Third Draft
AFTER AP ENGLISH, NIKKI jumped into action. How perfect was it that Heather’s note and her own cupcake had turned up on Mr. B’s desk at the same moment? It offered a golden opportunity. By the end of the school day, her whispering campaign against Heather had kicked into high gear. Did you know? She’s been writing love letters to Mr. B. Have you heard? She left a cupcake with a heart on it right on his desk. As each pair of lips spread the lie to each little ear, the tidbit grew juicier, its origin more remote. By the time classes ended, the whole story became Facebook fodder, with no one able to recall who’d started the rumors in the first place.
Which suited Nikki just fine, as she read the posts on her iPhone, awaiting Mr. B on their usual park bench. Her deft thumb plunked away. We should all take it easy on poor Heather, she posted. She’s in therapy, after all.
Fourth Draft
NIKKI WASTED NO TIME. How perfect that Heather’s note and her own cupcake had turned up on Mr. B’s desk at the same moment.
“Samantha!” Spotting a classmate from AP English in the hallway, Nikki rushed over and clutched her arm. “Did you catch that?” She leaned in to murmur in the girl’s ear. “Heather left Mr. B a cupcake and a love note.”
Samantha gaped through her oversized eyeglasses. “They were from her?”
By the end of the school day, Nikki’s whispering campaign had gone viral. Did you know? She’s been writing love letters to Mr. B. Have you heard? She left a cupcake with a heart on it right there on his desk. As each pair of lips spread the lie to each little ear, the tidbit grew juicier, its origin more remote. By the time classes ended, the story became Facebook fodder, no one recalling who’d started the rumors.
Which suited Nikki fine.
She read the posts on her iPhone, awaiting Mr. B on their usual park bench. Her deft thumb plunked away. We should all take it easy on poor Heather, she posted. She’s in therapy. A nice touch, she reflected, imagining Heather reading it. See how I stuck up for you? The bimbo wouldn’t know what hit her.
What do you think – progress? Next week, a scene that needed liposuction.