Page 161 of Cruel Steps

He nodded, glanced back down, and then to the crowd. “Her hobby is overeating and whoring herself out to the football team.”

My face heated as the girls behind me laughed, and a ringing began in my ears. Tears pricked my eyes as humiliation engulfed me. Why had I thought I could do this? They would never let someone like me win.

“That wasn’t what I sent over!” the girl with the clipboard said as she ran on the stage, her face red. The guy shrugged, turning to her and showing her his script. All the groups in front laughed and pointed. The volume grew, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I took a step back, then another, and debated if running off would be better than staying.

“Um, let’s keep going. It’s time to pick our Homecoming Queen Court spirit winner,” the emcee said, returning to his mic. “Let me hear your applause for Larissa.”

I took the moment to escape, but my path was blocked by the girls on one end and the guys on the other. The emcee went down the line, the noise loud for each contestant. Nothing penetrated the fog I was under, only a shred of my consciousness still functioning. When he said my name, I was pushed forward again. At least this time, I was ready and didn’t fall.

To my surprise, the back of the crowd roared, lifting some of the fog I’d fallen under. I stared out into the void, seeing Jenny and Cody leading the groups of people in cheering. They jumped up and down, rallying the crowd, and I chuckled, finally not feeling so alone.

Wetness hit me out of nowhere, then freezing cold. I blinked, not understanding as I looked down and saw red ice dripping from every part of me. Another fucking slushie. Frozen in place, the cloud of sparkles that followed the red cold confused me even more.

Stunned, I stood staring at the frozen red liquid mixed with silver glitter that shimmered on me. I didn’t know why I’d believed it would be different, because I knew deep down it would end this way. Chilled to the bone, I stood shivering on the stage, unable to do anything.

“What the hell?” someone behind me shouted.

“Oops, I tripped.”

“Mer’s got spirit; yes, she does! Mer’s got spirit, how about you?” Started up in the back and I focused on the sound. “Mer is red hot, Mer is red hot, Mer is red hot, Mer is r-e-d h-o-t. Once she starts, she won’t be stopped! Let’s go, let’s go, Mer!”

The chant grew as more people joined in, and the laughter behind me died. Each voice in the crowd gave me the courage to keep my head up. I wanted to run off this stage, but I wouldn’t let them see me cry—not anymore. There were people who believed in me. I didn’t think I’d earned it, but I’d take it all the same.

Before, I’d always been alone, but I wasn’t. Not anymore.

Right on cue, a huge mass charged up the stairs. I knew it was him before I even saw him. Electricity buzzed under me, and I sagged in relief. He was okay.

“What the fuck?” he bellowed.

I turned and met Holden’s eyes. He was furious, but when he saw me, he pushed the guy aside and came to me. Cupping my cheeks in his hands, he glanced down at me.

“You’re here,” I said, not caring I was stating the obvious.

“I’m sorry I was late. Someone locked our class door and we had to wait for the janitor to come and remove the doorknob before we could leave.”

My eyes widened. That sounded intentional.

“What happened, Wildcat?”

“I honestly don’t know. I was so worried about you that I didn’t know what was happening until after it did,” I whispered.

“Come on, I’ll help you clean up.” He took my hand and pulled me toward the side of the stage.

“Wait! You can’t leave,” the emcee said.

“Fucking watch me. Nobody messes with my girl. In fact,” he stopped and took the microphone. “The first person to tell me who was behind this won’t be on my shit list.”

The crowd surged forward, pointing at two girls on stage.

“It was her!”

“They had it planned.”

“She didn’t trip!”

Holden swung his gaze to the girls, and they stepped back, their faces paling. The emcee stepped in between them and Holden, asking for the microphone. Holden shoved it in his chest, glaring at him.

“I was going to tell you that Emerson won the spirit contest.” The emcee swallowed, straightening his spine. “And, now that we have definitive evidence, we’ll be disqualifying Kadie and Abby for breaking the rules.”

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