Reinvention
1043 Words
The smell of coffee brewing came up to my room, a gentle reminder that summer was officially over.
I stretched, staring at the ceiling, trying to convince myself that this year—this school year—was going to be different.
No more braces, no more baggy hoodies to hide in. Kristen Jones 2.0 was here, and she wasn’t going to be ignored.
I sat up in bed, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves.
The first day back after summer break always came with its own brand of drama, but this time I was ready.
I had spent the last few weeks planning my new look, raiding boutiques and sales racks for outfits that screamed confidence.
If I wanted Ryan—a literal walking Greek god and the most sought-after Alpha in school—I needed to look the part.
I glanced at my phone. A text from Elvis lit up my screen:
"Honey, I’m on my way. Don’t you dare wear anything boring. xoxo"
Elvis. My rock. My gay best friend who never let me settle for anything less. He was the only person who knew about my master plan to get Ryan to notice me.
Well, really notice me.
I stood up from my bed and opened my closet, revealing the fruits of my labor: fitted jeans, crop tops, bodycon dresses, heels that were probably a little too impractical for high school hallways.
Today’s choice? A sleek, dark green wrap dress that hugged my body in all the right places.
Sexy, but not too over-the-top.
I slipped it on and studied myself in the mirror.
The dress was perfect, but my nerves were already whispering doubts in my ear.
What if everyone laughs? What if Ryan still doesn’t notice you?
"Girl, we’re not doing this," I muttered to my reflection, shaking my head.
A knock on my bedroom door interrupted my spiral.
"It’s open!" I called, tugging at the hem of the dress.
The door swung open, and Elvis walked in like he owned the place, his perfectly styled hair and floral button-up making me feel like I had underdressed.
"Kristen!" he exclaimed, spinning me around like I was a mannequin. "Oh. My. Goddess. You’re serving ‘hot girl taking no prisoners’ vibes, and I love it."
"Thanks," I said, my cheeks heating. "You really think it’s okay?"
"Okay? Babe, Ryan is going to choke on his protein shake when he sees you. Trust me."
Elvis fell onto my bed, holding himself up on his elbows.
"Speaking of Ryan, did you hear? The breakup with Emma is officially official. She’s been posting cryptic sad-girl quotes on i********: all week."
I perked up at that.
"So, he’s definitely single?" I asked.
"Single and ready to mingle," Elvis confirmed, winking. "But you’re not the only one with plans. Half the school is probably plotting their way into his arms right now. This is war, honey, and you better bring your A-game."
"I’m ready," I said firmly, turning back to the mirror. "This is the year I stop being invisible."
Elvis grinned.
"That’s the spirit. Oh, by the way, Luke’s back, and he’s looking fine. I swear, summer did things to that boy. He’s like… a human version of a Pinterest board."
"Luke?" I teased, raising an eyebrow. "Your forever crush Luke?"
"Shut up," Elvis said, throwing a pillow at me. "I’m just saying, if you’re going after Ryan, I might as well go after Luke. Double dates, anyone?"
I laughed, feeling some of my tension melt away. Elvis had that effect on me.
But of course, nothing good lasts forever.
"Kristen!" my mom’s voice rang out as she burst into my room without knocking. Her eyes widened when she saw my outfit. "What… what are you wearing?"
I sighed.
"A dress, Mom. A nice dress."
"That’s not… appropriate for school," she said, her hands on her hips. "Go change into something more… normal."
"Normal?" I repeated, my frustration bubbling up. "Mom, this is me. I’m tired of hiding behind oversized clothes. I want to feel good about myself."
"Kristen, I don’t think—"
"She looks amazing," Elvis cut in, sitting up. "Let her live, Mrs. Jones. It’s 2024, not the Victorian era."
My mom frowned, clearly torn between arguing and letting it go.
"Whatever," my brother Jack muttered from the doorway, snickering. "You look like you’re trying way too hard."
"Shut up, Jack," I snapped, glaring at him. "You wouldn’t know style if it hit you in the face."
"Enough, both of you," Mom said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Kristen, if you insist on wearing that, fine. Just… be ready to leave in five minutes."
"Fine," I said, crossing my arms.
Jack gave me a mock salute before disappearing down the hall. Elvis rolled his eyes dramatically.
"Your brother’s a troll," he said.
"You don’t say," I replied, grabbing my bag.
"Ready to slay?" Elvis asked, holding out his arm.
"Ready," I said, linking my arm with his.
The ride to school was uneventful, aside from Jack’s occasional sarcastic comments that I pointedly ignored.
Elvis spent the time scrolling through i********:, giving me a rundown of everyone who had undergone a summer glow-up.
"Okay, listen to this," he said, nudging me. "Samantha dyed her hair platinum blonde, and rumor has it she got lip fillers. Also, Brad started working out, and now he’s like… a total snack."
"Good for him," I said, though my mind was elsewhere.
My heart thudded in my chest as the school came into view.
"You’ve got this," Elvis said, sensing my nerves. He squeezed my hand. "Deep breaths, babe. Remember, you’re Kristen Jones 2.0. Unstoppable, unforgettable, and totally hot."
I took a deep breath, letting his words sink in.
"Unstoppable, unforgettable, and totally hot," I repeated.
The car pulled up to the curb, and I stepped out with Elvis by my side.
The school loomed ahead, its familiar brick walls seeming both comforting and intimidating.
"This is it," I said, my voice steady.
"This is it," Elvis echoed, grinning.
I squared my shoulders, taking another deep breath.
This is my year.
And no one—not my mom, not Jack, and definitely not Ryan’s ex-girlfriend—was going to stop me.
- Writer
