Becoming Mandy

Chapter 3

★ Mindy ★
The following day, I called Jared and insisted we work on the project at my place. Jared, being the stubborn asshole he is, said he wouldn't work on the project if we had to do it at my house. I was stuck going to Jared's...by foot. Luckily, his house was only a few blocks away. A few blocks that worned me out completely. I arrived at Jared's out of breath, sweaty, and my body was sore. Though I think my body's only sore because of the fact that I had to walk in heels last night.

Speaking of, Jared didn't recognize me. He didn't even give me one of those you-look-familiar looks. He simply pryed open the door to his house and led me up to his man cave. Apparently working on his kitchen's dining table was too "public". I responded with a weird look in his direction.

The thing about today was that I had a date with him tonight. He didn't even know it was me. To him, he had a date with Mandy Blue, not Mindy Greene. Mindy's just a nerd to him.

Oh great. I just insulted myself.

Anyways, Mindy nor Mandy is pleased to be spending time with Jared. I'd much rather be spending time with Edward, my super hot, super nice, imaginary friend. In fact, a piranha would make a way better date than Jared any day.

But life hated me.

And there were no piranhas here in Ontario.

"So, what are we going to do?" Jared asked me. Wow, I thought. There wasn't an insult directed towards me in that sentence.

"Well," I began. "You can work on the 3D part of the project while I work on the written essay."

He stared at me blankly.

I sighed. "Find a significant building or cuban sculture online and make a replica."

His eyes widened.

"How about we do something simple." I said as if I were talking to a pre-schooled. "Make a 3D map of Cuba."

"What's Cuba?"

He's only kidding right? Either that, or this guy is really dumb. "Cuba! Big Hispanic island! Communist!"

More blank looks from Jared.

"I give up." I muttered. "You're helpless."

Jared scowled. "I just want to pass this project as much as you do, Nerd."

Insult.

"I just want to stay in Hockey and get away from you." He snapped.

I shot him a glare. "If you want that, then get to work."

"Fine."

"Fine!" I pulled off my small bookbag and began to unpack textbooks and notebooks as Jared just stared at me boringly. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he spent ten years in high school. Or more.

☢ Jared ☢

I sat back and watched Mindy scribble down notes and flip through endless pages of our history book. As she worked, I couldn't help but think of Mandy. Mandy was hot. Her hair was a dark chocolatey color and it fell around her shoulders gracefully. She had stunning brown eyes as well and perfect body. The dress she was wearing last night defined evey inch of her body's curves. She was sexier than Trinity. Trinity, my girlfriend.

Trinity had lighter hair than Mandy's and her eyes were brown too but dull. Trinity was the cheerleader type: She could wrap a guy around her pinky with a simple flutter of her eyelashes. Trinity was the girl who other girls envied. The reason some guys hated me: because I was dating her. The difference between her and Mandy is that Mandy rejected me unlike any girl's ever done before. Mandy was different. I liked different. I kinda felt bad for sorta blackmailing her into going on a date with me tonight. Maybe she'd forgive me? I could only hope.

"Are you going to help in any way?" Mindy asked me suddenly, her voice slightly annoyed.

I let out a smirk. "I'm doing a lot of work by just watching you."

Mindy glowered. "I can always talk to Mrs.Edison-"

"Fine!" I snapped before she finished up her sentence. I knew where she heading. "I'll do the map thingy you wanted. Tomorrow. I think you should leave. I have a date and I have to get ready."

Mindy raised an eyebrow. "Isn't your date at night? It's like 3 pm."

"Wait," I pondered. "How did you know my date was at night?"

Mindy's eyes suddenly widened and she looked a little scared. "I, uh, must be going. I have to meet up with Collin." She smashed her books into her bookbag and swung it over her shoulder. "Bye." She muttered without looking me in the eye and scurring out of my room and downstairs.

