PROLOGUE
“You shouldn’t be here, Celeste,” a feminine voice pronounced from the shadows of an unlit museum corridor. The words echoed into a capacious showroom where the woman named Celeste waited. “Meeting in public like this isn’t safe,” the voice continued in a patronizing tone.
“You’re an hour late, Elena,” Celeste answered, immediately recognizing the delicate voice. “All the museum visitors have already left. Where have you been?” She was impatiently tapping her designer high heels against the wooden floor as her friend slowly neared her.
“What does it matter? I had business to take care of,” Elena replied, brushing her brunette locks behind her shoulder. She was not bothered that she had left her friend waiting for so long.
Celeste shot her a disapproving look. “What kind of business are you referring to?” she demanded.
“Not that, of course. I had last minute plans with my lovely boyfriend, Liam. His father was harassing him this week about college, so I was hoping you could take him on your trip this weekend to help him relax before graduation.”
Although Celeste was thrilled she’d get to spend time with Liam, she quickly smothered her excitement. She tried to look as stern as possible and mirrored her mother’s disapproving facial expressions. She still had a bone to pick with Elena.
“We need to talk about the art auctions, Elena. That’s why we’re here,” Celeste emphasized, gesturing to the room around them.
Both girls turned to observe the walls of the museum’s main exhibition room. Royal blue velvet draperies hung from the gold ceiling perfectly framing the artwork in a rich atmosphere. Every item was beautifully lit with not a speck of dust in sight. The illusion of the room was immaculate with only Celeste and Elena aware of its flaws. The closed museum was empty with only the two women present, but Celeste de Loughrey had a key, since it was the De Loughrey Museum.
“I wonder how many of these paintings are fake,” Elena snickered, breaking the silence.
“That’s not funny,” Celeste scolded. “What we’ve been doing all these years is wrong. We should never have stolen art from our families’ companies to resell. It’s illegal and immoral! You agreed to meet me here an hour ago, so we can talk about putting an end to this—”
“And I told you why I’m late,” Elena interrupted. “I understand that the whole process is wrong. Stealing artwork and putting back forgeries in our parents’ museums obviously isn’t right, and I plan to stop eventually just like we’ve discussed…” she trailed off.
“What do you mean eventually?” Celeste scoffed, crossing her arms.
“We made commitments to our buyers, and they expect an auction this weekend. I won’t be coming on your trip with Liam, because I have a meeting on Saturday with a new forgery artist. I’ll be hosting an auction later that evening.” Elena shrugged off Celeste’s perpetual look of disappointment and continued, “This is a commitment I won’t break. It’s bad business. These people know us—Celeste de Loughrey and Elena Kensington. Like it or not, we made a name for ourselves doing this. Liam will be at your place tomorrow at eight to leave for the trip, and I’ll see you at graduation. Goodbye, Celeste.”
Without another word, Elena exited the museum, leaving nothing behind but an echo of high heels clattering and her best friend speechless.
CHAPTER ONE
The promise of newfound freedom, independence, and consequential adulthood followed most of America’s high school graduates on their graduation day. For Celeste de Loughrey, daughter of prominent art tycoons, her own graduation day held the promise of a life of subjugation to her late father’s company—she would become CEO of the illustrious and renowned De Loughrey Art Enterprises and the commitment was daunting to say the least. Unfortunately, that was not the only dilemma lingering on her mind.
The voice of her best friend, Elena Kensington, another socialite daughter of art moguls, haunted her guilty conscience. Every small declaration of love and admiration by Elena for her boyfriend replayed in Celeste’s mind. The words were scandalizing as Celeste had remembered a terrible mistake she’d committed the weekend prior to graduation: kissing Elena’s boyfriend, Liam Montgomery.
How will you face Elena? How can you face her today after what you did? Celeste’s thoughts tormented her. What will happen if she finds out? Elena will never forgive you. That’s why she can never find out.
It was only a mistake, she told herself as she reminisced on the ill-fated evening in Malibu. After a weekend excursion of insatiable partying, Liam and Celeste found themselves alone together on a sunset beach. The sky was bubblegum pink and baby blue with soft white clouds scattered above the golden sun, all of which appeared to be derived from a Monet painting. Despite the beautiful view, Liam and Celeste found themselves lost in each other’s crystal blue eyes. In an imprudent moment, they shared a regretful kiss.
