Turn the Tables

by LJ Byrne

  “Who is BSGirl? The YouTube singer and media sensation is the most tweeted about celebrity, but no one knows who she is or even what she looks like. Despite the mystery, she continues her worldwide domination. Rumors are that she will release a new album in December of this year and may consider a summer concert series benefiting counseling services for students around the world.”

  “Teen heartthrob Liam Cumberland has one message for BSGirl: I would love to meet you in person. Call me.”

  “I think BSGirl saved my life. I realized I wasn’t alone #BulliesRBullshit.”

  “BSGirl’s only message is about surviving pain. I’m not ashamed that I thought about suicide. #BulliesRBullshit”

  “Tweet if you stood up to a bully. #BulliesRBullshit”

  CHAPTER 1

  I am not who I used to be. I think about that as I do a private recording of “Stupid Boy,” originally sung by Keith Urban. When I reached out to Lance Bell, Brock Caruso’s agent, I never expected he would agree to my conditions. Even though my agent knows my real name, I wear my mask in videos with only my mouth exposed. My identity is still a secret to much of the world. Of course, Lance gets a good chunk of the money, so it behooves him to keep me happy.

  Lance still doesn’t understand why I won’t profit from my sudden fame. I get it. There’s money to be made. The only thing I set aside is enough money to cover my mother’s continued treatment at the Rosebud Center. My mother is back there after hiding from a world too chaotic for her to handle.

  It broke me, seeing what I inflicted on my mother. I ended the school year at Highbury Academy with no intention of going back. But then I got really angry. Now, I want to go back to show them I’m not broken. I don’t want vengeance in a traditional sense, but I do want to make a stand. After I was released from the hospital, something in me shifted. I called Brock’s agent and set in motion my plan to change the world. And then I called Elizabeth Maverick. I accepted her offer to send me back to Highbury for another year on the condition that she does not mention it to anyone, including Katrina. And then, to the rest of the world, I disappeared for the summer and became BSGirl.

  One other thing changed for me in June. It wasn’t just the culmination of bullying and my explosion onto the music scene. I also met Jasper Bourbon. When I met him, I had no clue who he was. He’s Lord Jasper Bourbon, the great-grandson of the King of Ectotania, a small and wealthy kingdom in Europe. There are enough heirs in front of him that he doesn’t have to worry about ever inheriting the throne. Serendipitously, he is going to be a third-year student at Highbury Academy. When I first saw him – on the horrible last day of school when I was beaten – he was scoping his new school out. He saw the terrible moment where I was exposed to the school covered with glue and feathers. He’s vowed to help me bring the Elites down, but I haven’t decided if I’ll accept his help. Unfortunately, he knows more than I would want any stranger to know about me. Although he texts me throughout the summer, I barely respond.

  I do private magazine interviews wearing my mask. Any videos of me have my speaking voice altered. My desire to remain hidden from the world fuels my popularity. It’s insane. In late August, I sing at the MTV Music Video Awards and then my security hustles me into a limo before I’m cornered by anyone. My anonymity fuels conspiracy theories that I’m scarred or hiding from the mob.

  By the time I return to Highbury Academy, I’m not the same Elena Kano who hid behind a wall. I’m sporting a public and private persona. It makes life — interesting.

  On the first day back to school, I’m told that the principal wants to see me before Assembly. Principal Foggerty was horrified by what the Elites did to me at the end of the school year. She also received a harsh verbal lashing from Elizabeth Maverick. When I enter her office, her eyes are sympathetic and kind. But I also realize she isn’t alone. Jasper Bourbon sits in her office, smiling wickedly.

  “Elena, I’m so pleased you’ve returned to us. Jasper Bourbon is new to our school and he’s asked you to be his mentor and guide. He said he wanted the best of the best from Highbury Academy.”

  I give the principal a faint but fake smile. “I’d be happy to.”

  As we follow Principal Foggerty to the auditorium, Jasper’s green-blue eyes twinkle at me. “You ignored me this summer.” He says it quietly so only I can hear.

  “I was busy.” The old Elena would have been silent. I would have held my tongue and disappeared. But I’m not going to do that now. I see every stare and strange look. “I should warn you, I’m not popular here. I’m not one of the rich students. You may want to choose a more popular mentor.”

