Homecoming was fast approaching, the dance would be taking place at the end of the week. Nearly the entire student body was talking about it, some with excitement about the game scheduled the night before and others about the dance itself, how they looked forward to having fun with friends, and the cheesy music. To make memories together. The only ones not excited about the popular dance were the group of jocks and cheerleaders to have been personally banned from attending by the headmistress. Serenity had spent weeks complaining about it, making her disappointment known to everyone who cared to listen, she'd thrown tantrums too. Her mother had phoned up to protest against the decision, refusing to believe her little angel could have done anything to deserve such a punishment, while also proving the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
Those part of the homecoming committee had been featured in the school's newsletter. Stephanie ensured the group of teenagers got the recognition they deserved while helping to build excitement for the dance. Even mentioning the teachers would be doing a rehearsed group dance, something that wasn't to be missed and likely a one-time event. Those part of the football team had also been featured in the newsletter, promising to do their best to achieve victory and set the path of success for the wrestling team.
Brie and her group of girls had eventually linked back up with the jocks. No one expected the once popular head cheerleader to stay mad at her boo for long. All their arguments and subsequent silent treatment never seemed to last more than a day. The combined group as a whole however was noticeably smaller, neither Austin nor Elias could be found within their ranks. Instead, Elias had asked for permission to create a break time club, teaching younger students to play the guitar and other musical instruments. Whereas Austin now volunteered in the games clubs and tutored those who struggled with school work. Both of them had become determined to correct their past mistakes. Austin showed his will to change by sincerely apologizing to Echo for the cruel joke he'd played a part in the previous year and forewarning Carmella about the intention their former friends had to humiliate her.
"How's everything going with the individual tasks?" asked Daniel upon entering the vacant room, the once popular students often occupied since being banned from Homecoming. Neither of them could bare showing their faces now, especially when rumors ran rampant about their banning. The revenge vendetta had been the only thing to truly keep the group together, humiliating poor Carmella was what motivated them now and the dreams of succeeding in their cruelty.
The loud-mouthed teen could remember telling Brie of the idea via messages, she'd ignored him before that, rejected his calls, and went the opposite way when she saw him in the halls. Their relationship had been a risk. The idea of humiliating Carmella had saved their relationship and the entire friendship of their group. Brie at first wasn't interested, but soon come around to the idea, especially when she thought about the loss of popularity and her older twin gaining the spotlight. How Carmella had played a vital role in the Mix-n-match group seeing the light of day and several couples being brought together.
"Everything planned, just need to put in motion" answered Brie with enthusiasm, as she imagined everything taking place. Carmella being humiliated so much that she refused to show her face around the school, the rival group falling apart and the spotlight being brought back to where it should be. She thought about going on to get the ultimate revenge on Nikki too, watching as her friendships were torn apart and her budding relationship with Drew fading into nothing.
"Us girls have been secretly campaigning for Carmella to be Homecoming Queen, and sabotaging any rivals for the prestigious position" voiced Serenity with viciousness flooding her otherwise sweet voice. Slowly over the weeks, her ditzy persona had melted away, revealing her true vindictive and vicious personality beneath. When she wasn't hiding from the student body, she was tormenting younger students. Countless times she'd brought younger girls to tears with no remorse. She bullied some without care and victimized others for sheer entertainment.
In recent days she'd also turned her attention to Summer, for one reason. Roman her crush had given the leggy blonde the attention Serenity herself so desperately desired. The two could often be seen walking the corridors together, laughing and joking, making plans for weekends, and helping students find their way. As part of the Mix and Match group, they were role models and proud to help.
"If you guys get your side done, we should be able to sneak into the sports hall and set up the contraption the night before" commented Charlotte, pushing her blonde locks over her shoulder, before continuing with the party planning. Since they'd been banned from the actual dance, they'd be holding their exclusive one. Of course, it would take place after their revenge plot was complete. After they'd filmed everything and posted it to both YouTube and the school's website.
"We've extended a party invite to some old friends" spoke Andrade, suspecting for the time being most would reject the idea of attending a dance with the former popular students. After all, no one talked about them much anymore, they weren't the hot topic of the conversation now and Brie and Daniel had lost their place as the hottest couple. That title now belonged to Dean and Renee. "Wouldn't hold your breath about them attending though. Most consider us old news now" he added with frustration. He like Daniel hated how everything had changed since Senior Year had begun.