Gazing into the mirror on her bedroom wall, Celeste studied her golden reflection. Her fair skin was creamy white, and her light blonde hair was curled and styled perfectly in a low bun. She wore a pale yellow silk dress with matching beige stiletto heels. She could’ve been easily mistaken for a runway model heading to New York Fashion Week. But even though she looked like a million dollars, she had never felt more cheap.
During the weekend trip, Elena had stayed home to attend a special art auction but didn’t want to keep Liam from enjoying a last minute getaway. She was entirely oblivious to the short romance between her boyfriend and her best friend.
Upon returning home from Malibu, neither Liam nor Celeste spoke again of what had occurred. For Elena’s sake, they chose to keep their indiscretions secret. Liam would go back to being Elena’s faithful boyfriend, and Celeste would go back to being her trusty best friend.
Keeping the tensions low would’ve been easier if there wasn’t another rift between the two women: illegal art auctions Celeste and Elena had been hosting for years were beginning to divide them as well. Celeste wanted their string of frivolous crimes to end as she would become CEO of her late father’s company, but Elena was not so willing.
Throughout their friendship, Elena always had been slightly envious of Celeste. She believed her light was diminished by Celeste’s shadow, but as a good friend would, she let it go. Elena would rather be happy for her friend, so she never let her jealousy bother her.
Plus she had one thing Celeste didn’t; she had Liam.
Celeste knew she stole Elena’s spotlight at times, but she was determined for that not to happen at graduation after what she had done.
Celeste was still in her bedroom applying finishing touches to her makeup when her mother arrived. Caroline de Loughrey strolled into the room slowly, awestruck of her daughter’s beauty.
Celeste watched in the mirror as her mother approached her and waited for her to speak.
The two women looked quite similar despite their difference in age. Both were beautiful, bright blondes with light blue eyes and fair complexions. They were tall with thin frames, and each had a bubbly grin that could light up any room. Many years ago, Caroline was a distinguished socialite who married Celeste’s father, a well known art dealer named Thomas de Loughrey, when she was only nineteen.
“You look phenomenal,” Caroline complimented, hugging her daughter. “That dress looks very familiar. Is it vintage… and is it from my closet?”
“Guilty as charged,” Celeste laughed. She smiled so wide that she crinkled her nose. “I believe you wore this to an old film premiere. I adored it so much, Mom. I couldn’t help but wear it today.”
“It is absolutely stunning on you, Celeste. I thought you would have worn a new gown though. Didn’t you order one special for your graduation?” Caroline asked, curiously raising the pitch of her voice ever so slightly.
“I did, but I decided against it. Elena’s wearing a custom dress from a designer’s new summer collection, and I wanted her to have the spotlight today.”
“That’s awfully sweet of you, dear,” Caroline murmured, “but the spotlight’s always been your thing, not Elena’s.”
Celeste grimaced at the words, but she knew they were true.
Elena’s graduation preparations at her family home were quite different compared to her friend’s. Both of her parents, Edwin and Dorothy Kensington, were away on business trips as they had been nearly her whole life. Neither one of them sent Elena a text congratulating her, but then again, they hadn’t called once in the past four years either.
All Elena had that morning was Liam.
Liam met Elena at her house early, so they could get ready together. He’d been putting in extra effort into their relationship, bringing gifts and surprising her with spontaneous romantic dates. However, she could sense there was tension in their relationship.
Elena wore her custom designer dress as planned and styled her long dark brown hair into soft curls. As she did her makeup, she noticed Liam watching her in the reflection of her bathroom mirror, and she could’ve sworn she saw a flash of regret in his eyes. He must have noticed her concern as he approached her and gently hugged her from behind.
“You look beautiful,” he grinned, “as always.”
He wore a suit matching her gold dress, but the color much better complimented Elena’s tan skin than his own pale complexion. His black hair was combed back straight and his face was clean shaven. He was a very handsome man with crystal blue eyes and a contagious smile, and Elena felt lucky to have him by her side for their big day.
“Are you almost ready to leave?” he asked.
“Almost. I just need to paint my nails,” she replied.
“Allow me,” Liam said, picking up the nail polish and her dainty hand. He painted each nail a light pink color, careful not to mess up. It was a kind gesture, but he was being a little too attentive and too helpful, showering her with affection unlike ever before in their relationship.
Suspicious, Elena asked him if something was wrong.
“No, nothing’s wrong,” he answered. “You’re probably just stressed out because of your valedictorian speech. Do you want to practice it a few more times with me?”
“No, it’s not that… Well, I don’t know what it is, Liam. You seem distant.”
Elena contemplated the course of their relationship while Liam attempted to comfort her once again. They had been dating for the majority of their high school years, but Elena worried that he didn’t want her anymore.
