Still at the dance competition
In second place we have the fire group, give it up for the fire group because they really set the stage on fire today they came in second place with a total of 42 marks, then for the moment you all have been waiting for the winners are…. The unique group, a round of applause for them because they really stood by their name, they were the only ones that managed to tell a story with their dance.
Every group performed excellently well but the unique group was the most outstanding and for their outstanding performance they had a total of 50 out of 50 marks. Please come on stage the unique group” the judges instructed as the group who scored the 3rd and 2nd position were already on stage.
Bella just couldn’t believe that her group came second even after all she did to make sure Lakshmi’s group failed.
Mia and her friends immediately went on stage to take their trophy, they smiled as a picture of them was taken with their trophy.
The groups that came first, second and third respectively were to all take a picture together. Lakshmi stood close to Bella and whispered.
“You better smile, you came second to me, that is your place” Lakshmi smiled as she talked through her teeth, her lips barely moving.
“Despite all your hard work you still came out as a failure, how nice” Lakshmi added.
“You will pay for what you did to me, just wait” Lakshmi pulled Bella closer to her as they took the picture.
The competition was over and everyone went home, no one even asked Lakshmi why she came on stage late, not until the next day of school after the weekend, Monday, when a footage showed Bella locking Lakshmi up in the janitor’s closet, everyone except for Bella got the video.
So she was surprised when she noticed the way everyone in school was staring at her whenever she walked past them.
“Bella you are in big trouble” one of Bella’s friends approached her with her cellphone.
“What do you mean by that?” Bella rolled her eyes as if her friend wasn’t making any sense.
“You haven’t watched the video have you?” Her friend raised an eyebrow and Bella nodded her head as a no. Her friend brought out her phone and showed Bella the video, it was then that Bella remembered that their school actually had CCTV cameras but who could have sent the video to the whole school.
“How many people have seen this?” She asked her friend.
“Everyone in school,” her friend said slowly. As Bella walked to the hallway she was so ashamed of herself but then Lakshmi blocked her path.
“How do you like your surprise?” Lakshmi rested her folded arms on her chest.
“Lakshmi there was really no need for you to do that” Bella had already begun to cry.
“Sorry dear but I didn’t do anything. Mia here did, I wish you luck as you continue to live the rest of your high school days in shame. As they say in French Au revoir” she waved her bye and walked past her.
Bella was summoned to the principal’s office and questioned, the authorities saw no need in dragging the case out, it was obvious Bella was guilty. With her father’s influence she managed to get only a suspension and not an expulsion.
“Oh daddy” Bella buried her face in her palms, she was crying uncontrollable. Even her father who always pampered her punished her as well, she was just too ashamed of her actions.
“You are grounded and won’t be allowed with your phone for the next one month” he escorted her to the car before they drove away.
At Mia’s school the next day
“Mia you are simply amazing, I mean I knew you were smart but I’m shocked” Bella kept on praising Mia.
She just couldn’t stop singing her praises, Mia was the one who managed to get the school’s security footage and send the video to everyone.
“But how did you find out Mia?” Bella was also very curious.
“I overheard you talking to her while we were taking the picture on stage. That made me curious so I checked the school’s security footage. I wasn’t so happy with her that’s why I did what I did, I hope it wasn’t too harsh” Mia was feeling a pinch of regret.
“No Mia, what you did was absolutely right, she deserved what she got and if you had informed me about your plan earlier then I surely would have supported you in every way I could. “Thank you so much” Lakshmi hugged Mia very tightly and for the first time Mia actually hugged her back.
“I think I am beginning to like hugs” Mia gave a faint smile before the teacher entered the class so they could begin their lessons.
Lakshmi’s POV
At Lakshmi’s house
I was still trying to organize my books the way Mia had taught me when I got a surprise visit from someone I least expected.
“Lakshmi” my father called out to me, I looked away from my closet and faced him.
“Won’t you come and hug me, my darling?” My dad spread his hands, expecting me to jump into them and as usual I ran to go hug him.
“How have you been? Your nanny told me you won a dance contest. I am so proud of you” my dad touched the tip of my nose.
“Yes” I had a faint reply and went to continue with what I was doing initially.
“Okay if you need anything, just tell me, I will be in the library working” my dad closed my room door as he left the room.
I sat on my bed disappointed as usual, when will I finally get to have those kind parents that would be there to support their kids in every step they take?. When will my father or mother ever be there when I have a cold? My mum is an air hostess and my dad a pilot, both own very huge travel companies and airports across the world. Truly, my family had been blessed with everything money could offer except for one thing which was lacking and that was my happiness.
My parents barely had days off and whenever they did, they would just come back home to continue their work in our house library. They would spend all day there and whenever they came out they would be too tired to even notice me.