After about 20 minutes of sitting there in
silence crying with James, Vanessa comes to find me.
“Ava?” She asks. I can see a shadowed figure standing
next to the corner of the building. “Yeah, I’m over
here.” I reply. “Are you okay?” She asks
concerned of my well-being. “Yes, I’m okay, I’ll
be there in a second.”
“Okay, well your mother is going to be here any
minute.” “Okay.” I respond. I cant believe that
the dance was already over. For the most part I had a great time
and I figured out who James really is. He isn’t cruel hearted
like Emily, but actually quite a nice characterized person. I turn
towards James and look him in the eyes.
“I have to go now, are you going to be okay?” I ask
him. He returns his eyes directly into mine. “I’m going
to be fine, Ava, the real question is, are you?” I’m
shocked by his concern.
“Yeah, James, I think I will be fine, now.”
“Like I said, don’t let Emily push you over the edge.
Stand up to her, and show her that you are better than her on so
many levels, because Ava, when you try to look good, your natural
beauty comes out with your great personality and Emily hates it,
because she cant be as perfect.”
“I will. I will try to be more girlish and I’ll show my
beauty and I’ll try to recover from my eating disorders,
it’ll just be hard.”
“I know it will be, remember? I watched my sister go through
it. I just want you to have a happy ending.”
“I will, I wont let Emily control me anymore.”
James leans in to hug me and as we hug he whispers into my ear,
“And whenever you are feeling insecure about yourself, always
remember that you’re beautiful. And if it ever gets too bad,
you’ll always have me to catch you. Call me anytime you need
to, I’ll give you my number Monday at school.” It was
the longest hug of my life. And it was so sincere. I slowly stand
up, James and I say goodbye to each other and I walk towards
Vanessa. Once I get to Vanessa, I see my mother’s car pull
up. We both get into the car. “So, how was it?” My
mother greets me with the question. “It was actually really
fun.” I say. “I agree.” Vanessa assures my
answer. My mom looked so happy, she couldn’t believe it.
“And mom, I have a new idea for my hair.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“Well before I wanted to dip dye my hair a bunch of different
colors, but-”
“Really?” My mother interrupts me is a discontent
tone.
“BUT, instead I’m going to try something a little more
girlish.”
“Really!?” She says in a happier cheery tone.
“Mhm, also do you think you could take me shopping for a few
new outfits?”
“Of course!” She is so excited.
Vanessa is sleeping over tonight, so we don’t have to drop
her off. Once we get home, Vanessa and I change into pajamas and go
to my bedroom.
“So, why’d you leave in a rush at the dance to go
outside?”
“I… umm… I was talking to James, him and Emily
broke up.”
“Oh…” She replies confused. I told Vanessa the
complete story about the break up, the things James said about me
and about Vanessa and the story about his sister Camille, and about
our goodbyes. She was shocked about all of it, and she wants to
join me in standing up against Emily and her popularity snobs. I
invite Vanessa to come shopping and to the hair dressers with my
mom and I. She calls her parents and they give her permission so
she accepts. Vanessa and I drift off to sleep after an exhausting
night that we’ll remember forever, mostly because it’s
the first night that neither of us cried ourselves to
sleep.