Chapter 6
"Well," the other girl looked uncomfortable, "someone said that Evie Rosemont might not be... completely honest about her background?"
"That's interesting," I said calmly. "Where did you hear that?"
"There's this anonymous Instagram account. @truthaboutevie. It's been posting some pretty serious allegations."
Anonymous account. Of course.
"Have you considered that anonymous accounts might not be the most reliable sources?" I asked. "Anyone can make accusations without proof."
The girls looked uncertain. "We just thought... maybe you should know. In case any of it's true."
"I appreciate the heads up," I said. "But I'd encourage you to think critically about sources. Especially during election season."
That evening, Madison and I researched the anonymous account in the library.
"Look at this," Madison whispered, showing me her phone.
@truthaboutevie had posted five times in two days:
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"Why won't Evie talk about her family? What is she hiding?🤔"
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"Notice how she's ALWAYS around Axel Kingsley? Suspicious much?đź‘€"
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"Real students earn their spots. Some people just... take them."
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"More revelations coming soon. Truth will outđź‘‘"
"The writing style," Madison said, "doesn't it seem familiar?"
I studied the posts. "The emoji usage, the dramatic phrases... this definitely sounds like Sienna."
"But how do we prove it?"
"We trace it," Tyler said, sliding into our table. "I might know someone who can help with that."
Good. Let her play with anonymous accusations. I have resources she can't even imagine.
I texted Axel to meet me at our old spot—the 50-yard line where we used to talk during summer camp.
"This is getting out of hand," he said without preamble when he arrived.
"The rumors?"
"All of it. The election, the social media drama, the way she keeps trying to get me involved." He ran his hands through his hair. "And I'm worried about you."
"I can handle Sienna."
"Can you? Because she cornered me after practice today. Started asking pointed questions about how well I know you, whether I've ever seen you off-campus, whether I know anything about your family."
Shit. She's getting closer to the truth.
"What did you tell her?"
"Nothing. But Evie... what if she finds out?"
I was quiet for a moment. "Then we deal with it."
"How?"
"I don't know yet. But I won't let her destroy what we've built here."
"What if going public is the answer?" Axel said suddenly. "What if we stop hiding?"
"We can't. Not yet."
"Why not?"
Because once everyone knows who I really am, this experiment is over. And I'm not ready for it to be over. I'm not ready to go back to being Marcus Rosemont's daughter instead of just Evie.
"Because," I said finally, "I need to finish this my way."
The night before Homecoming, I was getting ready when Sienna walked into our room. She'd been staying elsewhere most nights, avoiding me since the fake injury incident.
"Big day tomorrow," she said, hanging up a garment bag that probably cost more than most people's rent.
"Yep."
"I hope you're prepared," she continued, "for disappointment. Because honey, this queen thing? It's not for girls like you."
"Girls like me?"
"Girls who have to pretend to be something they're not." She smiled sweetly. "You know, Evie, I've learned some very interesting things about you lately."
Here we go.
"Such as?"
"Such as the fact that your whole 'poor scholarship girl' act might not be as authentic as everyone thinks."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't you?" She pulled out her phone. "Because I have it on good authority that you're not quite who you claim to be."
"And what authority would that be?"
"Let's just say, some people have been very helpful. Very... observant."
She started toward the door, then turned back.
"Sweet dreams, Evie. Tomorrow's going to be such an exciting day. For both of us."
Whatever she thinks she knows, she's planning to use it tomorrow. At Homecoming. In front of the entire school.
Homecoming day was perfect—sunny, 75 degrees, packed stadium. The voting had been close all week, but I felt confident about my grassroots campaign.
At halftime, Dean Thornton took the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to crown our 2024 Homecoming Queen!"
The five candidates stood on the field. Me, Sienna, and three other girls who'd essentially been background players throughout the campaign.
"This year's competition was particularly spirited," Dean Thornton continued, "and the voting was extremely close."
Just announce it already.
"By a margin of just twelve votes... your 2024 Texas State Homecoming Queen is... Evangeline Rosemont!"
The crowd erupted. I felt genuinely shocked—I'd expected Sienna's money and social media campaign to carry her through.
But when I looked at her face, she wasn't disappointed.
She was smiling.
Why is she smiling? She just lost. Unless...
As they placed the crown on my head, Sienna stepped forward.
"Excuse me," she said, loud enough for the microphone to pick up. "I'd like to request a recount."
The crowd murmured. Dean Thornton looked confused.
"Miss Blackwood, this is highly irregular—"
"I have reason to believe there were irregularities in the voting process," she said, projecting her voice. "And I think the student body deserves to know the truth about all the candidates before we finalize this result."
She's doing this here? Now? In front of ten thousand people?
"What kind of irregularities?" Dean Thornton asked.
"For starters," Sienna said, "I'd like to know how someone who claims to be on financial aid can afford some of the things I've observed. And I'd like to know about her family connections that might have influenced this election."
The crowd was completely silent now.
"Miss Blackwood," Dean Thornton said sternly, "these are serious accusations. Do you have proof?"
"I have questions," she said. "And I think before we crown our queen, those questions deserve answers."
This is it. She's forcing my hand. In front of everyone.
After a very awkward ceremony where I was crowned but under a cloud of suspicion, Sienna cornered me behind the bleachers.
"Enjoy your little victory," she said. "Because it's temporary."
"What do you want, Sienna?"
"I want you to withdraw. Admit you're not qualified. Let the crown go to someone who deserves it."
"And if I don't?"
She smiled. "Then next week, everyone's going to learn exactly who Evangeline Rosemont really is. And trust me, when they find out you've been lying about everything, you'll wish you'd just stepped aside gracefully."
"You don't know anything."
"Don't I? Daddy owns sports teams, doesn't he? Plural. Multiple teams. And that little coffee shop job of yours? The one where you're always available for shifts but never seem to actually work? Very interesting ownership structure on that place."
How does she know? How could she possibly know?
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Sure you don't." She stepped closer. "You have until Monday to withdraw from Homecoming Queen and drop out of the cheerleading squad. Otherwise, I go public with everything. And I mean everything."
She walked away, leaving me standing there with a crown on my head and ice in my veins.
She knows. Somehow, she actually knows