jesse could not continue.
"Was she assaulted?" Stacie said, tears in her voice.
Rosie Mitchell closed her eyes and rubbed them a little. She sighed. "No. Thank god, no. But the police will want to speak to her. Her blood test definitely showed she was drugged."
"I'm sorry.. I am really sorry. I was supposed to look after her." Jesse's voice nearly cracked with tears. Luke was holding his shoulder and Jesse squeezed his eyes tight, willing the tears not to fall.
"Can we see her?" Luke asked.
"She's going to be out for quite some time. But yes, you all can see her."
The sight of her, pale and unconscious in bed, was probably one of the worst things he had ever seen. Jesse was sitting on the sofa, nervously playing with the paper cup in his hand. He lost count on how many coffees he had ingested and he was buzzing slightly with all the caffeine.
It had been hours. It was getting light outside and she was still unconcious. Her breathing was ow even though and the beep of the heart monitor was reassuring. They had all crowded into the ward but after half an hour, when it was clear that she was not coming round anytime soon, her mom had sent Chloe, Stacie and Benji home. She had urged Luke and Jesse to go as well but Jesse had stubbornly said wanted to stay. Luke was still there, godamnit. He should be too. He felt responsible for this somehow.
Both of them were now very tired and were increasingly irritable.
"What kind of date are you?" Luke had sniped at him. "Where I come from, guys look after girls they bring out on a date!"
"What the fuck, dude? She ran straight to you once you came in," Jesse hissed back, a little jealously. "What kind of boyfriend are you?"
"I would damn bloody well take care of her properly!"
"Not when you are busy on those decks! Clearly you put the gig before her!"
"I thought she was with you!"
"I thought she was with you!"
"Fuck you, Swanson."
"Fuck off, will you?"
"Jesse..."
The two men immediately stopped squabbling at the sound of Beca's voice and both of them rushed to the bed. Beca's eyes were still closed and her head was moving. A frown was etched on her forehead as she slowly opened her eyes.
Beca's vision swimmed a little but it cleared and she saw Jesse's worried, stubbled face staring down at her. Her head hurt and when she tried to bring her hand up, her arm seemed too heavy. Plus she had a drip on? She focused again on Jesse's face.
"Dude, you looked awful."
She thought she could hear another familiar voice chuckling and she turned her head.
"Luke?"
"Yeah, baby..I'm here."
Beca was trying to sit up and she felt two pairs of hand helping her up.
"What happened? Where am I?"
"Becs, don't freak out," Jesse was saying slowly. Beca's frown deepened. Why did Jesse sound like that? His voice was gravelly, like he had a long night and not enough sleep.
"You are in hospitaL, Becs. You were drugged and we brought you to ER."
Beca groaned out loud. "My mom?"
"Yeah, she was attending."
Beca swore loudly and on hearing her swear, both Jesse and Luke at each other and grinned a little. Yep, she's going to be fine.
"Beca, do you remember what happened?" Luke asked softly.
Beca rubbed her eyes with the palm of her hand. "I don't remember anything."
"It's ok, baby. Plenty of time to think about it later." Luke said. He threw Jesse a warning look. Don't you dare tell her how she was found. Jesse seemed to understand and nodded slightly.
"Well, look who's awake."
Rosie Mitchell walked into the room, smiling at her daughter.
"Mom...don't start."
"I'm not Mom here, Beca. You know that," Rosie said briskly. She glared at the boys who stepped away, letting her come forward to check Beca's vital signals. "How are you feeling, honey?"
"Like I've been hit by a freight train."
"Now, that's a bit of an exaggeration. Let me take your temperature." She popped a thermometer strip into Beca's mouth, silencing her. Rosie Mitchell then turned to the boys and said, "I think you boys better head home now. Beca does not need any more excitement from you two."
Jesse was about to protest when she silenced him with a glare. "Especially you, Jesse Swanson. Your mom is besides herself."
Jesse shut his mouth, scowling slightly. He eyed Luke who was smirking a little. His phone buzzed in his pocket and it was his mom yet again. Ok. Ok. He'll go home. At least Beca was ok now and his name was the first she called out. He was happy with that.
"I'm heading home, Beca. I'll come by later, ok?" Jesse said. He loathed to go, really. "Um..I'll bring essential supplies. Like... movies and popcorn."