"Wait!" I called after her but eventually flopped back down on my bed with a sigh. How in the world would Mindy known that my date was at night? I tried to reflect on the subject but soon gave up, dropping it. It was no big deal. She was probably stocking me. Girls tend to do that a lot. Especially if you're very popular like moi.

I flicked my hair out my eyes and laid my head back on my white pillow, my mind on Mandy again.

I was eager for the night to get here already.

★ Mindy ★

I ran home, sweat dripping down my forehead like a water slide. I can't believe I almost blew it. I almost revealed to Jared that I was Mandy. I don't think he'd figure out, could he? I mean, he's definitely not the brightest crayon in the box. He had just proven that to be true. I admitt that I'm scared to let Jared help on the project. He would mess everything up. Maybe even create a map of Hawaii, not Cuba. For all I knew, he'd make up an island. Because Jared wasn't smart. We were nothing alike. He was the allstar hockey jock that girls drooled over. I was the school's nerd who only had two friends and never even kissed a guy. Because guys didn't like me. I've never had a boyfriend either. I'm not bothered by that though. It's not something important after all. A boyfriend won't get me into Harvard. A boyfriend won't get me a good job or good grades. Boyfriend's are just useless.

I jogged up to my porch, wiping a bead of sweat off my forehead. I wasn't surprised to see Collin standing here, apparently waiting for me to get home. He was wearing beach shorts today which made me chuckle and a Family Guy t-shirt.

"Hey, how was your study date with Michaels?" Collin teased.

"It wasn't a date!" I snapped. "And it was a nightmare." I heaved a sigh and began to unlock my front door.

"I bet." Collin chuckled, standing so close behind me that I could feel his breath on my neck.

The door clicked open. "How was last night?" I decided to ask him. I never really told him that Jared took me home or that he didn't even know it was me.

"Heaven." Collin gazed up at the sky as if he was revisting his night's event. He came back down to Earth. "Speaking of, where were you?! Erin and I looked everywhere. Why would you ditch?"

I played with the bottom of my t-shirt, pulling at slowly and not meeting Collin eyes. "Well, the thing was..." I sighed, looking back up at him and placing my hands on my hips. "I couldn't find you and Erin anywhere! There was this very annoying barmen and then Jared showed up. He didn't even recognize me. He thinks my name's Mandy and I was kinda forced to dance with him. So when I didn't find you guys, I just let Jared give me a ride home." I said it all so fast, yet Collin heard it all, his jaw almost reaching the bottom step on my porch.

I chewed on my bottom lip. "And, well, I sorta have a date with him tonight as Mandy."

Collin slowly began to close his mouth but it just fell right back open. "I'm pretty sure April Fools was last month."

I rolled my eyes. "Collin, this is no joke. My life is becoming completely ruined here! I just want to get out of this stupid date with Jared, forget Mandy never happened, and never ever go to that club again!"

All of the sudden...Collin burst out laughing. He threw his head back and just LAUGHED!!! I frowned.

"This isn't funny!"

"You're right!" He choked. "It's hilarious!"

"Collin!" I scowled.

"Mandy? Seriously?" He laughed. "Mandy seems way more fun than you."

"I am Mandy!" I snapped. "Well, not literally."

Collin sucked in a deep breath and stopped laughing, his brown eyes serious again. "Looks like Erin's going to have a fun time dressing you up tonight."

"Erin doesn't need to know about this!" I told him. "Please don't tell her!"

Collin sighed. "Fine. I won't. And I should get going. I have a date myself." He winked.

I didn't bother to ask him with who. I already knew. It was probably the chick he was with last night, no doubt.

"See ya!" Collin waved and skipped off. I stepped into my house and slammed the door behind me. I'd be seeing Jared again in a few hours. Unless I thought of a perfectly good bulletproof plan to get out of it.

I had none.

And I didn't have the heart to bail on him. He was bound to find out I was Mindy eventually. Then it will all be over and he'll hate me even more.

Great, Mindy. Just great.