At their senior prom, Elena had worn a beautiful red designer gown, certain that it would keep Liam’s eyes on her all night. However, he didn’t dance with her once and left the dance early before it was even ten o’clock. She was devastated and had no one to confide in, since Celeste had blown off prom to travel to Italy.
Elena never found out, but the reason Liam left prom early was to fly to Italy to see Celeste.
Elena ultimately decided to push her worries aside. I have a beautiful dress, I have a beautiful boyfriend, and I’m valedictorian. I have it all, she tried to convince herself.
As Liam and Elena began to leave her family home, the de Loughreys had already arrived at the graduation venue.
“How beautiful! This is perfect for your graduation. Isn’t it lovely, Celeste?” Caroline asked, admiring the extravagant decor.
The graduation venue was adorned in school colors and gorgeous art donated by the de Loughreys and the Kensingtons.
The artwork reminded Celeste that she still had to talk to Elena about the art auction she hosted while she was away, but her guilt was hindering her ability to make accusatory remarks at the girl who’s boyfriend she had kissed.
“It’s amazing, Mom. Thanks for donating the artwork,” Celeste replied.
“It’s what your father would’ve wanted,” Caroline sighed, putting her arm around her daughter. The two had been on their own for many years, but they never forgot the memory of Celeste’s late father, Thomas.
Thomas de Loughrey was a big name in the art business for the better portion of his life. He began his career as an art dealer and founded De Loughrey Art Enterprises later on with his wife. The company grew significantly, taking ownership of multiple museums in numerous countries as Thomas continued to manage high profile art dealings. Sadly, he unexpectedly passed away when Celeste was only eight years old. Thomas left his company to his wife, but it was dictated by his will that the family business was to be passed on to his daughter upon her high school graduation.
“I wish you would have worn your new gown, Celeste. It’s not everyday you inherit your father’s company and become a CEO,”Caroline remarked.
Contrary to her affluent peers, Celeste wished her inheritance would disappear. Her fears of ruining her father’s legacy haunted her ever since she discovered she would become CEO of his company. As she conversed with guests, everyone greeted her with
“Congratulations” and “It’s your big day,” but all she wanted was for the attention to be on Elena instead.
Liam had alerted paparazzi before arriving at the venue to show up and take photos of his girlfriend to make her feel even more special on their graduation day. When they stepped out of their car, Elena was stunned with excitement by all the photographers and camera flashes. Liam immediately stepped aside while she got her picture taken, and he slowly made his way towards the building.
Inside, Celeste and everyone else were peeking out the windows to see what the commotion was about. She heard an upset school administrator complain, “How disgraceful it is for a student to bring this racket here.” Celeste stifled a chuckle, but her mood suddenly became melancholic as she saw Liam walking in her direction.
His lips curved into a slight smirk as his crystal blue eyes fell upon her. His suit fit him well, complimenting his lean build, Celeste noticed.
He looks dangerously handsome, she thought. If only things were—No! Don’t think like that! He’s not mine to have.
“Good morning, Celeste,” he greeted in a low voice. “I was wondering if you would be here already. You’re usually late.”
He inched close to her, and Celeste struggled to control the butterflies swarming in her stomach. She repeated to herself, He’s not mine to have. The kiss was a mistake, and it can’t ever happen again. Think of Elena!
“Hello!” she blurted aloud awkwardly, accidentally drawing attention to the two. “Ahem—Hello, Liam. I’m attempting to improve my punctuality,” she joked halfheartedly. “I can’t be repeatedly late as a CEO after all.”
He nodded slowly and looked at her with a puzzled expression, furrowing his eyebrows as he struggled to define her emotions.
“I have so much to say to you,” he murmured, reaching out to hold her hand.
She pleaded with him, “Don’t say anything you’ll regret, Liam. We mustn’t rehash our past mistakes.”
“But I don’t regret it,” he insisted, lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear. “Celeste, ever since Italy, I knew that…” He paused, struggling to find the right words to say.
The chatter amongst the room faded in their minds as they heard only the piano softly playing in the background and their own hearts pounding. It was a sinful symphony of fiery and forbidden emotions exchanging when they shouldn’t be.
Celeste spoke softly, “When you came to Italy to visit me, I thought you were one of my greatest friends, Liam. You have always been there for me, and I’m thankful for that.”
