Dark's Descent (6 page)

EJMS Student Council

      About a week later, the student council opened up elections for the student council offices. They were searching for candidates for President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Whoever became President of the EJMS Student Council would have a massive influence over the whole school.

      Cassie didn't think about it, that is, until Stella Sanders signed up to run for president.

      “There is no way that I am going to let Stella have that kind of power!” Cassie ranted. Charlie calmed her down. “Then run against her,” Charlie suggested, “I'm running for Vice President, and Sky is running for Treasurer.”

      Cassie smiled, “You bet I am running for president!” Cassie marched directly from study hall to the office to sign up.

      The next day, an announcement was made. “The candidates for the EJMS Student Council are as follows:

Treasurer: Alfred Hitchfelt, Cory Snider, and Skyler Gledhill

Secretary: Riley Alicia, and Henry Boyd

Vice President: Charles Myers, Missy Norman, Alice Curtis, and Garrett Sowards

And President: Stella Sanders, William Braddock, and Cassandra Smith!

      Best of luck to everyone!”

      When it was official, posters popped up all over school. Some read slogans like 'Stellar Stella for President', 'Charlie for Vice', and 'Fly Sky High for Sky for Treasurer'.

      Cassie took the campaign seriously. She put up a website called www.votecassie.com to advertise and track her followers. She had buttons made that said 'Vote President Cassie'. She also made shirts she handed out for free that had 'Vote 4 Cassie, and you'll B happy!' written on them.

      Meanwhile, Stella handed out golden vanilla cupcakes with her name written on them in pink frosting.

      Will, on the other hand, was just telling people to vote for him.

      Cassie really didn't care if she won. She just wanted Stella to lose. That was why she also endorsed Will. It helped that Charlie was endorsing her, because that got her lots of female followers.

      The male followers, however, were all leaning towards Stella, because every time she talked about the election, she threw in a hair-whip or hair-twirl.

      Halfway through, Sky did a mini Cassie campaign of her own, and being the nicest girl in school, she was enough to tip the odds in favor of Cassie.

      Stella was furious. She had her Daddy's marketing group go all out on campaigning for her. Commercials, prints, clothes, and even an airplane with a banner that said 'STELLAR STELLA!!!'

      Seeing how fierce the running for president had gotten, Mrs. Spencer made an executive decision. She disqualified both Cassie and Stella from the election, making William Braddock the automatic winner.

      As for the other offices, they went as follows:

Treasurer - Skyler Gledhill

Secretary - Riley Alicia

Vice President - Garrett Sowards

      President Will suggested to the council that they rename the offices.

      “To what exactly?” Mrs. Spencer questioned. “I think we should rename them in honor of the medieval time period,” he explained, “So Skyler would stay as the Treasurer, but Riley would be the Scribe, instead of Secretary, and Garrett would become the royal advisor, leaving me, as the King!”

      Mrs. Spencer smiled and had the council vote. They all voted in favor and King William thanked them for listening.

      Cassie sighed, “At least it isn't Stella!” Charlie chuckled and put his arm around his girlfriend.

      Stella sat at the table next to theirs. Ugh, Charlie, why did he like Skyler so much? She wasn't trendy, and her hair wasn't near as soft as Stella's, or even Cassie's. She was nice, and smart, and that's it. And maybe she was a little bit adorable, but everyone thought she was adorable! Stella growled.

First Band Concert

      “Attention all bandos,” Appleyard announced, “tomorrow is December 10th, which is concert day!” They've all been practicing since the second day of school, and Mary Appleyard was pretty confident that they had all of the songs down pat. They had three band songs, one of which gave Cassie a flute solo, since she was by far the best flutist in the band.

      Ever since the solo went to Cassie, Stella was furious. What was so special about that girl? She somehow had the ability to ruin Stella's life! First Charlie, then student council, and now she infected band with her awful happiness killing disease!

      They finished practicing their big finale, and packed up with five minutes to spare. As usual, Appleyard went to her office to 'work'.

      Cassie looked at Charlie and Sky and smiled. Sky was adorable, and she didn't steal Charlie from Cassie. Cassie looked at Stella, who was scowling at the couple, and laughed.

      “What's so funny, Lassie?” Stella hissed. “Nothing” Cassie insisted, infuriating Stella even more. “Don't act dumb!” Stella tested, “Your arrogance doesn't allow it! You walk around thinking you are soooo smart, when in reality, you're just pulling people's legs and-”

“Shut up!” Cassie warned, “You have no room to talk, anyway, Miss Snobby Preppy Pants!!”

