True Beauty

Chapter 2

"It's nothing," I quickly replied, rolling from underneath him.

"No, just hold on," he said, catching my arm, rolling be back, licking his thumb, and brushing something off my forehead.

All I could hear was my heart thumping loudly in my chest as he smiled. "It was just a little dirt."

I sighed, relieved. Reluctantly, my heart slowed, and my palms stopped sweating. Grabbing my shorts off the carpet, I slipped them on and ran a hand through my hair trying to gain control of my breathing.

"I have to get home," I told him.

"You don't have to leave yet," he answered, throwing his shirt back on and wrapping his hands around my waist.

"I have some homework to get done," I lied, glancing in the mirror in the corner of his room to make sure the port wine stain was still fully covered.

"Fine," he sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "I'll walk you out."

I nodded as we exited his room and climbed up the stairs in silence. Walking to the front door, I slid on my white sneakers as Tyler opened the door for me. We walked to my car together. He pushed me up against it and sent his lips crashing against mine.

They moved together as my hands tangled into his brown, shaggy hair, and his hands settled onto the small of my back. He broke away as our ragged breaths echoed through the silent, starry night. He kissed my lips one last time before I opened the driver's door and climbed into the car.

"Goodnight, Laura," he said. "I love you."

"I love you too, Tyler," I replied, closing the door and throwing the car into reverse.

While I sped away, hysterical sobs escaped my lips. Tears spilled down my cheeks as uncontrollable tremors shook my body to it's core. It was all too overwhelming for me to handle. If Tyler would've found out about my birthmark, he would've broken up with me right then.

I pulled into my driveway, wiped my cheeks, and tromped into the house. I slipped of my shoes by the door and headed towards my room: My haven. The place where I felt I could actually be myself. It was where I could wear my own face without anyone judging me or telling me that I was ugly.

I wasn't sure how long I had laid on my bed, crying into my pillow, but all too soon, my mother lightly tapped on the door and entered the room. She sat on the bed, next to me and stroked my blond hair as I sobbed into my pillow.

"What happened, honey?" she asked, concern seeping into her tone.

"Tyler- almost- found- out," I choked out between my ragged sobs and sniffles.

"Maybe he needs to know," she suggest, rubbing circular patterns on my back gently.

"He can't know," I insisted, rolling over to face her.

"Why not?"

"He would break up with me once he found out," I explained, glancing in the mirror at the mascara and eyeliner flowing down my cheeks.

"How do you know?" she asked, handing me a tissue from the box sitting on my nightstand.

"I just do."

"If he can't except you for who you are, he doesn't deserve you," she said as I wiped my cheeks with the tissue.

"No one will ever love me with this stupid thing on my dumb face!" I screamed, pointing at the big, red blotch on my face in disgust.

"Of course they will. You just have to sit back and wait for the right one to sweep you off your feet," she replied, wrapping her arm around my shoulders.

"You have to say that, you're my mom."

She laughed. "Jenny is really worried about you. Are you going to be okay?

I nodded as one last tear escaped my eyes and dripped down my face. Smiling, she caught it with the tip of her forefinger and rose from my bed. Once she left the room, I smiled. My mom was the best. She could always make me feel better when I was having a meltdown about my hideous face which I had to admit was pretty often.

Jennifer burst into the room with a huge smile on her face. Jumping wildly onto the bed, she offered me a piece of hard candy from her pocket. I shook my head, not knowing how ild the candy could be. She continued to jump on the mattress, causing me to sway back and forth.

"What are you so excited about?" I laughed as she finally plopped down and sat next to me like a civilized human being.

"Mom wanted me to tell you the amazing news!" she squealed, trying to catch her breath from running in.

"And that would be what?"

"She finally got you an appointment for you with Dr. Chen!" she exclaimed, shaking my arm in excitement.

"Oh my god!" I screamed, hopping off the bed and sprinting into the kitchen to find my mother.

Dr. Chen specialized in removing and fading port wine stains. He had a 85% success rate, and my mom had been trying to get my an appointment with him ever since I was six years old. I've been obsessed with finding the amazing doctor and having him correct my face.

"Momma!" I yelled, jumping into her arms like a little kid and squeezing her tightly.

She laughed and stroked my hair. Joyful tears streamed down my cheeks as I hugged her tightly.

"Thank you so much," I whispered as my tears dripped onto her gray sweater.

"Your welcome, honey," she replied as I let go of her and kissed her cheek.

"There sure has been a lot of crying going on tonight," I laughed, wiping my cheeks and feeling giddy inside.

"There sure has," she giggled. "You appointment is on Friday."

"How did this happen?!" I exclaimed, feeling the urge to hop right into her arms.

"His secretary just called and told us our names finally came up on the list," my mom explained, smiling.

Smiling, I skipped to the bathroom and hopped into the shower. I smothered my blond locks with shampoo as I got lost in my thoughts. Dr. Chen was actually going to fix my face! The steaming water fell gently onto my naked skin as I imagined what I would look like without the ugly birthmark I was born with

After I washed all the grim from my skin, I exited the shower and dried off with a towel. Wrapping the plush, white towel around my body, I wrapped my hair in one, also. Going to my room, I pulled a pair of pink and blue, plaid pajamas out of my dresser drawer and threw them on.

"Laura! Belinda's here! She says she has to talk to you about something important!" my mom yelled from the kitchen.

I didn't have any time to put all of my makeup back on, and I didn't want to leave Belinda waiting. Sighing, I decided that I would have to go with my natural face. Glancing in the mirror, a sharp pain pierced my chest and a knot twisted in my stomach. Belinda was going to find out about my greatest weakness, and there was a possibility that I would lose her because of it.

I took a deep breath and exited my room. Walking to the front door, I smiled at her as she slid off her shoes. She didn't gasp or grimace like I expected her to. A genuine smile spread across her face and made the ebony skin around her eyes crinkle like usual.

"Hey, Karima."

"Hi," she replied still smiling.

"I'm sorry about all this. It's hideous. I-"

"Laura, it's not hideous. You gorgeous no matter what. Just because you have a birthmark doesn't make you hideous. It's a part of you which makes it beautiful," she interrupted as tears collected in my eyes from her extremely sweet and kind words.