Eliza's POV;
I walk down the stairs with my hands clutching the books I'm hugging to my chest tightly.
From the chatters going on downstairs, it's clear that the shooting crew is here. Today is not my day, so obviously they're here for my brother.
I get down and find our massive living room, full of people. On the couch is my brother getting his make-up done, and my parents are in a corner discussing.
My parents run a modeling school and a fashion industry, and I and my brother are the faces of the companies.
My parents' names are not strangers to conversations held in high places about fashion, and being their kid, one would think I have it all.
Well, just as much as I have everything, I have nothing.
Workers greet me as I walk past them, and my brother smiles lightly at me as I pass, while I nod back.
"Eliza, honey. Good morning. I almost forgot you're still in the house. Off to school? "My mom says to me as she makes her way towards me, and I stare blankly at her.
"Yes, mom. I... "I begin, but she cuts me off.
"Honey, you've added weight! What's going on? And... Is that a pimple I'm seeing?? "She abruptly exclaims, and the room falls a bit silent.
Athena has been helping me sneak pizzas in over the last week. It's been ages since I eat pizza, and I was craving it so badly. So, Athena offered to be my pizza plug.
And let's just say, I dug a hole too deep to get out of. My parents have strict diets for my brother and me. The whole family does.
We're not vegetarians, but my parents are slowly trying to take us down that route. The whole family is on a diet that seems to have no end.
Daniel and I often find ways to cut some corners and have some ' forbidden ' food, but now, I think I went a bit too far.
So far my mom noticed the changes in my body. How much pizza did I consume!?
"Oh, it's... It's nothing, mom. Just... Puberty I guess. "I lie, and she raises a brow.
"Puberty has no such power over us in this house. Everything works for our good and helps us look our best. "My mom says. Reciting one of her annoying quotes, and I smile.
"Come with me... "She begins, but I cut her off.
"Mom, please. I really need to go to school today. I have something very important to do. "I beg, and she stares sternly at me.
"Hmmm. Okay, if it means that much to you. But when you're back home, we're shedding off that awful weight and getting rid of that ugly thing on your face. "She replies, and I swallow the hurt crawling up my throat.
I'm not fat, I just added very little weight and I'm amazed she noticed. Why can't I live like a normal kid? Even when I'm off the camera, I have to act like I'm in front of it!
"Here... "She says, grabbing a brush off one of the sofas, and brushing a lock of my black hair over my forehead to hide the pimple.
"There. We can't have anyone seeing that nasty thing. "She says, and I smile dryly before hugging my dad good morning, and heading out of the house.
I don't have anything important to do in school, to be honest. Today is the day the prom queen will be chosen.
Damien has been chosen as the prom king, and I entered my name for the slot of the prom queen when I got to know this.
He's the male gem of the school. He's the captain of the football club, his dad is filthy rich as he owns the biggest car production company in the state, and he is handsome beyond words.
I've had a massive crush on him since sixth grade, and if I get chosen as prom queen today, it will be a massive dream come true.
Besides, my biggest competition is Amber. Amber Devil! Her name is pronounced Devil, like from the Cruella movie, but I chose to call her Devil cause she is one.
One hideous devil dressed up like a princess and one who has enough money to shield her ugly, true colors.
I doubt anyone would leave their votes for her. She's a bully, she's mean, and she's a pest and a spoiled brat.
I get to school and wave my driver goodbye as I alight my car. The car is mine, I'm 18 years old, but I've never really had the balls to take a driving test or to go to a driving school.
"Eliza!! " I hear a familiar voice call, and I turn around to Find Athena rushing up to me.
"Excited for your big day? "Athena questions and I look up at her.
"You're so sure I'd win, huh? "I question, and she smiles.
"One hundred percent affirmative, ma'am. "She replies, and I smile.
"The only two girls that I see in this competition, are you and Amber. The other girls? No offense, I see them as jokes beside the both of you.
And, as we well know, Amber is the school's bully. There's no way she's winning this thing. So relax, and act like a winner.
You'd finally get to rule prom with your dream king! "She exclaims, and I throw a punch at her arm.
"Quiet, Athena! "I scold, and she giggles.
"Sorry. "She apologizes and I blush. One of the plus sides of having Athena as your best friend is the fact that she knows just the words to use to calm you, encourage you, soothe you, rile you, the list is endless.
