A/N: Right now I'm focusing on my rewrite works because I'm trying to cut down on the number of WIP stories I have right now. Since rewrites are the most simple - because plot work and such is already outlined - I figured that I might as well get them written up first. Set number of chapters, manageable workload and no space for overflowing words: perfect for my overloaded schedule!

Anyway, I'll cut it short there for now. Enjoy the latest update my dears.

Till next time,

D.L.D

Responses to reviews:

Gucci Mane LaFlare - I actually haven't watched the 2023 season yet. I just haven't had the time unfortunately. But I'm glad it all links up quite nicely, even with my lack of knowledge. Also, you're totally right: Heather does not like wholesome.

Blood vs Water

Courtney's P.O.V

Being cruel was not something I aspired to be when I was younger. When I was a little girl, unaware as to how the world worked - as well as the teenage scum I'd have to navigate in high school, I'd thought that being cruel and evil was something only villains could do. Playing by the rules meant being a good person. Being a good person meant that you weren't cold and cruel. Being a good person meant that you did good.

Younger me was a fool to think like that.

Playing by the rules, the new rules shaped by the new world I lived in, made me a cruel person. When Heather told me to jump, I jumped. When Heather told me to be evil, I was the most evil person on the planet. In order to do well, to survive, I had to listen to Heather. Until I was able to uproot her, to overtake the position of power she held over us all, I had to be like her best friend. Even if it meant hurting other people.

When Sadie rejoined us, a blubbering mess of makeup and tears, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. While we queued, I tried to comfort her. Patting her shoulder, assuring her that Katie meant none of what she said, I tried my best to soothe the burn of an argument with a friend. However, I failed miserably. So did Lindsay. And Dakota? That idiot ran after Katie, rushing out a hasty goodbye and vanishing within a second.

If everything was different, if I didn't have to be on Heather's good side, then I would've ran after Katie. I would have apologised to them both, told them the truth behind Heather's intentions, before it was too late. But now it was too late. Now was not a time where I could do what younger me would have, trying to be the best person she could be. Present me needed to succeed; present me needed to be cruel for the greater good. So I forgot about Katie.

All of my attention went onto Sadie. Comforting her, listening as she explained how Katie trash-talked about us, I tried my best to push Heather's agenda, to make Sadie think that she was safe with us. That was all I could do. That was all I was allowed to do. If I wanted to survive, I had to follow the rules.

"Well, don't worry Sadie," Heather was smiling again, that false, sweet thing that did not look natural at all. Even her voice, higher in pitch and cooing, sounded like a fictional idea. "Even if Katie doesn't like us, you're still our friend."

Our friend: those were the types of seeds that Heather was sowing. Distrust and envy were always two tools she used best. That was how she managed to take down former friendships between other people. That was how she managed to get me here, ensnared in her tight grip and forced to carry out her bidding. Heather was skilled at using people's emotions. Heather would always be the best at emotional manipulation.

"Really?" Sadie blinked, peering at us almost like an abandoned puppy left out in the rain. Again, my gut spiked with guilt. This wasn't right. It was never right. But I still had to do it.

"Really," Heather nodded and I found myself nodding along with her. All of us nodded because when Heather was there we all acted as one. To keep the act going, to make it seem like we were this perfect group of perfect friends, we had to act as one. That was the rule and that had always been the rule. That was how it had always been, ever since Heather first took me under her wing, promising me that I'd always be protected by her. She'd make sure I got everything I ever wanted.

Breaking my thoughts, the sharp melody of my ringtone pierced the air. Shaking my head, I pulled it out of my purse to see a familiar name pop up - my accomplice. Pieces clicking into place, I gave a sheepish smile as I pointed to my phone and glanced at Heather. There was a reason why I set my ringtone for them to the same one as my mother; Heather would grow suspicious if anyone else called me so frequently.

"I've gotta take this call," I let out a sigh, trying to sound annoyed as I stepped away from the queue. Attempting to appear apologetic, I gave a small smile, "It's my mother. I'll catch up with you guys later though. Eight o'clock, right?"

"Yep," Heather nodded, something wicked gleaming in her eyes as she linked arms with Sadie. "We'll turn our slumber party into a pamper Sadie party!"

