By that afternoon, Elara had made her decision. If they wanted to threaten her, she'd show them exactly what she was capable of.
She called an emergency meeting with Principal Smith and presented her proposals. All of them were researched, legal, and designed to eliminate the elite privilege that had made her life hell.
"Scholarship expansion." She said, sliding the first document across his desk. "We'll double the program by next semester."
"The board will need to approve…"
"The board will approve what I recommend. My family's donation to this school is substantial. I'm sure they'd be very interested in supporting institutions that align with their values of equality and merit."
She slid over the next document.
"Merit based room assignments. No more automatic luxury suites for legacy students. Rooms will be assigned based on academic performance and need."
"But that would mean…"
"It would mean students like Caden Blackwell might end up in standard dormitories."
The principal looked like he might faint.
"These changes would alter the school's social structure…"
"Good. That structure is broken." She stood up. "You have one week to implement these policies. I'll be reviewing the school's legacy admission practices with my parents this weekend. I suggest you prepare your documentation."
She walked out, leaving Principal Smith staring at the proposals like they might explode.
Word spread within hours. By dinner, the entire school was in chaos. Elite students were panicking, scholarship students were celebrating, and everyone was talking about the "Princess's Revolution."
Elara walked into the cafeteria and felt the change immediately. The elite students looked at her with open hostility now. She'd made herself everyone's enemy.
She got her food and sat alone at her usual table by the windows. She was halfway through her meal when Caden came and stood at her table, with his tray in his hand.
"Satisfied?" He asked.
"Extremely."
"You're destroying this school."
"I'm fixing it."
"You're taking revenge." He slammed his tray down, and sat without permission. "This isn't about justice or equality. This is about making us suffer the way you suffered."
"Maybe it's both."
"You're going to regret this, Elara."
"The only thing I regret is not doing it sooner."
Students around them had stopped eating, and talking. Everyone was watching the confrontation.
"You think you're so righteous. But you're becoming exactly what you hated. A bully with power."
The words hit harder than she expected but she didn't flinch.
"At least when I use my power, it's to help others. When you used yours, it was to destroy them."
"I never pretended to be anything else. You're standing on a moral high ground built on revenge."
"And you're standing on privilege built on cruelty. We're not the same."
"Aren't we?" He snickered. "You're making people afraid of you. Turning the school upside down, hurting innocent people in the process. Some of them didn't do anything to you."
"Collateral damage. You'd know all about that."
"God, you're impossible." He stood up. "You know what? Burn it all down. See if you can live with yourself afterward."
"I'll sleep just fine, thanks."
"We'll see."
He turned to walk away.
"Caden." She called out.
He stopped and turned back.
"The scholarship student you framed for cheating? Amy? Her case was dismissed. She will keep her scholarship." Elara smiled. "Just thought you should know that your plan failed."
"You're going to regret crossing me."
"Get in line."
The next two days were war. Caden united the elite students who felt threatened by Elara's changes. They couldn't bully her directly, but they made their displeasure known. Petitions were circulated, parents were called, social media campaigns started questioning whether a "commoner raised princess" should have so much influence.
Elara fought back with her own resources. She met with scholarship students, and gave them a voice they'd never had before. She worked with faculty members who'd always resented the school's elitist culture.
They passed each other in halls like opposing generals. Their Chemistry project remained untouched. Professor Davies was losing his mind.
"You both have until Friday to complete the preliminary research." He pleaded. "This is thirty percent of your grade!"
"Then fail me." Caden said.
"I'd rather fail than work with him." Elara agreed.
"You're both going to fail yourselves out of spite?"
"Yes." They said simultaneously.
Professor Davies looked ready to cry. But the principal intervened on Thursday afternoon, calling them both to his office.
"Sit." He commanded.
They sat on opposite sides of his desk, as far from each other as possible.
"I don't care about your personal vendetta and history. But I care about this school's reputation and the fact that two of my highest profile students are acting like children. You will complete this project together. You will present it next week. And you will do it with professionalism and maturity, or I will personally ensure you both face academic consequences. Am I clear?"
"Crystal." Elara said.
"Perfectly." Caden agreed.
"Good. Now, you have until tomorrow to submit your research proposal. I don't care how you do it. You're both dismissed but after you schedule a time to work on this project together."
They stared at the principal in horror.
"Now." He added. "Before you leave this office."
Elara pulled out her phone.
"Tomorrow at 10 in the library."
"I'm not available."
"Then make yourself available."
"You can't just…"
"I can, unless you'd like to fail Chemistry and explain to your father why the Blackwell heir couldn't handle a school project."
Caden's jaw clenched.
"Fine."
"Wonderful." Principal Smith said. "Now get out of my office."
They left together, walking in silence. They walked to the courtyard before Elara spoke.
"This changes nothing."
"Obviously."
"I still hate you."
"The feeling is mutual."
They reached the courtyard exit. There were students everywhere. Caden stopped abruptly.
"You're destroying everything this school stands for."
Elara turned to face him.
"You mean everything you stood for. The privilege, the hierarchy, the bullying disguised as tradition."
"That's not what I meant…"
"Then what did you mean? That it was better when people like me knew our place? When we stayed quiet and invisible and let you treat us like garbage?"
"That's not…" He stepped closer, frustrated. "You're twisting my words."
"I'm clarifying them." She stepped forward too, refusing to back down. "You're upset because for the first time in your life, you're not the most important person in the room. You're not the one with all the power."
"This isn't about power!"
"Everything with you is about power!"
They were shouting now.
"You have no idea what you're talking about." Caden said.
"I know exactly what I'm talking about. I lived it for three years."
"And now you're making everyone else live it. You're not creating equality, Elara. You're just switching who gets to be on top."
"Maybe that's exactly what needs to happen."
"You're going to burn every bridge, anger everyone, and end up alone with nothing but your precious crown."
"Better alone with a crown than surrounded by people like you."
He stepped even closer, his chest almost touching hers.
"You are the most stubborn, self-righteous, impossible person I have ever met!"
"And you are the most privileged, cruel, heartless bastard I've ever had the misfortune of knowing!"
"I can't stand you." Caden said.
"The feeling is mutual." Elara shot back.
Neither of them moved. They stood there, inches apart. Then someone from the crowd bumped into Caden. It happened so fast, so unexpectedly, that neither had time to react.
Caden stumbled forward. Elara lost her balance. They collided.
And their lips crashed onto each other.
For a second, the world stopped. His mouth was on hers. Her hands had flown up to his chest to catch herself. His arm had automatically wrapped around her waist to keep her from falling. They were frozen in an accidental kiss, both too shocked to move.
Then reality snapped back.
They both jerked away simultaneously, as if burned. Caden's eyes were wide, and his face stunned. Elara stumbled backward, her hand flying to her mouth.
The courtyard was silent. Students had already captured their kiss and now they were capturing their shocked faces.
They both stared at each other but neither of them spoke or moved. Someone in the crowd laughed. The spell broke, and suddenly everyone was talking and the courtyard erupted in chaos.
What did I just see?
Oh my God, I got it on video!
They kissed!
It was an accident, right?
Did you see their faces?
Elara couldn't think. She turned and ran, pushing through the crowd, ignoring the questions, and the cameras.