Page 19 of Lightning Angel
“Alexais my only best friend; you were my childhoodplaymate, yes, but we were nothing more. So, if Alexa is leaving, I am too.”
“What, are you her pet now?”
“Do you even know the first thing about friendship?” Daphne retorted. “Even if it was me who quit first, Alexa would’ve done the same, without hesitance. She is the reason I lasted this long in your so-called club despite being the first member after yourself.”
Daphne was not only an early member of the circle but more like a right hand to Melissa, as her childhood friend and neighbor. But when Alexa joined the club, sheand Daphne became close and then best friends. Years later, they began to flout the club’s rules by hanging out with each other outside of their circle, particularly at each other’s houses.
Melissa glared at her silently, and then at Alexa. Her nostrils flared, her chest heaving and cheeks growing increasingly to resemble a lobster in spring molt. Then suddenly, she gained composure like a switch had been flipped. A smirk curled her lips and wickedness filled her eyes.
“Congratulations on making enemies with the queen of Harmony Hills High.”
“Your compliment flatters me, Your Majesty,” Alexa mocked, knowing very well she was walking a dangerous line.
“Oh!” Melissa burst out laughing, stepping back and grabbing the attention of everyone present in the hallway. “Says the one who hasn’t stopped moping yet!” Her voice rose. “Always wearing nothing but black, not letting a pair of scissors touch her hair, not wearing any makeup. And suddenly she’s all back and thinks she can talk all she wants!”
“Leave her alone, Melissa. Now.” Daphne advanced a step forward, clenching her fists.
But Melissa continued, unfazed. “Oh, I also heard that you and Jude haven’t been on a date in—what, months? You two are barely even seen together around school. Are you about to lose one of the coolest guys in the school with your moping attitude as well? Oh, Alexa, I’ve always known you were such a boring brat.”
“I said—”
“Let her say all she wants, Daph.” Alexa placed ahand on her friend’s shoulder and held her back. “She’s just trying to accept us quitting from her circle.”
Melissa laughed bitterly. “Oh, Alexa, we all know how much you loved being part of our circle. Now that you’re not, I bet you feel utterly lost.”
Alexa wasn’t always a part of the mean girl circle. It wasn’t until after her parents divorced and she was embarrassed in front of the entire class by one of the girls in English. Everyone thought Melissa’s group of girls was intimidating, so Alexa had gone straight to Melissa to join her.
Melissa, of course, didn’t take it kindly to her; she first tested her capacity to carry the mean girl title. After a few days of testing, during which Alexa tried her utmost to act like one of them, she passed and made it into the circle.
So now, Alexa only smiled. Pretense was never a challenge; being part of the mean girl circle had molded her into an expert at masking her true feelings.
Melissa continued her onslaught.
“And speaking of loss, I still see that your precious YouTube channel is practically nonexistent. No views, no followers. It’s almost as if no one cares about your little passion project. Maybe you’re not as interesting as you thought.”
Those words stung.
Melissa had nevereverbrought up her YouTube channel before, even when she rambled about her own.
For the past two years, Daphne had claimed that Melissa was acting competitively toward Alexa. It started with Alexa gaining a large number of followers on her Instagram account, where she published reels of her songcovers, book reviews and recommendations, and random lifestyle stuff.
Melissa began making reels of her own not soon after that, and ordered all the girls to share them in their stories.
Then Alexa created a YouTube channel dedicated to her love of cooking. Her dad and sister had been quite supportive; her dad even did some kitchen upkeep for Alexa’s filming. Not a month later, Melissa created a channel of her own, where she sharedhercooking.
That’s when Alexa actually realized therewasa competition between them. She was irritated at the time, especially because Melissa’s channel increased while hers went ignored despite the viewers’ compliments. But then, her dad stated she shouldn’t be upset.
“Take it easy, my darling. You’re not in a competition. You started this channel for fun, your passion, and that’s what you should focus on. Enjoy what you do.”
And she had, though she didn’t completely let go of her resentment for the other girl.
“You know,Lexi, maybe this is the universe’s way of telling you that you’re better off blending into the background. No one wants to see you, no matter how hard you try.”
Alexa felt the weight of the words, but she maintained a steely composure, refusing to show weakness. Daphne, however, couldn’t hold back her anger any longer.
“Enough, Melissa! You’re just bitter because Alexa doesn’t need your toxic circle anymore. Her passion isn’t defined by your approval.”
Melissa, unfazed, took a step back, her smirk stillintact. “We’ll see how long that passion lasts when she realizes the world isn’t as forgiving as our little circle.”