8:15 AM – Ridgewood High, Second Period – The Hive
The Hive was back in full swing—screens buzzing, coffee cups half-full, and whispers thick in the air. Bee sat at the head of the digital war table, her nails tapping rhythmically against her tablet. On the screen before her was a dizzying web of profiles, secrets, and surveillance. It was time.
Kai leaned over her shoulder, his tone low and careful. "We've narrowed down the encrypted source. The Unknown Number's last message came from inside the school Wi-Fi. Someone's getting sloppy."
Bee's eyes flickered with fire. "Or bold. Which makes them dangerous."
Zuri twirled a pink pen between her fingers, her lips pursed. "What if it's someone we trust? Someone inside the Hive?"
The silence that followed was deafening. Bee didn't answer right away. Instead, she flicked her screen to display a list of Ridgewood's elite—each name marked with a symbol: ally, threat, or unknown.
"We're done playing defense," Bee said. "We go offensive. Operation Pretty Little Plots is in motion."
9:00 AM – Locker Hallways – Operation Begins
Bee's steps echoed like war drums as she walked past the line of lockers. Whispers trailed behind her like perfume—some fearful, others adoring. She had become the school's most glamorous paradox: the avenging angel and its wicked queen.
A sticky note fluttered out from her locker: "You're being watched, Little Queen."
Bee crumpled it without breaking stride. "Good," she muttered. "Watch me burn your kingdom down."
From across the hallway, Serena slipped into position. Dressed in a pastel cardigan and combat boots, she looked like a preppy assassin. "I've hacked into the Yearbook Club's photo drive," she whispered. "Guess who's been snapping pics of our Hive meetings from a 'hidden' drone?"
Bee smirked. "Tell me."
Serena's eyes glittered. "Logan. But he's not the one sending them."
Bee's stomach twisted. Logan—her maybe-ally, maybe-crush—was walking a tightrope. And someone else was pulling the strings.
10:00 AM – Tech Lab – Digital Daggers
In the cool, dim light of the Tech Lab, Bee and Kai sat surrounded by cables, flashing monitors, and Serena's relentless typing. On one of the screens, a grainy video played: Bee in the band room. Bee with Logan. Bee screaming at Madison.
All filmed without her knowledge.
"Where did these come from?" Bee asked.
"Someone's been using Ridgewood's security cams. But they've been rerouted through a private server," Serena replied. "It's all being collected."
Kai's jaw clenched. "This is more than just revenge. Someone's building a dossier. For what—blackmail? Destruction?"
Bee leaned closer, eyes narrowed. "War."
She pulled out her lipstick and applied it with slow, deliberate strokes. "If they want a show, we'll give them a full Broadway production. Costumes, drama, and a twist ending."
12:00 PM – Cafeteria Showdown – Pretty Little Plots Unleashed
Lunch at Ridgewood had become more than a break—it was an arena.
Madison was seated at the Cheer Queen Table, flanked by her Court. She glanced up as Bee approached, flanked by Zuri, Serena, and Kai. The cafeteria tensed like a battlefield before the first shot.
"Nice crown," Madison sneered. "Was it on sale?"
Bee smiled sweetly. "Not everyone has to buy their power, Madison. Some of us just radiate it."
Madison stood. "You think this little band of misfits scares me?"
"No," Bee said, stepping closer. "But the truth does."
With a flick of her fingers, Serena hit a button on her phone. Every screen in the cafeteria—TVs, tablets, phones—flashed with a message:
"The Real Ridgewood Files. Unedited. Unfiltered. Unholy."
Clips began to play. Madison laughing as she pushed Hailey. Principal Harrow pocketing bribes. Logan confessing to secrets Bee hadn't even heard yet.
The room exploded. Screams. Gasps. Madison shrieked as the Cheer Court scattered.
Zuri leaned in. "That's just the trailer."
1:00 PM – Girls' Bathroom – Consequences
Bee splashed cold water on her face, the adrenaline still surging.
Zuri appeared in the mirror. "We just nuked the status quo. Are you ready for what comes next?"
Bee wiped her hands. "We didn't come this far to tiptoe now."
A text pinged on her phone:
Unknown Number: You just made your biggest mistake, Little Queen. Now it's my turn.
Attachment: Logan. Bleeding. Locked in a janitor's closet.
Bee's heart dropped. The phone slipped from her fingers.
To Be Continued...