Chapter 1
Daphne smoothed her skirt down for the millionth time as she stood outside the high school gym. She still wasn’t sure if the red satin pencil skirt was the right decision. She had changed her outfit at least ten times, trying on different looks from her very expensive wardrobe. Once she had finally settled on the skirt, it had taken forever to decide on a shirt but she finally settled on a black corset style top that accentuated her curves, but didn’t make her look like a hooker.
Unfortunately, not even her favorite Jimmy Choo high heels could calm the butterflies in her stomach.
The gym was well lit and Daphne could here the faint bass line that was coming from the sound system. She had purposely showed up late, so that no one would see her if she decided to turn and run away from the place. Hell, she would be running away from the people not the place. It was all these people who had made her life in high school a living hell. Okay, so maybe she would be running away from Trent Bradshaw, the high school quarterback who had made her life a living hell.
She lifted her head high, determined to do this. She didn’t have anything to prove. She was here to see her friends. Actually, she just put the emphasis on ‘friend’. Anna Marshall, now Anna Keaton, had gotten her through it all. Life had drifted them apart but she was hoping to see her tonight. She hated that they had lost touch.
Sighing, she knew she was stalling. She pushed back her shoulders, stepped away from her Camaro, and headed toward the thumping bass and bright lights at the entrance. As she neared the double doors, she could hear voices on inside.
A female voice made Daphne’s shoulders twitch, and she almost faltered in her steps. She continued to get closer to the voices. “I see Faggy Maggie didn’t show up.”
Another deeper female voice joined in. “Did you really think she would? It wasn’t like she had any real friends. Who here would want to see her?”
A deep male voice interrupted, and Daphne wondered who had joined in to the conversation. She paused outside the door so she could hear what else was said. “I was hoping you would lose some of that bitchiness with age Tiffany, but I see it’s only gotten worse.”
Tiffany, the ex-head cheerleader and Grade—A bitch, snorted before she replied. “It’s not bitchy when it’s the truth.”
“I’m pretty sure that she had friends in high school. Just because she wasn’t your friend, doesn’t mean she didn’t exist. Hell, I bet there are a few people here who wish they hadn’t been your friend way back then.” Daphne wished she could place the deep male voice that had spoken the kind words, but she just couldn’t.
She remembered Tiffany well and if she was chatting with another female it was probably Brittney, her partner in crime back in the day. But it was the man she was intrigued about, so she decided to face the music, so to speak.
When she walked around the corner, the white banner was the first thing that caught her eye.
WELCOME BACK CLASS OF 1997! WE’VE MISSED YOU!
Daphne had to give a snort of her own. She definitely hadn’t missed this place. Fifteen years later and there was still a sense of dread deep in the pit of her stomach. When she got close to the pair of women, the man was gone, but they looked up and politely smiled.
“Well hello there!” Tiffany stood up and smoothed down her black dress and blonde curls. As Tiffany glanced over Daphne's outfit from her expensive shoes and over priced pedicure all the way up to her diamond choker and salon expert hairstyle, and her smile got wider. It was very clear the woman was attracted more to the price of the clothing and accessories than she was the person who was wearing the outfit.
“Hello.” Daphne was trying to see how long it would take Tiffany to recognize her. She just kept smiling however, and finally Tiffany faltered.
“I don’t seem to remember you, are you here with your husband? Or perhaps maybe we just weren’t close friends. It has been 15 years after all.” Tiffany plastered the smile back on her face, and it made Daphne’s skin crawl. She was used to fake people, but fake and stupid people really irritated her.
“My name is Daphne Brooks. But I think you may have my name tag under the name Margaret Hillbrooke.” Daphne waited for a moment for her words and name to register and she relished the look on Tiffany’s face. “Perhaps the tag reads ‘Faggy Maggie,' since I’m not sure who wrote them up.” She winked at Brittney and had to laugh out loud at the stunned openmouthed expression on Tiffany’s face.
Daphne looked down at the table and found her name tag. Scooping it up, she walked away, heading for the next set of doors that would lead to the party and the rest of the guests. From the noise of the crowd, she would bet almost everyone had made it. But of course they had, not many people left this town, so it would just be a chance for them all to get together in one place. Mckinley High was buzzing tonight.