A few tears trickled down her cheek, and he wiped them gently as they both thought back to their time in Italy. During the school prom, Liam received a phone call and he stepped outside to answer it. He had a beaming smile once he heard Celeste’s voice on the line. She was always up to something exciting which would always pique his interest.
“Celeste!” Liam exclaimed. “You aren’t at prom?”
“No,” she laughed. “I took a last minute trip to Italy! It’s marvelous! I tried calling Elena, but she wasn’t picking up. I just had to talk to someone, so I thought of you!”
“Italy?” Liam repeated with wide eyes. “That sounds so much more exciting than a school prom.”
“It really is amazing! You should visit here. You’d love it.”
“Maybe I should,” Liam suggested, contemplating a last minute trip as well. “Would you mind if I joined you, Celeste? I could fly out tonight.”
“I’d love that, Liam.”
Upon Liam’s arrival the next day, they took in all the beautiful sights the city had to offer and danced together all night. The two had a marvelous time. Although Celeste never thought more of it, Liam had fallen for her that night.
“You’ve always been one of my greatest friends too,” Liam whispered, taking her into a deep hug. “That’s how I know you’re the one—”
“We can’t do this, Liam. The kiss in Malibu was a mistake,” Celeste said, pushing him away. She glanced past him to see Elena making her entrance. “Go see your girlfriend. She looks amazing.”
Liam turned to see Elena glowing with a sudden boost of confidence due to the paparazzi. He then turned back to Celeste and gave her a weak smile before going to accompany his girlfriend.
“Celeste!” Elena squealed, running to her friend. “I’m so happy to see you! I love your dress. Is that vintage? You look so sophisticated. Don’t I look nice as well? Did you see all those cameras out there? They were for me! I can’t believe it! It’s because of the new designer gown I’m wearing—”
“Elena, calm down!” she laughed, pulling her into a hug. “You look beautiful.”
Elena giggled, tugging on Liam’s sleeve to pull him closer, “And doesn’t my boyfriend look handsome?”
Painfully, Celeste admitted, “Yes, he does.”
Liam excused himself to go speak to school administrators about the coming ceremony, and Celeste and Elena walked through hallways to admire the artwork before the graduation began.
Once they were alone, Elena commented, “Isn’t it great that our families could donate these paintings for our graduation? They certainly elevate the atmosphere.”
“It is great,” Celeste agreed. “I’m glad we were able to give back to the school. It was the right thing to do, especially given all we put them through the past four years.”
They each snickered and began to make their way to where a massive mural was hung.
“I know this is terrible timing, Elena, but we need to talk about the art auctions, specifically the one you hosted while I was in Malibu this past weekend,” Celeste quietly said.
“Shush! Keep your voice down! People might hear you,” Elena scolded.
There was a reason Celeste and Elena never took any guests with them to their art auctions, not even Liam knew of them. Over the past weekend, Elena and the manager of her family’s new gallery, who was an art forger, took a trip to the museum before it opened to the public, so she could choose art to sell illegally. Elena would pick the pieces she wanted to sell, and the forger would create a copy to place in the museum. They had been doing this for years, but now Celeste—suffering from a recent moral enlightenment—wanted to quit.
“I thought we agreed we wouldn’t do the art auctions anymore,” Celeste argued. “I didn’t want to bring it up again before graduation, but I thought we had an understanding. Is last Saturday’s auction actually the final one, or were you lying to me about that too?”
Elena fired back, “Not all of us have a business being handed down to us. Some of us still have to actually work for what we want. I need the art auctions if I’m ever going to have a name in the art world.”
“You’re making a name for yourself alright, a bad name!” Celeste corrected. “This is not how you want to begin your art career. We can’t keep doing this.”
“You don’t get to decide when we quit, Celeste. We’re in this together, and I won’t let you bail out now either,” Elena warned.
“Your name is connected to all the sales we’ve made so far, and the buyers expect to see you and your collection at the auctions… I suppose if you do want out, I could work out a deal with the buyers, but I doubt they’d ever want to work with you professionally again.” She handed Celeste a folded piece of paper. “Here is the address for the next auction. Be there early on Friday. Don’t mess this up.”
Elena stormed off, leaving her friend feeling defeated once again.
The last thing Celeste wanted to do the first week as CEO of her father’s company was host an illegal art auction, selling paintings from their own museums. She looked around at all the art in the room and wondered how many of the items on display were counterfeit.
It’s such a shame, she thought, and it’s all my fault.
Her thoughts were interrupted by an announcement on the loudspeaker declaring that the graduation ceremony was about to begin and calling for everyone to take their places.
