Chapter 3: High School Queen Strikes Again
Vanessa
Everything was going exactly as she had planned.
Ariel had lost her voice. When Vanessa heard the news, she strutted into the choir room, wearing her most innocent, helpful smile.
She made a beeline for Mrs. Bloodgood, who was already in a frenzy over the last-minute disaster.
"Mrs. Bloodgood," Vanessa said sweetly, feigning concern. "I'd be happy to take Ariel's place, seeing as she can't sing tonight."
As she spoke, she shot Ariel a look—a cruel smirk full of satisfaction.
Mrs. Bloodgood sighed in relief. "That would be very helpful; thank you, Vanessa. Here's the song. Please memorize it before you go out to sing."
Vanessa took the sheet music, barely glancing at it. She didn't need it. She had memorized the song days ago in case something like this happened.
Mrs. Bloodgood rushed out of the room, ensuring everything was ready for the performance.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Vanessa turned to Ariel, who sat there, silent, devastated, helpless.
Vanessa towered over her, eyes glinting with victory.
"I know this was supposed to be a big night for you," she said, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "But I'll be taking it instead."
Ariel's blue eyes widened, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to scream at her, but all that came out was silence.
Vanessa leaned in closer. "You will never be as popular as me, and I'll ensure it." She flipped her hair over her shoulder, straightening up. "Anyway, I have a song to sing, and you have a bench to sit on. Bye now."
Vanessa turned on her heel and sauntered out, savoring Ariel's look of shock and sadness. It was perfect.
As Vanessa strolled down the hallway leading to the football field, she spotted Eric standing with his team.
Her boyfriend. Or, at least, the guy she was using.
She adjusted her skirt slightly, ensuring she looked her best before approaching him.
"Hello, babe," she purred, sliding beside him. "Ready for the big game?" She placed a hand on his chest, just for show, knowing the rest of the team was watching.
Eric chuckled, throwing an arm around her. "Yeah, this is gonna start a great season for us. The boys and I have been practicing for weeks." Then, he noticed the microphone in her hand and frowned. "What's that for?"
Vanessa gave him a sly smile. "I'll be singing the national anthem tonight." She leaned in, brushing a finger under his chin. "And I hope you love my voice."
Eric seemed a little surprised, but she turned away before he could say anything. "Good luck, babe. And good luck, boys."
With that, she left him standing there, making her way to center field.
As Vanessa stepped onto the field, the stadium lights bathed her in a golden glow.
The crowd cheered, unaware of the backstabbing treachery that had brought her to this moment.
And in the front row, she spotted her mother.
Ursula was watching proudly, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
Vanessa gripped the microphone, brought it to her lips, and began to sing.
Tonight, the spotlight belonged to her.
Ariel
Why was this happening to her?
Tonight was supposed to be her moment. It was her chance to finally shine, to show everyone the voice she had spent years perfecting. But just like always, Vanessa had found a way to ruin it.
The reality of the situation hit like a punch to the gut. Ariel had been so shocked and blindsided that she had just stood there, unable to process what had happened. But now, as Vanessa's voice echoed through the halls, stealing the performance meant for her, Ariel snapped out of it.
She had to do something.
She had to find her father.
Panic surged through her as she bolted down the hallway, dodging students and staff, her heart hammering in her chest. Vanessa was singing. And even though she was good, Ariel knew she was better. But what did it matter if she couldn't even make a sound?
Her father.
He would know what to do. He had to.
Finally, she burst through the entrance and onto the bleachers, where her father and sisters sat among the crowd. Their shocked expressions told her they already knew something was wrong.
Her father stood, his brow furrowed. "Ariel, what's going on? I thought you were supposed to be singing tonight!"
He sounded angry and worried.
Ariel tried to speak—but nothing came out.
Frustration bubbled inside her as she frantically began gesturing, trying to explain. But how could she? How could she make him understand what Vanessa had done?
Her father's confusion only deepened. "Ariel, I don't understand. Why won't you speak?"
Tears burned at the edges of her vision as she shook her head. This couldn't be happening.
That's when she spotted Flounder and Sebastian walking by. Maybe they could help.
Ariel quickly waved them over, her movements desperate and urgent.
Sebastian's eyes widened when he saw her face. "Ariel? What's wrong?"
She gestured wildly, trying to mime drinking, then pointed to her throat.
Flounder still looked confused, but Sebastian's expression darkened. He turned to Ariel's father, his voice firm.
