Searching For Rebecca

Chapter 4: Birthday Blues

well heyyyy there! guess what came in the post today? my copy of The Host DVD! *does happy dance* EEK! anyways... so I realise I haven't updated in a long time... (shh its been three weeks!!) but here is an update for you, so go tell all your friends yeah? awesome ;)

It was exactly two weeks since I had begun the Popular Project and much to everyone's genuine surprise I was still going strong. Well not physically strong as I had been running everyday in the morning and doing thirty sit-ups each night. So understandably, my muscles felt like warm jello.

But it was progress and I now weighed one hundred and twenty six pounds which, granted for someone measuring in at five foot five was still not exactly skinny.

But today wasn't only my two week anniversary. It was also my sweet sixteenth. Not that I had anybody to celebrate it with.

I had risen early as was my routine now and was just about to leave the house for my morning run when I was cornered by my dad.

'Hon? Where are you going?' he sounded a little shocked. I mean, come on! Was he blind? Hadn't he noticed that I went out for approximately one hour each morning to do exercise?

'Dad? Oh I'm just off to do my run.'

'But it's your birthday, don't you want your presents?' he grinned wickedly.

I sighed dramatically. 'Well if you insist!'

Missing one run won't hurt, will it?

Kicking off my peach Nikes I followed him back up the stairs and into my parents' room. Feeling like a little girl again I hopped onto the bed and sat cross legged, expectation shining like rays of sun on my face.

My presents were all wrapped in a pretty floral pink wrapping paper. Since I wasn't really sure what to expect (when asked what I wanted, my answer was always simple: books) I reached for the top parcel.

Running my nails under the sellotape I unveiled in the present within.

It was clothes.

Namely a pretty spaghetti strap dress, baby blue skinny jeans and two floaty Brandy Melville cropped tops.

I wasn't really surprised; my mother spent half her life trying to persuade me to take a greater interest in fashion. In fact she had nearly passed out when I did some internet shoe shopping the other week. But for once in my life I was grateful, I needed to get as many cool clothes by the time school started up again.

I narrowed my eyes. The tag read a size four. Way too small for me. Turning to my mom in confusion she merely grinned.

'It's a back to school present in some ways. Motivation to stay skinny!'

'More like motivation to lose another stone mom...'

She laughed and I couldn't help but join in.

As I rifled through my other presents I gained some new books (halleluiah, praise the lord!) a couple of CDs and the best present by far: the keys for my new car. No more would I have to hitch rides of my mom, or worse by far: the big yellow school bus.

I squealed a little in delight and hugged both my parents. They patted me on the back and were glad I liked it.

In a way I could finally see the parts of my new life coming together nicely. If I carried on the way I was going I could lose the rest of the necessary weight before school started again, wear some stylish clothes and drive a cool car. The only thing that worried me confidence. I had absolutely zero when it came to talking to people, especially the sort of crowd I wanted to get involved in.

I mean, why would they want anything to do with me? Hell I bet I hardly could be considered cool even if I was faking it to the max. What do these people talk about? Shoes? Fashion? Boys?

Well crap. I thought to myself. I can't even name all five members of one direction!

Maybe this will be harder than I thought...

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