To say Serenity's week had been tumultuous was an understatement. Everything had started normal enough. Monday hadn't been any different from the beginning of any other week. A little more attention than usual. Her pregnancy was common knowledge, so people paid more attention to her than expected. Some asked questions and offered help, whereas others whispered as she walked past. A few made comments, but nothing Serenity couldn't ignore. The perks far outweighed the cons.
Even being cooped up in the little room near Stephanie's office had been different that Monday. In the place of the comfortable static chair was an adjustable office one. The tables had also been separated, and they were no longer gathered in the middle of the room as if prepared for a meeting. Now, they resembled ordinary classrooms spread across the school premises, all smaller in scale. A seating plan had been arranged, too, and a small list of rules had been blue-tacked to the whiteboard; underneath the rules was the daily schedule.
Breaks and Lunch had passed like all the others since the intervention. The only difference was Roman. Where he'd once been attentive and talkative, he turned quiet and distant, dare she say suspicious of her. When the group in the little room spoke about little things, Roman would be fully invested, but the moment it was just the two of them, his answers were short if he used words; if not, it was a combination of mumbles and growls. If Roman wasn't doing his studies, he was on his phone or writing and drawing in another notebook. Oddly, he refused to allow Serenity to look at it, even when she demanded to see it. His only response was to ask why and clearly state it wasn't her business. Even when she insisted it was. Even worse, when Serenity repeated his actions to spark jealousy. He didn't seem to notice; if he did, he never asked about it or demanded to see what was inside.
Tuesday was when things had begun to change. The day started with a school assembly. Stephanie called all students and staff to the NXT sports hall, the only place within the school that was big enough to hold everyone. At the assembly, Stephanie announced that she and the teaching staff would be working with police inspectors while also confirming the rumors of a car accident the previous Friday were valid. The headmistress's words made it clear the many incidences around the school over the year and the accident itself were connected. Even worse for Serenity, it was made incredibly apparent by the investigating officers that they didn't believe the hit and run was an accident, although they didn't share more.
Coincidentally, the Mix-and-Match family disappeared the same day. They had been present at the assembly, but after that, it was as if someone had put a blanket of invisibility over them. Serenity was initially suspicious but soon figured it had to do with the investigation; they'd be back soon enough. However, they didn't return; at least Serenity hadn't noticed them. She'd gone looking for them at lunch and went to all the spots she knew they gathered, only to find each void of life or occupied by a different group of students.
While searching around the school, however, she came across Roman on the first floor. He was near a row of lockers, seemingly blind to everything around him, bobbing away to the music he was listening to, a slight grin on his lips as he worked on something. At first, Serenity didn't think much of it; she was halfway down the stairs when suspicion hit her. Roman's locker was on the ground floor, near the south entrance. He did not need to be near the first-floor lockers, at least when alone. So she went back up the stairs to confront him.
Only when she reached him did she realize what he was doing: decorating AJ's once boring locker door. The silver metal had been covered over with a patchwork of dark purple and white paper. Some glitter, sequins, and fake jewels had been glued onto each bit; on top of the patched work paper were different things, a few photos of AJ with different people framed with feathers and cutouts of her favorite comic characters. A few trinkets here and there, a get well soon banner, and, of course, a little banner with AJ's name and nicknames written on them.
It was a sweet gesture to anyone else, but to Serenity, it was concerning. She'd spent time and effort isolating him from the stupid little group he'd once called friends and family. She'd meticulously planned everything out, and she'd chosen him. When she believed her manipulations and mind games had worked, he showed her they hadn't. He showed her that her plans were in jeopardy without having to utter a single word.
Serenity spent a little more time looking around the corridor. She wasn't an idiot. She knew Summer and Echo's lockers were in the same area, even if she couldn't give their exact locations. Quickly, she found Summer's. It had already been decorated; although it was apparent, Roman hadn't done it. The colors used were those most associated with the Darklings, no less. Despite the temptation, Serenity somehow managed to resist the urge to rip the decorations off Summer's locker; after all, she knew it would only paint her in a bad light, even worse than some of the whispers that already floated around.
