Confessions of a High School Supermodel

Chapter 2

2

Maddie’s eyes scanned the bustling street in front of school for her mom’s minivan.  She heard the familiar blare of the car horn and a second later, the silver-grey Toyota pulled up.  Maddie quickly hopped inside and slammed the door shut behind her.  Her little sister Cassidy was already buckled into the backseat. 

“Hey Mad, how was school?” her mom asked.

“Fine.”  Her typical answer. 

“Did anything interesting happen?”

“Nope.”  Maddie preferred to keep her mom as uninformed about her life at school as possible.  She leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes, grateful the week was finally over.

“I hope you’re not too tired.  I was thinking we could go to the mall right now.  I have a coupon that came in the mail for some free panties and I think it expires today.  You can have it.”

Maddie shrugged. “Sure mom.  Whatever.”

Cassidy piped up, “I need a bra!”

“No you don’t.  You’re seven.”

“I’m very mature for my age.”

“Not in the chest area.”

Maddie wasn’t surprised her mom was driving them to the mall for some free underwear.  Mrs. Fox had never passed up a deal for a freebie or a giveaway in her life.  She was actually, well, the most honest way to describe it was just plain cheap!  Maddie didn’t like shopping with her mom, who was totally embarrassing to be around in public. 

Whenever they visited expensive stores like Nordstrom, her mom would busy herself not with actually picking out clothes, but with flipping over price tags.  She’d loudly quote the price to anyone in the immediate vicinity, often followed by “Are they crazy?!” and “Look how expensive everything is!”  Maddie had long since learned that it was best to wander around by herself while shopping and pretend she had no connection to the crazy lady who kept trying to talk to her.

Mrs. Fox pulled up to the Westfield Shopping Mall, and they all lumbered out of the minivan.

A short while later, Maddie was happily browsing through the racks at Forever 21.  They had already been to Claire’s, Love Culture, Topshop, and H&M, but she’d saved the best for last.    

Maddie loved Forever 21.  All their clothes were so trendy, and affordable too.  She was lucky; her local Forever 21 was huge, like a two-story high treasure chest.  The store was laid out beautifully, every corner stacked with the most delectable treats.   Maddie had always particularly liked the jewelry section, with everything sparkly, dangly, and shimmering.  Chains, crystals, studs, and pearls, all new and shiny and begging to be tried on!

Maddie got some money from her parents on her birthday and Christmas, and she earned a little bit from babysitting, but that was pretty much it.  Most of the time, she was with her parents when she went shopping, so they were the ones who bought things for her. 

It wasn’t anything like some of the other girls at school, who ach seemed to own personal credit cards, as well as large amounts of cash they could access any time.  They seemed completely independent; Maddie got the feeling they would never be caught dead shopping with their parents or little siblings. 

Maddie perused the racks, nodding her head and humming along to the Selena Gomez song blasting through the speakers.  “I, I love you like a love song baby!”

She browsed her way through the store, picking out clothes she liked along the way.  She found a pair of cream-colored crochet shorts, a lacy hot pink bandeau top, and a pair of cutoff jean shorts covered in studs that looked exactly like the ones Aria had just worn on Pretty Little Liars.