The Succubus Strikes

"I'm sorry; what now?" Teresa questioned, her head rocking back with shock at the offer.

After two dances, the former Sugarbee captain and her archnemesis’s best male friend and ex-boyfriend stepped off the dance floor to grab a glass of water to hydrate themselves. That’s when Finn shocked Teresa by basically propositioning her.

“I just thought we could go upstairs and ring in the new year,” Finn repeated. However, Teresa’s stunned expression rattled his confidence. So, he attempted to recall Tinny’s exact words from earlier in the night. “Uh, I’m not mad at you for fighting with Lana, but you could consider it a way of apologizing.”

Immediately feeling like an idiot for implying that Teresa owed him sex, Finn’s face blanched as the dark-haired beauty shook her head.

"Oh, Finny. You poor mixed-up soul," Teresa sighed, leaning forward to pat his forearm. "Under any other circumstances, I'd be tempted. Highly tempted. And maybe very excited. You're a handsome, sweet guy. The marrying sort of a guy. I'll be honest; it would be the ultimate victory over Lana."

“That’s precisely the point. So let’s go upstairs and–”

“No, Finn, that’s exactly why I’m turning you down,” Teresa interrupted to explain. “If we slept together, it would be declaring war. Lana would seek payback, harsh payback. Bianca would be an obvious target; Jewel an easy one. Then, I’d have to watch Reece fend off Lana’s full-out seduction ****.”

“So what if Lana gets pissed. That’s part of the point!”

"Your mind isn't right tonight, Finn. You're dealing with a lot of shit. Don't let that influence you. Don't make a mistake that clouds your mom's night," Teresa said with a pained expression. "Hell, I know my mom would ream my ass if I took advantage of you tonight."

“Whoa! You wouldn’t be taking advantage of me at all. I swear!” Finn insisted, backing away to let his eyes roam up and down the ex-dancer's body. “I’d actually be cool if you did.”

“Maybe you do mean that right now. But what about afterward? How will you feel in the morning?” Teresa rattled off. “We’ve known each other for all of our lives. I know without any doubt that you’ll feel guilty. You don’t want that, and I don’t want that for you.”

“You’re wrong! I’m sick and tired of everyone…of everyone assuming that I’m fragile. That I can’t handle–That I can’t stand on my own two feet. Well, I can! I don’t need Lana and Peyton holding my hands!”

“I know you don’t. I also know that you’re destined to marry one of those two girls. And I’m not willing to cause more feuds by fucking you–”

“No! I’d be the one fucking you. Let’s show them.”

“That’s enough, Finn. You’re in a bad place emotionally right now. Don’t make it worse,” Teresa scolded, losing her patience. “If you want to make Lana jealous, then let’s do it on the dance floor. I’m down for that.”

“This isn’t about Lana!” Finn bellowed.

"Sure, it's not," Teresa responded. But then, Finn shocked her by whipping around and storming off. "Well, okay then."

However, still concerned about his state of mind, she slowly followed him at a distance. It took less than twenty seconds for another dark-haired young woman to intercept Finn’s trajectory. The new arrival caused Teresa to halt her movement abruptly and watch from a distance.

The new girl–-looking vaguely familiar to Teresa–-leaned up to hug Finn. Next, she pulled back to listen to Finn. Then, the dark-haired newcomer nodded intently before issuing what appeared to be a pep talk to him. Finally, she offered her hand, which, after some hesitation, Finn accepted.

Hmm, it looks like Finn found somebody interested in his offer. I wonder who she is. I could swear I know her from someplace, Teresa mused, watching the pair head out of the ballroom.

---

“Aargh! I’m so far behind,” Daisy shrieked in frustration, gesturing with her phone.

“Do you want me to handle it?” Norah inquired, receiving a vigorous headshake in response.

"No, it's my responsibility," Daisy stated. But then, she also noticed a guy hovering nearby. "And I've been neglecting Evan. I'd better spend a couple of dances with him."

“Right! You can’t do that. Mom’s going to want to know all about your romantic night with your boyfriend,” Dexter teased.

“Keep that up, and I’ll snitch to Mom about your Zoey interview,” Daisy threatened before shifting back to Buzzy Bee business. “Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

“Is Dex in charge? Then, we’ll be fine,” Norah reassured.

“Hey, what did that mean? Why can’t I ever be in charge of you?” Dex questioned, following Norah out into the lobby.

The mousy brunette waited until they’d reached the elevator banks before addressing her partner’s questions.

“Do you honestly want to be in charge? Having responsibility is stressful, and you don’t like pressure,” Norah explained. After pushing the button, she waited for a response from the machine and her fellow reporter.

“Well, uh, it would be nice to be asked for once. I did interview Zoey!”

“Very well. Someday in the future, I’ll let you be in charge…for a day. Oh, and I pick the day.” Norah smirked mischievously.

“That’s not fair! I should get to pick the day and assignment,” Dex protested as they walked onto the elevator.

“You do? Okay, boss, tell me how we should stake out the film guy’s room?” Norah challenged. Then she added another fact. “And there aren’t any large potted plants in the hallway to hide behind.”