  “Elena!” I hear my name from a familiar voice. I turn and see Katrina jogging up to me.

  Third-year uniforms are a mix of black and gray. The skirts and pants are gray, the jackets are black. The colors are too severe for Katrina, but she’s still gorgeous.

  “I tried contacting you all summer,” she says somewhat accusingly, but her brown eyes are soft and pleading.

  “She was busy,” Jasper mock whispers. “Hello, I’m Jasper Bourbon.”

  Katrina’s eyes widen. “Katrina Maverick. You-You’re the Lord prince guy from Ectotania!” She bursts into a series of questions for the young lord.

  We keep following the principal into the auditorium. I sit down in the front row – this is a deliberate move on my part. Jasper raises an elegant brow and sits to my right. Katrina sits to my left. Then the twins, Charles and Bruce, enter. They see Katrina first, and then they see me. Both straighten, their shoulders proud, before joining us. I give them both a nod, but I keep my face impassive.

  Students file in, some of them whispering as they notice me. But it isn’t until the now third-year Elites enter that everyone goes quiet. The Elite boys are missing their fourth: Oliver Chang’s parents were so horrified by his actions that they withdrew him and sent him to military school. All the Elite girls stop in shock when they see me. Vanessa’s face then fills with malicious glee. Brock looks a little green. Mason’s eyes widen before he strives for pure nonchalance. And Lucas pauses, his nostrils flaring slightly, as his gray eyes scan me from head to toe. Then the Elites make their way to the back two rows.

  “Hmm, those girls looked ready to kill you,” Jasper observes with a wry smile.

  “Students,” Principal Foggerty begins. “Welcome to another year at Highbury Academy. As many of you know, our distinguished reputation was tarnished last year by some students who felt they were above the jurisdiction of the administration.” Her eagle eyes glare at the third-year Elites. “Harassment of any student, public shaming, or acts of bullying will not be tolerated.” Principal Foggerty lifts the microphone and walks to the middle of the floor. I know what’s coming next. I smile inside, but my face remains placid. “There are security cameras installed campus-wide. Any acts reported to me and substantiated not by hearsay but by video will have their grades directly impacted. Physical acts will be punishable by expulsion and it will be reflected on your transcript.” Her eyes focus on the Elites. “Staff have been told that if certain students attempt to intimidate any member of our school, they and their parents will be held accountable. If you think this is specific to Highbury Academy, the governor has made it clear that the actions done by a few will not be tolerated and that he is expecting every school to crack down on bullying.”

  Jasper leans to whisper in my ear. “Do you know why this is the fifth school I’ve been enrolled in?” He pauses, his breath warm against my ear. “I destroy the bullies. I break them. I’m never caught. And then I move on. Seeing you gave me my goal for the year.”

  It’s no secret that I was abused by the Elites on the last day of school. Jasper knows my shame, but I don’t need him to fight my battle. He’s the keeper of some of my secrets, but that’s it. When we’re dismissed, Katrina grabs my hand on one side and Jasper, of all things, grabs my other hand. The twins walk on the other side of Katrina. We’re halfway to the dorms when a voice calls out.

&n
bsp; As a unit, we turn. “Jasper Bourbon,” Lucas says in a cold voice. “We’re the third-year Elites of Highbury Academy.”

  Jasper mocking laughter floats across the courtyard.

  Vanessa Valentino fluffs her blond hair. “That thing there is nothing more than trailer trash. A freeloader. We’ve paid our dues and are here honestly. You can either join us or face the fate of those who associate with her.”

  “We’re giving you one choice. We have an opening for an Elite in our ranks,” Mason states with a cocky attitude.

  “I see.” Jasper refuses to let my hand go even as I try to disengage his grip. “What I see here are a bunch of brats with a paltry amount of money. I’m worth over a billion dollars, and that’s money that belongs to me. I can do as I please because I don’t have to please dear old daddy or mommy. I think I’m far above an Elite. I’m a fucking prince. Actually, I’m a lord, but it doesn’t have the same ring.”

  Vanessa pushes her chest out. “Jasper, we don’t want to fight—”

  Jasper interrupts her. “Oh, but I do. You three losers can hang out with your second-rate girlfriends.” He looks at me. “I intend to spend my time with this glorious creature here. You see, I’ve done my homework.”