Wednesday was the day Serenity truly believed things had gone downhill so much that there was no return to how things were. At first, she didn't think anything was wrong. She noticed Roman wasn't in the little room. She'd gotten there a little later due to a doctor's appointment. Her thoughts told her he was using the bathroom, but she quickly realized otherwise upon noticing his desk was empty, and none of his things were in the room.
However, Roman's whereabouts were the least of her worries. During the study period, the others talked in the usual little room. To begin with, Serenity hadn't paid much attention; she brushed it off as some useless topic she didn't care for. That was until she heard Daniel say, "Have you heard the rumors?" Instantly, Serenity tuned into the conversation, although she didn't add to it. Instead, she acted like she was doing the work placed before her and studying. A horrible shiver rattled down her spine when Serenity heard the name being thrown around: a possible suspect in the hit-and-run. Samantha Waters.
Instantly, Serenity felt terrified, although she tried to rationalize Samantha's name being in the mix; it was her Barbie pink car. Still, that didn't stop the dread from building; if they had connected Samantha to what happened, it was only a matter of time before Avery and Allegra were attached to it. Despite that, she had faith that none of them would share her involvement in the accident, although Serenity did make a mental note to delete the digital paper trail and her internet search history. She was so close to achieving her goals, after all. It would be a shame if everything went up in flames now, especially after all her hard work.
Despite Serenity hoping that was the end of things going wrong that day. It wasn't. Instead, she discovered the plans Allegra had to destroy the prom campaigns of others had yet to work as expected. Sasha had gotten louder since the rumors about her started. Because of her talent to be as loud as she was, the rumors meant to cause her to drop out had drowned out. Maria hadn't even been affected by Allegra's attempts to stop her campaigning. Instead, it had only strengthened her resolve to become prom queen.
Although far quieter than before, Carmella and Maryse still campaigned. Serenity had heard whispers of that even if she hadn't physically seen anything. Charlotte was the most obvious one running for Prom Queen outside of Sasha. Banners were everywhere, and she passed out flyers and badges, too. The only two Allegra had succeeded with were Naomi and Eva. Both had stopped campaigning for one reason or another. Despite that success, however, neither Allegra nor Serenity had found out the identity of the mystery contender, nor had they discovered who was running AJ's campaign in her stead.
If that wasn't bad enough, come midday on that Wednesday, she'd gotten into an argument with Roman after finally finding him. He had been talking with Corey and JD outside the NXT sports hall; whatever they discussed was quickly silenced when she approached. Serenity couldn't say for sure what had caused the argument. Maybe it was his refusal to tell her why he was talking to the creep and the Darkling or to let her see what he'd been writing and drawing in his notebook. She'd even considered it was his lack of communication and warmth for anything outside of the baby subject. Whatever had caused it, Serenity was sure it wasn't her fault.
Their argument had been loud and vicious. Loud enough, it had attached passing students and caused JD and Corey to disappear back into the shadows. Serenity hadn't wasted time hurling insults at Roman, almost like she was putting on a show. At first, Roman hadn't responded; he'd just let her shout and hoped she'd tire herself out like normal; after all, he was used to her behavior by now. But after she accused him of a slew of things, ranging from cheating to not caring for her or the baby, something just snapped in him.
Roman argued back for the first time and did so just as loudly as Serenity did. However, he didn't throw sharp-edged insults at her, but he did share his theory. One that spread like wildfire around the school. With a thunderous voice, Roman had insinuated Serenity was somehow involved in the hit-and-run. The accusation had forced Serenity into silence quickly; after all, she had no returned for that, and nothing she could say would stamp it out. So she did something she promptly regretted. With a raised voice once more, she threatened to get an abortion. Regret hit her quickly, not for the cruelty of what she had said in front of so many, but because of the swift consequences that hit her.
Roman ended their relationship without a second thought, making it clear it would be for good. From then on, all communication between them would be about the baby and nothing more. Before leaving, he clarified his stance: She would no longer be part of his future. He'd fight for sole custody to ensure it and to make sure their child wouldn't turn out like her.
Serenity had fumed for the rest of the day, quietly storming up new plans while avoiding the harsh attention she received from others. By the end of the day, Roman's theory was common knowledge, and everyone looked at Serenity with an ire of suspicion. Some judged her harsher than she had with others in the past, and almost everyone laughed at her when she publically announced she was running for Prom Queen.