"Oh! Uh, I wasn't going to suggest that," Dex argued, ignoring Norah's slight smirk. "Um, well, we could…I got it! We can slip inside either Room 403 or 405 and spy on Alfie's room."

“Really? That’s your plan? And how would we–-where did you get that from?” Norah’s sarcastic demeanor switched as Dex held up a keycard.

“Daisy kinda handed it to me while arguing earlier. Uh, I think Ramsey's mom yelling distracted her,” Dexter admitted, fingering the master keycard.

“We are not using that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not breaking into a guest’s room and getting caught inside with you. I have a reputation to uphold,” Norah stated.

“You do? With who? I never see you with any friends. Do you have any outside the paper? Whoa! I didn’t mean it like that,” Dex protested as Norah marched off the elevator. “It’s just you never talk about anyone, nor does anyone visit the office.”

“That’s because I keep my friendships private and separate from The Buzzy Bee,” Norah declared, stopping as they turned the corner that led to their targeted room.

"So, what's your plan?" Dex attempted to mimic Norah's sarcastic tone, but he couldn't. It just wasn't him.

“You go knock on the door.”

“What?”

“Think of a name that you’re looking for. A believable name. Seth wouldn’t have a room on the 4th Floor.” Norah held back a sigh as Dexter stared in confusion. “You’re acting as if you knocked on the wrong door to see if anyone is in the room.”

“Right, I knew that,” Dex replied. “Uh, what if no one is inside?”

“Then, you’re going to come back over here, pick up that end table, and carry it back to Room 404’s door,” Norah explained.

“Why?”

“So we can place my phone up on the ceiling. We’re going to use that to monitor the door while we wait over in the stairwell,” Norah revealed.

“Whoa! That’s a good idea. I like it,” Dex praised.

“Yes, and that’s why I’m in charge.”

---

“Can we take you anywhere where you will behave? The loading dock is now off the list,” Peyton fumed in exasperation as her friends returned to the ballroom.

“Sorry, Mom!” Lana sassed back.

“Technically, it happened in the hallway near the loading dock,” Poppy clarified, but Peyton ignored her.

“How bad?” Peyton asked, addressing everyone but Lana and Poppy.

“She threatened to kill–sorry, **** Maddie if she even so much as looked at Finn,” Merritt relayed.

“It took four of us to hold her back,” Jamie-Lynn added.

“It wasn’t that bad. I’ve seen worse moments at work,” Kiki downplayed.

“You work at a strip club, sugar,” Zaylie pointed out.

“And that’s where you’ll be working if you keep threatening people,” Peyton warned her BFF.

“I’d be a legend,” Lana proclaimed, earning a few eye rolls and facepalms.

“Go sit down and behave,” Peyton ordered. “I’m going to get you a glass of water.”

“Water? Boring! I don’t want water.”

“You'll drink the water and like it!’ Peyton declared, walking off toward the bar.

“Why does she always treat me like the kid who stole from the cookie jar?” Lana huffed, sitting down and folding her arms.

Merritt and Priscilla glanced at each other without saying anything. Stephanie opened her mouth, only for Poppy to cover it. Jamie-Lynn fretted while fighting the urge to bite a nail. Only Kiki and Zaylie seemed nonplussed by what had gone down lately.

“I wonder where the guys are at,” Kiki commented.

“Thanks for reminding me. I need to go needle Nate again,” Zaylie remembered.

The two coeds wandered off, leaving babysitting duties to the others. A chore that Jamie-Lynn would remind them about later.

Silence–except for Lana grumbling to herself–passed for several minutes. All her friends could feel the tension. It surrounded her like an aura and felt thick enough to cut with a knife. A few quiet, mouthed-only conversations happened out of the redhead’s sightline.

“I think I’ll go check and see what’s keeping Pey,” Merritt announced, beating Jamie-Lynn to the idea.

As the eldest Moxey sibling left, another familiar face walked over. Poppy intercepted her.

“What do you want?”

“I’d like to talk to Lana for a moment. Or is that not acceptable to you?” Teresa queried, bordering on a challenge.

“That wasn’t an answer.”

“Fine. I’d like a thank you from Lana.”

“Why the hell should I thank you?” Lana questioned, eavesdropping on the conversation.

“You’re so welcome, Lan. That’s all I wanted to say,” Teresa replied, turning around to walk away.

“For what? Tell me!” Lana demanded, jumping to her feet.

The oldest Zuccaro sister halted, throwing her head back in exasperation before turning to face her nemesis. Once she did that, Teresa studied the buxom ginger while shaking her head.

“You’re welcome for turning Finn down.”

“Turning him down for what?”

“A fuck intended to piss you off,” Teresa revealed, causing a loud round of gasps.

“That’s a lie. Take it fucking back!” Lana demanded, pushing Poppy out of her way.

“No, it’s not. You might be a selfish bimbo at times, but even you’re not that oblivious. You royally screwed up Finn’s big night. Everyone knows it. Hell, I bet Peyton has actually told you that already. Am I wrong?” Teresa asked, looking at all of the other girls in the clique.

“No! Finn would never touch a skank like you. He’d never do that to me,” Lana vowed. However, her tone sounded shaky.

