Torn Between Two Worlds

Party, Makeover, Fundraiser

Mary-Kate’s POV

My first week at Cali High has gone better than I expected. Among the rich snobs, I have made two amazing friends, Billy who is my best friend and the most handsome guy I have seen in my entire life. Jordan has been nice, he at times comes in a bad mood which soon disappears after the first break.

We have been studying together in the library after class. I have helped him solve and understand a few equations in Math and he has helped me understand many things in business. I am impressed by his quick skills to understand calculations in Math.

Today is Friday and we have PE, another hing I am taking for the first time. Billy has assured me it’s fairly easy and is meant to keep us in shape. I hope that part is true because I hate exercising.

“I think these shorts are too small.” I say while pulling my t-shirt down hoping it can cover my ass.

“Babe, those shorts are okay.” Billy snaps his fingers in my face while his other hand rests on his hip. “Your shorts are decent, very decent as compared to other girls.”

“I think they are holding my ass to tight.”

“Noooo! Your ass is perfect, neither too much or too small. Just the way guys around here like it.” Billy is trying so hard to convince me that I look okay.

I never wear anything that’s tight around my ass except jeans or leggings but then I always throw a long top or baggy sweater over.

“Just look at the other girls.” He gestures towards the girls now walking into the gym.

All their shorts are shorter and tight showing off their asses and the t-shirts are either tied in a knot or tight showing off their flat stomachs and cleavage.

“Wow.” I say in disbelief.

“Told you.” Billy scoffs. “Just follow my lead.”

The gym instructor walks in and we start warming up by stretching.

“I have something to tell you.” I tell Billy as we leave the gym after an hour and a half of PE.

PE was easier than I thought. Billy said the gym coach was being nice and that it shall get tough in a few weeks which I hope doesn’t. I cant have my body getting sore.

“Me too, you go first.” He says sounding very excited.

I stop in my trucks, and he does the same turning around to look at me. “Why did you stop walking?”

“What did you do?” I ask him with raised eyebrows and arms folded on my chest.

“After you tell me what you have to say.” He says with a smile.

Billy is full of surprises and it’s hard to trust him. On Wednesday he showed up with a brand-new iPhone 11 Pro Max as a gift for me after he saw the old Samsung model I had for a phone. Of course, I said no, and he insisted I take the phone the whole day and I still said no.

Yesterday he offered to take me on a shopping spree. This is exactly what I didn’t want. The moment someone finds out that I am here on scholarship, they start treating me differently. I do not want anyone’s money or pity and Billy is struggling to accept what I want. I hope no one else finds out, I would like to make genuine friends with the little that I have.

“You better not have bought me something you will surely return.” I say with a warning.

“No babe, now stop making me anxious and tell me already.” He says grabbing both my hands in his.

“Okay okay, calm down. So I don’t know if you’re free tomorrow.” I start.

“Well, it depends darling what’s up?” he asks.

"So, Jordan invited you and I to a party at his friends place.”

“Oohhhh you two are now inviting each other to parties I see.” he says in a mocking tone. “I hope it’s an actual party and not a study date.” He rolls his eyes.

“B don’t be funny.” I look away before he sees me blushing. “And no it’s not a study date. So do you wanna go or not?”

“Yes, on one condition.” He says then continues walking ahead of me with his head held up proudly. Such a drama queen.

“And what is that condition?” I follow walking right behind him.

“Two conditions actually. You must allow me to give you a makeover before the party and accept to work a stand with me which I sort of already signed us up for.” He says the last part quickly.

“Wait what stand?” I stop him by firmly grabbing his elbow making him stop.

“Don’t kill me,” he gives me a fake plastic smile.

“Explain this stand.” I raise one eyebrow.

“So every year Cali High has a number of events to raise money for an orphanage we support. The first one is a Fundraiser where students manage and work at individual stands. So I kinda signed us up for a pastry stand since you mentioned you love baking. I can’t bake but you can, but I will do anything you need me to help with.” He explains.

His face changes as he awaits my response. Well, I do love baking and since we are doing this to help orphans then I am in. The makeover is something I don’t trust Billy with.

“Okay.” I say after thinking about what he just said a few minutes ago.

“Okay to both?” his eyes lighting up with excitement.

“Yes but...” I raise one finger to his face. “The makeover should not change who I am or how I look. I should still look like Mary-Kate.”

“No problemo.” He says clasping his fingers together.

Lord I should not regret this.

I am only agreeing to this because I want to look nice for my first party.

****

“Billy you promised to not over do this.” I make an angry face at him which he of course ignores.

“Firstly, I did no such thing as promise, and secondly I know this is the only opportunity I will ever get to work on you so let me.”

“Billy.” I say through greeted teeth.

“Okay relax, I promise not to make you look different from who you truly are. I will make sure you’re the same, not sure what Jordan likes about you, so I will not take that away from you.” He says.

“Who said this has anything to do with Jordan?” I frown.

“For the last time, stop frowning or you will…”

“Get wrinkles…” I mimic him.

