The tension in the gymnasium hung heavy in the air as Avery stormed across the room, her silver gown shimmering under the lights. The whispers of the crowd followed her as she approached Camila, who stood by the punch table with an air of smug satisfaction. Shawn trailed close behind Avery, his jaw clenched, ready to step in if needed.
“Camila,” Avery said, her voice sharp and unwavering. “We need to talk.”
Camila turned, feigning surprise. “Avery! What a pleasant surprise. Shouldn’t you be dancing with your knight in shining armor?”
“Cut the act,” Avery snapped, her gray eyes blazing. “You’ve been sabotaging me all night. First the champagne, then the slideshow—how far are you willing to go?”
Camila’s smirk didn’t falter. “Oh, come on, Avery. Don’t be so dramatic. It’s just a bit of fun.”
“Fun?” Avery repeated, her voice rising. “Humiliating me in front of the entire school is fun to you? You’re petty, Camila. And cruel.”
Camila’s expression darkened, her smile fading into something colder. “You think you’re so perfect, don’t you? Just because you lost some weight and got a fancy dress, you think you’re better than everyone else.”
“This isn’t about me being better than anyone,” Avery shot back. “This is about you being so insecure that you can’t stand to see someone else happy.”
The crowd around them grew silent, their attention fixed on the confrontation. Even Ryan, who had been lingering near the edge of the room, stepped closer to hear what was happening.
Camila laughed, the sound bitter and sharp. “You don’t deserve all the attention you’re getting, Avery. People like you don’t just get to show up one day and pretend they’re someone else.”
“Enough,” Shawn said, stepping forward. His voice was low but filled with menace. “You’ve crossed the line, Camila. Actually, you crossed it a long time ago.”
Camila raised an eyebrow, unbothered by his presence. “Oh, and what are you going to do about it, Shawn? Give another heroic speech?”
“No,” Shawn said coldly. “But I might start talking about the other things you’ve done. Like the time you rigged the student council votes to win homecoming queen. Or when you framed that sophomore for cheating to get her kicked off the cheerleading squad.”
Camila’s smug expression faltered, a flicker of panic crossing her face. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me,” Shawn said, his green eyes locked on hers. “If you don’t leave Avery alone, I’ll make sure everyone knows exactly who you are.”