Going into school on Thursday, Serenity had convinced herself everything would have blown over by now, and Roman would be on his knees begging for her forgiveness by the time lunch rolled around. Serenity was right about something; something was different. That day, she wasn't the center of rumors and whispers; instead, they were all focused on Summer's return, and with her, the mix-and-match family came out of hiding. Each of them playing a game that seemed to include several of Roman's cousins, a few had been brave enough to call Jacob a rubber duck and Siko a cabbage.
Much to Serenity's dismay, Roman seemed happier when she had seen him at different points throughout the day. He smiled more, even if tinted with sadness. Despite her hope, Roman didn't return to the little room near Stephanie's office, and he didn't join her during breaks or lunch. Instead, with Stephanie's permission, he created a little group for younger students, tutoring those who needed it the most. The worst was yet to come for Serenity; as she passed the lockers on the first floor, she noticed Echo's locker had been decorated. Again, it wasn't Roman's messy handy work, most likely Aleister's, she surmised, maybe Seth's if he dragged himself from the wallow of self-pity and depression long enough to do it. The decorations weren't what caught her attention; however, no, that was the silver glitter sign near the top of the locker that said, "Vote Demon, prom queen."
The bad luck didn't stop there for Serenity, even when she'd declared learning Echo was the mystery contender far worse than anything else. That afternoon, by pure chance, she'd learned Roman had visited AJ and Echo in the hospital the previous evening and spent a few hours with them and those who stayed with them. And if things couldn't get any worse, Stephanie had announced Roman would no longer be returning to the little room; having complied with what was asked of him without complaint and working on himself, Stephanie had worked with Vikki and found a new place for him to be for now. He could return to the family he belonged to permanently until his self-given assignment was complete.
Stephanie had given the remaining six in the little room hope they could be free from the days cooped up in the little room. All they had to do was repeat Roman's actions, figure out where they went wrong, work on bettering themself and making up for their wrongdoings, and most importantly, apologize and own up to their mistakes. The task was simple enough; Serenity certainly thought so. She told herself if Eva Marie, of all people, could do it, then anyone could.
So, that Thursday afternoon, Serenity spent reflecting and attempting to fulfill the task Stephanie had laid before everyone in the small room. Yet try as she might, Serenity couldn't work out where she'd gone wrong. If anything, she realized the misfit family had wronged her. One way or another, they had stopped her from getting what she wanted, stood in her way, and prevented success over and over again. Slowly, Serenity made a list of all the times the group she'd branded as enemies had stopped her from achieving her goal of being the Queen of Senior Year.
Ironically, she realized that although she blamed Echo for most of it, her cousin had only been responsible for one failure—the initial one that started the slippery downhill slide she was still trying to climb. Serenity soon sighed, realizing Nikki Bella had prevented her from sinking her claws into Drew as initially intended. After their relationship became public, he wouldn't even look at another like he did Nikki.
Maryse had been the one to throw her plans to be Homecoming Queen, which Brie's ill-timed gaining consciousness had quickly followed. However, Brie and Daniel's breakup gave her a much-needed opening. After all, the break-up drama had allowed her to sink her claws into Roman and convince him to engage in an affair with her behind Summer's back. The games, for the most part, were a bit of petty revenge, but what Serenity hadn't counted on was Roman regretting his plans and how he treated Summer. She was sure Roman wouldn't have returned if it had not been for the pregnancy. Although she questioned her decision to keep the baby, Serenity was at least glad it gave her the means to worm her way back into Roman's heart and good graces.
Finally, after much thinking, Serenity found what she believed was her mistake. It was simple, really, but one she had overlooked. In short, she had underestimated the brother-like bond between Seth, Dean, and Roman. Her other mistake was not making more detailed plans with Allegra, Samantha, and Avery; perhaps if they waited for their grand finale, Roman would still be at her side, and the Prom Queen race would be far more manageable. She'd also underestimated other things, such as the misfit family's loyalty to each other and their love in its many forms. Had she seen everything she underestimated for the threat they were, she could have planned accordingly and avoided the multitude of failures.