He almost laughed when Beca's eyes widened in panic. She was unable to say a word in protest because that temperature strip was still in her mouth but she did give him an evil eye. She was definitely going to be ok. Jesse gave her hand a squeeze before leaving the ward, feeling much happier.
"Jesse! Oh god! You looked awful."
Jesse stopped on hearing Stacie's voice. He looked up and saw both Chloe and Stacie in front of him. They had just arrived.
"How's Beca?"
"Better. She's up and conscious and her mom is checking her over."
Relief flooded the girls' faces.
"Where you here all night?" Chloe said. On his nod, she fussed around him a little. "Are you sure you OK to drive home?"
"I'll be..OK," he said, punctuating that sentence with a huge yawn. He suddenly felt really tired.
"No way you are driving home like this," Stacie said. Both Chloe and Stacie came on his either side and held on to him as they walked him to the carpark.
"Give me your keys." Stacie said bossily and Jesse handed it over, sliding into the passenger seat gratefully. Chloe popped herself in the back, leaning forward between the two of them. Stacie carefully drove off and they were on their way. Jesse was dozing a little. He was exceptionally tired now. It had been quite a night.
"Whatever they say, Chloe..." Jesse yawned uncontrollably. "This is one unforgettable prom."
Chloe made a sound of disgust. "All for the wrong reasons!"
"I think it even topped that python incident last year."
Chloe was groaning now, her head on the driver's headrest.
"I can't believe this! On my watch! On my freaking watch!" she was now yelling a little. "Firstly, Beca being cheated out of her title. Then.. she's drugged. What the hell? It's like someone is after her!"
Jesse sat up suddenly. "What did you just say, Chloe?"
"What? Which one?"
"Beca was cheated out of what?" Jesse said.
"Oh. You wouldn't know that, Jesse. Beca was supposed to be Prom Queen."
"What?"
"I counted the votes. Three times. I should know."
"How the hell did Aubrey became Prom Queen then?"
Jesse was wide awake now. He glanced wildly at the two girls. Stacie's jaw was set in a grim line.
"We have an idea."
"Did you know how Beca was found?" Jesse said.
"We heard." Stacie's voice was tight with anger.
Chloe then gasped. "Jesse! Do you really think..."
Jesse's eyes were dark with anger.
"Only one person is crazy enough." He muttered darkly.
All the three of them were thinking of the the same name.
"Aubrey Posen."
Aubrey looked up from her desk, smiling, "Yes, Mrs. Collins?"
"Principal Owen would like to see you."
"Ok," she trilled, gathering her things. Aubrey casually pulled on her jacket, specially embroidered with Prom Queen in gold thread at the back, complete with a tiara. She was really proud of it. She had spent months designing it and getting it specially stitched. Now she wore it with pride.
Aubrey stood up and walked out of the class, swinging her curled blonde hair behind her. No doubt Principal Owen wanted to speak about her duties and responsibilities as Prom Queen. He didn't have to. Aubrey already knew all that was expected of her. She would have a quite a few responsibilities; one of which was leading the town's annual flower parade. And she had just the dress for it.
Aubrey sighed happily. Her life was perfect. She was Prom Queen.
That night she had been crowned was perfect. She had her sash and crown and the old crowd who abandoned her during Posen Pukegate were fawning all over her. She was the belle of the ball and the star at the after party. Everything was in its proper place.
Aubrey frowned a little.
True, her Prom King had been a little reluctant. Damn that stubborn Jesse Swanson! For it to be 100% perfect, he should really be by her side, adoring her but no, Jesse decided he'd rather be with that...that freak. Aubrey's mouth twisted a little.
Beca Mitchell. Ruining her triumphant night yet again with that stupid, noisy ambulance.
That marred her evening somewhat.
It did not occur to Aubrey how much SHE ruined Beca's evening and what a despicable thing she did Beca. Hmm... No matter. You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs, Aubrey reasoned. And as a bonus, she had not seen Beca around this past two weeks. Yes, life was indeed perfect.
Aubrey stopped at the front desk.
"Principal Owen asked for me?" she said sweetly to the school secretary.
"Go right in."
Aubrey knocked on the door briefly and on hearing Principal Owen saying "come in", she twisted the door knob and pushed the door open.
"You wanted to see me, Prin...Dad? What are you doing here?"
