Susan McMillan gripped the steering wheel of her sleek black Mercedes, the engine purring smoothly as they cruised down the winding road toward the upscale boutique district. Sarah sat in the passenger seat.
"You know, Sarah," Susan said casually, her voice laced with a nostalgic lilt as she glanced sideways at her companion, "seeing you in that dress earlier reminds me so much of our high school days. All those proms and parties... the drama, the heartbreaks. It's funny how old grudges can linger, isn't it? Like echoes that never quite fade."
Sarah tilted her head, intrigued despite herself. "Grudges? What do you mean?"
Susan smiled thinly, her manicured nails tapping the wheel. "Oh, just thinking about old friends... and old rivals. Let me tell you a story from back then. It might help you appreciate how far we've come."
Lake Point High, 2002
The gymnasium was transformed into a glittering wonderland for the senior prom, with streamers in silver and blue dangling from the rafters like makeshift stars. Strobe lights pulsed to the beat of Britney Spears' "Slave 4 U," blasting from the DJ's speakers, hyping up the crowd as groups of teens shuffled in, adjusting tuxedos and gowns under the colorful glow. The air was thick with the scent of body spray, fruity perfumes, and teenage anticipation. Susan Elliott—poised, beautiful, and utterly convinced of her own destiny—stood at the edge of the dance floor in her electric blue spaghetti-strap gown. The dress had a fitted bodice with subtle beading that caught the lights, flaring into a mermaid silhouette that screamed early-2000s glamour, inspired by red-carpet looks from the MTV Video Music Awards. Her corsage was a perfect match for her piercing blue eyes. She'd planned every detail: the side-swept highlights in her hair, the glossy lip gloss, the triumphant entrance on the arm of Derek Hargrove.
Nickelback's "How You Remind Me" thundered through the speakers, its rock energy fueling the early arrivals. Derek was the catch of the school—tall, athletic, with that clean-cut military brat charm. His father was a captain stationed nearby, and Derek had the disciplined posture to match. They'd been the golden couple for months, but a week before prom, it all exploded. Over something trivial—a missed text message that escalated into accusations.
"You're too controlling, Susan! You treat me like I'm just another accessory in your perfect life!" Derek had shouted.
"And you're spineless, always bending to your dad's orders! If you can't commit to me, then we're done!" Susan fired back,
It was a breakup, raw and public, whispered about in the hallways. But Susan assumed it was temporary. Derek had promised to take her to prom; he'd said it before the fight, and in her mind, that sealed it. She'd show up, he'd apologize, and they'd dance the night away.
But the whispers turned to gasps when Derek arrived with Linda Moore on his arm, just as Nelly's "Hot in Herre" kicked in, heating the dance floor with its infectious beat, encouraging everyone to shed their jackets and get moving. Linda, the quiet, no-frills girl from English class, who favored simple jeans and tees over glamour. Her prom dress was modest—a soft pink halter-neck A-line that she'd borrowed from a cousin—but she wore it with an easy grace.
Derek had confided in her the day after the breakup: "It's really over with Susan. The fight was the last straw. She's all drama, and I just want someone... real." Linda, surprised but touched, had agreed. She saw no harm; the split was common knowledge, and Derek seemed genuine.
As the night progressed, the DJ spun more hits, transitioning to Ashanti's "Foolish," which had couples swaying closer, sharing whispers and slow dances under the dimmed lights, the soulful melody tugging at heartstrings.
Susan watched from the shadows as Derek and Linda twirled under the strobe lights, laughing at some private joke while "Complicated" played softly in the background during a slow moment, its angsty lyrics mirroring Susan's inner turmoil. Her fists clenched around her clutch. How dare Linda "steal" what was hers? Never mind the fight, the breakup—Derek should have taken Susan, as promised. It was betrayal, pure and simple.
Later, when Nelly's "Dilemma came on, the energy picked up again, but Susan's mood only darkened. The crowd erupted as Eminem's "Without Me" dropped, the track getting everyone jumping, yet Susan felt isolated amid the chaos. And to twist the knife, Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles" followed during a quieter interlude, its piano-driven ballad inspiring awkward slow dances, reminding Susan of what could have been.
And worse, Derek's family was reassigned overseas just weeks later, shipping out to some base in Germany. He was gone, a ghost, leaving Susan to stew in her resentment.
Over the years, that grudge festered. Susan married Richard McMillan, built her modeling career, but she never forgot. Linda went on to marry David Gibson, the sweet ornithologist Susan had once harbored a crush on back in sophomore year. Another "theft," in Susan's warped view. They'd crossed paths at social events, all polite smiles and small talk, but inside, Susan seethed. Now, with this magical mishap handing her the perfect opportunity, she could finally flip the script.
Linda would become Susan’s daughter —young, dependent, and most importantly, obedient, molded in her image—while Sarah slipped away into adulthood, no longer tied to the McMillan name. Well, all because of what the girls at the high school were doing that Linda had gotten herself mixed up in. Who knew how long that would be? Until it was over Linda would have to obey her Mother wouldn't she. It might resolve itself by tomorrow, or it might take a week or two. Revenge, served cold and subtle.
Back to the Present
Sarah sat in the passenger seat of Susan’s Mercedes, knowing nothing of what the woman beside her was thinking. She just wanted to get back home to her kids and her husband as soon as she could.