I started to regret my decision about this when Billy arrived at our doorstep at 08am on a Saturday morning. My dad was glad to finally meet Billy. Glad that Billy is actually a young human being like me and not someone older, and also only believed Billy was my classmate this morning.

When he arrived, he found that we were about to have breakfast and he joined us. I always make pancakes on Saturday and Sunday morning for breakfast. Billy ate more than I had anticipated.

A lot of things about him are different from what I expected. I was expecting him to judge where I come from or feel pity but instead, he has handled this all pretty welll. I never saw this day coming, a spoilt rich teenager in the poorest neighborhood in our county. Still wonder how he figured out where I live too.

After breakfast he of course told my father that he was k********g me for the rest of the day and most of the evening. My dad just asked him to take good care of me and off we went.

We are currently at a hair salon after having visited over 10 clothing stores at one of the biggest malls in town. I have never been to this mall. All the stores only have expensive clothing, shoes, and accessories I can’t afford.

Billy and I have bought so many clothes even after I fought with him not too. He said he would only get me one outfit for the party this evening and yet he has bought me clothes to last me a week or so. I feel like I will never get Billy to understand how I feel about him spending money on me. He keeps pulling out the BFF card on me.

After the shopping spree, we both got pedicures and manicures. Because we have school on Monday, we both went for clear nail polish for our fingers and red for our toes. My nails have never looked as pretty as they do now.

Finally, we are in the hair salon. The last stop as promised.

“Marisa will only wash, condition then style your hair the way you want.” Billy tries to explain.

“Nothing unnatural please.” I look at Marisa who is just waiting to work on my hair.

“No problem Miss.” She smiles then puts a towel around my neck.

I lay back on the chair next to the washing basin and let her begin working on my hair. I have not been to a salon in so many years. I always just wash and condition my hair at home with the cheap products I get from the supermarket that is near home.

An hour later I fail to recognize myself in the mirror. My hair was washed, conditioned, and styled the way I wanted. Straightened with only a few strands curled.

“Wow, look who’s in love with how they look now.” Billy states the obvious.

I turn and find him smiling at me. I get off the chair and pull him into a hug. “Thank you Billy.”

“Awww darling, this is the least I could do. Actually, the only thing you have allowed me to do the past week I have known you.” He says before I pull away.

“I appreciate all that you have done so far, and I won’t let you do more, I just need you to be my friend.” I smile at him.

“Piece of cake.” He smiles. “Now lets get going, we only have a few hours before the party begins.”

“I hope we are now going to get ready.” I say.

“Yes, we are done with everything. Marisa darling thank you for everything.” Billy blows her a kiss.

“Always welcome.” Marisa smiles and waves at us as we walk out of the salon.

Billy leads us towards the car park where the driver should be waiting. Billy was accompanied by a driver when he came to pick me up from my house in the morning and has been around until we finished shopping when Billy excused him to wait in the car for us.

“My mother called and said she wants to meet you over lunch. She wanted to take you to some fancy restaurant, and I told her you wouldn’t like that, so we settled on having lunch at home.” Billy explains as we make it to the Black SUV.

I am impressed Billy is getting to understand what I like and don’t. A few days ago, he would have agreed to his mother’s suggestion of taking me to an expensive fancy place that would only make me so uncomfortable.

The moment the driver spots us, he comes out and opens the back seat door for us. Billy hops in first and I flow right after him. The driver closes the door behind me. I swear I will never get used to such treatment, I am used to getting on public buses to get anywhere and not driving in the back seat of expensive SUVs.

I look out the window and admire the beautiful scenery as we drive through the maze of beautiful mansions I knew this city had but never got to see. All this is amusing to me and something that isn’t to Billy.

From what Billy has told me, his family is very rich. Both his parents are in the fashion industry. His mother is a designer, and so is his father. They both own a modelling agency and several clothing labels.

They have been well established way before Billy was even born. The downside of the work they both do is spending less time together as a family. Billy says both his parents are always out, attending fashion shows or showcasing their own work. They of course compensate for their absence by giving him all the money they can to fill that void but that is never enough.

Listening to Billy talk about his parents makes me sad. He doesn’t have what my dad and I have. Watching him conversate with dad and I at breakfast this morning was when I understood how much he misses good company. His parents rarely sit and have meals with him as a family, one of them is always absent.

I am thankful for what my dad and I have. We live in a tiny apartment with nothing fancy, but we have each other every single day. Sit at our small table in the kitchen and talk about our day. That’s something everyone needs.

“We are here.” I hear Billy say bringing me back from my thoughts.

Before I know it, someone opens the door for me. “Good afternoon Miss.” A gentleman in his mid or late 40s dressed in a neat black jacket with charcoal grey pants and white gloves greets me.

I am too distracted admiring the beautiful white two story building I am assuming is the house.

“Good afternoon thank you.” I smile at the butler then back at admiring the house.

Whoa!!!!! Billy’s house is amazing.