A/N: Thanks for the add everyone! Instead of playing guessing games when I'm changing the rating, just expect it before chapter seven. I want to give you all enough time. I know the M ratings don't show on the first page of updates until you filter it all. I didn't know I'd be writing this as an M but things changed course and I'm proceeding with my new plans. You can expect Chapter five really soon. I'm on a roll.
Chapter Four: Hurricane Amelia
"I cannot believe you're Prom Queen." Amelia took a step closer to Stephanie.
Steph shrugged her off.
Principal Humbert faced the croud again and announced, "It's time for the Prom Queen and King to dance together as tradition. Once they start, everyone else may join in. Enjoy the rest of the night, everyone!"
Students began to clap, most of them happy that Amelia was caught cheating. Some of her close friends tried to defend her, but obviously couldn't be heard over the commotion. As Steph looked at the boy she'd be dancing with, she suddenly wished she could dance with Sportacus again.
But as soon as she began to think to herself, the music started up again. As did Amelia.
"You are a whore!" She yelled in Steph's ear.
That caught Steph's attention. She turned to face Amelia and glared angrily at her.
"You heard me, you whore. Stealing my position as Prom Queen."
Steph said calmly, "I never meant to take your place. I didn't know anyone was voting for me."
"Why wouldn't they? You play sports like a famous male athlete, you have pink hair, your cheeks are always rosy from smiling too damn much, and you have excellent grades. Which is why you shouldn't be queen. You are just a know-it-all tomboy who is apparently dating a guy too old for her after ditching a great guy like Nate Waters!" Amelia didn't mean to say everything she did.
Kyle had been standing in the same spot, watching the two girls begin to argue. There was no way he would get involved in something like this.
Stephanie absorbed Amelia's words quickly and realized something; Amelia was clearly jealous of her. But as the anger subsided in her stomach, it grew again when Amelia accused her of ditching Nate.
"I didn't ditch Nate!" Steph shot back, "He's too obsessed with you. I was sick of hearing him fantasize about having your babies."
"Excuse me? You do not talk to me like that."
"Why?" Steph asked sarcastically, "Are you that convinced that you're a Queen? Because face it, your clock has struck midnight and your pumpkin has rotted to the core."
Amelia hit Stephanie with such a force that it sent her crown flying from her head, and her body to the floor. The pain took over Stephanie, but she stood back up. Sportacus ran to the front of the room, but bumped into Principal Humbert who was also headed for the two girls.
"Break it up!" The Principal shouted. "Or I'll have you both suspended for a week."
Stephanie was never a violent girl, but something nasty woke up inside of her. She had never suddenly hated someone so much. Her fist flew through the air, and landed on Amelia's shoulder blade. Her body backed up a few inches due to the hit.
As though it were expected, someone yelled, "Catfight!"
The crown was directly behind Stephanie. She knew it was there, and didn't want to trip. While Amelia regained her posture, Steph kicked it out of the way. Unfortunately, Amelia was quick enough to get another punch in, this time on Steph's stomach.
Now doubled over in pain, Stephanie felt not only physical discomfort, but emberassment as well. Suddenly, like a hurricane wind, Amelia scratched Stephanie's lower neck. She dragged her fingers to the top of the ivory dress and let out a loud roar as she ripped it to pieces. Stephanie yelped and wimpered, unaware that the entire student body was watching in astonishment, or that the pudgy Principal Humbert was fighting to pull Amelia from Steph's side, or even that Sportacus was trying to push through the thick audience to try and save his hero-in-training.
Stephanie felt numb, cold, and destroyed. A silence fell as she gathered fabric around her, in hopes that no one would stare because she was humilated and in her underwear. She was in the eye of the storm, unable to escape without running into trouble at some point. Principal Humbert held onto Amelia, who struggled before finally giving up. She accomplished revenge, and was content.
