Harper's POV
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Stella? Stella was the one screaming and shouting for Zeus like a crazy fangirl. It was… confusing. I blinked a few times, trying to make sense of it. Just hours ago, I thought she liked Liam. You know, my Liam. Or at least, I thought he was mine. And now here she was, cheering for Zeus like she’d been waiting her whole life for this moment. What was I missing?
I was still hurt from what happened earlier at the dunk tank. I kept replaying that moment in my head. How she made that shot and sent me straight into the water. It was supposed to be fun, but it didn’t feel fun. There was something behind it, something that felt a little too… personal. Did she do it on purpose? Was she trying to make a point? I didn’t know, but I wanted answers. I wanted to know why she seemed so different tonight.
But now wasn’t the time. I couldn’t ask her about it right here, not while she was all hyped up from Zeus’s performance. And definitely not while I was still feeling this way. It would only make things worse.
Beside me, Mia was clapping along with everyone else, but she suddenly paused and looked at me. “Hey, Harper,” she said softly, nudging my shoulder. “You’ve been zoning out for a while. Are you okay? You’re not even watching your favorite band... and especially Liam.”
I snapped out of my thoughts and forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine,” I lied. I didn’t want to drag Mia into this. She didn’t need to know what was going on in my head. Not right now. “I’m just… not feeling well,” I added, hoping it would explain why I wasn’t as excited as everyone else.
Mia’s brow furrowed, concern flashing in her eyes. “Not feeling well? Do you want to go somewhere and sit down? Maybe get some water?”
I quickly shook my head, trying to brush it off. “No, no, it’s fine. I can manage. Really, don’t worry about me.” I smiled weakly, hoping it would be enough to reassure her. “I’ll be okay, I promise.”
Mia didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push it. She gave me a small nod, her lips pressed together like she wanted to say more but wasn’t sure if she should. “Okay... just let me know if you need anything,” she said quietly.
I nodded back, turning my attention away from her, trying to avoid any more questions. My eyes wandered to the right corner of the stage, where one of the judges was sitting. He caught my gaze, and I gave him a small nod, signaling for him to make his move. He nodded back, leaning over to write something down on the paper in front of him. That must be the final vote. The decision for who would win the music performance tonight. It was probably already clear in everyone’s mind, Zeus had completely blown everyone away. Even I couldn’t deny that.
I glanced back at Stella, who was still buzzing with excitement. She was standing on her tiptoes, craning her neck as if trying to get one last glimpse of Zeus backstage. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. What was going on between them? Was this why she had been acting weird around Liam? Was Zeus the reason?
Mia suddenly broke the silence. “I’m surprised, you know,” she said, leaning closer to me so she wouldn’t have to shout over the noise. “I didn’t expect Stella to be so… bold tonight. I mean, cheering that much for Zeus? That’s not like her, right?”
I let out a dry chuckle. “You’re telling me. I thought she was into Liam,” I muttered, glancing over at her again. “But now... I don’t even know what to think.”
Mia raised an eyebrow. “Liam? I didn’t know Stella liked Liam. Are you sure about that?”
I shrugged, feeling more uncertain than ever. “I ‘thought’ she did. I mean, she’s always been close to him, and the way she talks about him sometimes… it just made sense, you know?”
Mia nodded slowly, but then her expression shifted. “But now, she’s all over Zeus. It’s kind of hard to believe. Maybe she’s just really supportive of her friends?”
I wanted to believe that, but something about it didn’t sit right with me. “Maybe,” I said, though I didn’t sound too convinced. There was more to this. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.
Mia must have noticed the conflict in my eyes because she leaned in closer. “Harper, what’s really going on? You’ve been off all night. It’s not just about Stella, is it?”
I opened my mouth to say something, but the words got stuck in my throat. How could I explain it? How could I tell her about the tension between Stella and me, about the dunk tank, about how I felt like I was losing something without even knowing what it was? I couldn’t. I didn’t want to make it a bigger deal than it already was.
So, I gave her another weak smile. “I’m just tired, Mia. It’s been a long night, that’s all.”
