Trix-E

Mrs. Belden

Period Four

10 October, 2014

Crowning Competition

It was supposed to be the second best day of my life (the actual day of the dance being the first)- Homecoming Court announcement day. I was finally a senior and it was my year. I would be wearing that crown on the thirteenth. I would fight like a soldier in World War ll to win that prize just prettier and way more popular. My heart just about dropped out of my butt when I heard Spencer’s name announced just two names after mine.

“Now for your Homecoming Court!” Mr. Harts’ voice boomed through the speaker and spread throughout homeroom. “Ladies first- Lauren Menninger, Skyler Speilman, Maria George, Rachel Morgan, Stephanie Jansen, and Spencer Coplin. The gentlemen- Ryan Acermen, Ben Thomas, Michael Edwards, Collin Stone, and Steven Jones.”

My Mind was spinning a billion miles a hour! How could this happen? Spencer and I had been like sisters since it was a big deal to be able to wear Justice undergarments! I love her to death, but there is absolutely no way I am letting Spencer win this crown. It will be mine. No one elses. Crowns are meant for blonds, not brunets. My blue eyes match the sparkle of the tiara. Her eyes are the same color of my Boxer’s doo-doo and would bring down the glam of the tiara. A war had started that day whether Spencer knew it or not.  

A week before the dance, all of the queen candidates’ campaigns were in full swing. Spencer’s in my ear twenty-four-seven about how much she wants the crown. I get it honey, you don’t have to shove it down my throat everyday! I wanted to walk over to her little muffin display and turn it over right there in the middle of that hallway. On Tuesday, I was passing out buttons in the cafeteria when I look across the room and see Spencer taking them off five football players and replacing them with her own. I did not even think of all the votes she was gonna get around school being head cheerleader and all. The only guaranteed votes I have are the Volleyball, Basketball, Lacrosse teams along with Student Council considering the fact that I’m president.

I crossed the room in unbelievable anger, pushed through meaty pigskin guys to make eye contact with my suppose-to-be best friend.

“What do you think you doing Spencer?!”

“Campaigning?” she snapped. “What does it look like I am doing?”

“You look like a backstabbing witch.”

“I am just trying to get what had always been mine.”

“I will consider letting you lay one finger on my crown Saturday.” I gave her a sarcastic smile and stormed off.  Spencer’s mouth practically fell all the way down to her knees as I left her in the dust.

The next morning I woke up, got dressed, and ran out the door after the toasted threw a burnt piece of toast at me. I went outside to where my red Pris is usually parked in the driveway. A closer looked revealed that my red wheels were not so red anymore. “Vote for Spencer” was written all over all sides of my scratch free car in jet black paint. Even though I was really angry, it was fine though. I enjoyed the look on Spencer’s face when she came out of English and saw all her posters were now pictures of her with speech bubbles saying “Vote for Maria!” Her face was quite a treat.

She walked by with a smile, “Classy” she snarled. Her sarcasm felt fantastic and refreshing. Easy as pie.

                    ******

Friday rolled around and I was pretty sure I had this crown in the bag. All the students at Railside would be voting for king and queen today. This morning was my last chance to rally in as many votes as I could. I used my reign as student council president to get some votes out of my little freshman minions.

The next day was the day. The biggest day. That night was going to be the best of my life (so far). It was also the busiest of my life! Breakfast with the family at nine. Manicure and Pedicure at noon. Wax at one-thirty. Hair at three-thirty. Make-up at four-thirty, then Steven Jones was coming to pick me up at five-thirty. Dinner at Fancy’s at six, and the dance starts at eight (but we will not be there until nine).

When I got home from my make-up appointment I had to get dressed fast enough that I would be ready when Steven gets here. This year I’m wearing an more puffy dress. It is a coral pink color with the softest material and the most beautiful gems covering the chest area and one-shoulder strap. My heels made me about 6’2- I am lucky Steven’s about 6’3! They were covered in rhinestones but were the most comfortable heels a girl could wear. My hair laid over my shoulder blades with tight, sticky twists and my bangs were brought back with an inverted french braid. I felt like a princess!

As Steven and I were riding together to dinner, the most terrifying thought raced through my mind- Spencer is still in our group. I’m so stupid! Of course she was still in our group! When we were going through all of the planning for the night we were still best friends! I did not make eye contact with her, talk to her, look at her, and did not put my arms around her in pictures. You would think we were complete strangers that night with the way we both were acting. It made me kinda sad though. She’s had been my best friend for so long. We were suppose to share this night together, just having fun, but together still. We had been talking about this night all year! We were too angry at each other to know what we were going to regret later. Whatever though, neither of us could take back what we did so I just let it go. It is not Maria and Spencer anymore.

The clock struck ten-thirty at the dance and Mr. Hart decided it was time to announce king and queen.  The court and I walked onto the stage to await the results. Steven won king, everyone knew that was going to happen. I started getting pretty freaked out when Mr. Hart said that it was the moment we had all been waiting for.

“Ladies and Gentlemen! This is the moment you have all been waiting for! The crowning of your Homecoming queen! Drum roll please! And now! Your 2014 Railside High School Homecoming queen is…… Skyler Speilmen!” yelled Mr. Hart. The crowd went absolutely wild.

I had never been so embarrassed in my entire life. I had wanted that crown forever! I worked so hard to try to win that! I looked over at Spencer, she was already staring at me. I shifted over to her on stage and grasped her hand. She looked up with me with guilt in her eyes. Mr. Hart dismissed us and we ran off together. We reached the bottom of the stage stairs and pulled my best friend into a hug.

“I’m so sorry for everything Spence. I can not believe the way I acted towards you this week. I completely screwed up and I lost my best friend over the stupidest thing that does not affect me at all. Can I please have my friend back?” I was holding back little tears from regret.

“Yes please! We needed each other this week and we spent this whole time fighting. It was stupid. I am sorry too. We should have been encouraging each other and instead we both wanted it for ourselves way too bad.” she was about to cry too. This was senior Homecoming and we spent the whole time that best friends were supposed to share together separate and miserable.

So I did not end up losing my best friend. Thank the lord! I went off to Colorado State the next fall and my best friend was my roommate. I do not know what I would have done without her.