I was watching the movie ‘Heathers’ for like the tenth time and decided to write this little fic. If you haven’t watched ‘Heathers’, I highly suggest it. It’s probably my favorite movie of all time. Anyways, on to the actual story. :)
I never understood popularity. I could see my classmates trying to claw their way to the top of the food chain each and every day. In my opinion, popularity was overrated. But my opinion may have been tainted by the fact that I sat at the top.
There were three of us at the top, all sharing one crown. For the majority of the year, the crown sat atop Charlotte Carter’s head of fiery red hair. She was the character from the movies, the cliché queen bee that walked the halls with her well earned sense of pride. Her right hand woman was a brunette, a sweet girl named Lauren. The two of them had ruled the school since sophomore year. I joined them when I was a junior after a successful attempt at persuasion. I targeted Lauren first, knowing that her good nature would ultimately be how I secured my ticket to the top. We became friends after a successful group project that allowed us to spend time together. She soon introduced me to Charlotte, and, surprisingly, the two of us hit it off immediately.
However, we didn’t remain friends for long. Charlotte was used to being an omnipotent, unopposed ruler with Lauren sitting quietly by her side. I refused to stand aside and let her rule the school without opposition. Where we once bonded, we now clashed. Lauren got caught in the middle. She was the one that kept us both at bay. If she was not there, there was no doubt Charlotte and I would be at each other’s throats.
Then it happened. Lauren moved away. The sweet, peacekeeping girl moved across the country. She left behind two rivals, just seconds away from tearing each other’s heads off. Charlotte still held onto the crown with a deadly grip. If I had known how to tear the crown from her hands, I would have. Turns out, there was someone who knew exactly what to do. I was surprised that I had overlooked him since his brother was practically king of the school.
Alyn Crawford ruled the school right by Charlotte’s side. They were a couple to be reckoned with. Charlotte had dug her claws into him sophomore year, and the two of them had been going strong ever since. Alyn was the typical popular guy - sporty, smart, handsome, and charming. His ruby red eyes and chestnut hair made the girls swoon; all eyes were on him wherever he walked.
It was his twin that I was more interested in. Leo was like his brother in many ways - handsome and smart - but there was a slight mystery to him that made him all the more intriguing. Alyn’s scarlet eyes were soft and charming, but Leo’s were alluring and almost dangerous. Alyn’s chestnut hair was drastically different than Leo’s platinum blonde. While Alyn spent his time practicing his sports and spending time with friends, Leo’s nose was almost always buried in a book. There was something about him that drew me in, something I couldn’t explain.
When our worlds collied, my reality was shattered into bits and pieces. Charlotte had decided to skip fourth period, leaving the seat beside me open for the taking. Just a few minutes before the bell rang, the mysterious Leo Crawford slid into the seat to my left. “So, this Shakespeare guy is pretty depressing, huh?” He tossed his copy of Macbeth onto his desk.
“I guess.” I chewed on my pen - a ridiculous habit that I couldn’t seem to break.
“Don’t you think they got what was coming to them? I mean, they caused so much destruction, ruined so much happiness. It wouldn’t be fair for them to be happy.”
“Geez, Leo. From what I’m hearing, Shakespeare isn’t the depressing one here.” I fished through my bag in search of my own copy of the book. When I found it, worn and tattered near the bottom, I frowned but pulled it out nonetheless. I hadn’t realized just how many times I had read it.
“I’m guessing you enjoyed the book.” Leo chuckled as he examined my copy. “Tell me, was it the horror or madness that drew you in?”
“Neither. It was the tyrant being overthrown.”
“Huh.” Leo placed his chin the the palm of his hand. “Thinking of a particular redhead during the beheading?”
“Trust me, I understand where you’re coming from. She is dating my brother, after all.” Leo leaned in close and whispered, “How about an alliance?”
“An alliance?” I repeated.
“We both want Charlotte Carter out of our lives - or, in your case, dethroned. How about we band together to make that happen?” Leo smirked and leaned even closer. “What do you say, babe?” He held out his hand. “Shake on it?”
I looked down at the hand and then back into his eyes. “Whatever it takes,” I decided, grabbing the outstretched hand.
Leo and I quickly became friends after that. I could feel the icy glares Charlotte threw my way as I began distancing myself from her. It was refreshing to see her arrogance begin to melt away as she realized that keeping me by her side was the only thing ensuring her power at this school. I was the only person who could overthrow her, and she knew it.
As I sat with Leo during my lunch one day, Charlotte came up and slammed her tray on the table. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she hissed. Her eyes landed on Leo, and suddenly, a smirk inched its way onto her face. “A Crawford twin?” Her laughter attracted the attention of many of the students around us. “A Crawford twin!” She walked around the table and looked at me with an evil glint in her eyes. “Face it! You’ll never be me. Just a cheap knock off version.”
I stood to stare her straight in the eyes. “What makes you think that I would ever want to be you? You are a stuck up, good for nothing bitch. Turning into you would be my actual nightmare.”