Then came the remainder of Hurricane Amelia. One student cleared their throat, which oddly enough sounded like a chuckle. The whole gym exploded with laughter. It was unclear whether they were laughing at Amelia's childish outburst or Steph's involuntary exposure, but it was clearly laughter.
Tears filled Stephanie's aching eyes. She started to sob uncontrollably and began to run towards the exit.
"Stephanie!" Sportacus ran after her, and noticed the laughing stopped altogether.
She ran down a dark hallway, eventually losing the bits of fabric hiding her underclothes. Steph didn't care, she just wanted to leave.
Down the same hall, Sportacus was quickly catching up. "Please, Steph! Wait."
Her sobs were worse now, black streams of mascara ran down Steph's cheeks like rivers of ink. She leaned against a locker and collapsed to the floor. A body hovered over her with immense sympathy.
"Steph," Sportacus worded softly, "Let's get you home."
He had never seen her look at him with such hurt before. It was depressing. Steph's sight was blurry, but she knew where his hand was outstretched. As Sport helped her up, he helped her put his light blue jacket on. Both of them remained speechless until they were outside, in front of Sportacus' airship.
"Sportacus," Stephanie's voice was drowned by her tears. "Can I stay with you tonight? I can't go home like this."
He didn't even have to answer. Sportacus called for his ladder and soon found himself being followed by Steph to his home. They entered and Steph took a good look around. She had been in here once a few years ago, and nothing changed since then.
"I think you should call your Mom and let her know where you are." Sportacus held back the urge to cry. Seeing anyone in an upset and emberassed state like this was gut-wrenching, and especially since it was Steph.
Thinking over her options, Stephanie replied, "I'll tell her I decided to leave early and go to Lazytown for the weekend. We can stop by my house in the morning and I can get some clothes. I don't know if I'm going to school Monday. There's a little over a month left of school and . . ."
The tears came flooding out once again. Sportacus closed the door and went to get his phone.
"I know you've been through hell tonight, Stephanie, but I'm here now, and won't let anything happen to you."
Stephanie took the phone and walked over to sit on Sportacus' bed. She wiped some of the tears from her face and cleared her throat before dialing home. It rang a few times before anyone picked up, but Steph was ready to lie to her Mother.
" . . . and Sportacus showed up. He was my date. The dance was nice, but I kind of hurt my ankle dancing, so I wanted to leave early."
The conversation was going smoothly so far, Sportacus thought.
She continued, "I'm going to send him in to get some of my clothes, since I don't want to put any pressure on my foot yet. . . . Yes, Mom, I promise to have him take me to the doctors in the morning. . . . I know that's the least he could do. Mom, let me finish. I'm going to stay in Lazytown for the weekend. No, he doesn't mind. Alright, I love you too. We'll be there in a bit. Yes, he'll ring the doorbell. My pajamas are in the second drawer. I love you too. Bye."
"I'm picking up your clothes?" Sportacus asked, his eyes widening.
"Don't worry, Mom's getting them together. You just need to stick with my story and retrieve my suitcase."
Sportacus nodded his head. He wondered, "Will you be alright?"
"Sure." Stephanie didn't sound convincing, but her reply was good enough considering her situation.
In a moment, Sportacus went to the front of his airship. He had trouble finding any other words to say to Steph, and wanted to give her some space. The airship began to move smoothly, almost as if it knew what path to take.
Still sitting on Sport's bed, Stephanie found herself exhausted with life. No matter how hard she fought for what was right in life, something always went wrong or not according to plan. Stephanie knew life was full of bad times as well as good, but she never guessed they could be as bad as getting a prom dress ripped apart in front of the whole school. At least Sportacus had been with her. She knew she owed him more thanks for his hospitality and understanding. Now all Steph had to do was wait for Monday to come. Steph considered the possibility that Nate would finally talk to her again, even if it was out of pity. She wanted to tell him how much of a jerk he was, but that she missed him and his lame jokes.
She wanted to tell Sportacus that letting her kiss him was a mistake.