"I know you lot can be stubborn, but ..." started Brie, a small smile painted on her features. The weekend had been both busy and relaxing; Echo was awake now, AJ had been released from the hospital, Brie had received a message from Damian asking her to prom - revealing himself to be her mystery man, and Serenity seemed to have ramped up her games despite being on the losing end of whatever she was playing and planning. But at the same time, it had also been peaceful; she'd gotten to play games with her little brother and talk with Nikki like old times. She'd learned some new family recipes from her mom, too, and even began to focus on life after the fast-approaching end of school life. "Do you have to make things so damn difficult?"
"Do you have to be so quick to forgive?" asked Dean in response, as if he had the words ready and waiting to be used. His response had been so quick that Brie had been taken aback, although it was clear to anyone who knew her that she was simply trying to understand. In Brie's own mind, she'd once been like Roman, worse even, and yet the Mismatched family had given her a second chance without blinking. Yet with Roman, they acted differently; those who had allowed him back were weary, as if expecting the next part of his game to begin at any moment; they said they had forgiven him, but it was clear they hadn't forgotten and weren't ready to move on yet.
Then there were Seth, Dean, and the Darklings. Those who had made it clear they weren't about to forgive Roman for his transgressions, let alone forget how he hurt them. Whenever Roman joined the larger group, the Darklings disappeared and took Seth, Dean, and Renee with them; it was like they had a sixth sense when Roman would appear, as it got to the point where none of them could be found on the breaks Roman wandered over to them.
"I have to think positively, especially when I was like, him once, worse than him," replied Brie, admitting she generally believed she was worse than Roman while also displaying just how little she had truly learned about the Darklings, about how much she knew about Seth and Dean. "I was the Queen Bitch then turned on my twin sister, who tormented those who were different and thought popularity was everything; thanks to all of you, I see the error of my ways; you all accepted me without a second thought, helped me get on the right path and kept me focused, why is this so different?'
"Cause you weren't a part of this family while you were like that," replied Nikki from Brie's side, as she quickly realized what prevented the others from moving on, or at least the betrayal Seth and Dean were unwilling to forgive. "You set your sights on being better. Sure, you kept your friendships with those you love in the cheerleads and jocks, but you haven't gone out of your way to play games with them, to lead them on, or give them false hope. You've been honest with them and helped them see the error of their ways, too. You didn't only better yourself but also helped everyone you love, apart from those groups, find themselves outside of stupid popularity contests and idiocy."
"In short, Brie Mode," started Seth, "Me and Dean won't forgive Roman because we can't look past the betrayal. He didn't just play games with all of us, break Summer's heart, and go out of his way to destroy. He did so while also being a founding member of this family. He told us one thing, then essentially did the opposite behind our backs, so much so we don't even know who the real Roman is and don't care to know either. He made his bed; it's time he lies in it," added the Architect, although no sadness glimmered in his eyes this time; instead, he had time to process everything and let go of all the regrets and blame he'd been holding on to. He'd let go of the things he knew he couldn't change.
"He knew what he was doing when he burned that bridge but did it anyway. There's no coming back from what he did," spoke Dean, rolling his icy eyes when Serenity came storming toward the group on the bleachers, no doubt looking for the Samoan teen she'd been obsessing over for god knows how long. "He isn't here," shouted the lunatic; his intentions were all too clear to those around him; he wasn't just keeping Roman at arm's length but also keeping the poison that was Serenity as far from those he loved as possible. If rumors were to be believed, then Serenity had already gone out of her way several times to hurt others, and she'd been the reason the girls he loved in different ways had been hurt in the car accident.
"How do I know you're not just saying that?" Serenity yelled back, hatred running through her voice. Despite her best efforts, nothing had worked to squash the rumors of her involvement and get things back to normal. A few took pity on her and helped her with her failing prom campaign, but the majority cast suspicious judgment upon her and proclaimed her guilty before they had all the pieces to the jigsaw. "How do I know you're not hiding him from me,"
"I'll be surprised if you know anything outside your selfish desires," replied Finn, his comment quiet and only heard by those around him, evident by the sniggers he received and Renee reaching over to swot his shoulder as if to scold him silently. "We Darklings wouldn't be here if Roman were nearby," admitted the Prince while also cluing Serenity to the suspicious disappearance as of late. "We focus on something else that is more fun when he's with this lot."
"Like Echo's prom campaign," accused Serenity, finally wording her suspicions on who had been running the campaign, although she suspected Seth had a part in it too. After all, her little digging revealed that the campaign had started before the accident, even if Echo hadn't been aware of it then. "Why do you even bother campaigning for her? It's not like she wants to be prom queen or will win," threw the judgmental brunette, a wicked smirk pasting across her lips mere seconds later as the familiar twinkle of malice appeared in her hazel eyes. One would think she had won something with the way she grinned.