• • •

I ripped a baby blue dress out of my closet and threw it on. It fell above my knees, swaying back and forth. I was unable to find any other heels in my closet besides my red ones. They obviously didn't match so I just grabbed me blue converse and slipped those on. Since I always wore my hair in a ponytail, it took me forever to figure out how Erin had tamed my wild waves. Once that problem was solved, It was makeup time. I poked my eye several times with the eyeliner (it's now red but hopefully that won't be to noticeable...) and I smeared my eyeshadow, now I don't know how to fix it. I'm a mess.

When I looked at myself in the mirror, I looked like the bride of Chucky. I pouted, rubbing at my eyelids and trying to get rid of the horrible eyeshadow. That only made things worse.

"Mindy?"

I jumped, my shin hitting the side of my dresser. I yelped. I'd have a bruise by tomorrow.

"Are you ok?" It was Erin. Great. I didn't want her to know about this. But then again, I sorta needed her.

"Yes..." I sighed. "No."

"Aww, sweetie!" She danced over to me, inspecting my horrible makeup job. "You look like you just came out of a circus."

I frowned. "Gee, thanks."

She chuckled. "What's all this about? You hate makeup."

"I have a date." I grumbled.

Erin gasped, her face beaming. "Omg, Mindy! That's fantabulous!"

"Yeah, yeah. Can you please help?" I motioned towards my face. "I'm a mess."

Erin quickly nodded and made me take a seat on my bed. "Close your eyes so I can fix this clown job."

I smirked and did as told.

"Oh," She began to softly rub at my eyelids. "And tell me everything. Collin wouldn't say much when I talked to him eariler bit I know something's up."

And so I told her. There was no hiding things from Erin. She would find out one way or another.

Always.

• • •

Erin drove me to Night Potion, giving me a last minute inspection before dropping me off and driving away. She acted like my mother sometimes, so caring and, well, motherly. She's like the sister I've always wanted.

I looked around for Jared, secretly hoping he'd completely forgotton about our date.

I was almost convinced he had when I didn't see him.

Boy, was I wrong.

"I get a pretty nice view from up here." A voice said, scaring the crap out me. I spun around only to see the darkness that surrounded the parking lot.

"Up here." The voice said again.

I glanced up towards a tree which stood beside me. The branches were spread out, a perfect tree to climb.

Which was exactly what Jared had down. He winked and jumped down, the movement so graceful and flawless. I swallowed. Did I just think that?

"Hey, Beautiful." He grinned, his teeth shining in the moonlight.

"Let's get this over with." I snapped.

He chuckled. "C'mon. My carriage is over there." He motioned and reached for my hand which I snatched away.

"Don't start with carriage business again." I told him and stalked over to his wannabe carriage. He unlocked it and I slipped in before he even bothered to open the door for me.

He snickered and jumped into the driver's seat. "Off to the palace, my love."

"You're such an ass." I commented.

"A donkey?" He chuckled, giving his head a gentle flick, his hair flipping off his eyes.

"That works too." I mumbled, trying to concentrate on the passing cars and buildings.

I was surprised when I found myself staring at the side of Jared's face. It looked smooth. His hair looked like a field of soft wheat and his eyes were a pool of melted chocolate. He was wearing a plaid, blue and white button-up shirt and black jeans. I could literally smell his cologne-

"Take a picture." He said, breaking the silence. "It'll last longer."

I huffed. "Drive."I turned back to face the window, my head hitting the glass with a 'thump'. I couldn't wait to get this night over with.

________________________________________________

Author's Note: I didn't like the the beginning of this chp...hm, nxt one with be better. COMMENT VOTE LIKE FAN!

P.S. Do u like Allstar Weekend? THEYRE AMAZINGG! I went to a free concert they did here where i live. They were amazing! I hugged Cameron Quiseng, guitarist. He's my favorite ;] He feltt sooo good! Soft...and warm. He smelled nice xD He's so sweet. He gives the best hugs.

Mwah!