“Celeste, why are you acting so weird?” Elena spat in a harsh whisper. “This better not be about the art auction this Friday, because it is out of my hands now! You know that.”
All the soon-to-be graduates were separated into two lines on opposite ends of the backstage room. Each student was anxiously waiting to walk across the graduation stage and receive their diplomas, and the ceremony was about to begin. However, this didn’t stop Elena from picking another argument with Celeste.
“Elena, not now,” Celeste coaxed, bringing her finger to her lips to shush her. “We can talk about it later.”
“Why are you acting weird then?” Elena demanded, sassily placing her hand on her hip.
Celeste glanced across the room and looked at Liam, who was laughing nonchalantly with his classmates, and she struggled to find a good answer to satisfy her impatient friend.
“I-I’m just acting weird because we’re about to graduate high school,” Celeste lied, laughing nervously. “Maybe I have some stage fright.”
Elena nodded slowly, unsure of whether or not she believed her.
Their conversation was interrupted by loud bellowing laughs from two female students ahead of them in line. The classmates pointed at Elena and giggled, before pointing again at their phones.
The vivacious chatter grew as more and more people took out their phones and began to engage in the friendly gossip.
Celeste was curiously looking around the room to try and size up the situation when she caught Liam’s eye. Even from twenty feet away, his icy blue eyes commanded her attention. He looked afraid, almost like a deer caught in headlights.
She thought, He looks like he’s seen a ghost.
Elena caught on to the recent enticement of the student body when another female classmate pointed at Celeste and loudly exclaimed, “Isn’t that her in the picture?”
Immediately, Elena responded defensively to the remark she had overhead.
She walked toward the unfortunate gossiper and snarkily asked, “What’s going on? Why are you pointing at my best friend? Do you find something funny?”
Elena’s loyalty to her friendship was a quality her peers typically admired. This time, however, looks of caution were paused around instead of regards of awe. It was as if everyone besides Celeste and Elena were involved in a secret inside joke, and this infuriated her.
What is everyone’s problem? Did they forget who I am? Elena wondered, wholly feeling the effects of her ego being threatened.
The gossiping classmate she had questioned refused to answer her and stepped back in efforts to escape the confrontation. Yet she was stopped by other students pushing her back towards Elena.
She scowled at them before facing Elena with fear, mumbling a faint response.
“I can’t hear you,” Elena sing-songed. “Maybe next time you shouldn’t make jokes and laugh at my friend if you can’t handle the consequences.” Smirking, she was about to walk away victorious, knowing she had taken the girl down a peg or two.
That was until the girl’s small voice squeaked another inaudible response.
“What was that?” Elena hissed, challenging her again. Her dark hazel eyes were full of rage as she towered over the inferior peer, and she cautiously awaited the girl’s next move.
By now, all eyes were on them with phone cameras raised and ready in case a fight would break out. This was a rare outcome at their school, and even rarer in the case of Elena. Neither she nor Celeste had ever engaged in such brutality, and it would be all the rage if either of the sparkling socialites got into a catfight on their graduation day.
Slowly, the female classmate challenged by Elena spoke in a solemn tone.
“You know your friend Celeste? Well, she was kissing your boyfriend. Your boyfriend is Liam Montgomery, right? It’s all over social media,” she revealed.
The classmate raised her phone to show Elena the pictures.
Silence.
Elena was speechless as her world around her froze. Everything she had known and cherished so comfortably milliseconds before was about to be stolen from her. Her eyes fell upon the vile photograph, and the possibility that it was simply untrue was lost.
She inspected the picture, and there was no question about it. It was Liam and Celeste in the leaked paparazzi photographs. They were on the Malibu beach together, and Liam’s hands were lost in her long blonde hair as he kissed her. Her boyfriend was undoubtedly kissing her best friend, Elena noted, and Celeste was kissing him back.
This can’t be happening, Elena thought, not today of all days… and not to me! Liam loves me!
She snatched the phone from the classmate’s hands and discovered that the photos had been reposted everywhere, and every major gossip site was sharing them as well. This was the grandest humiliation Elena had ever endured in her life thus far, and it was only the beginning.
Finally, she shrieked, “What? What is this, Celeste? What is going on?”
She looked towards Liam across the room and glared at his doe-like blue eyes. Silently, he pleaded for her forgiveness as he mouthed the words “I’m sorry,” but Elena couldn’t bow down yet.
She felt her newfound pain deeply and was filled with overwhelming hate towards both him and Celeste.
In a rage, Elena turned towards her friend and violently threw the phone at her.
