The Beauty Queen

The Beauty Queen - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Linda practically had to drag me uptown. Due to our extreme lack of money, she obviously didn't have her own car yet. And to our dismay, we discovered yesterday that one of dad's pay checks isn't enough to make everything better. Several thousand dollars a month is better than what we earned in Kansas, but definitely not enough for Linda's own car. I went easy on her because of it. I only tried running away from her four times. Now, if we were in a car, I would have jumped out without question.

"Almost there," Linda said through clenched teeth.

"No!" I screeched, clinging to the bike rack on the curb. I was practically parallel to the sidewalk; Linda was tugging on my legs. I tried my best to keep my grip on the bike rack, praying that Linda won't be able to pull me off.

"It's just a freakin' beauty pageant!" Linda screamed back, giving my leg a rough tug. I felt my elbow snap, and I winced.

"It's demeaning and embarrasing!" I cried, squeezing my eyes shut. Linda wasn't giving up. I was still suspended in mid-air. Maybe if I pester her a little while longer...

"How many times do I have to tell you?!" Linda shouted at me.

"Tell me what?!" I shrieked, readjusting my grip on the bike rack. Linda seized the opportunity. She yanked on my leg--hard. Right before I could grab the metal rack again, my arms gave way and I fell, face flat, on the sidewalk. Linda was still holding my legs, so I couldn't move.

Lucky for me, it wasn't a long way down from the bike rack. It was a two foot fall at the most. I don't think that's grounds for breaking my nose. But then again, I did break my hand when I was bike riding one time...

Linda dropped my leg and hurried to my side. She grabbed my hair, which was tied into a ponytail, and she gently lifted my head. For a few seconds, Linda peered at me with a concerned look on her face. Her eyes quickly darted around my face, searching for any casualties. My bangs had flopped mercilessly into my eyes, so Linda had to roughly push them away. She examined my forehead. Then, she dropped my head back onto the sidewalk. I groaned.

"You're the worst sister in the world," I muttered in a muffled voice. I pushed myself off the ground and sat down on the sidewalk, indian style. Linda was still crouched next to me, so I took the chance to give her a death glare. She smiled.

Linda stood up and looked down at me. I couldn't tell what she was about to do next, but I informed her that I wasn't moving. I crossed my arms and pouted like a stubborn five year-old. She's not going to get me to go to that stupid pageant. She just smiled at me smugly.

Next thing I new, I was being dragged along the sidewalk... on my butt.

"I hate you," I muttered bitterly, allowing Linda to pull me after her.

"Aww, love you too," Linda said sweetly. I shook my head and rolled my eyes. Then, I felt my eyebrows involuntarily quirk up.

"What did you supposedly have to keep telling me?" I said curiously. Linda glanced at me in confusion, but then she realized what I meant.

"That we need this," she replied, giving my arm a rough tug. I cringed.

Not because of the pain that shot up my arm, but because of how selfish I'd been. We do need this.

~~~

"Where are we going?" I asked, looking around. I was up and walking on my own now. I decided that I would actually go through with this, no matter how embarrasing.

This part of town was unfamiliar. We had already passed by the place I stopped at last night. We were going way uptown.

Instead of telling me where we were going, Linda pulled something out of her back pocket. It was folded up, but I immediately recognized the blinding shade of pink. I scowled as she handed me the flyer. I unfolded it and skimmed through the information.

I was almost on the verge of tears when I saw the address.

"Umm... Linda?" I said uncertainly. Linda glanced at me with a raised eyebrow. "Hmm?"

Okay, I want to put this delicately. I don't want to sound hurtful or frustrated... Ahh, who cares.

"We're going in the freakin' wrong direction!" I shrieked. While my face was filling with color, all of it that was in Linda's face immediately drained.

Never trust Linda Summers's sense of direction.

~~~

"Welcome, ladies, to the auditions for the Miss Junior New York Pageant!" the middle-aged woman twittered happily. She was beaming at us, almost floating on air. She seemed overly ecstatic about being here... the complete opposite of what I was feeling. I remembered to ignore how much I hated beauty pageants, so I wouldn't give up. I shot Linda a look. She was oblivious to it, though. She seemed pretty happy herself, being my chaperone. I grimaced.

The other girls around me cheered, throwing their hands into the air. I tried forcing a small smile.

"We're glad to have all you young ladies here," the woman said cheerily, "and seeing how excited you all are makes me feel light-headed!"

Another cheer from the girls around me. I made a face. Linda elbowed me gently. I dropped my annoyed expression.

The woman made a whole speech about how excited she was about being the hostess for the Miss Junior New York Pageant this year. She went on to say how much more elligible she was for the job than last year's host: the creepy, fifty year-old House representative of New York. I shuddered at the thought, thankful that I didn't have to participate in that pageant.

Another part of the speech consisted of the parts of the pageant. There was the casual clothing competition, the talent competition, the formal attire competition, and the worst... the swimsuit competition. After the judging, a clear winner will be announced. I'm hoping the judges will be announcing my name. But a huge part of me was doubtful.

"Before you enter the glorious world of pageantry," she paused, giving me time to ponder whether or not "pageantry" was a word, "I'll have to warn you. Beauty pageants are tough." I snorted, which earned me several glares from the girls around me. I looked away sheepishly.

"Getting here is probably the toughest part," I mumbled. Linda gently clamped her hand over my mouth. I decided that it was best. But I felt like a two year-old; it's ridiculous that my mouth has to be kept shut by my older sister.

"You will all have mentors, that will help you throughout the pageant process," the woman said, clasping her hands together. "You'll be arranged by age groups, with the toughest mentors given to the older girls," she added. She directed her gaze to each of the older-looking contestants, including me. I'm guessing fifteen is the oldest age group here. Figures.

"There will have to be three mentors, one for each age group. Thirteen year-olds, fourteen year-olds, and fifteen year-olds. We didn't receive any sixteen year-olds this year," the woman said, her eyes skimming the giant group of girls in front of her. She looked pleased with every single one, until her eyes landed on me. I could tell she was holding back a snarl. I glared at her back as she turned away.

"Now move on to the next rooms to meet your mentors. Your chaperones will be directed to the waiting room. You'll have to go through the door corresponding to your age," the woman announced, gesturing to three doors at the end of the hallway. I pulled Linda's hand off my mouth, giving her an annoyed look. She grinned at me and saluted me. I groaned internally and stalked off to the fifteen year-olds' room.

I stood in front of the door for a few seconds, holding up the accumulating crowd behind me. A few girls started yelling at me and pestering me to go inside already.

I already know I'm gonna hate this.