Adopted by Zalfie

Chapter Seven

It turns out Zoe was even more excited for back to school shopping than I have first expected, so later that day, we went out only to get a few of the things that I needed.

"We can buy the things such as pens later," Zoe explained, "But for now, we should get a bag and some new shoes before everyone else gets the good ones!"

We walked for at least an hour, dipping in and out of shops but not finding one we really liked. Eventually, however, we found a bag I finally liked. It was simple yet sleek, a plain white square-shaped backpack but I thought that it was good that it was plain as I wouldn't get fed up of it halfway through the year.

I was enjoying myself immensely, wondering along and chatting to Zoe about my favourite (and least favourite) teachers, friends and other friends until we walked into a store where Zoe had spotted a really nice pair of oxford shoes. While I was trying them on, guess who walked in.

Bethany and her 'friends'.

Luckily, they didn't seem to notice me. I did a quick walk in the shoes, checking them out in a low down mirror. After finally deciding that I liked them, I took them off and handed them to Zoe so that she could pay for them as I slip on my own shoes. I quickly glance at Bethany.

She had her blonde hair, perfectly curled, tied back in a high ponytail without a single strand out of place. Her lips were painted a pretty coral pink, shaped in a pouty expression. Her eyeshadow was expertly done with a variety of pinks and darker colours, her eyes lined with black liquid eyeliner shaped in a wing and her eyelashes covered in mascara. As usual, she was caked in shimmery foundation.

She was with three if her friends, each looking as shimmery and fake as each other. One of them looked in my direction. I quickly looked away, but saw her tap Bethany on the shoulder. I stood up and started walking over to Zoe who had just finished paying. However, someone else got to her first.

I stopped, not wanting to confront Bethany and instead watched as she and her friends asked for pictures. Zoe, although, spotted me and beckoned me other. Hesitantly, I started walking over to them.

"Aria, you should get in the picture too."

Zoe obviously didn't remember Bethany from the other day.

"Oh, that would be really nice, but Im not sure she'll for in. We can try."

Bethany stood next to Zoe and held out her phone. Her friends gathered around them and stood awkwardly behind Zoe and Bethany. Bethany purposely held her phone at an awkward angle so that I wasn't in the shot. Zoe told her, though, to lower it slightly so that she could get me in. Beth quickly snapped a couple, then thanked Zoe and they walked away.

We finished shopping for the day, buying a new pencil case, three notebooks (even though last year I didn't need them for lessons) and two folders. All were pastel colours or white with black or gold detailing and I mainly bought them because I liked the look of them, not because I needed them but I figured they might come in handy.

---

When we got back home, I checked my Instagram to find that Bethany had posted a picture. It looked completely normal but I knew she had edited it. She had completely cropped her out. Aria wasn't sure she really minded, but it still hurt a little. I shrugged it off though. I had wonderful adoptive parents who were her idols and a fresh new start.