"She's got a better chance than you," replied Becky just as quickly. Instantly, the smirk Serenity had disappeared. Anger took over, fury even at being reminded of the chances Serenity purposely ignored. After all, they weren't in her favor; if it weren't going her way, she would ignore it until it did. "Speaking of the campaigns, what you lot got planned next?" asked the Irish teen, knowing at least Punk was up to something more, and there was little doubt Cross had been up to something, especially if her disappearances were anything to go by.
"The next part of my comic will be up on Wednesday," replied Punk; his smile grew wider even more, so upon AJ helping, her ideas and suggestions on color schemes were a big help. The little comic had been a welcome change from the more normal ways to let people know about prom campaigns. "AJ's still working on her speech for the rally tomorrow," he added, knowing she had been super focused on that and her studies. Although she was set to return to school tomorrow, she already knew what she would do. "Who redecorated Echo's locker anyway?"
"I did," spoke Aleister, once again revealing he'd been the one to decorate Echo's locker, ensuring it was perfect for her, although this time he included a few other things, such as a photo of her and Seth and the little group photos. Once again, the Vote Demon Prom Queen banner was a printed ribbon rather than the previously used art paper. "She's due back Thursday, plus it's free advertisement for her campaign," he added, like many he knew she would miss the Prom Rally, but that didn't mean those helping weren't serious about campaigning on her behalf.
"How'd detention go?" asked Roman when he finally joined the larger group, ignoring Serenity as he passed her, even when she sweetly said hello. Instead, the Samoan continued to the bleachers until he reached the bottom, noticing instantly when the Darkling moved to the top, Seth, Dean, and Renee with them. Although the Samoan said he understood it, it hurt even more when Seth and Dean were among them again. Two, he was trying his damnest to make things right; perhaps it would be easier when Echo returned; she seemed to be the ray of common sense that grounded them.
"Meh, same old, same old," replied Corey, shrugging his shoulders as he did so. "Got a lecture from Steph about hijacking the school intercom and the advice to just ask her next time, like Summer did," added the Savior of Misbehavior, glancing at Summer, who sweetly ginned from next to Finn. However, she didn't let anyone in on the secret of what was planned. "As for the prom campaign, holding a contest at some point and gonna utilize the handy megaphone again."
"And attend the rally with that loud mouth of yours," corrected Carmella, chuckling shortly thereafter, "Alright, Darklings, spill what have y'all be all to," she added, raising her voice so the group at the top of the bleachers could properly hear her. At the same time, she notices that Punk has moved away from Roman when the Samoan settled next to him, removing himself from being in the middle of Seth, Dean, and Roman's brotherhood as he had done many times before. Serenity moved closer, deciding to join the misfits whether they wanted her there or not; for once, she didn't say anything. Instead, she got her notebook out and prepared to take notes; after all, she had to improve her campaign somehow; perhaps she could copy the ideas of the mix-and-match family as she had with Sasha, Maria, and Charlotte before.
"The campaigning or something else?" asked JD with an ire of innocence; a grin to match it appeared across his lips mere seconds later; his blue eyes sparkled with mischief as light-hearted chuckles could be heard from those around him. "The campaigning, we've got some ideas, but nothing set in stone yet; most of what we're up to will go ahead once Demon's back. The only exception is the Rally," he added, even when he knew they were still undecided about what they were doing regarding the rally.
"Architect, here got a cute idea too," added Renee, recalling when Seth had first mentioned the idea of a little video, he'd asked for pictures and little video clips anyone had of both them together and separately, even spent time trying to find the right music to go into the background.
"Aye, blame Punk; he gave me the idea," replied Seth, chuckling with mischief when Punk looked around with confusion, clearly not understanding what he'd done that gave his stepbrother the bright, secretive idea in the first place. "With your comic strips that tell the story of you and AJ's love. You used the shared love of comics to do it. It gave us the idea to use the shared goal Echo, and I have for the future," he explained, watching as realization dawned on Punk's features, shortly followed by a knowing grin and a thumbs up.
"If that's what I think it is, she's gonna love it," called Nikki. As both AJ and Echo's best friend, she knew all their future goals, knew all the things they wanted to do after leaving school, everything from being an author to owning a business and trying their hand at acting, all in between or after their established careers as pro wrestlers. Both wanted to change how Women were viewed in wrestling and change the status quo again. Echo, in particular, aspired to one day be a hall of famer, like her role models in the business.
"Comic strips, rally speech, posters, megaphone ..." listed Serenity louder than she thought. She was so lost in thought that she hadn't noticed how loud her words were, nor had she practically shouted them out rather than whispered them as intended. "Could do a sale of some sort, write a catchy song, use the intercom system," she added, still so lost in thought that she didn't notice when the Darklings had begun to move, this time to leave to go to their hiding place, no doubt to study as was expected of them.
