HER UNREQUITED LOVE

Makeover

Aria, I love you, but your current wardrobe is an absolute national emergency," Olivia declared, folding her arms as we stood near the school parking lot after dismissal. She looked me up and down, pointing a perfectly manicured finger at my oversized, slightly faded gray hoodie. "The Echo Valley Resort isn't just a regular campground. It’s an elite estate owned by billionaires. There will be high-society outdoor events, wilderness exploration, and formal social galas. You cannot turn up looking like you’re ready to spend a quiet weekend hiding away in a library."

​Felix leaned casually against his sports car, a brilliant, amused smirk dancing on his face. "She’s right, Aria. The Vance look at everything as a battlefield. Vanessa will try to use any excuse to make you look out of place. We need to make sure you walk in there looking completely untouchable."

​"I like being simple," I protested softly, my cheeks warming up as I tucked my hands deeper into my pockets. "As long as I can remember, blending into the background has been my best survival mechanism. I don't need a massive, expensive wardrobe."

​"Well, too bad, because we are officially staging a style intervention!" Olivia squealed, practically shoving me into the backseat of her car before I could offer another word of resistance.

​The Mall Sweep

​Our first stop was the sprawling Grand Plaza Galleria. Olivia pulled a printed version of the Official Camp Packing List out of her designer purse, ticking off items with absolute military precision. Felix pushed a large shopping cart behind us, looking completely unbothered and thoroughly entertained by the frantic energy.

​We swept through the luxury athletic stores and high-end boutiques like a whirlwind, snatching up every single necessity required for the ten-day coastal vibe getaway:

​We gathered 3–4 pastel Tee-shirts, 2–4 comfortable cotton shorts for outdoor activities, and 2–3 pairs of soft sweatpants alongside a couple of thick, cozy hoodies for the chilly mountain nights.

​Olivia threw in 2–3 bright tank-tops (including a trendy yellow one that I tried to put back three times) and 2-3 designer swimsuits. A fresh pack of 5–7 pairs of seamless panties, a pair of ultra-cushioned running sneakers, and some sturdy outdoor sandals for the hiking trails.

A massive, bright blue insulated Stanley water bottle, a plush pink sleeping bag and matching pillow, a clear toiletry bag, and an entire assortment of skincare and makeup from Bubble.

To finish it all off, we picked up a sleek pink laundry bag, a pack of pre-addressed letters to send to my mom and Leo, a bottle of premium mosquito repellent, and a deck of UNO cards for indoor game nights.[ CAMP PACKING CHECKLIST: IN PROGRESS ]

▣ 3–4 Tee-Shirts ▣ 2–4 Shorts ▣ 2–3 Pairs of Sweatpants

▣ 2–3 Tank Tops ▣ 1–2 Hoodies ▣ 5–7 Pairs of Panties

▣ Water Bottle ▣ Skincare & Makeup ▣ Toiletry Bag & Toiletries

▣ Sleeping Bag ▣ 2–3 Swimsuits ▣ Sneakers & Chacos Sandals

▣ Duffel Bag ▣ Laundry Bag ▣ Pads

Alright, the basic requirements are fully taken care of," Olivia announced, tossing a pastel pink duffel bag into the overflowing cart. "Now, it's time for the fun part. The formal gala dresses."

​Olivia dragged me into an exclusive, high-end boutique where the evening gowns cost more than my family's net worth. Before I could escape, she shoved an armful of silk, satin, and lace into my hands and pushed me directly into the plush, velvet-curtained changing room.

​I stepped into the first dress—a form-fitting, emerald-green silk slip gown with a daring slit up the side. I cautiously stepped out of the fitting room, clutching the fabric tightly as if it would disappear.

​"Oh my god," Olivia gasped, her hands flying into her mouth. "Aria, you look absolutely drop-dead gorgeous!"

​Felix stopped scrolling through his phone, his sapphire eyes widening slightly in genuine appreciation. "Wow. Aria, if you wear that to the formal gala, Colton Vance might actually completely lose his remaining mind."

​"I feel incredibly awkward," I admitted, my face turning a deep, vivid shade of crimson as I looked at my reflection in the triple-mirror. The dress hugged my curves in a way my baggy hoodies never allowed. It felt completely surreal, like I was pretending to be a wealthy Oak Haven princess instead of the scholarship student who worked twice as hard just to survive. "It's beautiful, but it's just... so not me. I’m used to being invisible."