"Sir, I'm Sebastian—Ariel's friend. She's trying to tell you that she can't speak because she drank something that took her voice away."
Her father's face hardened. "What? Who would do such a thing?—"
Sebastian cut him off. "It was Vanessa. She gave Ariel a drink. And now Ariel can't sing—so Vanessa took her place."
Ariel's father looked at her in horrified realization. He turned to her. "Is this true?"
Ariel nodded, blinking back tears.
His jaw clenched. "Well, we'll put a stop to this right now—"
Sebastian hesitated. "Sir… it's too late. The song is almost over. By the time we figure out how to fix this, the performance—and the game—will be done."
Ariel's stomach dropped.
It was over.
Everything she had been waiting for—stolen, just like that.
Her father sighed heavily, rubbing a hand down his face. "We came here to hear you sing, Ariel. And if that can't happen, there's no point in staying." He looked at his daughters. "Come on, girls. Let's go."
Ariel froze.
Just like that? They were leaving?
She watched in devastation as her father and sisters descended the bleachers, disappearing into the crowd.
Ariel turned back to the field, her heart twisting in her chest. Vanessa was finishing the song.
The crowd was cheering for her.
Loving her.
And Ariel could only stand there, watching it all slip away.
This wasn't just unfair.
This was a nightmare.
Eric
As Vanessa greeted him and announced that she'd be singing tonight, one of his teammates grinned and nudged him.
"Man, Eric, you are lucky. You've got the head cheerleader, and now she's gonna sing? She's perfect, dude."
Eric barely acknowledged the comment, his gaze trailing after Vanessa as she walked out of the hallway, swaying confidently.
Another teammate piped up. "Hey, I thought that other girl was supposed to sing today? The redhead. What was her name again?"
"Oh, Ariel?" The first guy shrugged. "I heard she lost her voice and can't sing tonight. Oh well. She probably wouldn't have been as good as Vanessa—the goddess of our school."
The group laughed and rushed out of the hallway, heading toward the field, hyped by the roaring crowd.
Eric followed behind, letting their voices fade into the background.
Football was in his blood. The roar of the crowd, the game's adrenaline, the fans' energy—it was all exhilarating. But…
It wasn't his dream.
He loved playing, but he wasn't sure if this was what he wanted for the rest of his life.
Something caught his eye as he sat on the bench, waiting for Vanessa's performance to start.
A flash of red.
Eric turned his head slightly and saw—Ariel.
She stood beside her father beside the bleachers, talking to someone. A public figure? He squinted, trying to get a better look.
'Why is she talking to him?' he wondered.
But before he could think too much about it, Vanessa started singing.
The moment she did, his breath hitched.
The voice—it was… familiar.
His brows furrowed. Could it be?
He didn't realize he had spoken aloud until his friend beside him nudged him. "What, man?"
Eric barely heard him. His mind was too focused on the voice.
It was almost the same voice that had captivated him days ago—the one he had heard in the choir room.
The one that made him stop in his tracks.
'Maybe it really was her…'
That single thought overtook everything else.
Ariel? Gone from his mind.
The final score was brutal—28 to 0. Their team destroyed the competition, but Eric barely even cared.
As soon as the game ended, he searched for Vanessa. He needed to ask her something.
He found her surrounded by a crowd, soaking in the praise. But when she saw him, she immediately brightened.
"Hey," he said as he approached. "That was great singing—you're excellent."
Vanessa beamed. "Aw, thank you! And great game. That was, like, total overkill, right? Twenty-eight to zero."
Eric chuckled but quickly got to the point. "I wanted to ask you something…"
She tilted her head. "What's up?"
"Were you in the choir room a few days ago?" he asked, overseeing her reaction. "Singing?"
Vanessa blinked. Then, after the slightest pause, she nodded confidently. "Yes, I was. Why do you ask?"
Eric felt his stomach flip.
So it was her.
"Because…" He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "I heard you singing that day. And I… I kinda fell in love with your voice."
Vanessa's eyes widened slightly, then softened into an adoring look.
"I've been trying to find you ever since," Eric admitted, a small, unsure smile on his lips. "How about we go get some dinner?"
Vanessa's fake modesty was flawless. She tilted her head slightly and giggled. "That sounds fun."
As Vanessa slipped her arm through his, Eric felt satisfied.
He had finally found the girl with the voice that had stolen his heart.
And now, he was going to date her for real.
Little did he know, he had been deceived.