Mia frowned, clearly not buying it, but she didn’t push any further. “Alright. Just… take care of yourself, okay? I don’t want you to get sick or anything.”
“I will,” I promised, though even I wasn’t sure if I believed it.
The judges were still going over the votes, and the crowd was growing restless. People were buzzing with excitement, still talking about Zeus’s performance and wondering who the winner would be. It was obvious Zeus had stolen the show, but there were still formalities to go through. 
I leaned back in my seat, trying to clear my mind. I couldn’t shake this weird feeling that something was shifting between all of us. Stella, Liam, Zeus, and even me. Things were changing, but I didn’t know if it was for better or worse. All I knew was that tonight had revealed more than I was ready to face.
I glanced over at Mia, who was now tapping her foot along with the music that had started playing softly in the background. She seemed so carefree, so at ease with everything. I envied that. I wished I could be like her, just enjoying the night without overthinking every little thing.
But then again, that wasn’t who I was.
As I turned my head back towards the judges, I couldn’t help but think about what would happen next. This performance, this night… it had brought up so many questions. Questions I wasn’t sure I wanted the answers to. But one thing was clear—things were changing, whether I liked it or not.
And as I watched the judge scribble down the final note, I couldn’t help but wonder if any of us were ready for what came next.
---
The speaker finally stepped onto the stage again, holding a small gold paper in his hand. The moment everyone had been waiting for had arrived, the announcement of the winner. I could feel the anticipation building all around me, the excited buzz in the air making it hard to sit still. My heart was racing, though not because of the outcome. I already knew what was going to happen. It was all part of the plan.
The speaker grinned as he approached the microphone, his eyes twinkling under the stage lights. "Alright, everyone! I know you've all been waiting for this moment," he teased, holding up the gold paper and waving it around a little. The crowd responded with eager shouts and cheers, their energy filling the entire hall. 
"Who do you think won?" the speaker asked, hyping up the crowd even more. The audience erupted in a mix of names being shouted, some yelling for Zeus, others calling for Liam’s band. The tension was thick, everyone on the edge of their seats. 
The speaker laughed, clearly enjoying the moment. "I can't hear you! Who do you think deserves to win tonight?"
The noise level shot up again, students shouting out their favorites even louder. My heart pounded as the lights flickered and the music started to build. The suspense was killing me, even though I already knew how this would go. I couldn’t stop the grin spreading across my face as I glanced at Mia beside me. She was just as excited, clapping her hands and bouncing in her seat.
"You love them. You’ve been waiting for them," the speaker continued, his voice booming through the hall. "Let’s give it up for... ‘The OES Group’!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the entire place exploded into chaos. Lights flashed, confetti and paper rained down from the ceiling, and screams erupted from every corner. It felt like a storm of excitement had hit the room all at once. 
I stood up, clapping as loud as I could, feeling a surge of pride rush through me. Mia jumped up beside me, cheering and pumping her fist in the air. "They did it! They really did it!" she yelled over the noise, her face lighting up with pure happiness.
I knew Liam would win, of course. There was no way anyone else was going to take that prize from him. I had made sure of it. Every year since we started this thing, I’d been behind the scenes, pulling the strings. Making sure they came out on top. Even last year, when things got a little shaky, I did whatever it took to keep them as the champions.
Because Liam ‘had’ to win. He was everything to me, and I wanted him to stay at the top, where he belonged.
I watched as the members of The OES walked onto the stage, the crowd going wild for them. Liam was front and center, flashing that charming smile of his, waving at the audience like he owned the place. The spotlight hit him perfectly, making him shine even brighter under the blaring lights. My heart did a little flip just seeing him up there. He was perfect. Everything about him was perfect.
Mia tugged at my sleeve, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Harper, look at them! They’re killing it up there!" she beamed, pointing toward the stage.
"Yeah, they’re amazing," I replied, my voice a little softer than I meant it to be. But Mia didn’t notice. She was too wrapped up in the excitement.
The cheering continued as the band got ready to play one last song, a sort of victory performance. Liam grabbed the microphone, his deep voice sending chills down my spine. "Thank you, everyone! We couldn’t have done this without you!" he shouted, his voice booming through the speakers. 
