Asshole Olympics

Swan Song

     The lights flashed like lightening as she smiled back at them. She was their sweet heart, the victim. Her girls kept their arms around as they entered, avoiding all those who have ever hurt her, especially a certain rapper who wrote a song mentioning her.

Inside, the crowd was a sea of stars from near and far all watching eagerly. Some of them sat straight and uncaring, showing the true reason they were nominated. Others, especially newcomers blushed with excitement and fear. If they won, this would be everything they ever wanted.

She didn't care though. She sat, long legs crossed as she stared straight ahead. Shoulders up and not too leaned forward. Her blond hair framed her face and if it did ever tickle her, we could never tell. She wasn't just anyone. She was a Contender, the one always poised and prepared with a victory speech but not so prepared that people knew.

See there was always a routine. As the Contender opened her bright blue eyes to the world the day of the awards, she pushed back her fears and pushed out confidence. She brushed her hair slowly with poise and twirled in her dress before practicing her victory speech on her two cats.

Now she was ready but waiting. The announcer was making joke that everyone forced themselves to laugh at. But she knew the sea of gowns and tuxes weren't interested in hearing anything but their own name that night.

"And now we will give out our award for the best actress." She sat in indifference but only a little, keeping the smile on her face. She wasn't an actress. The few times she's tried it had felt wrong even to her. A list of names was rattled off. All people she knew. Not friends. Acquaintances.

Everyone even the non-celebrity guests in the back held their silence.

They announced the winner. The Contender could barely believe she heard her own name. Her friends all turned to look at her in shock. Even as she heard the name, she was stunned. What was it for? Maybe her small role was a lot better than she thought.

As she stood, she rearranged her speech. Start with the directors. She knew most of them. Then move to the main cast. Faces stared at her. The loser looked up in shock. Her golden gown trailed behind her, making her feel like a princess. And she was about to get her crown.

The stage was even brighter than all the others she'd been on. Even when she could barely see her fans singing along through the stage lights, nothing has been quite this bright. She'd thank her acting coach too. She'll have to take actin classes again. Then her family and friends.

She shook her head, clutching the award in her hands. "This is...this is such an honor. I'm so happy that," A laugh. A very loud laugh was heard. She pretends not to hear it. Continuing on as if she'd never heard it. "I'd like to thank," Suddenly the lights dimmed and she heard a loud voice. The Contender turned seeing her biggest Opponent on the screen behind her. The Rapper.

"I thought I should just tell you about this first." Then he rapped the lyrics from the song. The song. She froze, clutching the award against her chest.

"Yeah, putting me in the song would be really funny." She heard her own voice in the video. The audience gasped.

Then the video changed to her acceptance speech at another award night .

"Don't ever let anyone take credit for your success, girls." Then it played again. Then she heard her voice. Her voice laughing and sounding happy after hearing those lyrics Those lyrics that turned the world against him. Those lyrics that were assumed to be sexist. She turned back to the stage and the lights were even more blinding.

"That wasn't..." She looked in the crowd but she couldn't make out a single face.

"And for this stellar performance you have won the role of the best actress of the year." Her Opponent said. He was looking straight the camera this time with a white wall behind him. "I even have a list of people who voted for you." The screen turned black and a list of names rolled up. First were the people who had stabbed her back. Then the people who had broken her heart. Then the most recent people to break her heart and trust, her friends. The crowd started to clap and cheer. She looked for familiar faces in the crowd as she stumbled backwards. She swallowed. This will blow over. He was mean to her first. He should have never started it.

One friend rushed forward toward her, out of the lights . Her friend was screaming but she could not here anything. The song her Opponent wrote started to play. Might still have sex.

She dropped the trophy and turned, running through the curtains in the back. Even there, she could hear the clapping and whistling. She pushed her way outside with tears in her eyes. As one of the many limos pulled up, she jumped inside, throwing money at them to drive. Her friend arrived just as she sat down. The Contender extended the door for her.

When the noise started to fade, the Contender didn't stop crying. In fact, he cried all the way home. She should have known.