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WHEN THE DUCKLING BLOSSOMED

Chapter 3 THE SCHOOL QUEEN

Word Count: 859 | Released on: 04/11/2026

p! You're going

oming,

r backpack in one hand and trying to

ooked at her

ning, swe

mornin

u sleep

. I've packe

lunchbox from th

nk y

tudied her f

erything alrig

a sto

unusually qui

, Mom. Ju

ely convinced, but she di

Have a g

her cheek and

l was already busy

the entrance, talking about

ontgomery was surro

holding a pink drink while Brianna

ctures from yesterd

ca sm

. I looked

do," Brian

her blonde hair

tchell arrived wit

g, ladies,"

iately turned

Jess

iled b

y birthday party ne

't decid

ca fr

you pro

id I'

s la

s been planning tha

hook h

t. I'll

's face

all

ly hugged

past them at

ticed her

eli

opped rel

ca sm

Are you coming to

ooked su

irthday

Don't you w

ffany exchange

essica was up

hink I'll

ca sh

just thought I'd

anced at

ctually in

ca la

? I'm be

ithout paying much atten

justed he

I have

alked

tched her

at my party?" she w

rls la

the teacher announce

oups of four. You'll be presen

ately began mov

nd, waiting for so

joined Ryan, L

re togethe

oined ano

student had

pt A

her desk, holdi

acher

can join Jess

smile di

Jess

work with an

acher

forced

thought she might p

looke

er shook

roup with space. Sh

ca si

tly took an

aned tow

we've got an

shr

finish the

notebook and

looked i

e lesson sitting beside Ry

alking towards the bus sto

, Am

w a boy from her

me was

ld out a

ot this i

ooked su

Thank

prob

ccept

politely and

smiled

least someone had spoken to h

tinued

ca was getting into her car w

smiling about

ked through

eli

ny la

inally agreed to

rolled h

er. Let

't finished

ven c

eceived a message from

veral students discussin

ica sent

rget you're responsible f

ia:

e you do it properly. We don

hing emoji

ent a m

essica. It's ju

only making s

ut her p

tly what Jess

l like she didn't belong,

er notebook and

ive Jessica another r

to prove that she cou

nded to do e

Chapter End

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WHEN THE DUCKLING BLOSSOMED

Mira Tales Young Adult

“WHEN THE UGLY DUCKLING BLOSSOMED Amelia Collins was the girl nobody wanted to be seen with. At Westwood High, popularity is everything, and Amelia has none of it. She is the girl everyone laughs at, the girl nobody chooses for a school project, and the girl boys pretend not to notice. Her school life is made even worse by Jessica Montgomery, the school's beautiful and untouchable queen bee, who makes humiliating Amelia her favourite hobby. But Jessica has another reason to hate her. Ryan Mitchell. Handsome, wealthy and the most popular boy in school, Ryan has a secret he has never dared to reveal: he likes Amelia. He sees something in her that everyone else refuses to see. But being honest about his feelings could cost him his popularity, and he's not brave enough to risk it. While Amelia struggles to survive another day at school, Jessica makes sure she never forgets where she stands. Until Amelia decides she's had enough. Determined to stop letting other people's opinions control her life, Amelia begins a journey of self-discovery. And when the school's biggest gala arrives, the girl everyone thought they knew walks into the room with a confidence nobody expected. Suddenly, everyone wants to know her name. The boys who ignored her are paying attention. The girls who laughed at her are whispering. And Jessica Montgomery is furious. But what happens when the boy who secretly loved Amelia finally wants to be with her openly? Will Amelia forgive the boy who was too afraid to stand beside her when she needed him most? Or will Jessica make sure their story never gets a happy ending? Sometimes, the girl everyone overlooks becomes the one nobody can ignore.”