"I hope you're in for the most 'in' attraction of the moment: the Deadly Carousel." Peri is serious when she suggests trying the newest attraction from the Luna Park. It's not a carousel like others: first of all, its seats stand much taller; secondly, it spins clockwise at an increasing speed, with seats themselves spinning around.

Last, but not least, no individuals under the age of fourteen are allowed on the ride for a matter of safety. As a result, Ella, who has joined me and my friends for the day, has to stay put. The rest of us line up for our turn on it.

Peri continues. "From its description on the dépliant, it sounds thrilling. I love some chill..." She mimes tremor with her hands and widenly opens her mouth to imitate a scream in the night; instead of scaring us, she makes us laugh, especially me.

"Please... Stop!" I beg, while the others keep laughing incontrollably. The moment has come: we take seats. After we buckle up and the Luna Park staff check our seatbelts are correctly fastened and we're following the safety procedure to heart, the ride can start.

As predicted, it starts spinning slowly; then, its speed gradually increases until it turns into a crazy spin cycle, with the added twist that our seats also rotate. I blink a lot and never look down. I let out a scream. "Woo-hoo! I feel like floating in the hyperspace. Like astronauts doing no gravity drills before leaving on their missions."

The comparison doesn't make sense to Brix, who mumbles something I can barely understand. I can hear people shouting in a mixture of fear, excitement and trepidation. I raise my hands to the sky and yell. "We're flying, baby."

Now, here comes the most dangerous part of the carousel, when its seats swing back and forth like a pendulum, each time higher and lower. I let go of all my fears to shout once more. "Bring it on, baby!" I even improvise a cringey song. 'To the deadly, to the deadly, to the Deadly Carousel / It's not funny, it's not easy / If you ain't brave, you're gonna die-ie-ie!'

The ride is over after ten minutes that seem to be an eternity, and my friends and I leave the attraction, only to find out that Ella has wandered off. The first thing I do as I regain possession of my phone is to call her. I find out she's hanging out with some guy her age, and that he and his family invited her to spend time with them.

Why hasn't she told me yet? Now that I'm done with The Burden of Breaking Hearts, I have to focus on spending more quality time with my sister before I have to leave for college. Oh, gosh, this isn't the moment to mull over my future! I have to celebrate the defeat of the ultimate force of the evil that took over the school for many years.

***

After a long and exhausting day at the Luna Park, I stay at home today. It's Sunday, anyway, so it's not a problem for me. I spend the afternoon binge watching movies, one of which I enjoy with Ella's company, but just because it's a rom com, which is her favorite genre.

When the movie spree is over, my sister retreats to her room to do her stuff, which leaves me on my own, thinking of what I should wear for the upcoming end of year ball. All I know is that I have to make a dazzling impression after literally being the one who saved the school from the virus of a club that was slowly turning into a cult.

I take a long bath as I come up with a potential speech in case I'm taken into consideration for a special prize. I feel rejuvenated, as if what happened in the past few months hasn't left a single scar on me.

***

The party matches my expectations. A lively atmosphere dominates, with energetic pop music blaring on the speakers. Tre has chosen really well, I dare say. The buffet is perfectly organized, with a wide variety of choices. I start with some chips and canapés, as well as a glass of Pepsi.

Everyone seems to enjoy themselves, except one: Ashlea. She has still shown up even though her reputation has plummeted. She still believes she can regain it by being crowned the school's queen. She's so delusional.

Salinda shakes her head and wrinkles her nose in disgust as she sees her ex friend in the gym, trying to act as if none of her bullshit has been exposed yet. She pulls me close as she whispers, "She's pathetic! She should've stayed at home with her minions."

At least, I'm relieved that Meghan, Hope, Lyndall and Jeff didn't show up. They would've turned this joyous event into a cesspool of toxicity as usual. They were as dangerous as Ashlea, if not more. But let's not talk about those suckers.

The moment has come. The proclamation of the King and Queen of Cedar Creek High. Or, in other words, the instant Ashlea's grandeur delusions are crushed forever. Brix takes the center of the hall and adjusts her microphone before she starts speaking.

"Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready to find out who are the King and Queen?" Loud cheers erupt around her, but Ashlea groans, annoying the rest of the student body. Just because she's miserable, it doesn't mean she has to ruin everyone else's mood.

"The school's king is... Tre Tolliver!" At least it's not one of those two toxic fuckers, or those other idiotic bystanders who followed everything the Club did because it was "trendy."

Tre reaches Brix and snatches the mic from her. "Thank you, people, I promise I'll live up to this title—and won't disappoint anyone again." Does he really need to mention that! The past is past, he should move on instead of beating himself over mistakes, no matter how big they were.

"And the Queen is..." This announcement is followed by a longer suspense. Peri and Salinda squeeze each other's hands. Brix fidgets with the envelope she holds in hers. Tre gives me an expectant glance.

"Rieleigh Colson!" Is this real? Me, the Queen of Cedar Creek High? I've started this journey through high school as someone completely uninterested in drama and gossip, just focusing on school work and my friendship with Peri and Brix.

Now, everyone sees me as their heroine. The one who freed an endangered environment from the grip of The Burden of Breaking Hearts, a club that became so suffocating that it ground most of its members' souls. Even Peri, Brix, Tre and I didn't come out of it unscathed.

We've had our fair share of suffering. We've stayed apart for a while. It was unbearable at first, but it allowed me to rethink of our approach to one another, as well as how to come up with convincing solutions to our problems rather than circling around them in the vain hope they'd disappear on their own.

So, now, here we are, celebrating the triumph of genuine relationships and healthy feelings over the burning desire of wanting to be on the top of the social ladder. This is what strikes Ashlea the most as she, unable to accept defeat, storms out of the party, furiously clicking her heels on the floor.

She'll be just an afterthought in a few years. The good memories linked to the destruction of the Club, however, will stay etched in mine and my friends' minds for a long time.