LOVE ME HARDER • jb

11.

"...I've been sick and tired of acting as if everything is okay."

-

My alarm on my phone blared through my ears and I groaned, rolling over on my side and grabbing my gold iPhone 6 off the white night stand table. I woke up about thirty minutes before I was scheduled to wake up and I had forgotten to turn the alarm off. It ringing made me snap back into reality, before I was just staring at the blank ceiling over thinking everything, and I knew I had to return to school. Something I was both dreading and excited to do.

I was dreading it because I knew that I had to face encountering Justin and probably Natalie. I was planning on reuniting with her today and that made me shiver. I was excited only because today I was scheduled to talk to the music teacher, Mr. Lavish, about the spring showcase. He wanted to tell me some very important details about what and where he planned on having it this school year. I also knew he was going to ask me to sing the national anthem, Oh Canada, at tomorrow night's basketball game. Of course I was going to say yes, I do every year.

Deciding to get up, I tossed my blankets off of my body before walking into the bathroom. I took a quick ten minute shower, brushed my teeth, and used the toilet. The daily activities in the lives of any blessed human beings. I walked into my closet picking out another black skirt, a white blouse, and black blazer with the Stratford Hall logo, a black little tie, and black knee high socks. After getting dressed and putting on black high heel boots, I put my hair up in a half way up half down look, and styled the ends to a perfect curl. It looked completely different now that my hair was officially dark brown.

"Victoria, do you want anything for breakfast?" Bella asked, knocking on my door before opening it a little crack and sticking her head in.

"I'll just have toast." I replied, applying my light pink lipstick.

"Okay," She said, about to walk out the door when she suddenly stopped. "Wait a fvcking second, your hair is brown."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot to show you." I laughed, finally finishing my makeup and turning around to face Bella.

After spending time at the Sanchez's last night, eating dinner and spending an hour watching YouTube in Mandy's bedroom, I came home and everyone was already asleep. Mom was at work of course, but Bella was asleep so I didn't have a chance to show her.

"Oh my," She said coming over to me and touching my hair. "I love it. Like so much."

"Well thanks," I said. "Mandy is the one who talked me into getting it done. I was thinking of doing it for awhile, but always pushed it into the back of my mind."

"Well, I'm glad you finally decided yes. You look hot as fvck."

"Thank you. " I giggled, grabbing my bag and slinging it around my shoulder. "Is mom downstairs?"

"Yeah, she's making breakfast. She told me to come ask you what you wanted."

"True, do you think she'll care about what I've done? She was like obsessed with my hair color. "

"Should you care? It's your hair you can do what you want with it. " She rolled her eyes.

"That's true, but you know mom. She controls everything." I said, beginning to walk out of my bedroom.

"Oh my god," Bella suddenly screeched. "You're 18 Victoria, you do you. Mom can't control you forever, she can't control either of us when I'm 18."

I stayed quiet for just a moment, my hand placed on the door knob as I sighed. Bella was right and I couldn't deny that fact. I guess I was just scared of branching out on my own.