The Cheating Thief by Redhead16 MLM (pocket ebook reader .TXT) 📕

Gabby McFee leaned against the bleachers and listened to her best friend/cousin Stacy blabber to their friend Peter about some big sale going on all week. They'd already made plans to go to the mall for that reason on Saturday. Stacy had taken the liberty to invite everyone they were friends with. This was cool with Gabby; assembly was usually boring unless there was a huge game later or some other event.

Stacy continued to chatter blissfully. Gabby studied her cousin. Stacy liked to wear pink skirts and dresses. Gabby liked pink, too, but she preferred ocean hues. At that moment, she wore a black tank top that said Queen in sequins, faded blue jeans that wore a bit too tight and an inch too long, and black sneakers. Her curly blond hair was pulled into a tight bun. Her brown eyes were surrounded with dark eyeliner and mascara that was really hard to find and costed hundreds of dollars. Her cheeks were bronzed and blushed, her lips were a light biege and perfectly glossed. Stacy's long brunette hair was crimped and loose. Shine serum had been added. Stacy's makeup was mostly except for her eyeliner and mascara. Stacy looked pretty good, but Gabby was hotter, and everyone knew it.

The girls loved each other like sisters. Stacy had to admit, she did get jealous of Gabby frequently. Gabby hated admitting it, but she was a little bit jealous of Stacy, too. Stacy was smarter than her, and she intimidated boys less. She and Stacy had gotten into fights over boys that they both liked before. Being reminded that they were bloodkin, they always made up afterwards. (Their mothers are sisters.)

"Pay attention, children!" Principal Nguey ordered. "This is important. Mrs. Fleeuy and I are proud to announce the winner of our annual Welcome Back to School Short Story Contest!"  Everyone got quiet and leaned forward a little bit, but not much. Everyone assumed it would be Marv Martin, the school know-it-all, or Greg Renut, the president of the student body and Mr. Perfect.

"And the winner is..." the principal continued, "Gabby McFee!" Everyone gave polite applause, but they were also a bit shocked. So was Gabby. She strolled down casually, but she didn't smile or react. When she got the chance, she pulled the principal aside. "There has to be a mistake!" she said. "No mistake. This is yours, is it not?" Principal Nguey said, voice kept low. Gabby looked at the pieces of paper in his hand.

"This is mine, but I never entered!" she said, beginning to freak out a bit. The principal turned to the congregation of students and faculty.

"There has been a misunderstanding. Ms. McFee never entered the contest. However, this story was entered in her name, and it is in fact hers. Her story will be returned to her, and the story will be excluded. We will review the other stories to decide another winner. In the meantime, someone is in serious trouble. If you entered this story, please come forth and talk to me after assembly, especially if you meant no harm." He turned to Gabby. "You may return to your seat. And don't worry about the story contest issue, we will find out who sent it in."

"Thank you." Gabby said, and walked back to her cousin.

"That was weird." Stacy said. Gabby nodded in agreement. She noticed Marv Martin proceeding to give her an evil smile. More evil than usual. "She has something to do with it." Gabby told Stacy. The brunette nodded in agreement.

Gabby's ex-boyfriend Chad looked up at her. He missed her a bit, but she probably did not miss him at all. He had broken her heart. He could feel his senses heighten and he heard her talking to Stacy. Whatever had just happened was strange indeed. Indeed, he sensed someone looking at him now. He looked towards the source and saw Perry Tore looking at him. Perry was a science nerd. Everyone knew he had a crush on Gabby, he sent her flowers every Valentine's Day since high school started for them.

They would make a cute couple. I wonder if he suspects me, Chad thought. Perry did. He did suspect Chad had entered it in Gabby's name. At least he hadn't taken her credit from her. Perry had read it, and had been the deciding factor. The entire school board, faculty, and student council had read Gabby's report/story. It was a sci-fi/drama about an alien girl being sucked into the media and becoming addicted to fame and fortune.

It was quite entertaining, and it conveyed a message, a lesson that Gabby had learned not too long ago. He looked up at her, texting on her iPhone. She glanced at him before he looked away. He noticed Marv smirking at Gabby. She topped the list of suspects right away. On everyone's list.

Gabby's house was so huge it was classified as a mansion. Gabby's parents both worked so hard that they barely saw her. Her dad had less rules than her mother, and he was usually in a better mood. If Gabby wanted something she knew her mother wouldn't let her have, she went to her dad.

Like when she'd wanted a cute green top that everyone raved about, her dad bought it for her, but her mom practically had a conniption when she saw it on Gabby.

Now Gabby entered her room, a replica of Regina George's, but more books and electronics, and a tad more organized, Gabby had alphabetized every CD, every book, every DVD. She always put something back in it's specific spot when she was done with it.

Her latest book, Elemental Passion, lay on her bed, half-read. Her grandmother, Ursula, had recommended it. Ursula was well-to-do as well. Actually, the entire family was, except for one uncle whom Gabby had heard plenty about but never actually met.

She stared at the pink walls with ocean-blue stripes, and wondered who was the person who had turned in her story. Writing was okay, but her real passion was makeup. She had several kits, several drawers and organizers full of the fun stuff. She liked music, too. She played the keyboard and piano. She'd started that when she was five when her parents signed her up for lessons, and she wasn't stopping soon. Her makeup obsession had started when she was ten.

She studied her latest cut-out from a Vogue magazine.

Publication Date: 02-07-2014

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