​"You were never meant to be invisible, sweetie," Olivia said softly, walking over to gently smooth down the silk shoulders. "It's time you finally started realizing that."

​After purchasing the dresses, we headed straight to the mall’s top-tier luxury hair salon. The aesthetic was blindingly white, filled with glowing vanity lights and the rich scent of expensive hair products. Olivia immediately began ordering the head stylist around like a director on a movie set.

​"We need a complete deep-conditioning treatment, a subtle trim to get rid of any stress-damaged ends, and a flawless, elegant blowout," Olivia commanded, waving her hands dramatically.

​The stylist nodded quickly, ushering me over to a reclining leather chair to wash my hair. For the next hour, I was subjected to intense head massages, steaming towels, and a roaring army of blow-dryers. Olivia stood directly behind the chair the entire time, micromanaging every single brush stroke while Felix sat nearby, sipping complimentary sparkling water and laughing at my wide-eyed, overwhelmed expressions in the mirror. When they finally turned the chair around, my jaw dropped. My usually wild, untamed hair was falling past my shoulders in silky, shimmering, luminous waves that caught the light perfectly.​ Our next stop was the luxury day spa right across the pavilion, and to be completely honest, it turned into an absolute comedic disaster from the very second we walked through the door.

​Olivia had booked us a comprehensive, high-end facial and relaxation package. I was led into a dimly lit, serene room filled with the overwhelming scent of lavender and soft, trickling waterfall music. A very serious, stern-faced esthetician instructed me to lie down on the heated table before applying a thick, ice-cold charcoal mud mask across my face.

​"Just let the mask completely harden for fifteen minutes to draw out any deep toxins, Miss," she whispered solemnly before quietly slipping out of the room.

​Two minutes later, Felix and Olivia sneaked in from the adjacent room, their faces covered in bright green cucumber slime and actual cucumber slices over their eyes.

​"Psst, Aria! Are you asleep?" Felix whispered loudly, stumbling blindly over a decorative bamboo floor vase. The heavy vase tipped over with a loud, resounding crash, sending water splashing all over the pristine hardwood floor.

​"Felix! Look what you did!" Olivia hissed, trying to catch the vase but losing a cucumber slice from her eye right into the puddle.

​I tried to laugh at the ridiculous sight, but the thick charcoal mask had completely hardened into a solid, unyielding sheet of stone across my face. When I opened my mouth to speak, my entire face felt completely frozen. "I... can't... move... my... mouth," I mumbled through locked lips, sounding exactly like a broken robot.

​The pure absurdity of the situation sent us into absolute hysterics. By the time the esthetician walked back in, Felix was slipping around on the wet floor, Olivia was wiping green residue from her forehead, and I was lying on the table, silently shaking with laughter while trying not to crack my expensive face armor. After the spa staff thoroughly scrubbed us clean, we decided to celebrate our survival with some gourmet ice cream. I grabbed a waffle cone stacked high with double chocolate chunk, while Olivia opted for a pristine strawberry sorbet.

​As we walked out into the open-air food pavilion toward a popular upscale restaurant for lunch, I noticed a very strange shift in the atmosphere. People were actively looking at me. As we walked past an outdoor seating area, a group of guys from a nearby college team looked up from their meals, and two of them distinctly winked at me with warm, appreciative smiles.

​I froze, nearly dropping my ice cream cone. "Why are they doing that? Is there still charcoal on my nose?" I asked in a blind panic, frantically rubbing my face.

​"Oh my god, Aria, no!" Olivia laughed loudly, nudging my side with her elbow. "They are literally winking at you because you look absolutely stunning! Your skin is glowing, your hair looks incredible, and you're not hiding behind a massive wall of oversized fabric for once."

​Felix grinned playfully, leaning in to tease me as we waited for the host to seat us. "Get used to it, Aria. You've officially entered the spotlight. I'd give it about five minutes after we arrive at Echo Valley before the varsity guys start tripping over themselves to carry your luggage."

​"Please stop," I groaned, hiding my burning, bright red face behind the large paper lunch menu as they continued to tease me relentlessly throughout the entire meal.