Three weeks later, life at Royalties High had completely transformed.
The whispers had shifted from gossip to admiration.
Students who once mocked now watched with quiet respect.
Louisa and I had become the center of attention—not because of wealth, but because we refused to be small.
We weren't just the rich girls anymore.
We were the girls who changed the rhythm of every hallway.
---
I parked my Porsche beside Louisa's car, the sunlight bouncing off the silver hood like it was made to be seen.
As soon as I stepped out, conversations hushed.
"Isn't that the Gracia heiress?" someone whispered.
"I thought she transferred out."
I smirked, closing the door softly. "Rumors travel faster than the truth."
Louisa joined me, laughing lightly. "You really love entrances, don't you?"
"Always," I said. "It keeps the fakes on edge."
---
Then, of course, came her.
"Well, look who's pretending to be royalty again."
The fake Miss Gracia.
Still clinging to a borrowed identity, still desperate to stay relevant.
I turned to her calmly. "You still don't get it, do you?"
She folded her arms. "People here respected me. They won't forget that."
"People remember lies," I said softly. "Respect is earned, not stolen."
Her face twisted with anger, and she raised her hand to slap me—
but I caught her wrist midair.
"Don't," I warned coldly. "You'll regret it."
Before things could go further, Principal James appeared at the door.
"Enough," he barked. "This isn't a battleground."
She glared, yanked her hand free, and stormed off.
Louisa sighed. "She's really not giving up, huh?"
I smiled faintly. "Neither am I."
---
Later that day, someone called my name.
"Allison!"
I turned, and there he was — Jason Gracia, my cousin.
He'd just transferred from the elite Imperial Academy, and as usual, his presence drew attention.
With his neat uniform, silver watch, and confident grin, Jason looked every bit like the Gracia bloodline in motion.
"Wow," he said, glancing around. "So this is the school causing all the noise about my dear cousin."
I laughed. "You're late, Jason."
"Fashionably," he replied. "Besides, I heard someone had to remind the world who the real Gracia is."
Louisa smiled. "You must be the famous cousin."
Jason grinned. "And you must be the loyal one. My cousin doesn't make friends easily."
Louisa laughed, slightly blushing.
---
By lunch, word had spread that Jason was a Gracia — and that meant attention.
Students whispered; girls stared. But Jason didn't seem to care.
"So," he said, sliding into a seat across from us, "are you joining the cheer tryouts today?"
"Cheerleading?" I blinked.
He shrugged. "It's good publicity. You've already turned the school upside down — might as well own it completely."
Louisa nudged me. "He's right, you know."
I rolled my eyes. "You two are dangerous together."
---
The Tryouts
The gym buzzed with excitement.
When my name was called, the crowd quieted, waiting to see what the real Miss Gracia would do.
I moved with confidence — every flip, every step controlled.
My routine wasn't just performance; it was power, rhythm, rebellion wrapped in grace.
When I landed the final spin, the gym exploded with cheers.
Jason was the first to clap. "That's my cousin!" he yelled, grinning. "You just made every cheerleader in this room reconsider their careers."
I smirked. "Gracias don't compete, Jason. We set standards."
---
That night, Jason helped me set up my first social account.
Within hours, my page blew up — hundreds of thousands of followers, comments flooding in.
"Looks like people love you," he said.
"Or they're obsessed with watching me," I said dryly.
He chuckled. "Same thing. You were born for attention, Ally."
I smiled softly. "Maybe. But this time, I'm using it right."
---
The next day, I went to the principal's office.
"I'd like to make an announcement," I said.
"Grades eleven and twelve will no longer be required to wear uniforms until after the tenth semester."
He blinked, confused. "That's an unusual request."
"Not a request," I corrected politely. "An update."
Within the hour, students were cheering in the halls.
Louisa grabbed my arm, laughing. "You're literally changing the system."
"Someone has to," I said.
---
After school, Jason, Louisa, and I went to the mall.
We laughed, shopped, and filmed clips that would soon go viral.
But as always, peace never lasts long.
The fake Gracia appeared again with her crew, smirking. "Still buying your friends, huh?"
Jason turned to her, eyes sharp. "You have five seconds to leave before I make one call to the Gracia board."
Her face fell. "You wouldn't—"
He smirked. "Try me."
Security arrived moments later, escorting her out.
Louisa whispered, "He's scarier than you."
I smiled. "That's why we're family."
---
When we finally left, the sunset painted the sky gold.
But something in the air shifted — heavy, cold.
A tall figure stood near the parking lot, half-hidden by the shadows.
Jason noticed it too. "Ally… you see that?"
The figure stepped forward, voice low and unsettling.
"You don't remember me, do you?"
My heart froze. "Who are you?"
He smiled faintly. "Someone who never forgot you, Miss Gracia."
Before Jason could react, the stranger disappeared into the darkness.
And for the first time in weeks, I felt that old fear crawl back into my chest.
The spotlight was mine…
But maybe the shadows were coming to claim their part of the story.