"Bye Courtlyn!" Lindsay gave an enthusiastic wave toward me, a wide smile on her innocent face. All I could do was roll my eyes - holding back a face-palm at her overwhelming enthusiasm. That blonde dummy would never get that our friendship was one of convenience. She'd never understand that we all just all used each other, backstabbing and betraying every member of our own friend group just to stay afloat.

None of us were real friends and none of us would ever be.

Sparing a final glance at the group, I turned on my heel and walked away. Even as I left, Heather was keeping up her act, providing Sadie with comforting pats to her back and whispering something into her ear. Everything about that scene bugged me. Made my gut crawl with guilt. But I held it down. Until I was safe, far away from Heather's watching eyes, I couldn't feel anything.

Nothing could ever compare to the relief I felt once Heather was out of sight. Quickly answering the phone call, pressing the device close to my ear, I couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh.

"Sounds like you just ran a marathon," The voice on the other side of the line chuckled, definitely amused.

"You try working with Heather," Snapping couldn't be helped - not when I was so tightly wound up already. Shaking my head, I tried to control the agitation in my tone. This person was my one shot at taking Heather down; I couldn't fuck this up. "Sorry. I'm just a bit stressed and could do with some good news. Please tell me that you found something good."

"Of course I did," My accomplice sounded smug, self-assured. Beyond the screen I could picture their dazzling smile, lighting up their face and impossibly gorgeous eyes. Heather. Alejandro. Countless other beautiful people. Who knew such beautiful faces could hide such deep deception? "After doing some digging, I managed to track down one of Heather's relatives. She's got a tape that you might wanna see."

"Sounds promising," Skepticism couldn't help but slip into my tone. Too used to be deceived, too used to being the scapegoat, I wasn't sure who to trust anymore. Was there even anything to trust anymore? Ever since I dumped Duncan, that fateful afternoon in the rain, I wasn't sure what to do anymore. He was my compass; I subconsciously followed his direction. Without him I was clueless, wandering a narrow path with nothing but uniform concrete slabs.

"I'm sending you the address now," My accomplice seemed to sense my doubt as I felt my phone vibrate within my palm. "She doesn't live too far away from you."

Now that was really promising. Almost too perfect to be true. However, I was desperate and desperate people will always sink to desperate measures.

"Ok thanks," I managed to get out, humming a little. "I'll check it out."

Then the call was finished. Slipping my phone back into my bag, I couldn't help but release a sigh as I headed toward the mall's exit. Everything was just so skewed these days. Nothing was as it seemed and nothing would ever return to as it was. Sometimes I did miss the past, days spent being genuine with others because no-one really cared about the flimsy superficial things. Now everything was superficial; now everything revolved around Heather.

Waiting for the bus was a nightmare - as it always was - and I cursed myself for making Heather my ride. However, waiting gave me the chance to think, to remind myself why I was doing this. Heather deserved this. Gwen... I wasn't sure yet if she deserved it. But a lot of me, so much of me, was leaning toward that other side. Both of them had done so much to me, both of them twisted and twirled my heart within their hands.

How could I ever forgive that?

*Six Years Ago*

"So we're still on for tonight?" Anxious and uncertain, Gwen glanced at me with nervous dark eyes.

Whenever we planned a movie night, joined with a completely girls only sleepover, she always had her reservations. There was always that sense of uncertainty with her, a deep distrust that ran through her soul. Gwen always had to double check. Gwen always had to go over the details with me, biting into her lip as she mumbled out her own insecurities. Almost as if she were scared of what I'd say next. Almost as if... she didn't trust me.

"Of course," Brushing aside the discomfort in my gut, the sense of being mistrusted, I mustered the biggest smile possible. "Tonight is all about us and movies. Nothing is gonna ruin that."

That seemed to relieve her, make a smile stretch on her shy and bashful face, "Ok. I'll be there then."

Then the bus was stopping and Gwen was saying goodbye, gathering her backpack and scurrying off the bus so she wouldn't miss her stop. Three stops before mine. Right in the middle of the more economic neighbourhood, filled with smaller houses that boasted tiny backyards and cramped streets, houses pressed together by their sides and split by flimsy metal chain-link fences. Gwen and I were worlds apart; somehow we still managed to be friends.

"Bye Gwen," I breathed the words out onto the glass, sending a solemn wave her way.

Next thing I knew the bus was rolling away, sailing farther along the street until it turned a corner and headed toward my neighbourhood. Flashy, classy, filled with homes that had front and back gardens: my neighbourhood was a world away from hers. My neighbourhood was somewhere that people like Gwen would only catch a glimpse of during Halloween. No wonder why she felt like she didn't belong.