“Considering how much shit you pulled tonight, how are you surprised? You know it’s true. Finn got pushed too far, so he came to me for ****.”

“And you turned that down? Ha! That shows you’re fucking lying.”

“I wish I were. I actually feel sorry for Finn. He’s been through a lot tonight. Make that the whole week, with it being ten years since his mom died,” Teresa remarked, frowning. “I told him no as I knew he wasn’t thinking properly.”

"Damn right, he's not!"

“So you’re welcome,” Teresa repeated, intending it as her parting words.

“Wait! Where is Finn now?” Lana questioned, searching the ballroom.

“Can’t say that I know. Some other woman ran over to him after he stormed away,” Teresa said, starting to walk.

“Wait! Who was it?”

“I don’t know. She looked somewhat familiar, but I can’t say I know her.”

“Describe her!” Lana demanded.

With a sign, Teresa turned back around to face her enemy. “Long, straight black hair, kinda large breasts, an ass that shows she works out.”

“What color dress?” Lana asked next. When Teresa hesitated, she almost begged, “ Please!”

Teresa’s reply nearly caused Lana to fall to the floor. Her knees did buckle. But first Poppy and then Teresa shot out hands to steady her.

“Oh. My. Gawd! Finn went off with Farah!” Priscilla shrieked.

Poppy and Jamie-Lynn covered their mouths in horror. Stephanie grabbed a butter knife from the table before tossing it aside for a fork. She gripped it as if prepared to stab a bitch.

“You stupid bitch!” Lana screamed, glaring at Teresa.

“What the fuck?! I did the right thing.”

“No, you made it so much fucking worse,” Lana replied before throwing her upper body down on the table.

Everyone watched as her body rocked with sobs.

“Hold on! Are we sure it was Farah? Did she have a southern accent?” Poppy asked.

“How the hell would I know? I only saw them–Oh! That’s where I know her from. She’s one of those sorority bitches from Zurbrugg,” Teresa recalled, confirming that it had been Farah Vesper with Finn. “What’s the big deal about her?”

"I'll tell you!" Lana wailed, turning to face her archrival. "Farah's a scheming succubus. She's made it well-known that she has big plans and wants Finn at her side as her husband. You fucking gave her a shot, too. Fuck you!"

“The hell?! I did the right thing by turning Finn down,” Teresa screamed in response. “If it were the other way, you wouldn’t hesitate to fuck Reece.”

“I’m so fucking Reece someday,” Lana vowed as she reverted to everyday Lana. However, that didn’t last long before her face fell again. “You don’t understand. Farah’s going to corrupt Finn. It…It’s the one way I…we lose him.”

"Oh, so you act like a selfish bitch while I act like a caring, compassionate person, and I'm the person at fault? Gawd, I wish Lacey had been my Stratton," Teresa grumbled.

“Yes! You are acting like a kind, caring, and compassionate person! That’s why you’re going to fix this,” Lana said, looking fairly manic.

“I’m what now?”

Teresa wasn’t the only person shocked and confused by Lana’s statement. Every friend looked around, hoping that Peyton would return at once to settle Lana down.

“You made this mess; you’re going to clean it up,” the redhead continued.

“No, you caused this mess. I’m not fixing your fuckup.”

“Yes, you will. Why? Because you know if this were Reece, you’d beg me to save him,” Lana crowed in self-proclaimed victory.

“No, I’m not. You’re cleaning up your own shit,” Teresa countered, attempting to back away.

Lana lunged forward. Not to attack her hated feudmate but to grab her hand.

“You’re right. I fucked everything up. I pissed off Finn enough that he went to you. So, if I interfere now, he’ll just grow even angrier. He might even end up hating me for good. That leaves you to make amends for your part.”

“Can someone please talk sense into her? Where’s Peyton?” Teresa asked.

"No, this is between you and me," Lana announced. "And you're going to play the hero by saving Finn from that shrew."

“I...I don’t like where this is going,” Teresa said, but it could’ve come from any of the other coeds.

“Trust me. You’re going to enjoy it,” Lana declared, straightening up as her full personality and confidence returned. “Finn’s a great fuck. So go steal him away from Farah by fucking him.”

Another round of shocked gasps rang out.

“Where the hell is Pey?” Jamie-Lynn demanded, searching around frantically.

“Whoa! You’ve gone full psycho!” Teresa remarked.

"No, you're going to save Finn from the real psycho bitch. So, get moving, Slutcarro. Go save my bestie, and you can hold it over me for life," Lana tittered, beginning to walk away. "If you don't, his future with that succubus is on you for life."

“Wait, where are you going? I don’t even know how to find this Farah,” Teresa responded, grabbing Lana’s arm.

“Find Georgina. She’ll know the room,” Lana supplied, yanking her arm free.

“I don’t know who that is!”

“Find the sluttiest looking redhead in the hotel. That will be Georgina,” Lana called over her shoulder.

Standing and looking discombobulated by the turn of events, Teresa threw her arms up in defeat. Then, she muttered the only thing she could think of.

“The sluttiest looking redhead just walked away from me.”