The photo didn't last 24 hours, which mean Cassie was safe. At least, for now.

Sometimes, her mind rewinded the words Tyra had whispered to her and she shuddered. 'But I'm going to marry him and you will not get in my way.'

Cassie knew an empty threat when she heard one, but Tyra wasn't trying to threaten her. She was willing to fight tooth and nail for that.

And that was why she didn't know why this news came into her timeline.

'The Royal Couple Breaks it Off!'

The news was stamped at 23:30, and Cassie only took notice the next morning. It unnerved her. Neither Tyra or Desmond had contacted her, which only made it worse. She had a long sleep and she never felt good whenever her sleep lasted longer than the minimum five hours. She always felt like she was missing on something.

The dread engulfed her. Cassie put on one of her unaltered uniforms, because she had a feeling that there would be no good on appearing flashy today. She checked her phone one more time. Still no messages, even from Lucas. She skipped breakfast and called her chaffeur.

And that's when her chest dropped.

Because Tyra's MINI was in front of her gate.

The queen herself was inside, but she rolled the window down when she spotted her. Tyra's make up looked like it was put in a hurry, and she thanked the universe for that last unaltered uniform. She tried to put a spring on her step as she approached Tyra.

"Hey," she smiled.

Tyra didn't smile. She never did smile much whenever there wasn't an audience. "Get in."

Five minutes they sat side by side, and not a single words between them, which proved that there something horribly wrong had happened in the background. Tyra was quiet, but she wasn't this quiet. She was bossy and she was never out of words. Cassie snuck a glance towards the other girl; her eyes were slightly puffy and there was a slight tremor on her fingers.

She nearly offered to drive when Tyra finally spoke. "It's not because of that photo."

She didn't provide context, but Cassie didn't want to play dumb. She knew what Tyra meant. The breakup happened and Cassie had nothing to do with it.

"He just didn't want me anymore," Tyra added, quietly.

Cassie kept her eyes strictly on the road, because she knew that Tyra wouldn't want to be seen right now. It was common courtesy. Tyra had put on and maintained such a strong image for years, she wouldn't like having a witness to a weak moment.

"Don't say sorry," Tyra said. "I'll fucking kill you if you do."

"Never crossed my mind," Cassie said in her most even voice.

"He lets me control how the news spread. I can say whatever I want regarding why it happened. We agreed that I'm the one doing the dumping. Fucking bastard," Tyra hissed. "He thinks he's such a gentleman for doing that."

"So yeah, I decided I dump him because he lets you grope him. There was something going on, or about to go on, between you two." She said. "That's what people are going to know."

Cassie still contemplated how she was going to react to this. Would a mock-concern insult Tyra? Or maybe she was expecting some sympathy? No, scratch that. She would bite her head off if Cassie say as little as 'are you okay?'.

Still, she needed to know if she would be safe.

"Are your friends-"

"Desmond breaks up with girls all the time. Nobody is going to kill you, if that's what you're worried about."

There were protruding veins on Tyra's small wrist. Cassie hoped that Tyra had had enough sleep, although that didn't seem to be the case. All she wanted now is to get into school safely.

"So now you're off the hook; feel free to break up with Tristan. Then you can go for the jugular of our plan, make Desmond work so fucking hard for you, and then dump him in the most glorious way possible."

Cassie still stared at the street. "Okay."

"You have to promise me: that you won't give in too easily. That you will make him suffer. That he has to be your bitch in the duration of your upcoming relationship. You know and I know he deserves to be treated like the little shit he is."

It was personal. The hurt scratched her deep. Tyra had said that she was indifferent towards Desmond, and her behavior towards the six months they were dating proved the statement. She didn't care if he cheated on her, so long as he did it discreetly. She didn't care if she was basically pushing Cassie towards Desmond's lap, so long as it meant setting their relationship on fire. But Cassie had an inkling that maybe Tyra did care, and the only way for her to hide her hurt was to pretend not to care.

All of that facade was leaking now.

They pulled up on the school parking lot. There were already cars all around, but of course the Higher-tier Elites always got the best parking spots. Tyra grabbed her car keys, but she didn't unlock the car. She stayed on the driver's seat, staring at her lap, totally still for a few moments.

And then came the words. "And thank you for not looking at me now. Go first. I will follow in ten minutes."

Cassie did as she was told. The moment she entered the hallways, she saw multiple pair of eyes following her movement. A boy from the lower tier of Elites was basically scrambling so that he could walk with her side by side.

"Hey, Cassie."

Cassie would have said his name if she remembered. "Morning."

"Your boyfriend didn't pick you up today, huh?"

She picked up fast. "Oh, he's just so-so tired after yesterday. You know, that godawful photo really made him worried about me."

The boy didn't seem fazed. If anything, Cassie could practically feel his lust increased tenfold. "Oh, yea yea yea, that photo. Yea, good thing it's taken down, huh? You know people can doctor pictures nowadays, right?"

Three months ago, and Cassie would have crumbled if a boy like him was scurrying around, begging for her attention. But now she could handle herself much better than before. She turned towards him, looking at him for the first time since he started talking to her, and smiled.

"So people think it's doctored?"

There was an art for doing this. The words need not to be pretty. People didn't listen to what your words mean, anyway. They only listen to how you say those words. And Cassie's had tried and tried and tried to perfect her sultry tone.

She knew that she had nailed it when the guy immediately broke into cold sweat.

Cassie smiled one more time, then took off.

↣↣↣

Cassie was hoping that it would be Lucas, but it turned out to be Tristan. He was pacing around the Ping-Pong Room, hands shoved inside his pocket and brows stitched together. He was, for the lack of a better word, anxious.

He almost leapt at her the moment she showed up. "They did it in the house."

Again, he never bothered with context. "I'm sorry?"

"The breakup. Tyra went into the house yesterday and they had a big fight. Lots of screaming. I hear some stuff being thrown here and there, possibly from Tyra's end. It was fucking nuts. I had to take Tyra home because she wasn't in any condition to drive."

Cassie could do without the last bit of information. "That's nice of you, comforting the vulnerable girl."

"That's not my point, Cass." Tristan sighed impatiently. He paced a couple more times, clicked his tongue and spoke again. "They were screaming really loudly."

Cassie was still recovering from the 'taking Tyra home' part. "And then?"

"I did hear some of it."

Tristan paused, as if he wasn't sure if he wanted to continue his statement. He bit his lower lip, and that movement nearly distracted Cassie. And then those lips move.

"He broke up with her because he wants you."

Cassie held her breath.

It was everything that she had worked for. The practices. Putting up with Tyra and Lucas. This whole fake-dating sham. The diet. And finally, finally, everything came to fruition. She came out on top and Desmond wanted her. He had wanted her, that night at that party in August's house. But it wasn't the kind of want that was strong enough for him to break up with his current girlfriend.

Cassie's eyes widened as the realization hit her. Her heartbeat quickened, and it took all her might not to run off right at that moment.

Unfortunately, that willpower only lasted for a second. The next moment, Cassie found herself speeding through the school hallways, looking for the King of St. Pulkeria.

Cassie thought she saw Tristan's looking down to the floor, but she convinced herself that was because he was wearing an interesting pair of shoes.

Yes. That must be it. 

↣↣↣ 

Author's Note: 

Oh my god there's so much more planned for this story! 

I'll try to pick up the pace, sorry for the slightly longer wait-time! I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Thank you for reading my story <3