Frances spent two days in the hospital, and though she was discharged with a clean bill of health, she stayed home a few more days to fully recover. When she finally returned to school, it was as though a storm had walked in on stilettos.
She stepped into the classroom, head high, lips curled into a smirk, her presence exuding arrogance like a queen reclaiming her throne. Students gasped softly as the room fell into an uneasy hush.
"Frances looks better now."
"She's not sick anymore, she's back to normal."
Voices whispered and buzzed like flies in the air.
The teacher, who had just concluded his class, glanced briefly at Frances but said nothing. Without a word, he quietly packed his materials and exited like a man trying to escape a wildfire before it consumed him. Frances narrowed her eyes in surprise but her expression changed as she saw it.
A familiar white Stanley cup sat on her desk.
She frowned. "How come he knows that I would be coming to school today? Such a psycho!" she muttered, snatching the cup with practiced irritation. Still, she didn't hesitate to gulp down the milk.
Evie stared at her, mouth slightly agape, like someone witnessing a disaster unfold in slow motion.
"What? Why are you staring at me?" Frances snapped, wiping her mouth.
Evie raised both hands, gesturing wildly as usual. "You are so fearless, Frances! You just see a milk and drink it every day, what if it was poisoned?"
"I've been drinking it every morning for almost three years. I'm not dead yet," Frances replied flatly.
"What if it's a slow poison?" Evie persisted, eyes wide, the horror painted across his face almost comical.
"They would have detected it during my check-up. I'm healthy, so the milk is fine. It actually helps me feel better, so there's no harm in taking it."
"But…"
"No buts, Evie!" Frances cut him off with a smirk. "We have something more interesting to do today."
Evie's eyes squinted suspiciously. "What?"
Frances's grin widened, wicked and mischievous. Evie gasped.
"Oh no! No, no, Frances we promised to stop bullying people! We're now seniors!"
"Oh? Y'all did, but I didn't." She ripped a piece of paper from her notebook, scribbled something with quick precision, and taped it to the cup.
"Don't buy anymore Stanley cup.
I will always keep this down for you to make the milk with.
Stop being wasteful."
Evie peeked at the note and nearly laughed out loud. "Ain't you the one who always disposed of those expensive cups every day? Now it's the anonymous giver that's wasteful? Hump!"
Frances didn't reply. She stood abruptly and stormed out of the class.
**
The hallway echoed with her confident strides as she made her way to Morgan's class. She halted mid-step when she saw the teacher still in session. Folding her arms, she leaned against the wall, one leg crossed over the other, waiting impatiently. But as minutes passed and her patience thinned, she made to barge in.
A strong hand gripped her arm.
"Excuse me, Miss, you're not allowed in this class," said a tall figure in uniform.
Frances looked up sharply, her eyes narrowing into venomous slits. Her glare was scorching enough to make him instinctively release her.
She dusted her sleeve and sneered, "Who are you?!"
"I'm a security guard to Sutton. I've been informed not to allow you near him."
For a moment, Frances looked stunned. Then, a bark of laughter erupted from her mouth.
"You! You were placed here just to stop me from seeing Sutton? You mean you're his bodyguard?"
"Yes, Miss. Please go back," he said, stretching an arm across the door to block her path.
Frances placed both hands on her hips and tilted her head, amused. "Oh my! Beat one and get one for free? What a good deal."
The guard blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
Her answer came in the form of a fist.
The punch landed square on his cheek. His head jerked to the side, vision blurring. Before he could recover, Frances grabbed him by the collar and yanked him closer, speaking with calm malice.
"You messing with me, dude."
"Y-You're being rude, Miss. I don't want to be charged with assault, you're a young girl"
"Oh, how much I would like to be charged with assault," she said, and without warning, kneed him in the stomach.
He groaned and flew backward, crashing into the classroom. Gasps erupted. Desks shifted. All eyes turned to the doorway where Frances now stood, cool as ice, her arms folded like a queen ready to pass judgment.
Sutton's eyes widened. He sat up stiffly in his seat, heart thudding. He had known she'd come for him, and yet… he had underestimated how soon.
Frances strolled in, sauntering toward the front like she owned the air they breathed. She approached the teacher, who looked ready to faint.
"Mr. Weston, you don't mind me being in your class for a while, right?"
"Oh my, Frances! Of course I do not mind at all," he said, packing his things in record time. "It just so happens that my period is over. I'm already on my way out!" He fled the class immediately .
Frances placed her hands gently on the teacher's desk, scanning the class.
"Once I call your name, please answer present!" Her voice rang with theatrical glee. "Big sis!" She added slowly
Everyone shifted uneasily.
"Who the fuck is prettysaint on the school site?"
A gasp. A girl in the back went stiff, knuckles whitening on the desk.
She was new, a transfer student and hadn't encountered Frances before. The other Students had warned her not to speak against Frances online because that means trouble but she'd scoffed. Now she is here.. For her
"What do you want from me? I'm PrettySaint!" she announced loudly. Bold. stupidly bold.
