Arabella - Toxicity

1. Glow-up

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I heard a creak coming from my door. The yellow light from the hallway lit up my room and blinded me. I pulled the dark gray pillow I was hugging over my face so I wasn't blinded anymore. The door creaked again as it closed. The creak was followed by 3 foot steps and a creak from my bed.

"Cheer up" Nick, my older brother, said and pulled the pillow off my face. I groaned at the smile on his face. Nick was probably the best brother a person could ask for. He was 5 years and 10 months older than me, but we were as close as friends.

"I'm not depressed, so stop acting like it," I said maybe a little too harshly 'cause his smile fell and his eyes turned sad. I wasn't lying though, I didn't even like the guy, well, not like crazy anyway.

"He dumped you by sending you a picture of him fucking your best friend" He put his large hand on the small of my back to give me comfort. It hurt more that my best friend had betrayed me like that, than my ex cheating. My best friend had tried to apologize but I didn't want to see her.

"I'm fine, I promise," I said and flashed him a sweet fake smile which he seemed to buy.

"Wanna go out with me and my friends tonight?" He stood up as he asked this. I knew by 'friends' he meant Alex, Matt and Jamie, and maybe their girlfriends. I knew the guys on the surface, but not too well since they never hung at Nick's place. Their girlfriends I didn't know at all, I'd met Katie once or twice and she was so sweet so the rest of their girlfriends probably were too.

"Is Kelly coming?" I asked him. Kelly was perfect she had black hair, and dark brown eyes, and she was gorgeous. She was also so fucking sweet towards me when she came over - which she doesn't often since Nick doesn't live here at home anymore - she'd talk with me as much as possible. She always texted me as much as possible to make sure I was good or to ask if I wanted to go shopping, which I always said yes to.

"Of course, all the girls are coming" He replied to my question with a smile. He opened the creaky door again. the yellow light from the hallway blinded me just as much as before. I slapped my hands over my eyes to not be blinded which made him let out a chuckle.

"Be ready in two hours if you're coming" He said before lightly closing my door. Of course, I'd come, I could use a drink, and I hadn't seen or talked with Kelly in like 3 months. Maybe I could even convince them to pay for my drinks - which they probably would. Half an hour had gone by since Nick had been in here, I had used the time to sleep so I could hopefully have energy the whole night. I stood up my brown hair was messy, and my breath stank.

I walked downstairs to the shared bathroom and smiled 'cause it wasn't occupied. I opened the white wooden door and physically gagged at the blue tiles on the wall. It was the same reaction I had ten years ago when my parents renovated the bathroom. You'd think I'd get used to it but I just didn't, it was just way too ugly. I took off my pink crop top, my gray pajama shorts, and my underwear. I threw my clothes in the white bin beside the shower. I turned the shower on. While the shower was getting warm I got a white towel from the see-through shelf over the toilet. I put the towel on the hanger and let out a sigh of relief as I felt the warm water on my skin when I walked into the shower. I pulled the white shower curtain so no one could see me if they needed to get in.

When I stepped out of the shower and dried myself, I wrapped the towel around myself. My phone rang, and when I saw who it was I immediately declined the call.

"Your best friend?" Nick asked as he walked into the bathroom. Funnily enough, Nick could never remember names not even my best friend's name who he had known for around eight years. I replied with humming a yes and put some toothpaste on my pink toothbrush.