I am Daria [18+]

fourteen

I looked at the person in front of me. She appeared normal. Golden hair perfectly combed into a low pony. Neat clothes. Seemingly not spiraling into madness each passing second.

A rather convincing facade.

My gut clenched and I quickly popped two pills in my mouth to somehow calm my implacable state. The capsules contained some sort of drug that "obliterates any abnormalities in your body" as Dr Tom put it. It was a supernatural drug and I was suppose to take it whenever I felt unsettled or queasy.

It worked as a pause button of sorts, prolonging the inevitable until I got to the kingdom.

My lips curled inward as I studied my reflection once again.

This isn't me. I don't want this to be me.

"Are you alright, darling?"

I fumbled with the neck of my polo. "Fine," I answered.

"You'd rather wear something else?"

Yes. "This is fine."

"If you say so. You look beautiful, darling," Mum said sincerely.

My lips turned upward in an attempt to smile. I appreciated her trying, but it was going to take a long time for us to go back to braiding each other's hair and gossiping about boys. We both knew that. It made me feel sad and relieved at the same time.

There was a knock on the door and I froze. They're here.

Okay. You can do this.

"Dari!"

Faster than lightning I was scooped into a pair of slender arms. Barbie. "Oh, I was so worried!" She cupped my shoulders, creating a little distance, as she scanned me from head to toe. "You look okay. You look gorgeous actually. What was wrong?"

"Barb, give her some space," Lena came to my rescue.

"It's okay, Lee." I looked at Barbie. "I told you guys it was my blood pressure."

Lena and Riley stood next to each other. Riley's eyes briefly fell on my mom before diverting them on me. "You look off. Something's off. What's different?" Her brows furrowed.

"Yeah," Barbie mused. "I see it too. You dye your hair or something?" Her head tilted.

"Wait. It's the clothes. Dude, why are you dressed like Lena?"

I looked down at my attire. Okay, I admit, I looked like someone going to a business meeting. Especially with the blazer and neatly combed hair. They weren't used to this me. To be honest, neither was I.

"I have to tell you guys something. Oh, and this is my mum, Laura."

Their eyes followed my hand extended in my mom's direction. She was standing near my dresser, looking radiant even though she was just wearing a simple long black dress.

"Hi, Dari's mom! I'm Barbie!"

"Hello," my mum smiled kindly.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs King. Lena. This is Riley," Lena introduced, knowing Riley wouldn't do so herself.

"Call me Laura, please, it's a pleasure to meet all of you. I've heard so much about you."

_Weird. We haven't heard a single thing about you_

My head snapped to Riley. She had a cool expression on her face. How could she say that? She didn't have to be rude.

But. . . it seemed as if only I heard her because my mum was smiling at what Lena was saying and Barbie didn't look affected either.