Becoming Beautiful

Chapter 2

I nodded, silently grinning at the fact that she said that we are friends. Maybe I'm getting too excited but I haven't had friends since freshman year, unless online friends count but I'm still on the edge about whether or not they're forty year old men. “Okay.”

She smiled at me before motioning towards the stairwell. “Now, I have to go- a cuties waiting in there for me.”

She winked before standing up and walking over to the stairwell, disappearing out of my view. Okay, maybe that wasn't the type of friend I was expecting to have but I guess it’s better than nothing. I sighed and took a bite of my apple before throwing my food away and taking out my book. I started to read before sighing and putting it down. I couldn't read when my mind was racing as quickly as it was. Plus, I accidentally left my glasses in the car and there’s no way I'm going out there just to get them. I'd have to sign out and sign back in.

I looked around before catching the gaze of Noah Rivers himself. It wasn't as much as a gaze but a hateful glare and it was enough to make me uncomfortable. I got up and walked in the direction of the stairwell before remembering what was going on in there between Marissa and whoever she’s with. I decided to use the other stairwell and that included walking by him.

Gaining up whatever courage I had, I began walking in his general direction. His glare didn’t lighten and he didn’t bother to look away. In fact, his glare deepened as I walked quicker. I glanced at him to make sure he wasn't making any sudden movements. As I was looking at him, I realized that he has blue eyes. Realizing that we were staring each other down, I decided to be the bigger person and look away. I turned my attention back to the area where I was supposed to be going, I bumped into a trash can, losing my balance and stumbling slightly. When I regained the small amount of balance I own, I stood up straighter and sent one last glare in Noah’s direction. He was just smirking down at the book in his lap. Although I was growing a sense of hatred towards the guy, I couldn't help but find it attractive how he actually reads books.

>>

Marissa invited me to go over her house. She told me that there was a party tonight and that I could spend the night over there at her place. I was excited and scared at the same time. After having a stare down with her brother, I don't feel very welcome in their house. And plus, I have to ask my mother if I can go- hopefully she'll be home and not at another writing convention. Last time she went to one, she didn’t come home for a week and I had no clue she was there until midnight when she decided to ring me and explain how she forgot to tell me about it. I was up, freaking out, unsure of whether or not I should call the police. She even tried to tell me that there was a note on the fridge. Long story short, there was no note.

I sighed as I entered my house, the familiar living room entering my sights. The comfy red couches and white curtains coming into view, along with the tan hardwood and flat screen television. Other than that, there were white glass tables here and there, decorated with picture frames of my father, my mother, and I and the occasional fake plant.

Walking upstairs to my mother’s study, I peeked inside and saw that she was on her computer. I walked towards my room and began packing an overnight bag filled with all of the things I'd need. I made sure to snag my toothbrush before walking back to my mother’s study.

“I’m going over Marissa’s house, okay?” I told my mother as I stood in the doorway, my overnight bag hanging off of my shoulder.

"Marissa?" she asked me.

"Yeah, a new friend of mine. She invited me over her house," I responded.

She glanced up from her computer and nodded before fixing her glasses. Do you see where I got my bad vision? “Be safe on the roads.”

“I know mom, I love you. I'll see you tomorrow,” I told her and she replied with a similar response before I exited the house. Walking over to my car, I sighed as I sat in the front seat. Let’s just hope Marissa keeps her word about giving me a makeover and she isn’t just using me.

Typing her address into my GPS, I began driving towards the richer part of town. It was no surprise when I turned onto a street decorated with large houses that were at least three times the size of mine, and my house was a considerable size. Squinting to see the numbers on the mailbox, I frowned before halting the car and reaching for my reading glasses which were in the glove box. Remind me to put these in my bag before school on Monday.

I heard an obnoxious beeping sound behind me and, sliding my glasses further up onto my nose, I looked into the mirror to see a glossy red car waiting for me to drive. I lightly tapped the gas, allowing the car to move at a slow pace. I needed to see the numbers; the person behind me could wait- it wasn't like they couldn't afford the gas. Once I reached the house with the numbers that Marissa had scribbled onto the paper, I parked in the front, avoiding the driveway.

I watched as the person who was once behind me swerved into the driveway and parked, quickly getting out of the car and slamming the door shut after locking it. I struggled to see in the dark but I realized that it was a tall figure. I hoped it wasn't Noah and Marissa’s father. Or even the devil himself- Noah! I would have left a rude impression on their father, though. As I got out of the car and nervously walked towards the house, the door swung open and three petite figures were standing in the doorway.