      Stella gasped as Charlie ran up to Cassie to calm her. He knew Cassie, and he knew that if she went any further, Stella might get hurt. Cassie sat down and started humming band music to relax.

      Stella just walked up to Charlie, and to Sky's dismay, she kissed him on the cheek. Charlie just wiped it off. If she ever wanted Charlie to herself, she needed to be nice.

      Cassie went home and practiced for two hours straight. By 5:30 she had enough confidence to call herself ready. Just then her phone rang. It was a text from Charlie. He sent her a selfie of him and Skyler ready for the concert.

      Cassie looked at Charlie's face and was a little sad, but hey, anyone is better than Stella.

      Putting on her lavender dress, Cassie packed up her flute and got ready to leave. Even though the concert didn't start until 7, report time for the band geeks was 6:15. Cassie grabbed her flute and music and ran out the door, which was too hard to do in her heels, so she just walked.

      When Cassie arrived, Charlie and Skyler were cuddling outside the school. “Come on you two love-birds.” Cassie called, “You don't want to miss the concert!”

      Inside the band room, the students frantically practiced. As everyone finished practicing, Appleyard went to the front of the room. “This is the final hour, the fate of the universe rests in your-” Appleyard paused, “Sorry, wrong speech.”

      “You all have practiced so hard,” she continued, “I have faith that we can knock the audience's socks off!” The band cheered. “Now let's show them how it's done!” Appleyard shouted. Everyone cheered again.

      Stella growled when Cassie walked by.

      Cassie sat down and started getting out her flute. It used to be her mom's. Packed neatly inside a leather-covered case, the flute came in pieces that were gold and shiny. Cassie carefully assembled the instrument, tuned, and then performed a perfect B-flat scale. Charlie and Sky clapped for her. Stella huffed at her. “Show-off.” she said under her breath.

      It was almost time for the band to go out, when it happened. Cassie started to get nervous. For the first time in her life, Cassie was scared. Scared of embarrassment, scared of messing up, of making the band look bad.

      Stella noticed this, and decided that it was time for some revenge. “Nervous Cassie?” she teased, “Oh, well I like tots hope you don't mess up. With all of those eyes on you, nerve-wracking, isn't it?” Cassie's stomach twisted.

      “Stop it, Stella!” Charlie demanded. “Aww, Char-Char,” Stella cooed, “I'm just reminding her how important it is that she gets everything perfect!”

      Cassie felt like puking. She's never been on stage before! Stella was right! Her solo! Oh no, Cassie's solo was in the first song! She wasn't ready, she wasn't ready, she wasn't ready!

      Stella smiled as she followed the panicking Cassie onto the stage. This was going to be sups amaze!

      As the band slowly walked on the stage, Cassie felt the eyes piercing into her soul. She sat in her chair and put the flute on her lips. The first song started. Toot toot went the flute. Cassie couldn't concentrate. She just kept playing on, slightly out of tune.

      The brass cut out. Percussion stopped playing. It was almost time for Cassie's solo! Stella took a break and whispered, “Don't mess up!”

      The rest of the instruments cut out and there was silence. Appleyard mouthed the word 'NOW'. “Oh no!” Stella teased. Cassie felt it, that feeling you have when everyone is looking at you, and no one else. Thousands of eyes stared at her, the spotlight making her sweat.

      In an instant, Cassie dashed off the stage, dropping her flute with a clang. Charlie ran off after her, and Sky followed behind. “Cassie!” they shouted.

      Cassie ran outside and stepped out of her heels. They only slowed her down. Cassie ran and ran, leaving a trail of tears behind her.

      When Mr. and Mrs. Smith heard the door slam, they speed-walked out of the auditorium, and found one of Cassie's friends with Cassie's heels. She looked at them and said, “Charlie told me to wait with the shoes until you came out.”

      “They went that way.” Sky said pointing down the block. “Cassie's running to the boatyard!” Sue yelled.

      Whenever Cassie was upset, she would go to Harrison's Boatyard to be alone. It closed down years ago because it wasn't sturdy enough for the city's regulations. No matter how many times Susan told her not to, she still did.

