Chapter 3 : Makeover

Sharon’s POV

Pursuing Derrick again was not something I ever thought I’d have to do. I knew how to take care of him, sure, but how did one pursue someone they were already supposed to have? It felt...awkward, almost like I was playing the guy's role in the relationship. Tina, my ever-enthusiastic best friend, seemed to have all the answers, though.

"You are beautiful, Sharon," Tina said for the hundredth time, flipping through a fashion magazine on my bed. "Even more beautiful than that damn Chloris."

"You have to say that. You’re my best friend." I sat at a table by the window, flipping through some of my notes. Even though I was supposed to be planning how to get my boyfriend back, I still had schoolwork to do.

"That part's true," she flipped through a few more pages and then added without looking up, "If I'm being honest, you're like a solid 6."

I looked up from my notes and arched a brow at her. She seemed to notice my glare and quickly added, "It's the truth! And it's only because you dress like a boy half the time, and you barely talk to anyone else besides me and Derrick." There was a slight pause. I squinted at Tina like I knew what she was about to say next. "And now," she continued, "Chloris has stolen Derrick from you. That just leaves me."

I grabbed a pillow and tossed it at her, causing her to laugh when it hit.

"I'm glad you find my predicament amusing," I said sarcastically. Tina was right, though. I wasn't really the best when it came to fashion. Oh, who was I kidding? I had zero fashion sense. I just wore whatever I grabbed that fit, and that severely limited my choices to just jeans and t-shirts. I also didn't have many friends on campus. I had study buddies I burned the midnight oil with, but I wouldn't call them friends. I was like a hermit crab.

Tina rolled on her side, still laughing. "I'm sorry, Sharon, I couldn't help myself." She finally stifled her laughter and turned to me. "Oh, jeez. So yeah, if you want a chance to get Derrick back, you need to make him see what he's missing."

At this point, I was open to ideas. "And exactly how do I do that?" I asked, with a genuinely puzzled expression.

Tina seemed to beam at the question. She quickly sat up and faced me. "By getting a makeover!" she said in her usual high-pitched tone.

I should have known. Tina had been looking for every opportunity to give me a makeover, but I always had a convenient excuse. Not now, though. Now I was desperate. So I walked right into her snare.

Tina noticed my downcast expression and quickly added, "Trust me, this is going to work." She smacked herself lightly on the head. "Dang it! Why didn't I think of this sooner? Guys are visual creatures, Sharon. They're attracted by what they see first, before what they feel. You need to capitalize on that if you want to get your man back."

I sighed. Tina wasn’t wrong. I’d always been more comfortable in my plain outfits. Chloris, on the other hand, always looked like she’d stepped right off a runway, with every hair in place and every outfit perfectly coordinated. And maybe that’s what had caught Derrick’s eye in the first place. The thought made my chest tighten.

"Okay, fine," I relented. "Where do we start?"

Tina’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. "First, we’re gonna go shopping!"

I had never felt more out of my element than I did standing in front of the full-length mirror in Tina’s favorite boutique. I stared at the girl in the reflection—me, but not me. The black dress clung to my curves in ways I wasn’t used to. The neckline was low, revealing far too much, and the hem was too high. My thighs were completely exposed. I could see Tina gawking at me from the mirror. I definitely wouldn’t be wearing this out.

"Tina, I don't think this outfit suits me," I whispered, tugging at the hem. "I look… I don’t know, like I'm trying too hard?"

Tina snorted. "Oh please, you look hot." She helped me adjust the hem, but it was still too short. She finally admitted defeat. "Okay, maybe this one's a little too slutty."

"Ya think?" I shot back with an arched brow.

"Yeah, yeah, but we still have a ton of clothes to try, so get naked. Let's get to work," Tina said, her enthusiasm flaring.

I tried on a couple of different outfits. Some I liked, some I absolutely loathed. Modern fashion seemed to be all about how much skin you could get away with showing, but with Tina's help, I was finding a nice balance between flirtatious and decent.

"And besides, it’s not about what you’re wearing. It’s about how you carry yourself in it. Feel the fabric on your skin, flow with it," Tina said as I was trying on a fur coat.

"Okay, 'fashion guru,'" I remarked, but Tina was already shoving another pile of clothes into my arms.

"Don't worry, Sharon. Once I'm done with you, Derrick will come crawling back on his knees."

And that was the heart of it, wasn’t it? I wanted Derrick to see me, really see me, the way he used to before Chloris swooped in with her cheerleader smile and perfect hair. I wanted him to remember why we worked so well together, why we had something worth fighting for. If that meant stepping out of my comfort zone, then so be it.

It had been a few days after our elaborate shopping spree. Tina and I were about to launch phase two of our plan.

"So we both know Chloris has access to Derrick because she’s the cheerleader for the baseball team," Tina explained as we sat cross-legged on her floor, her laptop open between us. "What does that tell us?"

I put on my thinking face. "That Derrick likes cheerleaders?"

Tina shook her head. "Well, maybe, but not quite. The answer is proximity. Derrick spends the majority of his day training in the field, and who's right there doing training of her own?"

My eyes widened in realization. Tina continued before I could answer. "That's right, Chloris. She has more access to Derrick than you do. We've got to fix that." Her fingers mashed on the keys of her laptop, and I caught the maniacal look in her eyes. Tina lived for this stuff.