"Don't forget to spray paint the sports field with Vote Serenity Prom Queen," called Punk, saying it convincingly enough it was a feasible idea that one of them would do, even if they weren't that stupid. "Nice t-shirts," he added upon noticing another way the Darklings promoted Echo. This time, with simply printed t-shirts, there was little doubt Hunter, Echo's twin, had made them. The t-shirts were black with Vote Demon Queen on the front and let the darkness reign on the black, all in a gothic font and shimmering letters.
A chuckle soon escaped Punk upon noticing each also wore rubber bracelets, each promoting another group member. The yellow gold promoted Miz and Maryse, titling them Momma and Papa Bear; the pink and black one was for Punk and AJ, simplifying saying Vote Summer of Crazy, whereas the last blue and green one promoted Carmella and Corey, branding them Princess Savior.
"You didn't think we were just gonna ignore yah, did you," spoke Damian; a chuckle escaped him as he remembered when Echo had given each of them the rubber bracelets to wear; her intentions were clear, and none of them were about to argue with her either. "We all know Demon wouldn't forgive us if we abandoned the family; she made the bracelets so you knew you'd still have our support even if we're focusing on her," he added.
"Lame," voiced Serenity. Although she scribbled the idea of T-shirts and bracelets for promotional purposes, even she'd admit it was clever. However, it would mean visiting her cousin to demand that she make the small jewelry pieces. She'd also have to visit Hunter to get him to make the T-shirts for her. Although that one would require her to design it, they had to be perfect.
"Nothing lame about Echo helping others deary," called Miz, being reminded of how unique his friend truly was; every day since waking up, she sent a text to everyone reminding them how awesome she thought each was, encouraged each to keep being themselves and help make the day a little brighter than the last. She put others before herself daily and was always happy to help. "Reminds me of why we love her so much," he added, deep down knowing if Echo was there, she'd been encouraging each and giving them ideas; she'd been helping them with their campaigns, even if she had her own going. She'd be their biggest supporter.
"Helping others, yet she won't help me because she's a selfish bitch," replied Serenity, once again scribbling in her notebook, this time ideas for her speech; she had new ideas now; she would use the speech to tear down the other potential queens.
"What have you done to deserve her help? or anyone for that matter?" asked Maryse, her voice calm with hints of curiosity. "What have you done to help others? To earn the respect, love, and kindness of others?" she added, this time with doubt. After all, Serenity was the most self-absorbed person she'd ever met. It was all about Serenity; if it weren't, then the mother-to-be would throw a tantrum until it was. She would manipulate, use, and hurt others to get what she wanted and then throw them away the second they were useless or had exhausted their usefulness.
"I've done plenty. Thank you very much," responded Serenity, clearly displaying that Maryse's questions and hidden accusations offended her. "I've got rid of the trash, helped the wrestling team, gave people something to talk about, elevated Roman's status, made this stupid school into something more, brought healthy competition ..."
"Cause trouble and pointless drama, ripped happy couples apart, weaponized your incompetence, tried to tear apart our family, used the popular and jocks and then threw them under the bus, turned on family, manipulated Roman, caused a car accident and called gods know how many every name under the sun," continued Carmella, listing all the things Serenity had done in the way they were rather than the twisted way Serenity had attempted to use them as.
"For god sake, I had nothing to do with that car accident; I told the police that," smugly replied Serenity as if she believed her word would finally erase all the suspicion, yet the moment her eyes landed on Roman, she knew it hadn't worked, the theory he shared had become rumor many had taken as fact. However, Serenity had taken comfort; none of them could put her anywhere near the accident when it had occurred, nor could they connect her to it in any way since she deleted the digital paper trail. "It's not my fault Echo can't drive."
"What about the rest of us?" asked Brie; they all knew beyond a shadow of a doubt Serenity was involved. Carmella and Maryse had seen her in the pink car, and she'd still yet to explain why she'd been at the hospital in the first place. Especially when each of them could debunk the lies she told about being with them. "All the cars were ran off the road, the rest of us had time to fight back, even in our shocked and terrified state," she added, her dark eyes serious suggesting none of the words spoken were a joke. "How do you explain being seen in the pink car or the footage?" asked Brie, making it clear they all knew Serenity wasn't as innocent as she thought was.
"What are you talking about? No one saw me there because I wasn't there," insisted Serenity, feeling the hairs at the back of her neck stand up. She was glad the Darklings weren't there, especially when she knew they could be more intense than the others, especially Aleister, who was protective of her cousin. "If there were footage, surely someone would have mentioned it by now. Plus, in this day and age, videos can be edited; it's called AI hello," she continued, suddenly feeling like she was an inmate on death row, just waiting to be executed. Quickly, her previous task of prom campaigning had been forgotten. Instead, her thoughts turned to what the collective group knew and how to convince them they were wrong, manipulate them even into doing what she wanted.