      About a block away, Cassie ran past Mr. Braddock and the Superintendent heading in the same direction. She made it to the gateway, and she ducked under the wooden board that blocked the entrance. She went to her favorite dock, Dock 6. There, she sat down and cried.

      Charlie quickly hopped over the board and ran to Cassie. He sat down next to her and held her until she stopped crying.

A Dragon's End

      Before the concert started, Superintendent S. bumped into Mr. Braddock. “I think we need to have a chat, Jason.” Mr. Braddock sneered, “To the boatyard?”

      The superintendent hadn't eaten in a while, so he figured it couldn't hurt. “Sure, let's go” he ordered.

      The two left the school and started walking to Harrison's Boatyard. “To what do I owe the pleasure?” Jason inquired. Mr. Braddock sneered, “Wait until we get to the docks.”

      Just then, a girl in a lavender dress ran past, sobbing. One of her tears hit the superintendent, and fizzled on contact. Jason winced in pain.

      A kid in a suit shot past next, seemingly chasing the girl.

      “Kids these days,” Jason sighed, “always in a rush.”

      A few minutes later, the duo found themselves on Dock 8. “I know who you are.” Mr. Braddock shrieked, “Dragon.”

      “It was going to end like this anyway.” The Dragon hissed, blowing out smoke. “Your right!” Braddock yelped, leaping forwards. The Dragon tumbled backwards into the bay.

      Steam rolled up in clouds as the man-dragon howled, and water surrounded him. Hissing, The Dragon fizzled and dissolved until nothing was left but the echo of a cry of pain.

Stella

      “Are you okay?” Charlie asked, still holding Cassie. Cassie sniffed and nodded. “I'm better now” Cassie smiled as she looked into Charlie's big, bright blue eyes. A fog began to set in, even though it wasn't in the forecast. Charlie started to remove his arm, but Cassie let out a whimper, and he put it back.

      Five minutes later, Cassie heard her mom call her name. “I'm here!” Cassie shouted. Cassie gave Charlie a quick 'Thank-You' kiss on the cheek, and stood up, leaving Charlie dumbfounded.

      “Are you okay?” Susan asked, giving her daughter a hug. “I am now.” she answered with a smile. Susan glanced at Charlie and smiled.

      Cassie remembered something. 'Stella'.

      Stella walked out of the school as happy as she could be. Then, she saw an angry Cassie, being held back by that beefcake Charlie, marching towards her. Charlie calmed Cassie down just in time.

      “What is wrong with you?!” Sky screamed at Stella, “You are the lowest, most awful, and pathetic, stupid rich girl I've ever met!” Sky was furious. “Why I outta-” Charlie swooped up in front of her and gave her a kiss to shut her up.

      Susan looked at Cassie. “Is she the reason you ran off?!” Susan exclaimed. Cassie looked at her mom. “Don't worry about it, mom,” Cassie requested, “It's all water under the bridge now, right Stella?” Stella smirked, “Sure...”

      Stella turned with a hair-whip and got in her limo to go home. Best night ever. That cow couldn't have been more embarrassed if she was pantsed! Stella cackled. It was great! Now it was time to go further.

      Cassie probably only came back because of Char-Char, so if Stella got him, she could ruin her! And Stella decided then, that one day, Charlie would be hers and Cassie would be out of her life forever!

      Stella's limo pulled into her Daddy's skyscraper's parking garage, and Stella hopped into her Riding-Chair and grabbed the handles. “Take me to my room!” she ordered. Four butlers came running over and lifted her chair up. Into the elevator, and all the way up she went. She was set down next to her bed and she rolled out of one thing and into the other.

      Stella rolled over and looked at her Magic Mirror. Her dad's company invented a mirror that was just like the one from the fairy tales! The only thing is in order for it to work, you have to rhyme.

Mirror on my wall over there,

Where is my lovely Char-bear?

      The mirror snapped to life and said,

Little one so young and dumb

Just go back to sucking your thumb!

The one you seek doesn't favor,

When you're nasty to the ones he savors!

      The mirror then showed a picture of Charlie holding Cassie on Dock 6, holding hands with Sky, and hypnotized by Stella's hair.

      Stella gasped, “Maybe I should use this thing more often!”

      Stella fumbled and got out of her bed and sat in front of the mirror.

Mirror, up there on the wall,

Who's my biggest enemy of all?

      The mirror showed a picture of Cassie. The only thing different about her was that she was really angry.