She is just as annoying, as she's excellent.
*****
The day had gone by normally, till lunchtime, and the whole school gathered at the school's basketball court.
I stood beside Athena, holding her hand tightly.
"May all the contestants for the slot of promo queen please come forward. "The student president says, and I gulp as a total of about twenty-two girls step out.
I shut my eyes as the president starts announcing the votes.
I open my eyes and find we're down to three girls.
Me, Amber, and the head of the cheerleading squad.
"Riele Shaman, 248 votes... "The president announces, and I gulp as I know we're about five hundred and something in school.
"Eliza Rollins, five hundred and sixty-seven votes. "She says, and my heart snaps. I hear Athena cheer from the crowd, and a massive round of applause follows.
Five hundred and something, is that the whole school vote?
"Amber Devil, five hundred and seventy-one votes. "She announces, and silence takes up the hall. Except for the high-pitched cheers from her three minions.
I open my eyes in horror.
Amber won!? People chose Amber over me!?
"Congratulations, Amber. You're the 2021/2022 Prom queen. " The president announces as she hugs Amber, and I watch Amber beam with hideous smiles as she accepts the crown and flowers.
I watch as she walks over to Damien, and locks hands with him.
"Thank you both for contesting. We arranged something for you though. "The president says as she hands Riele and me big baskets filled with heaven knows what.
Riele and I turn to climb down the podium, and I hear Riele mumble,
"Amber won!? I'd rather get run over by a bus than believe that she didn't cheat! "
I walk over to Athena, and she takes my hand in hers and squeezes lightly without saying a word.
****
After school, Athena and I are making our way towards my car as my driver is waiting in the parking lot when suddenly I'm blocked by Amber."Hey, Eliza! "
Eliza's POV; "Hey, Eliza! "She greets with a voice laced with thick venom. "I can see the pain in your eyes, and it's quite obvious that you wish you were in my shoes right now. I mean, which girl in Emerald High, won't want to be? To be prom queen beside the one and only Damien Claude. It's no surprise you didn't win though, I mean with all the rumors traveling about..." She says, and I look up at her as her last words capture my interest. What rumors? "People have been saying you're getting a bit too fat, and that you also seem to be getting shorter. Also that your skin tone seems to be dropping. And that... "Amber begins, but Athena cuts her off. "That's just about enough, Amber! "Athena yells at her, and she jumps in fright. "Really, and what if I don't think it's enough? "Amber questions to dare her, and Athena steps closer to her. "I dare you to say one more word, Amber. And it's either you wind up in a ho
Eliza's POV; I stare blankly at aunty Gloria, who is unpacking the bag she has placed on the bed. She looks up at me and finds that I'm still clad in my clothes. "Eliza! "She snaps, and I inhale deeply in surrender. It's not like I have a say or can do something about this. I pull off my top and am left in my bra. Then I let my shorts fall to my feet, with aunt Gloria's stern eyes paying close attention to me. I keep my gaze away from her as I'm standing in my underwear, and she speaks. "Take off the bra. " I look up at her in alarm, and she rolls her eyes. "Oh, please. Stop acting like your body is some national treasure. If it were so priceless to you, you'd know what to and what not to eat to keep it in shape. "She spits at me, and I gulp. Her words hit me like a cane, but I bite the inside of my cheek to stop to tears of embarrassment threatening to fall. I unclasp my bra and let it fall. And, aunt Gloria walks up to me with a piece of black clothing in her hands. She st
Eliza's POV; I stare curiously at my computer's screen as the cool night's breeze blows into my partly lit room through my window. I inhale in pleasure as it cools off my skin. I do want to be beautiful. I want to make an impact. I want to prove everybody wrong, and storm the world. I want to make fame at a rate that will shock my family. However, is this pop-up legit? Will it answer all my questions and grant my wishes? What's the harm in trying though? It's not like I have anything to lose. I put on my glasses, and take my seat. I click on the link, and all I find is a phone number displayed on a red background. I raise a brow and keep scrolling till I get to the bottom of the page. But that's it. Just... A phone number. I scroll through again, just to be sure I didn't miss anything. But I find nothing but this number. Is this some sort of prank? I walk back to my bed and grab my phone, and after not more than a few seconds of hesitation, I find myself dialing the number. I si