"We'll be the hot topic again soon enough" replied Eva, as if ignoring what would happen afterward. If they succeeded they'd been the talk of the school, but so would Carmella. They would have cemented themself at the top once more, and things would return to how it was before. But they also ran the risk of far worse consequences. Not just from Stephanie and the school board, but from the rival group too. Echo and the demonic duo had already displayed they were a force to be reconned with. There was little doubt those of the Mix and Match group would retaliate in some way.
Cena on the other hand stayed quiet, since the planning and preparation had begun, he'd started to think. Stephanie had warned him and Daniel to tread carefully. Their places on the wrestling team depended on it. Selfishly the duo tricked themselves into believing they were the glue that held the team together, the key to success, thrust believed they were irreplaceable and Stephanie's words were little more than an empty threat. The first round of the wrestling tournament was just after homecoming, right after half term. Both Cena and Daniel refused to believe replacements could be found for them before the first round started. After that, it was against the tournament rules to change the team lineup.
"How's wrestling training going?" asked Eva, her voice almost monotone, almost as if she wasn't interested but asked to break the unsettling awkward tension to have settled over the group in the form of a thick blanket of silence. Both Daniel and Cena looked at each other, silently debating who should answer the question asked. Both recalled Hunter drilling the idea of success into everyone on the team, Booker T putting each through the wringer with Lita helping to perfect their style. Character building had been a nightmare for the most part, although parts of the training had been fun.
"Not too bad. Booker comes and goes, Hunter gave him a secondary task regarding the team. Lita helps with the wrestling style, she also put forward the idea of having entrance music and individual logos like the pros" started Daniel, recalling his excitement when it came to Lita's ideas. Even more so when Hunter had approved and added to it, making each a deal, if they got to the semi-finals of the tournament, he'd talk to Stephanie about having their own merch.
"Character building's been a nightmare. Hunter is tense, to say the least," continued Cena, recalling the wrestling coach had been particularly harsh on both him and Daniel. He'd been the same with others but not as bad. He praised the Hounds for their team idea, as well as Sasha on her Boss persona. Echo, Nikki, and AJ had also been praised for incorporating their nicknames into the characters, thrust becoming Fearless, the Crazy Geek Goddess, and the Dark Demon.
"Have any of you been pulled aside by Booker about the bench team?" asked Ronda, finding herself with curiosity. Even more so when her former bestie in Shayna had been pulled from IT class several weeks ago. Rhea, Asuka and Iyo Shirai had been too. Many had wondered until it was revealed during sports class, there was a bench team in place should they be needed for something. Although the names of those on the team hadn't been given, leaving plenty of room for speculation.
"Austin was pulled out of art class by Booker" commented Kaitlyn, recalling Booker had also retrieved Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens at the same time, just outside the door, Finn, Aleister, and Damien Priest could be found. Neither of the students mentioned had returned to the classes they'd been taken from. Instead, they were seen at lunch, during breaks, and in core subjects.
"Forget that, let's continue with our victory party and revenge" muttered Cena, returning the attention to where it should be in his opinion. His focus was on regaining the lost popularity and once again reforming the school. At least when he and Daniel weren't in wrestling practice getting their character ideas torn apart by Hunter. The once popular jock soon noticed Lashley making a music playlist, as well as doing a little research into making YouTube videos, although the muscular teen didn't bother mentioning what the research was for. Instead allowing those surrounding him to guess.
"There's not much more to do regarding the revenge plot. Just set up which we can't do until the night before" condescend responded Serenity, as if the very sight of both Cena and Daniel offended her. "The party is well underway, the venue's booked, decorations ordered, working on the playlist, invites to other exclusive guests sent, and the camera has been purchased. The theme decided" listed the vindictive brunette, her eyes hard and cold, as she turned back to her pink laptop, continuing to tap away at the keyboard while simultaneously ignoring everything else that came from Cena and Daniel's lips.
Instead, she worked on her plans to gain popularity, plans that if went right would allow her to shed the unnecessary weight of the group surrounding her. Although they would be useful and play a part in those plans. If all went how the brunette imagined, then she would be the most popular girl in the school, she'd be dating one Roman Reigns, be on track to be voted Prom Queen at the end of the year, and hopefully valedictorian. And if all went well, the mix-and-match group would have been torn apart, being nothing more than a forgotten memory. Brie would join her sister at the bottom of the food chain with all the other losers Serenity was determined to destroy, no matter the cost.
