Chapter 33

"Avoid popularity if you would have peace"- Abraham Lincoln.

~~~~~~

I feel like bees are swarming in my belly. I didn't sleep a wink last night. I was too nervous to close my eyes. What if I close them and all this turns out to be a dream, and I wake up looking like what I used to look? My alarm didn't get the pleasure to ring and ruin my day, as I closed it 5 minutes earlier. Under all this stress though, there is barely contained excitement. After I got up, I made my bed and brushed my teeth, arranging my books in my handbag. I couldn't fit some of the books. I guess I have to hold it with my hands. I dusted the clean dressing table to keep myself busy. When the clock read 6:55 AM, I decided it's time to get dressed. Based on Isa's strict instructions, I wore the clothes she laid out for me yesterday. A white cotton shirt with pink plaid mini skirt and pink plaid bow tie. I clutched the pink high heel between my fingers. I have already walked on these, but that didn't lessen my fear of it. I decided to wear flats till I reached school. I removed my hair pin, letting it caress my back. Isa will style it for me. I took all the makeup supplies with me. You don't know what you might need.

I left my room, carrying my books, my handbag, the makeup bag and heels. I was not surprised to find my parents seated, eating their breakfast ready for the day. My mom's hand suspended mid air, her lips parting.

"Hi Mom, Dad." I acknowledged, plopping my ass in the chair and putting all my stuff beside me.

"Cassi," my mom crooked. "What's with your hair and outfit?" She hasn't seen my hair yesterday, as it was twisted in knots.

"What?" I asked, nonchalantly sipping my coffee.

"Cassandra, don't 'what' me! What is with your outfit? I can see your ass if I breathed a little harshly on your dress."

"Amelia." My dad regarded her with strain face. "Don't exaggerate."

"What? I am exaggerating? Look at her Paul, your daughter is dressed like a prostitute!" I flinched as if she had physically harmed me. I know my mom won't approve my change, but I haven't thought she would react this strongly against it.

"Amelia!" My dad shouted, shutting her up. "Cassandra," his gaze zoned at me. "I don't see what's different about your hair." He said. Of Course he won't notice. Men. "But your dress is a bit short."

"A bit?" My dad gave my mom a harsh look. She settled to chew the bread. My mom is walking on eggshells with my dad. She don't want to provoke unnecessary argument.

"I am out." I said, collecting my stuff from the chair.

"Where do you think you are going?" My mom asked. I turned and grabbed 2 apples from the bowl. I need food in my system for today.

"Talk to me when you cool off." Mom gasped. I paid it no mind and left the house, banging the front door for good measure. I sighed in relief when I saw Isa across the street, already in her car.

"Trouble with your parents?" Isa asked me once I settled inside.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Fair enough. Let go then." She said and drove the car a few miles away from the neighborhood. "Did you bring everything?" Isa asked once she parked the car.

"Yes." I gave her the makeup bag and my face. She opened a rock music and started to doll my face.

"Fin." She smiled, and I saw the result: A winged eyeliner and pink lips. The blush in my cheeks gave me an innocent face. Isa fluffed my hair, resting half of it in front and half at back.

"It's beautiful." I commented.

"Anytime."

We reached the school with 20 minutes to spare. Isa beautified herself in a record time and led me out of the car to help me wear my high heels.

"Selfie." She said, and I did not resist when she posted it on my account. When we reached the threshold, I was trembling in fear and nervousness. "You can do this." Isa squeezed my hands This is so different from my previous attempts to change. This is real and no one will paint my dress black, running it.

We passed the threshold. I focused on my breathing, shoulders drawn back. I put one leg after the other just like Isa taught me. The hallway turned silent upon our arrival. It's like a scene from a movie, me and Isa walking like a power couple and everything turning slow motion. I felt everyone's eyes upon us. It's like scorching fire, burning my skin and ultimately flaming my cheeks. Few murmurs broke out, and my heart started to beat faster than it already did. What if they start to laugh at me like they did a few years ago? My hands started to sweat, but the snickers never came. I let my eyes wander around. Students had their lips plopped, their eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. I gulped when I felt a flash light followed by a snap of a picture.

"Smile." Isa whispered, and I did that. It was by far the most antagonizing walk I had in my life. Our corner felt really far. Every lift of my legs was accompanied by the fear I would fall face flat, and they would start to laugh at me.

"You look…," Penny signed. "I have no words for it." Penny is shorter now that I wore heels. My nervousness couldn't settle, even at Penny's snooting voice or Sam's smile of appreciation.

"Why is everyone looking over here?" I whispered.

"Because you look like a yummy snack." Isa laughed.

"Apart from that, you have been the talk of the town since your post 2 days ago. Your picture with Maria." Penny clarified. "People are asking who this new beauty is. No one believes you are indeed Cassandra Davis."

"And they have been waiting to see you today." Sam added. "Maria is a big deal." I absently nodded my head. I don't know much about fashion, but now it's time to change it.

"Cassi." I heard Matthews' voice. "Look at you." He whistled.

"Get away from her." Isa shouted.

"What are you? Her bodyguard?" He laughed.

"I will keep the promise I made to you." Isa took treating steps towards him. I don't know what promise she made within this-.

"Ok." Matthew retreated, lifting his hands in the air. "You cleaned up real good." What a jerk.

"Don't mind him." Penny hugged me from the side.

"It's your life now." Sam pinned me with a stare. "With the glory, there comes consequences."

***

Me and Isa waited for everyone to settle in the lunchroom before we made our dramatic entrance. Penny texted.

'Clear'

It was our cue to get in. For the second time today, the lunch room commotion stopped. I am not nervous as I have been in the morning. During class, students were whispering about me but I tried to pay them no mind. Isa said their talk is good, whether good or bad. If someone talks about you, it means they care. It's crazy how good I was treated today. Teachers respected me, except for Miss Francesca in biology. Students were eager to assist me. If I drop my pen, someone will retrieve it and flash me a charming smile.

Both Isa and me bought salad for our lunch. The talk didn't start till we took our seat in front of Penny and Sam. I can't help it but smile. It is intimidating to be the center of attention but flattering at the same time.

"We got some people's interest." Isa chewed her tomato. I gazed around the room. As per her words, Vanessa had her eyes on us, specifically on me. I couldn't understand what she was thinking. She whispered something to Georgina, who lifted her eyes for a microseconds and shrugged. I think we should bug their desks too. The upper class were staring at us with no shame. My eyes connected with Justin for seconds, and I broke the contact with my stomach rolling. I can't lift the fork to take a bite of my food with all this stress. I hid behind Penny. Isa fumbled inside her bag and brought the tablet out. She connected it, and we circled it to listen to their conversation.

"Who is she?" Benjamin asked, his attention on me.

"Don't look up," Isa commanded. I happily obliged.

"She is Cassandra Davis." Mia, Lucas' lover replied. "She has been here forever. Her parents are doctors. She is an A and B student. She took a picture with Maria Waiver, which skyrocketed her status upward."

"Does she have a boyfriend?" Benjamin asked.

"No. She has never been seen with anyone." Mia answered.

"Told you everyone stalks." Isa smiled from beside me. "We just modernized our ways." I can't believe the amount of information they managed to gather on me in just 2 days.

"So, she is single." Benjamin's lips curled in to wolfish smile

"Yes." Justin talked for the first time, his eyes still on me. "She is single."