Through the Marc Jacobs bags filling Lindon’s cozy, yet large room, you would still be able to see a white blonde head shimmering with a sequined hair clip. While entranced with the new diamond bracelet that was wrapped around her tiny wrist, she jumped as she heard her best friend giggling in the changing room.

“Poppy! You have got to see this dress. It’s definitely going to be one of the top picks to choose for tomorrow,” Lindon sighed. Her crimson skater dress brightened up the all-white room, and the sequins reflected off of her and onto her calfskin rug.

Poppy opened her mouth out wide and gawked at the beauty of Lindon, who was striking her best model pose and flipping her hair. The dress looked like it fit her perfectly, with her luscious dark brown hair and chocolate eyes. Poppy wasn’t too surprised, though; she had seen Lindon wear better. But Poppy still wished she could pull off an outfit as easily as Lindon, who could walk around town wearing clothes that looked like they just came off the back of a homeless man and make everyone in their town of Birmingham try a hobo fad for the next week.

“Totally one for tomorrow, Lind,” Poppy replied nonchalantly as she walked around the closet and rummaged through the silver trays full of gaudy jewelry. She threw on several heavy pearl necklaces and looked at herself in the full-body mirror that stood against the ivory wall.

Poppy looked beautiful in clothes, too, with her petite figure. But her impression wasn’t as show stopping as Lindon’s.

When Lindon and Poppy were younger, they’d always play at Poppy’s family’s massive estate. She would always be the tiny fairy, and Lindon would always be the princess. It seemed to work that way in real life, too. Of course, Poppy didn’t take it seriously, and never thought about it for too long. Instead of moping around, she could get the most out of life.

Tomorrow was the first day of getting out of the house to Castlewood Eve, one of the most prestigious schools in Birmingham, the second largest city in Britain. Lindon was sure everyone would be waiting for her to get out of the sleek, silver limo and onto the grounds. Since her freshman days, she and Poppy ruled the schools, but sometimes her confidence got the best of her. She would occasionally boss her own friends around, and even hurt the feelings of some professors.

Lindon rarely got in trouble for her horrible actions. Her parents had donated money to renovate the art wing, literature wing, and algebra wing. She would always somehow escape her punishment, no matter what she did. She also was backed up with her trust fund, so if any of her wrongdoings had a monetary consequence, Lindon would just hand over the bills and smile in her most innocent way. She would always go clubbing, as Birmingham’s “cultural scene is undeniably happening.” Oftentimes her parents would be upset with her behavior after coming home late, but they would react blandly about it, as they were too busy in their offices. It almost seemed as if her need for attention began at her home, and she was fighting for her mother to play with her instead of sitting in a business chair all day long.

Later that night, Lindon laid on her enormous bed, wrapped in a soft, cashmere robe. She had told her housemaid, Kostella, to fill the room with lavender candles. The scent had shot through her and made her more alert and focused. The boost of her senses sent a trickle of excitement through her body. It was a feeling she hadn’t experienced in a while, as she was so nervous about social life at school, not to mention academics. She wished she had her boyfriend, Elliot, to talk to, as he would always make her feel independent and gave her so much attention. But in August, he broke up with her for an unknown reason, leaving Lindon heartbroken for several weeks.

After Poppy had left Lindon’s mansion in the wealthy neighborhood of Sutton Coldfield, Lindon had begun planning her essay for a contest to win a scholarship for Oxford College. Of course, she didn’t need the money-her trust fund could get her a penthouse in London or tuition for four years, plus a new wardrobe full of designer clothes and shoes.

However, the scholarship would grab Oxford’s attention. Lindon was the top student at Castlewood Eve, and with her resume full of volunteer work, charity jobs, and non-profit organizations, no one could ignore her. She already had the best outfits, the best clique, and the most wealth.

After finishing her daily blowout and weekly nail treatment at Village Beauty Salon, “one of the best salons in the midlands”, Poppy jumped out of her favorite salon and jumped into Lindon’s shimmering limo. Once she stepped in, she found a gorgeous Lindon, with a tight, ruffled red dress that gathered down to her knees. Her legs and arms were bronzed from a quick spray tan, and she finished her look with dark lip gloss and Christian Loubotin pumps. She wore her signature limo-riding aviator sunglasses, which covered her eyes that, Poppy was sure, had ample amounts of Sephora eyeshadow and several coats of Chanel mascara. Poppy was ready to make her debut entrance with Lindon, as it had been for many years. She knew Lindon always got worried about first impressions, so she stayed quiet in hope of not breaking her peace. Poppy glanced through the tinted window and looked at the University of Birmingham.

“All right. We got this, right, Poppy? Just keep your cool,” Lindon murmured in a calm voice once the limo pulled up near the rocky curb. She grabbed her dark clutch and hopped out of the car, letting her shiny hair catch the wind.

Walking onto the stone steps, girls moved out of the way for Poppy and Lindon. Heading behind them were several other A-list girls, slapping their cell phones closed and reapplying gloss. They all shared envious glances while looking at Lindon.

Right when Lindon went to the top step, she abruptly stopped. There was a girl standing right in front of her, blocking her way. She almost seemed to look familiar.

She had long, curly, deep red hair with lips you could only get by being extremely lucky or by applying several years worth of lip plumper. Her emerald eyes sparkled with the rising sun, and the morning breeze billowed her sea-foam maxi dress.

“Who are you?” Lindon shrieked through her gritted teeth. The people whose eyes had been on her-almost everyone-had now turned to this new girl. Silently gasping, students dared themselves to walk up the steps and see how their ‘queen’ reacted to foreign invaders.

“I’m Scarlette. Scarlette Hayes,” the glamour girl announced, her chin up like a duchess. She looked around as if the students were her subjects. Though there were many looks of I’ll-do-whatever-you-say-to-get-me-to-like-you going to her, she could not ignore the cold glares of the brunette Lindon’s clique.

“You are…?” Scarlette asked, giving a small hint of a smile in hope of making a truce. She wanted to stay as calm as a summer sea on her first day of Castlewood Eve.

“I am the girl everyone wants to be. Needs to be. Will die to be,” Lindon gasped out, as if it was obvious, “And you think you can take away my fame that easily? Ha! No one will be ever getting in my way again. This school is mine. Go back to where you came from.”
With that, Lindon snapped her manicured fingers in front of Scarlette’s pale, unblemished face. She stormed into the hall and into her French class. Scarlette stood still, keeping herself composed, to everyone’s awe.
Maybe a new ‘monarchy’ was what Castlewood Eve needed. Scarlette didn’t look too bad, compared to other competition. Sure, Lindon might be at the top in social rankings, but what about the future?
Lindon checked her phone and found a message from UNKOWN. She opened it, and a picture appeared at the screen. It was an image of a redhead, with a cute boy in a beach somewhere in St. Bart’s or Monaco. Lindon looked closer-it was Elliot with her. Lindon’s Elliot.
“How could I be so stupid?” Lindon cried, staring up at the tiled ceiling. Elliot had left her for Scarlette. It seemed like everyone had left her in an instant.
Lindon planned her revenge. Revenge for her cheating ex-boyfriend, Elliot, revenge for the academy that had betrayed her as soon as another girl stepped in, and, most of all, revenge at Scarlette, a conniving, stealing little brat.
She was aiming for what she had done best so many times, many years before -
Total Destruction.