The Living Puppet

Chapter 16 - Catching Up

"Dang, Sasha. What else has changed?" Anna responded, looking around my bedroom stunned.

"I know right? It's like a whole new Sasha. The Sasha I know likes pale, minimalist colors. She would never paint her room emerald green and GOLD?!"

"Yeah. Who are you and what have you done to Sasha?" Anna added dramatically, holding me from my shoulders and shaking me.

"Guys chill. I'll tell you everything."

And I did. From beginning to end, how I planned the winter break, meeting Jacob on the walk, and Liam coaching me and teaching me how to drive.

"Wow. Why didn't you tell us?" said Stacy,

"I wanted it to be a surprise,"

"What about the Jacob thing?"

"Jacob thing was no biggie,"

"That's  what she said," Anna added in a sarcastic tone,

"I also decided to learn how to paint, do art and craft, cook, and even sew," I added.

"But you were already good at those." Stacy pointed out and Anna nodded in agreement.

"No, I wasn't,"

"Yes, you were"

"Yeah. You always had been. See that's your problem, you underestimate yourself. No matter how much weight you lose or how many hobbies you take up, you will always be worthless and ugly unless you believe that you are not. It's not the SSF's who put you down. It's you." Stacy expressed in her "matter of fact" voice.

"Yeah, you are right. That's something like what Liam told me too. Anyways, give me a second I'll get the cocoa and cake." I said heading out of the room.

"You girls sure have matured a lot." dad commented not taking his eyes off of his phone. 

"You were eavesdropping?"

"No, I was checking on you."

"So, you agree to what they are saying?"

"Yes."

"Me too," I answered before carrying the tray upstairs.

"Seems like you splurged a little on the room decor," Anna said picking up the mug of hot chocolate and placing a fat slice of cake on the side plate.

"Actually no, Liam forgot to buy presents so, he helped me re-decorate. He bought the paint, the cushions, and that lamp. everything else was already here,"

"Really?" Stacy commented confused.

"Yeah. I painted any wooden object white and any metallic object gold. Oh, and dad got me the bean bag and the lamp is from a second-hand antique shop."

"I like the reading corner. It's cozy."

"Who made the cake? It's really good," Anna said, with her mouth filled with cake.

"Me I replied."

"See. You are good at cooking and baking."

"I get your point, Anyways tell me all about your vacation"