“So this is my contact...” Nia said, typing her number into Beauty’s phone.
Just then, someone clicked a wine glass with a fork to grab everyone’s attention. The room fell silent as all eyes turned toward the podium.
Beyoncé stood on the podium, smiling forcefully like a beauty pageant contestant.
“Good evening, everyone! It’s truly wonderful to see so many familiar faces here tonight. Welcome to Prestige High School Reunion, Class of 2014!”
The crowd erupted in applause, cheers echoing throughout the room.
“Well, the Bee is about buzz,” Nia commented, rolling her eyes.
Beauty felt her heart racing at that instant.
Beyoncé would surely get back at her, and she would do it in a very unexpected way.
Nia smiled brightly, her enthusiasm contagious.
“Thanks a lot. Oh my goodness, I was so nervous you would say no. If I were you, I would say no, but thanks a lot! We should definitely hang out sometime. I’d love to catch up with your social media too.”
Beauty felt a sense of belonging begin to bloom within her.
“That sounds great,” she said, feeling more confident. “I’d love to share with you too.”
With that, the conversation flowed more easily as they began to chat about their lives, experiences, and the changes they had both gone through since high school.
Beauty felt the heaviness of her insecurities and school trauma begin to lift, replaced by the warmth of this newfound friendship with Nia.
She achieved something.
A new friend!
All thanks to the support of Bruno by her side.
“So this is my contact..”
Nia said, typing the number into Beauty’s phone.
Just then, Someone clicked a wine glass with a fork to grab everyone’s attention.
The room fell silent as all eyes turned toward the podium.
Beyoncé stood on the podium smiling forcefully like a beauty pageant contestant.
“Good evening, everyone! It’s truly wonderful to see so many familiar faces here tonight. Welcome to Prestige high school reunion, Class of 2014!”
The crowd erupted in applause, cheers echoing throughout the room.
“Well, the Bee is about buzz”.
Nia commented and rolled her eyes.
Beauty felt her heart racing that instant.
Beyoncé scanned the room, and her eyes met Beauty’s. She smirked, a smirk that was all too familiar.
Beauty’s gut told her to leave now before it was too late.
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, and Bruno noticed.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She nodded and forced a smile.
Bruno wasn’t convinced; his eyes kept drifting back to her at every slight chance.
The cheers in the hall faded as the guests turned to face Beyoncé, curious about what she had to say.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s amazing to see everyone here, gathered after all these years. A decade of growth, success, and-” she paused for dramatic effect, then whispered, “finding out who’s really made something of themselves.”
The crowd laughed.
“Yeah, I know at least we all have partners. From the biggest to the smallest, the most beautiful to the ugliest, the least successful to the most successful, we all deserve accolades. Cheers to each and every one of us!”
The crowd applauded, especially Beyoncé’s friends, who erupted into loud cheers, clapping and whooping from their table as if they were her personal fan club. Well, literally.
“Wow, they applauded her for that lame speech,” Nia muttered, rolling her eyes.
Beyoncé’s voice returned, louder this time.
“Speaking of success, I’d like to bring up someone who has stood by me through it all. Stephen King! Baby, come join me up here!”
Beauty’s heart skipped at the name. Stephen, her high school boyfriend, the one who had told his friends she asked him out?
“Are they a couple? What is Beyoncé up to?” Beauty thought.
As Stephen made his way to the podium, Beyoncé did a tiny, sexy dance, her eyes on Bruno, knowing Beauty would be watching.
Once he was by her side, she linked her arm with his and continued, “For those of you who don’t know, Stephen and I are basically the power couple of this reunion. We dated in high school, reconnected, and-well, you all know how love stories go. But ours? It’s special. We’re not just high school sweethearts... we’re the perfect match.”
Stephen pulled her into a rough kiss.