  I glance at Jasper in surprise. He is an unexpected, but not unwelcome, addition to my plans.

  “Lucas Rhodes. Your father hates you and he controls all the money. His only use for you: marrying you off to some pathetic girl for more money,” Jasper laughs with brutal condescension. “You’re daddy’s little pathetic whore. Or is that sexist among you Americans? I apologize, Elena.” Lucas’s face darkens with rage, but he doesn’t speak as Jasper continues. “Brock Caruso. Your daddy loves little girls. Not so much little boys. Tsk, tsk. You’re forever stuck in his shadow – even your fame is dependent on him. How sad.” Brock sucks in a heated breath, his green eyes huge with anger. “Mason Maverick. The disappointment of his loving parents. I can see why Katrina is such a delight to them. Ever wonder what you lack, but she doesn’t?” Mason pales. “Vanessa Valentino. I do hope your father’s gambling and drinking issues don’t require you to borrow money. And is he up on his federal taxes? Perhaps you can get a refund on your plastic surgery.” He ignores Vanessa cursing him out. “I’ll be brief. Kiana Shimura. You were kicked out of your last school for propositioning your teacher. Ashley Witt, how’s that heroin addiction going? Astrid Fleming, dear me, did you really have mono in your first year here or was there something going on? I have intelligence that something else happened to you that wasn’t mono.”

  The Elite girls are horrified and I’m semi-impressed. This doesn’t stop Vanessa from lunging at me. Jasper swiftly intervenes, his hand shoving her back forcefully. “Do keep this creature under control, Rhodes,” Jasper scolds, and I can see Lucas holding back a retort, a tic feathering his jaw. “I’d hate to need a rabies shot.”

  “You’re going to regret crossing me,” Vanessa hisses. Then she glares at me. “He can’t be everywhere at once.”

  “She won’t be alone,” Katrina says defiantly. She glares at Mason. “And I’m not afraid of any of you.”

  Charles and Bruce nod. “We’re not afraid of you either. Your actions weren’t just monstrous, they were inhumane,” Charles declares. “What you all did? You’re not even human in my book.” He shakes his head.

  Lucas’s eyes flicker to where Jasper holds my hand and his face is filled with brutal hate. I decide it’s time to speak. “I thought about revenge.” My voice is soft, but I know the students who are congregating are eating this up. “I did. But the truth is, you’re all beneath me. I won’t have to destroy any of you. You’ll do it yourself.” Lucas’s eyes widen and they flicker. I don’t smile. I remain calm under their contempt. This is probably the most lucid I’ve ever been in a confrontation. “After you’re forgotten – and I promise you, you will become obsolete – I will refashion this school and fix what you destroyed.”

  Jasper does the strangest thing. He kisses my hand. Maybe it’s a cultural thing, but I swear Katrina sighs romantically. “Now, my guide and princess, do give me a tour of these fine premises. I need to scope out my—surroundings.”

  I need a few hours to work on my music. Lance Bell knows that I’m back at school, but I need to keep my online presence going. I wonder what Brock would think if he learned how hard Lance is working for me. My childish side feels a shiver of pleasure.

  I won’t be safe at the school until I neuter the Elite girls. To do that, I need to understand what role the Dollar Club – I know, it still sounds like a discount chain – played in what happened last year. The information Jasper provided earlier is coming in handy. It also reduces some of the work I need to do.

  When I leave my room, I find the twins chatting with Jasper, who is lying boneless in a chair, and Katrina. I suppose they’ve been spilling the details to this odd addition of our hodgepodge group.

  I walk over and Charles flashes me a smile. We left our friendship at an awkward point last year, and I never responded to his tentative messages. I need to straighten things out. Nothing fractures friendships more than distrust. There are a few major things I can’t discuss just yet, but I can clear the air.

  “It took me a while to deal with things,” I say finally. “I don’t want your pity. I don’t need your anger either. I was healing for a while – the girls kicked me rather hard.”

  Jasper brushes some imaginary lint off his sleeves. “She had emergency surgery due to internal bleeding.” My eyes snap to him in warning.

  Katrina jumps up from Bruce’s arms. “What?!” she practically shrieks. Her brown eyes fill with tears. “Elena, no one told me anything. Mom said your father took you home.”