That evening felt even more disjointed once Gwen arrived. Even though we managed to settle down and get straight into sleepover matters - pillow fights and movies and girl talk - everything felt off. Like it was knocked out of balance. Every conversation felt like it was being carried by my input; Gwen herself had shrunk into her own shell, either responding with quiet or completely stand-offish responses. By the time we went to sleep, nine pm which was really early for our usual time, I was convinced that something had happened. Someone had troubled Gwen.

And I was going to find out who.

"Gwen," Eating breakfast with her had never felt so awkward - not when she was like a sister to me. Today, however, Gwen was silent, pushing her cereal around her bowl of milk. "What's bothering you?"

"Bothering me?" Gwen blinked, staring up from her bowl and focusing owlish eyes on me. A clear sign of her panic. "W-what makes you think something's bothering me?"

"You've been acting strange for the past few days," There was no point in hiding the truth - not when Gwen would avoid it as much as she could for as long as she could. Both she and I knew that she could hide her feelings for a long as it takes a metal can to decompose. "I'm worried about you."

Shifting the wariness, my words seemed to jog something within her brain. But, as quickly as Gwen thawed out, she froze back over again, shaking her head as she plastered a strained, stretched smile on her face. One that tugged at her forehead and crinkled the corners of her eyes a little too much.

"It's nothing major, I promise," Was her answer. Spooning some cereal into her mouth, she used the moment of silence to think, gathering her words. "I'm just getting used to having a new step-dad is all."

Wanting that to be the answer more than anything else, I decided to believe it. In that moment, seeing how something was eating away at my best friend, I wanted to believe that she was telling me the truth. Really, I should have been more skeptical. Behind those eyes begging me to not question it further, I should have seen the scared and frightened girl within them; I should have seen that she would cling to anything, anyone wiling to give her the affection she craved.

Even if we agreed that someone was off limits.

*Present Day*

Sucking in a deep breath, I tried to steel myself as I knocked on the deep red door of 228 Blackwell Drive. Golden metal numbers stared back at me, hammered into the wooden arc above the stained glass windows welded into the door. One glance at this place and you could tell that the homeowners had money; one look at the area and you could tell that they were most certainly members of the upper middle class - if not upper class itself.

Of course Heather's family would live in an area like this: safe, wealthy and boasting lovely properties. Only the best for the best and naturally the entire Chang family tree would strive to get the best out of this crappy town of ours.

"I'm guessing you're Courtney," Eyeing me suspiciously, a girl who was definitely not older than thirteen, stood in the now open doorway. Raven hair fell from her head, cascading over her shoulders in a dark ponytail, as her hazel eyes narrowed at me. Without the icy tone of voice, I could tell that her distrust was there; Heather's body language - as well as her tones of voice - seemed to be a trait passed down the family gene pool.

"You must be Hannah," Holding out a hand for her to shake, I tried to put on my most welcoming smile. Surprisingly, it failed.

"This way," Ignoring my attempt to shake hands, Hannah huffed as she rolled her eyes and turned away from the doorway, leaving the front door wide open. Talk about careless. Even if her neighbourhood was known as one of the safest in town!

Following Hannah, I carefully entered through the front door. Immediately I was met by a shoe rack, silently instructing me to follow the rules of the household that had clearly kept its pristine white carpets so bright for so long. Taking off my shoes - a pair of boots that served well for fashion and purpose - I made sure to place them on the spot closest to the door. This was only meant to be a quick thing. A quick in and out thing. Nothing else.

"I heard my bitch of a cousin has been causing you some trouble," Hannah suddenly spoke, appearing with what looked like a bowl of candy. As I placed my shoes down, she nodded toward the stairs before travelling up them. "If you're looking for revenge, you've come to the right place, Court. I've been stockpiling blackmail for years just to get back at darling Heather-feather."

Never before had I come across someone who seemed to hate their cousin so much - and I met some of Duncan's extended relatives. Pure distaste seemed to burn within Hannah's eyes as she led my upstairs, straight to a room that was presumably her bedroom. Even after she'd offered my candy, telling me to get comfy while she pulled out her laptop, I could still sense the pure malice oozing from her. Burning hatred.

