I hummed a tune, wrapping my wet
hair up into a towel. A strand came loose and tumbled down, and
I tucked it behind my ear. My bare feet pattered across the
carpeted hallway into my bathroom. The counter was lined with
numerous skin and makeup products, and a stray tissue. I tossed
the tissue into the trash can.
I turned on the water, liquid
spurting out. I grabbed a washcloth from the towering stack and
my cleanser. I looked up at my reflection. My green eyes stared
back. Acne dotted my chin, forehead, and nose, and freckles
were scattered across my cheeks. Instantly, a picture of my
older sister Taylor appeared in my head, with her luscious
auburn hair and warm brown eyes.
I sighed, and began to scrub my
face. I dropped the washcloth on the counter, and picked up my
concealer. Maybe all this trouble would pay off for once
...
- - -
"Taylor, what's it like
being pretty?"
We had this conversation everyday.
And everyday it was the same. "I'm not pretty. And
you're pretty, so shut up." which, of course, led
to denial from me. It repeated until we got to school. Today,
it didn't change.
"Alice, will you SHUT UP?
I'm not even pretty. I'm fat. You're skinny. I wish
I could have your body." She sighed, and kept her eyes on
the road. I didn't respond.
I watched the houses fly by, the
sidewalk blurring. In the window, my reflection stared back. My
hair was straight as a pin, my face loaded with makeup. I was
wearing one of my favorite tops. But, I still didn't feel
pretty.
Maybe, that was because I
wasn't.
- - -
I zoned out as Mrs. Trelit droned
on about a project we'd be beginning. It was a partner
project, which meant I'd have to actually find someone to
be partners with. Unless, of course, she assigned partners,
which Mrs. Trelit rarely did. She encouraged us to do projects
with our friends.
There was only one problem to that
scenario, though. I had two friends, and neither of them were
in any of my classes, besides lunch. Which meant whenever we
did partner projects, I got stuck with the weird kid in the
back of the room.
"For this project, you will
have to construct an experiment. I don't care what you do,
except it has to be science related. That should be common
sense, people. This will be worth 85% of your grade. Also, for
this project, I will be doing something different. I will
assign your partners."
A boo erupted from the corner of
the classroom, and some students groaned. I did. Just to play
along.
"David and Jenna." She
nodded at them, and they exchanged glances. "Kylie and
Tyler. Julia and Andrew ..."
I stopped listening and looked to
see who was left. No one I particularly liked. No one I
particularly hated, either.
"Alice, you will be with
Cameron. Caitlyn, you and Jaidyn." I stopped breathing for
a moment. I was partners with Cameron. Cameron
Matthews. I looked over at him uneasily, and he flashed me
a bright smile.
And that's when my day was
ruined.