Chapter 1
"Let's assume that I could make you popular."
It's lips curled into a smile, one I did not practically want to see. Its toothless smile, would forever be engraved in my memory and not a good one either, it had chills running down my spine.
My heart jumped at the word. Popular. That was my dream, to be known around the school, much like my best friend, Diamond Patel, simply being the popular girl's best friend wasn't enough for me. I wanted my own popularity, my own social standing.
"How could you make me popular ?" I finally ask.
It nodded, a bit too enthusiastically, it's entire being pulsed and it's head looked right about ready to fall of it's neck.
"Enlighten me," it's voice was a mixture of gruff and raspy, sounding slightly torn and fading the longer the sentence went.
"who has the most influence in school."
That was easy, " Diamond," her name slips through my lips with no hesitation. She had everything, tall, petite, blonde but her major flaw was her kindness and meekness, which is why it was surprisingly she was a cheerleader. She was just the opposite of the slim blondes and sparkly brunettes who made most the cheer squad of Falton High, why everyone liked her was beyond me.
"Do you," it paused, " think you would do whatever it takes even though, Diamond was harmed, to get her popularity?"
I was silent. Did I really want, Diamond to get hurt for my own selfish whirms?
The answer to that was a big fat Yes
Diamond and I were friends in name only, of course we did occasionally hang out but besides school, we were always so busy with our own things. Besides, I was only friends with her for the recognition it gave me.
"Perhaps, " it continued, "Diamond's popularity could be yours."
My entire being reacted with those words, my mouth watered as if a scrumptious meal had been set before me, my heart rate increased.
But still I held back. It had given me all sorts of assurances but did I know for sure, that I could believe these promises. Under these circumstances? I don't know if I'd be up for such false hope.
"You're already her friend right?" it continued, first in a lazy manner, before it's tone changed to an inquiring sort, " If Diamond was not as loved as she is now, wouldn't it be easier for you to just step in?"
I couldn't help but nod along, I had studied everything about the highschool system.
But then again I was not the only one eying popularity, the highschool was packed with girls who wanted to be just as popular.
"There would be a lot of competition," My mind immediately running through the list.
" Perhaps..." it said, it dragged out the word with such slowness it had faded long before it uttered the last syllable," I could arrange for said competition to drop out."
I was already in, I didn't have to think much on the idea. It had me swimming in it's suggestions and my mind already bought.
I could imagine it, taste it even, the fame, the power. Walking down the halls with the lovely, exciting girls of the cheer squad all fanned around me like I was the most interesting person, the parties, the sports cars and all the sexy boys. Especially one in particular, Gareth Wisbourne.
"Perhaps even Gareth will notice me." I whispered.
"Perhaps so."
"And he'd be just as crazy for me as I am for him." I was beginning to imagine it, him waiting in front of my locker everyday with a bouquet of roses, black in colour just the way I liked them.
"I'll be prom queen." I said softly, so softly as it was a precious thought, mother had been prom queen in her highschool years and it'd be sad if I didn't honor her by being one too.
"Yes, you'll be prom Queen." it agreed.
I sigh, pulling myself out of my head before facing it again.
"What would you do to Diamond?"
It smiled again, it's two upper molars pointed, I couldn't help but shudder.
"It won't hurt for her at all, if you must know. It'll just be tiring for her. Diamond to put it simply will be...rather...tuckered out."
I frowned, I didn't understand what it meant by that at all. What did Diamond's popularity have to do with her being tired?
"She'll be tired, she'll want some time off of school, her grades will be affected and in turn her reputation will be at stake if she is at odds with teachers. " I could see where it was going with this, it was indeed a good idea. If it could pull it off.
"What do I need to do?"
"Bring Diamond to me, " it's voice turned softer which was creepy, "I promise to make you popular."