Charlotte stomped her foot on the ground and seethed, “Consider yourself uninvited from Alyn’s party tonight.”
I laughed in her face. “This is what makes your life so sad. You think uninviting me to a party is going to change anything? You’re so superficial! High school doesn’t matter! None of this actually matters!”
“Don’t come crawling back to me when your life is in ruins.” Charlotte flipped her hair over her shoulder and stalked off, leaving her tray behind.
“I hate her.” I laughed again and sat back down. “I actually hate her.”
Leo chuckled and wrapped two arms around my waist. I could feel his breath on my ear as he whispered, “Come over to my place tonight. I can sneak you into the party, no problem. We can make good on our alliance, get back at Charlotte Carter. What do you say? Are you in?”
I grabbed his hand and replied, “Of course I’m in. Whatever it takes, right?”
A few hours later, I stood in front of the Crawford house. The music was blasting through the speakers, lights were flashing, and drunk partygoers stumbled about. The door was flung wide open, inviting anybody and everybody in. So much for Charlotte’s revoked invitation. I entered the house with ease and began searching for Leo. Instead of finding Leo, I ran into Alyn - literally.
“Hey!” Alyn placed his hands on my shoulders to steady me. “Watch where you’re going.” He shot me a kind smile and carefully removed his hands, watching to make sure I wouldn’t fall again.
“God, I’m so sorry Alyn. I guess I was too preoccupied in my hunt for Leo.”
“Leo?” Alyn repeated. “He hates parties. You won’t find him here.”
“I’m sorry?” I stared at Alyn in complete confusion. “But he invited me here…”
Alyn shrugged and gestured around the house. “Make yourself at home. A friend of Charlotte’s is a friend of mine.”
“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Charlotte and I aren’t on speaking terms right now. I was technically uninvited from this party.” I took a seat on a nearby chair. “I wouldn’t blame you if you threw me out. You’ve got to look good in front of your girlfriend.”
Alyn chuckled. “Charlotte has yet to make an appearance. Stay as long as you like. Maybe Leo will decide to show too once he remembers he invited you.”
“I hope so,” I muttered as I watched Alyn walk away. I didn’t surprise me that Leo wasn’t the partying type - he never seemed like he’d be into that. But it wasn’t like Charlotte to miss a party, especially not one held at her boyfriend’s house.
“Why are you sitting here all alone?” One of Alyn’s teammates, a tall, flirtatious boy, claimed the seat beside me. “I thought you had a thing with one of the Crawford boys.”
“I do. Get lost, Sid.” I rolled my eyes and scooted towards the edge of my chair. He reeked of booze and cigarette smoke. “You’re not my type.”
“Tall, dark, and handsome ain’t your type?”
“Tall, dark, and handsome? Try drunk, dumb, and arrogant.”
“Don’t be like that!” Sid whined, dramatically flopping onto my lap. “You’re so sexy,” he cooed.
“You’re so wasted,” I cooed right back. I shoved him off me, stood up, and brushed myself off. “Jesus Christ, what an asshole.”
“I know you’re not talking about me.”
I turned at the sound of a familiar voice and found a pair of ruby red eyes staring back at me. “Of course not. I was talking about him.” I gestured to Sid passed out on the ground. “Alyn told me you weren’t the partying type.”
“I’m not. I was doing something much more important with my time.” Leo’s smile was almost dangerous. “It seems that Charlotte has decided to skip the party, huh?”
“Yeah, and that’s really unusual for her. She never misses…a…party…” I trailed off and stared at Leo questioningly. “How did you know that she didn’t show?”
“Whatever it takes, right?” Leo smiled and dragged me out behind his house. He led me over to the edge of the driveway where his car sat, hidden from the bright lights from the party.
“Jesus Christ, Leo!” I stared at the scene before me. There was no blood, nothing to show that the body lying in the back seat had stopped breathing. Even so, I knew she was dead. “What the hell have you done?”
Leo shrugged and murmured, “Maybe I replaced her Tic Tacs with something a little stronger. Maybe I didn’t.” He bit his lip and looked over the scene with a terrifying glint in his eye. He was enjoying this. “Whatever it takes, right?”
“I didn’t want her dead!”
Leo’s eyes snapped over to meet mine. “You said whatever it takes.”
“I didn’t mean this! I’m not insane!” I gulped and stared at Leo. My fight or flight reflexes weren’t working. I was frozen where I stood, staring at the body of my friend and enemy. “Jesus Christ,” I whispered again. “I can’t believe you did this.”
Leo looked at me fondly and smiled again. He leaned close and gently pressed his lips against mine.
I jerked away from him but remained frozen to the ground. I stared at him, wide eyed, breathless, and afraid, but unable to run. “Leo…” My hand reached up to touch my lips that were still warm from the unexpected kiss.
Leo confidently met my gaze. “So,” he murmured, an almost excited smirk playing on his lips, “Who’s next?”
