Page 25 of Small Town Sash

"Got to go. That's Jenesa and Avery," Hadley called out, grabbing her purse and slipping through the door before another word could tether her down.

"Fake,"the word hung in the air like a bad perfume as Hadley entered the bustling coffee shop where her new friends congregated. She turned toward the source, the narrowed eyes of a fellow contestant boring into her.

"Excuse me?" Hadley's voice was a mix of shock and indignation.

"Come on, Hadley. Volunteering? Spending all your time at the dress shop?" Lily tossed her blonde hair, a smirk playing on her lips. "What are you playing at? What angle does this give you?"

"Nothing." Hadley's cheeks flushed several shades darker than her peach-colored skin. "I actually enjoy it."

"Sure you do," another voice chimed in, dripping with sarcasm. She noticed it was Tina, and she was surprised that her once friend was joining in on the attack. "Just in time for the judges to see how 'well-rounded' you are."

"Ugh, clearly, there's no point in explaining anything to either one of you." Hadley rolled her eyes and marched past them to the corner table where her true friends waited, laughter and warmth radiating from the group.

"Those girls..." Hadley began, slumping into the chair beside Jenesa, who looked up from her laptop, her lawyerly instincts kicking in at the sight of distress.

"Let me guess, more pageant politics?" Jenesa asked, her hazel eyes sharp but sympathetic.

"Yep," Hadley sighed, resting her head in her hands. "They think I'm faking this whole...being a real person thing."

"Because clearly, volunteering and having interests outside of pageants is sooo unnatural," Avery deadpanned, stirring her coffee in exaggerated circles.

"Unnatural," Hadley snorted, the absurdity of it all teasing a reluctant smile onto her lips. "Apparently, I'm either a robot or a mastermind manipulator."

"Ooh, I like mastermind manipulator, Hadley," Michelle quipped with mirth as she handed the women their drinks. "Sounds like a comic book villain."

"Wrong genre, Michelle," Avery laughed, playfully nudging her with her elbow. "We're in a rom-com, remember?"

"Right, my bad," Michelle grinned, leaning back against the counter. "So, what's next for our leading lady?"

"Surviving," Hadley muttered, though the frustration was slowly ebbing away, diffused by the camaraderie around her. "And maybe...proving them wrong."

"Come on, Hadley," Jenesa urged, snapping her laptop shut with a decisive click. "You can't let them get to you."

"Easy for you to say," Hadley retorted, but the fight had gone out of her voice. "You have a Harvard degree backing you up."

"Exactly, and it was just as hard proving myself there as it is for you right now," Jenesa explained.

"We've all been through the wringer. It's like some sort of twisted rite of passage around here," Avery chimed in, her green eyes glinting with amusement. "It's why we need each other."

"Twisted is right," Hadley muttered.

"Look," Candace said, her voice steady and reassuring as she leaned forward, resting her arms on the table. "What you're doing—finding yourself, it matters. More than any sash or crown."

"Plus, who says you can't redefine what a pageant queen can be?" Jenesa added, her tone softening the edges of her words.

"Redefine..." Hadley mused, the word rolling around her mind like a loose marble. "I like that."

"Then stick with it," Michelle said firmly. "Do what makes Hadley Wilder happy."

"Speaking of happy..." Avery stood up, brushing crumbs from her floral blouse. "Let's go out. You need some fun."

"Fun sounds...like it might get me into trouble with my mom," Hadley murmured, though the idea tugged at a smile she tried to suppress.

"Life's full of trouble," Michelle chuckled. "But having fun is worth the risk."

"Come on," Jenesa said, standing and twirling her car keys around her finger. "My treat tonight."

"Where to?" Hadley asked, curiosity piquing despite the worry gnawing at her insides.

---