Page 100 of It's in the Contract
The whispers in the gym fly out of control. Cassidy looks horrified that this has gotten away from her so badly, but Brianlooks like he’s trying to hold in a laugh. Suzy grips my arm. Mom still has a look of horror on her face, and finally she turns to look at me. I force myself to meet her eyes, to smile and nod. I take a deep breath.
I know what I have to do.
I move Suzy’s hand from my arm, and she looks at me, stunned. I smile and step forward. The crowd parts for me like I have a disease. Suddenly the steps to the stage are before me, and I lift my skirt and climb them one by one. I look out over the crowd, and nerves twirl in my stomach.
I pick up the fallen mic. There are a thousand faces shining back at me from the bright overhead lights. Mom watches from the sidelines, her face worried. Brielle looks shocked, as do half of the people in the audience. The other half are curious, whispering to each other, wondering what I’m going to say.
I glance at Cassidy and Brian, and she waves a hand. “Go on.”
Suddenly, my nerves vanish. I know exactly what to say. “Thank you, Emma. But what Brielle said is true,” I say, and people gasp. Some of them boo. Many pull out their phones and start filming. Mom frowns. Likely she was hoping that I would deny everything Brielle said, not confirm it.
Maybe I don’t want to care what they think anymore. Maybe all along, Caroline was right. It’s what I think of myself that matters most.
I meet Suzy’s eyes, and she gives me an encouraging nod. I glance at Zeke’s sincere expression filled with concern for me. I just hope that what I’m about to say doesn’t hurt him.
“I did come up with a fake friendship contract with Zeke,” I say. “I wanted to win the crown so badly that I lied to get there. I was afraid of social ridicule, of being shunned, of losing my friends.” I lock eyes with Suzy. “I know now that I didn’t need to be afraid of that.”
Suzy smiles.
“I never wanted to hurt Zeke or any of you.” I work on keeping my voice steady. All eyes are on me, and the judging expressions haven’t changed.
Brielle crosses her arms and glares. “But you did.”
“I lied,” I say. “And I regret it. I did pretend to be Zeke’s friend just to get votes. And Zeke,” I glance his way, my eyes soft, hoping that I can convey everything I’m feeling right now. “Zeke just wanted to get through the school year and not be alone. I took advantage of that for my own gain, and I’m sorry.” I stare right into his soul, out there in the crowd. “I’m so sorry, Zeke.”
Brielle frowns.
“The thing is,” I continue, trying to find the right words. “Appearances don’t matter. Social status doesn’t matter.” I pause for a breath. “The Homecoming crown doesn’t matter!” How freeing it feels to say that. “I’ve learned that now. I should’ve been honest with all of you. I shouldn’t have tried to be someone I wasn’t, just for the sake of social media likes and Homecoming Queen votes. I should’ve been Zeke Harris’ friend because he’s—an amazing person.” My voice cracks. “The best person I know. And I regret the lies I’ve told. I hope you can all forgive me.”
I take a deep breath, my hand holding the microphone shaking. “I don’t expect you to vote for me. I only ran in the race because Brielle lied to get Suzy kicked out of the running, and I thought she deserved a good dose of humility.”
“What? I did not—” Brielle protests, but it’s too late. Murmurs race through the room, and people are pulling out their phones. To change their vote, I hope. I don’t have a clue how this is going to go down anymore.
“I don’t care about the crown anymore!” I shout, a smile lighting up my face. Joy flutters through me. “I don’t care about popularity, or social media likes, or who has the most friends or shares or comments or followers. I just want . . .” I look at Zeke.His brown eyes stare at me, his expression solemn. “I just want to make amends. I just want Zeke Harris to know that I am . . . I am in love with him.”
The crowd gasps, and Zeke’s eyes soften.
“I don’t care how long we have together, I want it all.” Tears fill my eyes, and I let them fall down my cheeks. “Every spare second. I’m yours. That is what I really want, and, more than anything, I want to be me. The real me. The authentic me. From now on, I am going to be true to myself.”
I’m shocked when the crowd erupts in cheers, and my face burns a fiery red. Did I really just say all those things? Embarrassment tries to fight its way to the front of my emotions, but I don’t allow it. I never want to feel embarrassed or ashamed of who I am. Not anymore. Pride, instead, fills my heart.
I step down and hurry to rejoin Suzy in the crowd. I don’t dare look at my mom right now. I’m sure she’s mortified.
The crowd parts again for me, and a few faces are still disgusted and judgy, but many people smile, and some even give me a high five. I reach Suzy, and I’m disappointed when Zeke is nowhere to be found. Where did he go?
Cassidy takes the mic as Brielle storms off the stage, her face scarlet with rage.
“Well, that was . . .” Cassidy clears her throat. “Unusual. My colleagues are recounting the votes and . . .” She glances to the side, where Tasha, the student council secretary, nods. “And it appears that they’re finished. The voting is now closed.”
I stand up straight, my head held high.
Cassidy hands Brian a slip of paper, and he steps forward to the mic. “Our Homecoming Queen is . . .” Brian reads the slip of paper, and his eyes go wide. He looks back up and out at the crowd, a sparkle in his playful expression. “Suzy Jeong! No cap.”
Cassidy whips her head toward him. “She didn’t even run. Is that allowed?”
But the crowd of students screams and claps. I grab Suzy’s arm and beam. “It’s you!” I cry. “He called your name!”
Suzy stares straight ahead, stunned. “But I—I didn’t even run.”