Shivering couldn't be helped. Nor could feeling unsafe. Was it a family trait to just be evil?

"Alright, I've got the USB prepped," Grinning Hannah passed me a bright pink flower USB, the middle of it a sunny yellow colour. Cartoonish - definitely something that would belong to a thirteen year old, perhaps someone even younger. "We can view it now though, just to prove to you that it's worthwhile. Justin said you like to be thorough."

"And he's not wrong," I nod, now peering at the laptop screen as she turned it toward me.

Already lit up on the screen was an image of a sleeping Heather, her face covered by a pink sleeping mask and her leg hanging off the edge of her bed. Some kind of medication was on her nightstand - something that looked an awful lot like sleeping pills - and her blanket had been kicked off. At the end of the bed, almost as if waiting, was a scruffy-looking cat, its gaze intently watching Heather's sleeping face.

"This just looks like a cat video," Frowning, I peered a little more closely at the video. "Are you sure it's worth it?"

"Wait for it," Hannah chimed in, a devious smirk on her face.

So I waited. Clicking the play button, she kick-started the video and immediately I saw why Hannah had endorsed it the way she did: Heather was there, deep in sleep as her cat more or less made-out with her sleeping face. Lick. Lick. Lick. Right on Heather's lips, left to air-dry overnight. Not only that, but it cut to a clip of the cat earlier on in the day, licking away at his body as he groomed himself clean. After that was Heather, the next morning, remarking about how she slept incredibly well.

"Alright, this is decent," Nodding, I couldn't help but hum in approval. Yes, this would work nicely with the other material I had stocked piled - well, the growing pile. I still needed to crack that USB after all. "Thank you, Hannah."

"You're very welcome," Hannah smiled, seeming genuine as she reached out to shake my hand. "I've also added a few extra perks and pics. Consider it a gift for being such a great client."

Stretching, I couldn't fight the smile that twitched onto my lips. I actually liked this girl; she had this attitude that just melded well with mine. Business before anything else; getting shit done was the most important thing.

Shaking her hand, I smiled, "Thank you, Hannah. I'll be sure to use it."

All too soon I was back on the street, new USB secure in my bag and my phone pressed to my ear. On the other line was my accomplice, seeming smug and yet equally pleased that Hannah had managed to pull through for us both. Her relation to Heather was... a risky factor - especially due to their volatile-seeming relationship - but she was a goldmine for blackmail. That girl had a fortune in Heather material.

"You actually did your job for once," I found myself smiling, congratulating him. "Well done."

"Anything to get back at Heather," My accomplice responded, almost chuckling. Beyond the line, I could see him shaking his head, jet black hair moving like those models' in TV ads. "She was wrong to expose my feelings that night."

"You didn't do a good enough job at hiding it," Snickering, I teased him. That was no secret: we all knew that he had liked me. All of us know that he would still jump over the moon for me. That was why I'd roped him into my revenge plans in the first place. "Still, I'm in a good mood. In one day we've managed to get half our plan finished. Now that the easy bit is done, the hard part is just keeping this secret until we need it."

"You're worried about that?" Laughing, my accomplice's chuckles filled the line. Each one sent butterflies into my stomach, summoned by the image of his gorgeous face crinkling with joy and amusement. So many of us had swooned when first faced with his beauty; now we all knew that it was just a mask, a way to let out guards down. He was just as damaged as the rest of us. "Everyone at school still thinks that I'm a self-absorbed egotist and you're a preppy control freak. No-one's gonna suspect a thing."

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch," I warned, watching as a car rolled on by. Bright silver, a flash of the common colour blinded me as I could have sworn that I spotted Duncan in the passenger seat. Shaking my head, I sighed, "We just need to make everyone think that we're the same as always. Maintain status quo."

Because that's all I could do, all I knew how to do, after all these years. Pretending that everything was fine - even when it wasn't - had always been my reality.

Duncan's P.O.V

What happens when I get stuck with nothing to do? I end up with Ma, huddled in the front seat of her silver Kia as she drags me along for one of her mandatory shopping trips. Really I think she does it to get us both out of the house. That toxic shithole did tend to be a downer on the brain. Too much time spent around the Geezer led to you feeling down, lost and out; maybe he's the reason why I couldn't be bothered to do shit most days.

"So," Eyes fixed on the road ahead, Ma began the conversation. Like she always does.

