Running Free [COMPLETE]

3. The Reaction

Eliza woke up the following morning, ready to show off. She took a glance in the mirror and did a little happy dance in front of it before rushing to get dressed. She was excited to finally feel what it’s like to not be a damn human potato.

Seeing that she didn’t own anything that anyone would consider sexy and she never felt comfortable enough to try on her sister, Emily’s, clothing, Eliza started looking through her closet, only to feel frustrated at the lack of clothing that fit her current mood. With an annoyed sigh, she pulled on some jean shorts and threw on a T-shirt. She had to skip the bra since none of them fit anymore.

Emily came out of her room at the same time as Eliza and she stopped in front of her with a surprised look on her face.

“Eliza, did you change your make-up? Or are you wearing something new? Is it your hair,” she asked reaching up to touch a strand of Eliza’s hair.

“Uh, no. But I did take a shower last night instead of this morning?” Eliza shrugged at her with a goofy smile.

“Well, whatever you’re doing, keep it up because you look amazing today,” Emily grinned back. Eliza smiled as she followed Emily down the stairs and into the kitchen. She loved her older sister and compared herself too often to Emily simply because Emily was so kind, so genuine, and was everything Eliza wished she could be. But Eliza acknowledged that Emily was just a good person and she loved her for it.

Eliza’s parents were in the kitchen finishing up their breakfast before heading to work. As soon as they saw Eliza, they both froze and looked at each other, wide-eyed.

“Honey,” Eliza’s mom started after she quickly composed herself again, “you look wonderful this morning. Is it picture day and I forgot?”

“No.” Eliza picked up some buttered toast off a serving plate and bit into it.

“Well, whatever you’re doing, stop it or I will have to beat the boys off with a stick,” Her dad joked before standing and announcing he was headed to work. Just then, Emily’s phone chimed.

“Oh, Brandon is here,” Emily said as she looked down at her cell and over to me, “we gotta go.” The girls said their goodbyes, grabbed their school stuff, and headed out the door to the waiting mid-sized car outside.

Emily took shotgun and Eliza sat in the backseat of Brandon’s car. Brandon was scrolling through his phone when Emily cheerfully planted a kiss on him. He smiled and answered her with a, “Hi, babe.” He looked up at the rear view mirror to look at Eliza and just stared for a few uncomfortable seconds.

He said nothing, so Eliza threw out, “Hey, Brandon.” He answered with a deep, “Hey,” in return, but his eyes were clouded over with something she had never seen before. This was her sister’s boyfriend. A douche sometimes, but still her boyfriend and the look in his eyes was making Eliza want to melt away and disappear into the cushions of the back seat. She decided to just stare out the window until they got to school. No need to even look at Brandon if her eyes were focused somewhere else.

As she looked out blankly to the changing scene outside, she could still feel that dark that had enveloped her the day before dripping off every crevice in her head. Colors were still bright, sounds seemed honed, and smells still bombarded her with new information of the world around. Eliza could feel it tainting her emotions and thoughts, but she loved every minute. It was addictive.

When they finally made it to school and parked the car, she jumped out of the car, waved goodbye to her sister, and headed towards the entrance of the school. Brandon called out her name, but she ignored him, sure that whatever he wanted, she didn’t care.

At the front doors of the school, she found her friend, Debbie. Debbie, with her auburn hair and wire-rimmed glasses, was Eliza’s favorite band nerd.

“Whoa, Eliza! You look hot,” Debbie exclaimed as she looked at her from head to toe then back again. “What did you do?”

“Um… I dunno,” Eliza smiled as they walked through the front doors together. “New make-up?”

“That’s a bunch of bull! There is no way that this,” She pointed to all of Eliza, “is from some new makeup.”

“Well, I dunno what to say, Debbie.” Eliza smiled and shrugged as she stopped to face Debbie once inside. She was enjoying her friend’s surprised reaction. This was what she had always longed to see and feel, the world noticing her.

“I say you have to share this new makeup with me like-“ Debbie’s voice slowly dwindled and she wasn’t able to finish her thought. Eliza noticed that Debbie's gaze was caught on something behind Eliza's back. She turned to see what had frozen her friend.

Every student in the main hallway was staring at Eliza. The guys panted heavily, eyes heavy with lust and she could’ve sworn a few had their hands on their crotch, holding on to stiffened rods. The girls were either panting along with the guys or burning holes into her with hate-filled eyes.

What is going on, she asked herself. She took a few steps into the hallway when one of the guys standing near her gave her a breathy hello. One of his friends stepped up right after him to also offer a hi but was welcomed with a quick shove from the first guy. “I was talking to her first, asshole,” he shouted.

Maybe this was too much attention, she thought. As the fight began to escalate and encompass more neighboring people, Eliza saw a towering figure in a Letterman jacket walk up to her from the back of the hallway.

“What the hell are you doing,” Liam Clearwater angrily whispered into her ear. He quickly looked around and gestured to a darkened classroom nearby. “There. Now,” he ordered.

Eliza complied without hesitation. It wasn’t every day that the school’s hottest football player wanted to talk to her. She walked into the empty chemistry class and turned to see Liam slam the door behind him. His face set in hard lines.

“What the hell are you thinking?” Her eyes became wide saucers. He was fuming mad and she didn’t even know why.