Eliza's POV; I'm in my bedroom with Athena. She's surfing through the internet, and I'm going through my emails to be sure I haven't missed anything concerning work. Athena mostly always spends her weekends with me. Which explains why she was here when I woke up earlier today. We are a pair that's been inseparable for a very long time. "Sweet, Jesus! "Athena suddenly yells, and I jump off my bed and land on the floor in fear, with a loud thud. "Athena! "I yell while rubbing my rump when I realize she screamed like that all because of something she saw online. "Oh my God, babe. I'm so sorry. "She says as she comes to the side of my high bed and offers me a hand which I reluctantly take. "What happened? "I question when I finally take back my position on the bed. "You will not believe it, Eliza. "She replies, and I give her a look. "Ok, ok. Anthony's birthday is next week. "She replies, and I give her a look. Anthony has been her crush for quite some time now. She's been stuck b
. Eliza's POV; It's finally the day of the party, and Athena and I get down from my Mercedes in front of the club, booming with music. I walk into the building, with eyes trailing Athena and me, and I smirk inwardly at all the attention. I chose a cute, pink dress, and Athena on the other hand chose to go all black. Which makes her look like an extremely cute, sexy, goth girl. I look around the room in search of Damien. To be honest, he's the reason behind my whole outfit I dressed for his reaction. If I by any chance found out that he won't be at this party, heaven knows I won't come. Even though Athena would have destroyed my life with pleas. I finally spot him and his teammates in a circle in a corner, and I do not miss the flawless jaw drop expression that takes up his face when he sees me. Although he quickly recovers from it... I blush heavily at the fact that I was able to draw such a reaction from him. Now I have seen him and he has seen me, but the issue is having the b
. Eliza's POV; I stare at Amber with wide eyes as her words reach my ears. Kiss me! This little devil knows full well that Athena has a crush on Anthony. There's no way in hell she doesn't know that. And asking him to kiss me in front of Athena and Damien is just some stupid move of hers to throw Athena and me off the edge. “What? “I question in alarm, and she raises a brow at me. “What? Everyone has been doing their dares. Why can't you do yours? “She questions, and my jaw drops. “I don't want to kiss her. How much am I paying?” Anthony speaks, and I'm grateful for the fact that he doesn't want to kiss me. “You're not paying anything, Anthony. You have to kiss her. “Amber says, and I look over at Athena in alarm. “How is that fair? Everyone else got to pay when they didn't want to do their dare. Why can't he pay? “Athena speaks, and Amber faces her. “ Because I'm the one giving the dare, so I'm the one making the rules concerning it. Kiss her, Anthony. “She replies. The last
Eliza's POV; I can not believe Damien chose to kiss Amber over me! He chose that rotten bag of attitude over me! At first, I was glad, Anthony didn't want to kiss me, but now that I think back on it, I feel… Insulted. If I were some hot chick, won't he jump at the offer of kissing me? Two boys turned me down in public. One of which has been my crush since forever. “Ma'am, we're in Allen Avenue. Which house are we heading to? “My driver questions. Pulling me back to earth, and I unlock my phone and stare at the address. “Number six. “I reply, and he nods. Not long after, he pulls up before a simple, green house. I stare sternly at it and swallow. This… Doesn't seem like a good idea. Heading to a stranger's house to get 'answers to my prayers. ' Either way, I'm still willing to take this risk. No guts, no glory. This just might be the breakthrough I need. Something tells me that the answer to my prayers does lie behind that door. Whoever is in there, can't hurt me. My driver is o
In my car, I keep thinking about the things I saw and what that man told me. Many things are wired about that place, but I still want what I want. What's the worst that could happen? He'd give me drugs to start using? Or… What? I have no idea what to expect, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to stop trying! I want to be perfect! I need to be! I want to put that Amber brat in her place, I want my parents to value me, I want aunt Gloria to eat her words about me back, I want Damien to love me as I love him, and more… I want to be a worldwide icon. I want to be perfect in every way. To make history. I must be acknowledged. I'm done living like this! I love my job. I'm a model, and I love what I do. But with a family like mine, especially with aunty Gloria around, you end up feeling like crap, and then you're not so sure if you even enjoy what you do anymore. Each time I'm walking the runway, her horrid words keep coming back to me, and I have to shield my pains with fake smiles and