There was one other thing Serenity had realized she had been mistaken about: one she refused to write down as it was the most significant blow to her inflated ego. She had overestimated her abilities and herself in general. She'd taken her sweet time trying to gain Drew's attention, believed no one in the school would be a threat against her, overestimated how attractive she was, and thought she was the only one he would genuinely see. Because of that spectacular oversight, Serenity misjudged Nikki Bella and paid the of her misjudgment, she had lost her original target and was forced to settle for Roman. All her plans had been thrown up in the air, and now she faced failure in every part of her plan. All her hard work would be for nothing if she continued to fail.
When Friday rolled around, Serenity was thankful that her epic break-up with Roman was largely forgotten. Summer, being back, was still making its rounds through the student chatter system; now, however, there was something else making its rounds: news of AJ. She'd woken up. Serenity knew that was why Punk practically dragged Seth through the school gates that morning with a smile and bounce to his step.
However, much to Serenity's chagrin, her delight in the change didn't last. Before she could even get comfy in the little room, she and the others had been cooped up for what felt like forever. Stephanie had asked her to follow. The pair had entered her office shortly after being met with the police inspectors who had spoken in the assembly earlier in the week. Their expressions were blank; to Serenity, it was as if they were looking through her into her soul rather than at her. She couldn't help but feel dread bubbling or terror. She was so scared; Stephanie's words didn't even register with her.
The interview, as it was called, didn't inspire hope that everything would turn out as it should. Despite Serenity convincing herself all went well, she knew it hadn't. They asked her about many things, including her rivalry with Echo, her seemingly never-ending conflict with the rest of the misfit girls, her vicious breakup with Roman, and the car accident.
As convincingly as possible, Serenity told the officers the same lies she had told her friends, Samantha, Allegra, and Avery. She spun each event in which she had been the aggressor into one in which she was the victim, even giving over all the fake messages created to help her narrative of events. But when it came to the accident, Serenity was sure she had messed up. She wasn't sure why she thought it; it was just a gut feeling.
She told the officers she had carpooled with Carmella and Becky to the mall, although she omitted her comments and minor argument. Instead, she made the small shop trip seem so ordinary as if it was something they'd done hundreds of times before. They went to different stores; Serenity had told the officers, listing Glam'R'us, Delavegas, Enchantments, and the first shop she didn't bother to remember the name of. Following that, she told the elaborate story of bumping into Samantha, Allegra, and Avery, splitting off from the main group for an hour before rejoining them at Costa. There, they plan to go baby shopping the next day and catch a movie before they head home for the evening.
During her storytelling, Serenity noticed the officer pacing the length of the office when he stopped and flipped through his notebook to find something. However, the intimidating-appearing man didn't say anything to her or anyone else; he just observed. From there, Serenity answered a few more questions before being sent back to the small room she'd been in before. For the rest of that day, Serenity was super vigilant about everything and everyone; she had trouble concentrating and ignoring her loud thoughts. Especially the ones that seemed to repeat and tell her she had failed for good this time.
"There's still time for me to be prom queen," muttered Serenity to herself that afternoon, although she was quickly brought from her thoughts by the identical scoffs from Kaitlyn and Eva. Almost amused chuckles escaped them shortly after; even Jinder seemed to see something funny about what she'd mindlessly mumbled. "Something funny?" asked Serenity in what she thought was a calm voice but was more of a primal growl.
"You've got about as much chance at being prom queen as a goat winning a beauty contest," worded Kaitlyn, "AJ, in all her weird glory, has a better chance than winning than you," she added with little thought. However, she meant every word. Plus, she had promised if it came down to voting for Serenity or AJ, she'd choose her former best friend in a heartbeat. Sure, she was a royal bitch to AJ, someone who did deserve better, but in the end, both had found what they were looking for. Kaitlyn had found her place among the popular girls; although foolish with her actions to trust and help Serenity, the majority were still her closest friends. And AJ, she'd found Echo, by extension, the Darklings and the Misfit family, the place she belonged and could truly be herself.
"I'll be prom queen ... you'll see."
"Not if consequences get to you first," replied Eva. "The only person who's too stupid to see you're the center of the investigation is you. You're the only common denominator in everything that's happened, including the hit and run," announced the redhead, not even bothering to look up from what she was doing. Nor did she realize her words had given Serenity the not-so-fun wake-up call that ended her school week with a sudden wave of uncertainty and terror.