The crowd roared even louder, and I joined in, clapping harder. I could barely hear myself think over the noise. But I didn’t care. This was what I wanted. This was what I had worked for. Seeing Liam win, seeing him take his place on that stage—this was the highlight of my night. 
But even with all the noise, all the excitement, something still nagged at the back of my mind. The way Stella had cheered for Zeus earlier, the way her eyes had lit up during his performance, it didn’t sit right with me. How could she flip like that? Just a few hours ago, I was sure she was into Liam. Now she was acting like Zeus was the star of her world.
Was she playing some kind of game? Was she trying to mess with me? The thought made my chest tighten, but I forced myself to focus on the stage again. This wasn’t the time to worry about that. Tonight was about Liam. And no matter what was going on with Stella, it wasn’t going to ruin this for me.
Mia was still bouncing with excitement beside me, oblivious to the thoughts racing through my mind. "I knew they’d win!" she laughed, her eyes shining with joy. "I mean, who else could’ve pulled off a performance like that?"
I smiled at her, but it felt a little forced. "Yeah… who else?" I murmured, my voice trailing off.
The band started playing their victory song, and the whole crowd swayed to the music, hands in the air, waving along with the rhythm. Liam’s voice filled the hall, deep and smooth, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in it. This was what mattered. This was what I wanted. Liam, on stage, shining brighter than anyone else. And I was part of that. I was the one who made it happen.
But even as the music filled the air, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something was off. Something was shifting, and I wasn’t sure if I liked where it was headed.
As the last note played and the crowd erupted into another round of cheers, I forced myself to clap along, pretending everything was fine. Mia was still grinning ear to ear, clapping so hard her hands were probably going to hurt later. But I couldn’t bring myself to match her energy. Not completely.
Because while Liam stood tall on that stage, basking in the glory of his victory, I couldn’t stop thinking about Stella. And what her sudden interest in Zeus meant for everything I thought I knew.
The speaker came back to the mic, congratulating the band once again and wrapping up the show. The crowd slowly began to settle down, the buzz of excitement still lingering in the air. I glanced over at Mia, who was practically glowing with happiness.
"That was amazing, right?" she asked, her eyes wide with excitement. 
"Yeah," I replied, nodding. "It really was."
But deep down, I knew I wasn’t being entirely honest.
Mia, standing beside me, was practically bouncing on her feet. "Let’s go to the backstage and congratulate Liam and the others!" she chirped, her eyes glowing with happiness.
I nodded slowly, trying to keep my cool even though I was still wrapped up in my own thoughts. "Yeah, you go ahead," I said, forcing a smile. "I just need to talk to someone first. I’ll meet you there in a minute."
Mia frowned a little, clearly not wanting to leave without me. "I can wait, Harper. It’s no problem," she insisted, her voice filled with concern.
"No, it’s fine, really," I said, my smile tightening. "I won’t take long, I promise. You go on, I’ll be right behind you."
Mia looked hesitant for a second, but then she nodded, still a little unsure. "Okay… don’t take too long, alright?" She smiled and then darted off toward the backstage area, leaving me standing there, watching as she disappeared into the crowd.
As soon as Mia was out of sight, I took a deep breath and started walking in the opposite direction. I made my way toward the judges' table, where Cedric, the guy who’d helped me plan everything, was still sitting. I needed to check in with him before I faced the celebration.
Cedric was flipping through the score sheets, looking calm as ever. When I reached him, he glanced up and smiled, though there was a hint of something in his eyes. "Hey, Harper. Everything worked out as planned, huh?" he said, leaning back in his chair. 
I nodded, feeling a strange mixture of relief and tension swirling in my chest. "Yeah, thanks for everything. Liam and the band… they’re really happy."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Of course they are. Winning does that to people. But, Harper…" His voice trailed off, and there was a pause before he continued. "You know, not every year can be like this. You can’t always make them win, no matter how much you plan or push things."
I stiffened at his words, but I kept my face neutral, pretending it didn’t bother me. "I know," I said, though the truth was, I didn’t agree at all. Liam had to win. Every year. It was how things were supposed to be. 