If I had the option, we'd be stuck in silence. I didn't like her kind of music. She absolutely loathed mine. To keep the peace we both promised not to use the radio or play any form of music when we were in the car together. In return I didn't have to listen to her begging for me to sing along to some old pop song; Ma didn't have to act like she was enjoying herself, her face pinched with forced joy as a guitar solo blasted through the speakers.

In a way, it was fair. A win-win in a way. I mean, we both got what we kinda wanted.

"What is it?" I managed to grit out, raising a skeptical brow.

"I haven't seen Courtney for a while," There it was. The topic/cause of today's mother-son shopping trip. "Did something happen between you two?"

There was always something happening between us two. Whether it was a good thing or a bad thing, Courtney and I always had something happening. In the past it involved verbal arguments, clashing over everything that was possible to clash over. In the present, we simply weren't on talking terms - not after the stunt she pulled. Usually, no matter what, I'd still talk to her; I used to live to annoy the shit out of her.

But that changed this week. Now I didn't even want to think about it.

"Just got tired of her shit is all," Was what I decided to say, trying to keep it as carefree as possible. I wasn't meant to care; I never did act like I cared. "Don't worry about it."

"First off, language Mister," Ma frowned, shaking her head as we stopped at a red light. Damn the traffic signals. Turning to face me, her features pressed with the universal concern of every nosy mother on the planet, she sighed, "Second, it's my job to worry, son."

"I'm telling you not to," Meaning I didn't want to talk about it. At all. But Ma was never very good at sensing when I wanted to drop a subject. That or she never cared about me wanting to drop it. A lot of me wanted to bet on the second option.

As if reading my thoughts, she grinned as the lights flickered to green, "Not gonna listen."

'Stubborn old cow,' Biting back the words, I kept them to myself. Ma only meant the best - even if she was trying to show it through the most annoying method possible. That was something her kids could all agree on: she was a bit too overbearing when it came to helping her kids with anything. Although, we all secretly loved her for it. I mean, you could ask the woman for anything and she'd be there, ready to help you. Unlike a certain someone...

"I'm guessing you're single again then," Ma sighed once more, shaking her head. Part of me wanted to make a comment on her being a shitty driver - just to even the odds. "A shame. I really thought she'd be the one."

"You said she'd last two weeks," Deadpanning, I immediately remembered that day. As soon as she saw Courtney, Ma said she wouldn't last more than a week - if even two. Technically, she wasn't wrong; after about a week, Courtney and I went on our first unofficial split.

"And I wasn't wrong," She sang out, triumphant even at the expense of her son. Almost as if she were proud of the fact that her son could be an unbearable asshole at times. "It takes real mettle to put up with your shit."

"Guess Gwen's made of mettle then," I shrugged. Because it was more or less true. She's put up with me ever since we were kids, aimlessly causing trouble after school because we had nothing better to do. Not even Geoff could handle me for that long. "She's been around for ten years."

"How is Gwen?" Instantly, Ma kicked back into parent-mode. I shouldn't have brought up the G-word.

"Gwen is Gwen," Again, I shrugged. Nothing special had happened - just like always. If anything, it was even more normal than normal. Gwen was keeping to herself, trying to bottle up whatever she was going through, while I went through equal emotional repression. Just a pair of emotionally stunted idiots. "I'm trying to keep her distracted. She's still hung up on Elvis."

Really, she shouldn't be. What happened all that time ago was something that was due to happen. Trent wasn't the type to stick around when it got tough - not really. Getting his hands dirty wasn't the sort of thing he'd do, not when it really came down to it. If it was, if he'd really cared that much, he would have stuck around for her. When everything got out, he had been the first in line to run far, far away. Gwen had trusted him with her biggest truth and he'd gone and spread it everywhere.

"She's still upset?" Tsking, Ma shook her head once more. Determination settled into her eyes as she focused on the road ahead. "I oughta speak to her. She can't be wallowing over guys who clearly aren't worth her precious time. My own bastard of a son included."

"Hey! You birthed this bastard," I smiled, knowing that she was only taking a shallow jab at me.

"That's why I can call you one," Ma shared the same grin, a small chuckle escaping her system. "I know what I birthed and raised."

Brown. Recognising brown was never a problem for me, especially since it belonged to Courtney. One tiny blot on the pavement, joined by a red leather satchel and shiny black shoes. What were the odds of seeing her here, right now, in this moment? Sure, she lived close by but she was always out, always busy, with some sort of errand. So what were the odds? What were the chances? Did the shitty universe just hate me that much?