"Cheerleading is out of the question," I added, grimacing at the thought. "I can’t even do a cartwheel."

Tina laughed, scrolling through the Snowtown College baseball team’s website. "Agreed. Plus, I don’t think cheerleading is really your style." She clicked through a few more pages, her eyes narrowing in concentration. "But maybe...this is."

I leaned closer to see what she’d found. The website had a notice up: Recruitment open for New Team Agent. My heart skipped a beat. "A team agent?"

Tina grinned. "Yeah! Think about it, Sharon. You’ve always wanted to do something like this, right? And it’s perfect—this position means you’d be involved in every aspect of the team’s activities. Travel, events, practices...most importantly, you'll be closer to Derrick."

I felt a spark of excitement. She was right. I had always dreamed of working in sports management, and an agent role would be the perfect foot in the door. Plus, it would give me the perfect excuse to be around Derrick without it seeming forced or unnatural. "This could actually work," I said slowly, the idea settling comfortably in my mind.

"Of course it will," Tina said, closing the laptop and turning to face me fully. "You’re perfect for this. With your grades and that internship you did last summer, you’re a shoo-in."

I nodded, a smile forming on my lips. "I’ll apply." And that’s precisely what I did. I spent the next few hours drafting my application, highlighting my experience from the internship at the sports agency and my nearly perfect GPA. By the time I clicked ‘Submit,’ I felt a surge of confidence. Finally, something I was good at.

A few days later, I got an email inviting me to an interview. This was it—my chance. I prepared meticulously, researching every aspect of the team’s history, current roster, and biggest rivals. I wanted to show them I was the best candidate for the job.

The interview day arrived, and I dressed in my best business casual outfit, hand-picked by Tina herself. I felt both nervous and excited as I walked into the athletic department’s office. The interview panel comprised the team’s coach, a few senior players, and a representative from the college’s sports management department. They asked me about my experience, my goals, and why I wanted to work with the baseball team specifically.

By the time I walked out, I felt good. Really good.

A week later, I got the call. I had gotten the position. I was the new agent for the Snowtown College baseball team. I couldn’t believe it. "You did it!" Tina squealed over the phone when I told her. "I told you they’d love you!"

I laughed, the joy bubbling up inside me. "Yeah, you did."

Not long after, I received a message from the baseball team. They were hosting a ceremony to welcome new team members—my first official event as the new team agent. The ceremony was to be held at the baseball house, the team’s off-campus clubhouse, at 10 p.m. this Friday.

This was the opportunity I had been waiting for. I was determined to make a lasting impression. “I already got invited to the welcoming ceremony. The entire baseball team's going to be there, including Chloris,” I said to Tina, my voice filled with excitement.

Tina’s eyes sparkled with mischief. "I wish I could see the looks on both their faces when they see you."

On the day of the ceremony, we spent hours getting ready. Tina helped me pick out the perfect outfit—a beautiful green dress that was elegant yet bold, something that highlighted my best features. I’d never worn anything so daring before, but as I looked at myself in the mirror, I saw a different version of me. A stronger, more confident version.

“I’ll be at the ceremony tonight as well,” Tina said as she tied a ribbon in my hair. “But we can’t be seen together. I’ll be watching you, though. Think of me as your guardian angel.”

“Really!? That’s awesome, Tina.” I placed my hand over hers as it rested on my shoulder. “Thanks a lot, Tina, for everything.” I gently squeezed her hand, and I caught a faint blush on her cheeks.

She finally turned my attention back to the mirror. "You look amazing," her voice filled with pride. "Now go out there and knock them dead."

I took a deep breath and nodded. Tonight was the night.

The party was already in full swing when I arrived at the baseball house. Music blasted from inside, and the air was thick with laughter and the smell of champagne. My heart pounded in my chest as I stepped inside, my heels clicking against the polished wood floors.

Almost immediately, I felt the shift in the room. Conversations paused, heads turned, and for a brief moment, it felt like everyone was staring at me. I resisted the urge to fidget with the hem of my dress. Instead, I lifted my chin slightly and strutted across the hall. Tina would have been proud.

I spotted Derrick across the room, talking to some of the guys on the team. He was laughing, his eyes crinkling at the corners the way they always did when he found something genuinely funny. And then his gaze caught sight of me.

I watched as his smile faltered, his eyes widening in surprise. He stared at me for a moment, as if he wasn't sure if I was the same old Sharon.

He started walking toward me, weaving through the crowd without taking his eyes off me. He stopped in front of me, his eyes still wide, and for a moment, we just stood there, staring at each other.

"Sharon," he said finally, his voice low and almost… awed. "You look… wow. You look beautiful tonight."

I could feel a slow, proud smile spread across my face. "Thanks, Derrick," I said, trying to sound casual, but I could hear the slight tremor in my voice.

I felt eyes on me, and I didn’t have to look to know it was Chloris. I glanced over Derrick’s shoulder and saw her standing with a drink in her hand, surrounded by other cheerleaders. Her expression was cool and placid. If she was surprised to see me, she hid it well. I met her gaze sternly. This was a new game, and I was ready to play.