Tie-Dye Beauty

CHAPTER ONE: Are you awake? I'm coming over. Reading the text message, I slammed my room door and hoped my parents would hear it. The spring rain and thunder were noisy and heavy, but nowhere near as scary as the resentment I felt for my parents. Taking a long deep breath, I fought the urge to cry; I had been doing that a lot lately and couldn't bare to spend another night with red painful eyes. With that in mind, I walked towards my brown cherry wood desk and with shaky hands reached for the single light-cream color envelope that was neatly placed in the middle of the desk and sighed. The crimson Harvard University color letters were boldly placed at the right-side corner of the top of the envelope. My heart sank as I re-read the name of the school. My dream school. Clenching my teeth, I checked my phone for the time, it had been fifteen minutes since Paisley had messaged me. I sighted irritated as I gazed out the window and saw no sign of my closest friend. The mailman had delivered my acceptance letter to Harvard University this morning and I needed to vent. My options were very limited thanks to my awful parents. They had informed me that they no longer had the money for me to attend University. The money my papa had left for my education in his will. Taking a mouthful of air, I attempted to calm down, but it was easier said than done. My visions of the future were disappearing by the minute- all I could see was the crimson color letters that I once dreamed of wearing on a sweater and anger overwhelmed me. I'm thankful when I hear noises coming from outside, I immediately dropped the envelope down on the desk when I saw Paisley's Volkswagen Jetta pulling into the driveway. I rushed to open the door before Paisley even had the chance to knock on it.  Paisley jumped a little when she saw me, "Hartley, you almost gave me a heart attack. Are you alright?" She looked at me strangely. I nodded my head as I lead the way to my room. "Paisley, do you remember the night we went to your friend Veronica's house party?" Paisley smiled, "Yes, do you want to get that drunk again?" I roll my eyes, "No... remember how she was telling us about a secret website she found her sugar daddy?" I said hoping she would remember. "Wait... No, you are not doing that." "I have already decided," I muttered feeling like a devilish woman and knowing very well I might just go to hell for what I'm about to do. Yet, I could care less about it. "I'm going to do it... the website." "Hartley are you sure about this?" Paisley summons the question I had been asking myself for the last hour. Paisley's light-colored red hair is drawn back into a messy bun, and her eyes are a glimmering color of emerald, which are sparkling with judgment now. "Tell me more about it please," I ask Paisley needing this to be easier than it sounds. "I already told you." She answers, "It is a website where people can stay anonymous and meet people with money. Veronica has been doing it for a while." She adds as she sits down along the carpet in my room. I walk back and forth contemplating if I do in fact know what I'm about to do. However, I don't have a choice, my parents made sure of that. They took my long-time dreams and smashed them into a million pieces. "I hope I have the same luck." I admit needing this more than ever. I feel crazy for saying that, for hoping a man will be interested in me enough to pay for school. "Hartley are you really sure about this?" Paisley asks again. "There is no other way." I blurted, although I'm not sure if that is completely true. Perhaps I could get a proper job and re-apply next year? Still, that would put me back a year in my studies. I can't have that happen. Overwhelmed I remained quiet gazing around the very lavender color walls of my room. The lavender pain, I once loved is now an indication of my rebellious years, and the Harvard University posters are a reminder of what it might never happen now- thanks to my parents. Fuming I attempt to work through the pros and cons of the decision I'm about to make. "I still can't believe they spend my money." I shoved my books down on the floor and angrily sat back down on my bed. I scooped my laptop and turned it on. "I can't either. That was a crappy thing of them to do. Do you know what they even spend it on?" Paisley inquired. "At this point, it doesn't even matter, I will forever be resentful." I truthfully ranted and took a deep gasp of air and turned back to the laptop. "What did you say the website is called?" "Cryptic messages." She tells me, and I quickly typed it on the web search. It soon brought me to the sign-up form. "Wait...You should use a fake name." Paisley adds. "That's a great idea, Paisley... I never thought about it." I roll my eyes; did she really think I would use my real name? "What's a good sexy name? Vicky? Jenny? Alexia? How about a nickname instead?... Tie-dye Beauty?" "Hey, don't get sassy with me, I'm only trying to help," Paisley yells at me. "I'm sorry you are right." I apologize and finished filling the form and pressed enter.  "I like the nickname though." "I hope it works." Anxious I wait until it brings me to a profile, which soon I realize it is mine. I quickly set out to fix it, wanting it to look more mysterious. "What should I write on the about me?" I asked Paisley. "Beats me. I'm horrible at that stuff." She shrugs. I stick my tongue out at her and set out to write the first thing that comes to mind. "I tie my own shoes and brush my own hair most days." I piercingly say it as I write it down. "Are you seriously going to use that?" Paisley expresses her opinion as she rolls her eyes. "What are you ten?" However, I disregard her. "During the day, I can be found sitting in a brown desk, feverishly tapping my phone with hopes of getting a new high score on Candy Crush. I like to pass my evenings watching re-runs of Grey's anatomy while sipping on a cup of delicious apple cider. I play a mean game of poker and love the smell of coffee in the morning." "I'll be surprised if anyone even messages you. "Paisley laughs and I stick my tongue out yet again. "You should message me if you are smart, sexy, sophisticated and spontaneous. Bonus points if you like the Gothic rock scene." "I don't think anyone is going to reach out with that." Paisley chuckles and I throw a pillow at her. She needs to quit with the damn negativity. "We will see about that, man love women with a good sense of humor. Come take a picture of me. I need a sexy picture." I grab the cell phone and hand it to Paisley. "Take a really good one." Fixing my skirt and pulling down my shirt a bit just to show a bit more cleavage I smiled. When Paisley has taken a few, I take the phone back and smirk as I upload it to the computer and into the profile. "I hope this works." I turn the laptop around and shows Paisley the final project. "If you say so." she rolls her eyes and I take a deep breath; this must work. I have no other option now.