Frances turned to her, a dangerous smile curling on her lips. She moved slowly, deliberately, until she stood before the girl. One leg rose and rested on the seat, drawing close enough for intimidation.
"So pretty girl, would you like to know how much of a psycho I am?" she said mockingly, grabbing her face.
The girl flinched.
"Get off me! You psycho! You are crazy! Are you the school owner?! Why are you intimidating students! It's not your turn to threaten anyone you're just a student like everyone of us!"
The classroom fell deathly silent.
That was the wrong words to say
Frances sighed deeply, a sigh of pure disappointment. then smiled, wide and terrifying. With sudden fury, she slammed the girl's head onto the desk. A thud echoed, and the girl cried out.
"Let me go! You psycho!"
"Do you know what it means not to mind your business, you bitch?!"
"I'm just defending a student! You're such a menace, Frances!"
Frances paused. A realization clicked. She looked around.
"Ahhh! How could I have forgotten about this? I came here for someone else, didn't I?" She scanned the class. "Morgan!"
"Big sis!" Morgan jumped from his seat.
"Go get that boy for me right now!"
"Immediately!" Morgan dashed out like a bullet.
Frances finally released the girl. She slumped, gasping, hair disheveled, a trickle of blood near her temple. Frances circled her like a predator, then with a swift motion, swept her legs from behind. The girl fell to her knees with a yelp.
Frances grabbed her hair and yanked it back.
"Do you have something you're allergic to, Prettysaint?"
"Why do you ask? I'm not allergic to anything."
"Oh my! No wonder you could say shit about me online. You're so indifferent because you've never been at the verge of death in your little life. Would you like me to show you how it feels? To almost die?..."
Her grin deepened. The girl trembled.
Frances untied her gold tie, wrapping it around her hand and loosen her shirt buttons.
Moments later, Morgan returned, dragging Sutton by the wrist. Morgan shoved him to the floor and Sutton knelt, breathless.
"Frances, please! I'm very sorry. It was clearly a mistake. I meant no harm."
"A mistake that almost killed me ain't no excuse! If I died, you would spend a lifetime in jail. I just wanna teach you a lesson now so that you won't spend your life in jail."
"Frances, why are you doing this? Is it a crime that I liked you?"
"Oh? You like me? And you don't even know what I hate or what I love. Why would you claim to like me when you don't even know I'm allergic to lilies and that small contact could kill me?"
He looked away, shame flooding his face.
"That's true! How can you like someone and not know their preferences?"
"I think he is just after Frances' beauty. He doesn't like her at all."
"Same thing I thought! If you liked someone, you would definitely know many things about them."
"Why is Sutton even sending flowers to Frances? Isn't he dating this transfer student?" All eyes turned to the girl on the floor.
She looked away, face burning.
"Oh? They were dating?" Frances asked, amused.
"Of course! They started dating immediately she arrived here. I think she is even supporting Sutton out of jealousy."
"Her boyfriend likes another girl, so she is definitely praying for Frances to die or get sent out of school."
Frances laughed loud and full of mockery.
"Oh my! You and you are fucking each other?"
"Frances, it's not what you think, I swear it's not! I really liked you! She's just like a sister to me!"
"She called me brother, I called her sister too!"
Laughter exploded across the class.
"What a heartfelt family relationship," Frances deadpanned.
"Big sis, I think he just wanna play around. He probably made a bet with some guys out there to win you over."
She nodded thoughtfully. "So the boy is playing, the girl is jealous, and I'm the one who almost died. Oh cool."
She stood up and grabbed Sutton by the collar. Though he was taller, she pulled him up with shocking strength.
The punch landed square on his jaw. Before he could react, her leg struck him between his legs. He howled in agony, collapsing to the ground, his clothes stained with blood
"Should I continue the beating, or should I give you another mission?"
"Mission! Please mission, do not hit me again," he gasped.
"Cool! This girl, you shall monitor her henceforth. She doesn't know how to mind her business, and I think joblessness caused it. If she had a job, she wouldn't be doing disgusting things online. So, I'm getting her a job."
"What job?"
"Our new errand girl. She must get my friends' food and drinks and run our errands."
"Frances, I'm not your servant!"
"Really?" Frances tilted her head, then turned to Sutton. "Every time I call for her and she doesn't come, or she comes late, you will be the one getting a beating. And you know I don't hit the wrong places. You might lose your future kids if you get two more kicks from me!"
She turned, kicked his behind as she left, and the whole class burst into laughter.
"Y'all better learn not to mess with Frances next time, she's ruthless."
"I think she's being easy on them. If she decides to bully them to the core, they would be absent from school for weeks."
"Good for them! That was attempted murder. He could have killed her and this girl had the audacity to insult Frances as well!"
"It's just pure jealousy and hatred."
"Fighting for a cheating boyfriend is so shameful! I support Frances, please."
The girl's eyes brimmed with tears. The laughter, the pointing, the stares, it was unbearable. She stood shakily and rushed out of the class, face red, head bowed in utter shame.