"Is that..." Definitely seeing what I saw, Ma frowned as she squinted to double check her vision.

Already, I knew what was gonna happen. As soon as that smile curved her cheeks, lit up her eyes, I knew that my mother was going to plant me right in the middle of a horrible, unbearable situation. Because that's what my Ma does. All the time. Every time. Her excuse, repeated to me so many times over the years, was that it toughened me up and taught me life lessons. I think she just liked seeing me suffer for some of the shit I put her through - her own form of karma.

"No Ma," Even though I knew it was pointless, I had to try to stop her. "Don't."

"Too late!" She sang out, already pulling in and winding down her window. Brightly, she grinned at the person standing by the car, "Hey Courtney, would you like a ride?"

Blinking, almost as if we'd caught her in the middle of something, Courtney immediately stiffened up. Then, almost as quickly, she melted up once more, fixing a sheepish smile onto her face, "Oh, if it's not any trouble- "

"Not at all," Ma insisted, her own smile growing larger if that was possible. Unlocking the back doors, she nodded toward them. "Get in."

Yeah, whatever was up there did not like me. That was all I could think as Courtney got in, that innocent smile on her face as she started a conversation with Ma. This moment was torture; this moment must have been planned.

But I could do nothing to escape it but glare out the window, wishing that I was anywhere but trapped in this stupid, tiny car.

Anne Maria's P.O.V

Everything's sorted: my family was out for the weekend, catering had been dealt with ages ago, and invites had been sent on a mass text vetted by Geoff himself - because Geoff knew what went into a good event. So much effort had been placed into tonight. This was my ticket into gaining my first foothold into taking down Heather's corrupt rule. This was my chance to finally prove to Dakota that I could pay her back; she deserved that at least.

Getting ready had been effortless for once, especially since I had everything planned from the get-go. Hairspray was a main staple, multiple cans on standby and so many more used to make my poof bullet-proof. There wouldn't be an opportunity for anyone to ruin my night - not tonight. I was hosting the first rager of the year and by god was I going to make it one to remember - laws, age and peers be damned.

When I went downstairs, into the interior of the cleaned up and cleared up restaurant, I already had a few guests at the door. Geoff, most likely to claim dibs of music selection; a few other people Geoff hung around, cause they most likely carpooled; and surprisingly Dakota. My Dakota with... Katie but no Sadie? Weird.

"Welcome, losers!" Flinging open the front door, I let them all trickle in and wait until Dakota entered with Katie. Immediately, she met my gaze and I could feel a telepathic bond pass between us - like in those TV shows about people with superpowers and shit. In that moment, I knew what was up. Handing over command to Geoff (cause he could be trusted), I led her and Katie toward the back.

Both of them were quiet, like mice. Katie kept fidgeting, not at all looking comfortable as she stared at a pair of heels that I guessed Dakota loaned her. Dakota herself looked a little lackluster, lacking the glittery and flamboyant persona that often came in her package. Even her blonde hair seemed a little less golden tonight, scraped back into its ponytail with a fluffy pink scrunchie. Together they looked about ready to burst into tears.

"Alright ladies, what's up?" I asked, already knowing it had something to do with Heather. Everything bad more or less linked back to her.

"Heather's gone too far this time," Dakota spoke for the pair of them, shaking her head. "She split Katie and Sadie up. She's planning to..."

Signalling for Dakota to stop talking, I already gained the full picture. There wasn't a need for explanation. Not at all. I've seen the game played out so many times, been involved within its board so many times, that I could see all the red flags popping up from miles away. This wasn't the first time Heather's messed with close friendships; this won't be the last either. Still, part of me couldn't believe it. Just how far she'd go...

"The last thing you both need to do is act like this," Somehow, I found myself speaking strongly, firmly. "Heather wants you both upset. So you show her the opposite. You have a good fucking time at my party and you make the most of it."

'Because otherwise, you let Heather win,' I thought, remembering how many times I'd told Dakota the same thing in the past. What gave Heather true power was the misery she caused and I'll be damned if her evil ruined tonight. Tonight was all about combating her evil. Tonight, it would be like we'd won - not her.

Even if Heather's actions still left burning marks on us all, scars of the past evils she made us commit.