  “I asked her to keep it quiet. I’m asking you all to do the same.” I take a deep breath. “I’m taking the Elites down. That’s why I came back.”

  Charles swallows. “I’m your friend no matter what, Elena. Bruce and I – you have us at your disposal. We’re not Inner Circle material, but we’re here.” He lowers his chin. “We should’ve tried harder to reach you.”

  I smile wryly. “I didn’t make it easy for any of you. I’ve changed a little.”

  “You’re talking more,” Bruce quips, making everyone but Jasper laugh.

  “She was the queen of short answers and silence,” Katrina explains to him.

  Jasper snaps his fingers. “And that’s what you will be. A queen. My queen. You will rule this school, Elena.”

  How interesting. My lips twitch. “That’s the plan, Jasper. We’re not much, but it’s a start. Will you help me?”

  Katrina’s squeals as the twins hold their hands out in the center; I cover theirs with mine. Katrina and Jasper join. “I think,” Jasper says, “this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

  My breath catches as I think about a day when I watched Casablanca with an Elite boy. But then I smile. How fitting.

  CHAPTER 2

  The first day of classes is always hectic, but Jasper’s schedule is a lot like mine. The only difference is that Jasper does not have a foreign language as he’s already fluent in several languages – “the by-product of internationally-inclined parents,” he tells me. Because of his royal connections, and his access to a great deal of money, he has two “free periods.” It doesn’t take long for whispers to begin that the noble Lord Jasper is interested in dating Freeloader Elena Kano.

  Lucas, Charles, My Li (for former dormmate but now on a different floor), Jasper, Thomas Carver (one of Vanessa Valentino’s Inner Circle admirers), and I are in Statistics together. How disappointing that more girls are not doing STEM classes. I share my history class with Lucas, and my Composition class with Lucas, Jasper, and Mason. Biology? Lucas and Jasper. At first, Jasper’s constant presence is annoying – and maybe even borderline stalker-like. Until I notice that he’s just doing it to irritate the Elite boys (and girls). This year, I’m doing Chinese through an online option. I have ulterior motives. First, I’ve done half th
e work already. Second, I need time to upload my material and send things to Lance so someone can do my social media postings. By pretending to do a lot of Chinese online, I won’t raise suspicion. (Sad but true, I have someone doing my social media stuff for me.)

  When I walk into Music with Jasper, Brock and Kiana shoot baleful looks at me. I meet their eyes and wait until Brock lowers his eyes first. Just seeing them like that takes me back to the horrible hazing they put me through on the last day. Brock’s mocking bow, his invite to the party, doesn’t hurt me at all. It makes me angry.

  During my self-imposed isolation from the world, I wrote and recorded music and taught myself guitar. When it’s time to determine what we’re focusing on, Ms. Ingrid Waldorf is surprised when I tell her I plan to work on piano and guitar. I go up to play “Stairway to Heaven” on guitar, and Lord Jasper Bourbon shows off by playing the violin in harmony. Our music teacher is delighted – seriously, she starts crying. Several girls sigh over Jasper. As everyone claps, Jasper charmingly kisses the tips of my fingers – it’s become his signature trademark, and I watch Brock stand abruptly and leave.

  I didn’t learn the guitar because I was interested in it. I did it to become better than Brock. With Jasper’s accompaniment, Ms. Waldorf considers putting Brock solely on vocals.

  Jasper is perfect to replace Lucas as the leader of Elites, but I don’t want to replace Lucas. The Elites need to disappear. Since Jasper is so willing to be my accomplice, keeping him from the Elites creates cracks. Why is the richest boy in school not part of the Elite crowd? He’s good-looking to boot. He fawns over me extravagantly and has half the student body in love with him. (He’s also appropriately arrogant.)

  With Oliver gone, I get another lucky strike against the Elites. On an anonymous tip, Ashley Witt is pulled over by a police officer with a drug-sniffing dog. They locate cocaine and heroin in her car. Since she was leaving the school campus when it happened, she is suspended until her case is reviewed. When Jasper whispers to me, “And then there were six,” I know who made the search happen. I don’t ask questions. There’s a good chance that Ms. Ashley Witt will be expelled.