Cedric gave me a long look, as if he could see through the mask I was wearing. "Just… be careful, Harper. Don’t get too caught up in all this. Sometimes it’s better to let things happen naturally, you know?"
I bit my lip, trying not to react. "I hear you," I said, though I wasn’t really listening.
He sighed and stood up, gathering his papers. "Well, I need to change out of these clothes. Liam and the others are throwing a little celebration backstage. I assume you’ll be joining them?"
I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I’ll be there in a bit."
"Alright, take care," Cedric said, giving me one last look before he walked off toward the exit. 
As soon as he was gone, I let out a long breath, trying to shake off his words. I didn’t need his advice. I knew what I was doing. Liam deserved to win, and I was going to make sure that happened every single time.
I started making my way toward the backstage area, trying to gather myself before facing everyone. But just as I was about to step through the door, a voice called out from behind me, stopping me in my tracks.
"Harper."
I froze, recognizing the voice instantly. Slowly, I turned around to see Gwen standing there, her arms crossed and her expression hard. She wasn’t smiling. In fact, her face was serious, almost too serious for a night like this. 
"Gwen?" I asked, confused. "What are you doing here?"
She didn’t move, just stared at me with that intense look. "Can we talk for a minute?" she asked, her voice low but firm.
I hesitated, glancing toward the backstage door. "Uh… Mia’s waiting for me. I really need to—"
"It’ll just take a minute," Gwen interrupted, not caring at all about my excuse. Her eyes were sharp, and I could tell she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
Reluctantly, I nodded and followed her as she led me to a quieter spot near the back of the venue, away from the noise and celebration. As soon as we were out of sight, Gwen stopped and turned to face me, her expression still as hard as stone.
"So," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "what’s it like, Harper? You know, working behind the scenes, pulling all the strings?"
I blinked, not fully understanding what she was getting at. "What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice cautious.
Gwen let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "Oh, come on. Don’t play dumb. I know exactly what you did to make sure Liam won tonight."
My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my face steady. "I didn’t do anything," I said, my voice even. "Liam won fair and square."
"Fair and square?" Gwen repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, right. We both know that’s not true."
I swallowed, trying to keep my composure. "I don’t know what you’re talking about, Gwen. You’re just making assumptions."
She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "Am I? Or am I the only one here who actually sees what’s going on?"
I didn’t respond, my mind racing as I tried to figure out how to handle this. 
Gwen crossed her arms again, her voice growing colder. "Look, Harper, I get it. You want Liam to win. You’ve always wanted that. But there’s a line, and you crossed it tonight. This isn’t just some little game anymore. People are watching, and if you’re not careful, they’re going to notice."
I clenched my jaw, refusing to let her words get to me. "I didn’t cross any line," I said, my voice tight.
Gwen studied me for a moment, then shook her head again, her expression filled with disappointment. "You’re a student council member, Harper. You’re supposed to represent something better than this. But instead, you’re out here rigging competitions for your own personal gain. What do you think is going to happen when people find out? Do you really think you can keep this up without consequences?"
My heart pounded in my chest, but I didn’t let it show on my face. "No one’s going to find out," I said quietly.
Gwen smirked, her eyes gleaming with something I didn’t like. "Maybe not. But maybe they will. And when they do… well, let’s just say your reputation won’t be the only thing on the line."
I felt a chill run down my spine at her words, but I forced myself to stand tall, not backing down. "Is that a threat?" I asked, my voice steady despite the fear creeping in.
Gwen stared at me for a long moment, then leaned in slightly, her voice barely above a whisper. "No, Harper. It’s a warning. You better make this right… or someone will."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. She was serious. Dead serious. And the weight of her words settled heavily on my shoulders.
Before I could respond, Gwen straightened up and gave me one last look, her eyes filled with something dark and unsettling. "You’re the student council president, Harper. Think about your reputation before you start a mess you can’t clean up."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving me standing there frozen in place, my mind spinning with everything she’d just said.
I stood there for what felt like an eternity, her words echoing in my head.