“Is this true?” she yelled, tears trailing down her flushed cheeks. “Is this true, Celeste?”
“Yes,” Celeste confessed, failing to make eye contact with her.
Elena bawled as her weak voice desperately raced with questions, “How could you? Why would you do this to me? You’re supposed to be my friend! Why wouldn’t you tell me all week? You had to wait and let me find out from the tabloids on our graduation day? Why?”
“I’m sorry,” was all Celeste could manage as her head still hung towards the floor. She had never felt more ashamed than she did at that moment. Her apology, although sincere in nature, only angered her friend even more.
“Why don’t you look at me, Celeste?” Elena sneered. “What kind of friend are you? Can you answer that?” Celeste’s gaze rose to her grief-stricken friend, and her heart was heavy. Elena’s expression was stiff while her dark eyes were murky with tears.
“I’m sorry. I know I made a terrible mistake. I hope you can forgive me.”
“Forgive you?” she scoffed. “How could I? You kissed my boyfriend!”
“I’m sorry—”
“I should’ve known,” Elena laughed coldly, her distress now manifesting as anger. “I should’ve known you’d end up a cheap sleazoid. You live for the tabloids after all. In fact, I bet you did this just to get more headlines about you. What is it you always say? Any attention is good attention?” She smirked as the crowd around them exclaimed in her support.
“I never said that!” Celeste retorted, wagging her finger at her. “You know I’d never do something like that to get attention!”
“Why did you do it then?” she spat, crossing her arms. “Did you do it because you’re lonely? Did you do it because you wanted to prove you could?”
“No! Of course not! I have standards!”
“You have rather low standards if you have to resort to stealing your best friend’s boyfriend if you ask me.”
The crowd cheered for Elena’s comeback, further reinforcing her fiery attitude.
Becoming more frazzled and fraught, Celeste spoke rapidly, “Let’s not do this, Elena. We don’t have to argue in front of everyone. I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t mean to hurt you. Liam and I simply got caught up in the moment. It didn’t mean anything! I’d take it back if I could. I really would. Now, can we stop with this? I don’t want to ruin graduation—”
In a cold frenzy, Elena slapped Celeste straight across her face, leaving a bright red mark on her pale cheek and causing another tumultuous uproar from their peers surrounding them.
“And you had the nerve to say that I was making a bad name for myself in the art business,” Elena snarled. “Well, look at you! You’re on your way to making a bad name for yourself in every arena of business, especially the tabloid business which I know you just love!”
“Stop making a scene! You keep accusing me, but you’re the one who loves being the center of attention! You’re trying to be that right now!” Celeste argued before lowering her voice to a whisper. “What you’re doing in the art business is wrong, and nothing you say can change that. If you keep hosting those auctions, something bad is going to happen.”
“Really?” Elena laughed sarcastically, raising her voice loud so all the onlookers could hear. “I’ll definitely take life advice and business tips from you, Celeste. Look how well you’re doing. Living a double life must be such a great talent to have! If only I had that ability to lie and sneak behind your back like you did behind mine. Whatever! The gutter is waiting for you outside, Celeste. Why don’t you go join the rest of the trash in it?”
Before she could even respond, Elena shoved Celeste, pushing her off balance.
The crowd of onlookers circled around them and jested for a fight, chanting loudly, “Fight! Fight! Fight!” Another student yelled, “Get her, Elena!” while someone else hollered, “Celeste, don’t let her push you around! Fight back!” It was a chaotic environment, and there was no escape for either of them.
Brushing herself off, Celeste scoffed, “You can’t be serious, Elena. You want to fight me?”
“What? You think I can’t handle it?” Elena fired back with a big smirk, pounding her fist in her hand.
“I know you can’t,” Celeste snapped, stalking towards her. “I don’t want to have to hurt you. Don’t make me do this.”
Narrowing her gaze, Elena made a cold declaration which sent a shiver up Celeste’s spin.
“You already hurt me.”
Without warning, she then lunged for Celeste.
Quick reflexes saved Celeste from the initial punch as she leaped to the side, but Elena reacted even more quickly and reached out to tug on Celeste’s loose blonde hair.
“Ow!” Celeste yelped. “Let me go! Stop being such a drama queen!”
“Stop stealing people’s boyfriends first!” Elena screamed, taking the opportunity to fully tackle Celeste.
Soon enough, they were both sprawled on the floor in a catfight unlike anything their preppy private school had ever seen.
Shimmering designer fabrics tore apart as Celeste and Elena severed all ties of their friendship.