Not so Far and Long Ago

Chapter 28

      "Hop in," Chelsea said unlocking a light blue Cadillac, "So what happened to your foot?"
"I was a car accident with my boyfriend and fractured my foot. The doctor said it would be fine in 3-5 weeks."
"You have a boyfriend?" she replied with a surprised tone, my eyes enlarged, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that rudely. You just don't strike me a type who'd have a boyfriend."
       "You've known me for what five minutes and you're already assuming stuff!" I screamed silently, instead replying with a simple, "why?" I know I should've just agreed with her,
since a year ago, I didn't see myself with a boyfriend, but once I met Finn, I couldn't see myself without one.
      "You're 16 and a senior. For most guys the two year age difference, and look at yourself. Nobody here goes out in public looking like that. Try a crop top with jeans and converse."
      "I can't do cropped tops. I have some bruise scars or something like that."
      "You are also shy and quiet. Only nerds would want a girl like you. Oh gosh, you're dating a nerd."
      "Actually Finn's the football captain and has a scholarship to University of Tennessee, one of the top 20 football colleges in the country." Than it hit me, based on what the doctors had said about Finn, and what I could tell about his condition, he may never play football again. I couldn't think of Finn without football. He loved it so much.
      "So you're dating one of the most popular boys in the school, I assume you at least have some cool friends."
"I, at least, think so. Poe's and Jessika are runners, some of the top in the county."
"That's it?"
"Well, there's a few coworkers-,"
"Coworkers? You work?"
"Yeah. It was either that or starve. I choose working."
"We're here, how do you want your hair cut?"
"My hair? I like it how it is."
      "Your hair is right in between long and short. Here you either need really long hair, or no longer that a lob. And get rid of the style. It looks like a baboons butt. I'm thinking we should get 5 inches off, to where it's above shoulder length, and you should curl it. I'm also thinking highlight. You would make a beautiful blonde."
"No," I said firmly, "I like my hair this length, this style, and length. Everything in my life has changed within a week. I at least want to keep my appearance the same. Am I completely satisfied? No! But who is?"
       "Well, um, I am."
       "It was a rhetorical question. I'm fine getting stuff for my room, wearing new makeup and getting somewhat different clothes, but I reach my limit at changing my appearance."
        "Well I hope you're fine getting made fun of and friendless at school tomorrow. Maybe if you're lucky there'll be a teacher willing to let you eat with them, cause there is no way in heck I would be the girl who lets a girl like you sit with me."
        "Can we just go home now? I have some things to unpack and some friends to call." 
       "Have it your way, but know I won't feel sorry when you are the laughing stock of the school." We drove back home in silence, me not having anything to say to Chelsea. I had always wondered what it was like to have siblings, and how cool it would be to have a twin. Now that I knew what that was like, I wished I could've gone back and decided to stay in Nashville for a while longer. I thought about Finn again, and tears began to form in my eyes. I wanted to FaceTime him and tell him about everything and how much I hated it here, even though I had been here for less than 3 hours. He'd tell me it would get better and stay strong. I'd tell him that was impossible. He'd tell me it's will be fine and than we'd laugh and talk for hours, until it was time for bed or dinner. Than we'd tell each other how much we'd love each other, neither of us wanting to hang up. Eventually we'd agree to both hang up at the same time, however neither of us would hang up. That's what happened in a movie at least, and sometimes Finn and I's story seems like a movie. When I saw the house approaching, I immediately got out, still not saying anything.
    "Rey, Dad said for me to tell you to get ready," Griffen, I assumed all least, said, "we're leaving for dinner in a hour. Your pick."
      "Thanks, but I don't really care. You can pick."
      "Hooter's it is!" I gave him and 'are you sure that's the best option' look. "I'm kidding. I only go there on dates. Is Olive Garden ok? There's a really nice one a just about a mile away from here. We try to stay in this general area, where everyone knows us. If not dad gets bombarded by nerds who want questions answered and autographs signed. For the most part we are safe here."
I nodded as I began up the long stairs. I threw myself on my bed, and whipped the tears forming my eyes. I wanted to go home. But what was home? I was raised in Nashville, but now that I lived here, was this home? If this was home, than I didn't want to go home.
       After about 15 minutes of sobbing, I sat up and whipped my tears, realizing I needed to get ready. I walked over to the closet, and looked for a second than immediately went back to my suitcase, changing into jeans and a cold shoulder shirt I had got on clearance. I felt a new and sudden urge to empress Chelsea. I turned on a YouTube tutorial on smoky eye, realizing the nudes I had done for years would no longer cut it. I took my hair out of the messy bun and began to straighten it until even a hint of natural curls didn't show.
When I was finally ready, I walked over to a mirror to take a look at myself. I suddenly realized, that wasn't me. I didn't have time to change, so for tonight, this was me. I began done the stairs, trying to hide the fear and insecurity that this state brought me.
"You are lucky you're my sister," Nathan said when I stepped on the 1st floors carpet.
"Thanks," I said nervously adjusting my stance.
"You don't have to be so tense. Relax, breath. You'll be fine." I nodded, only partially paying attention to what had just been said.
After waiting for a near 15 minutes, we finally loaded up into the car. I sat quietly, not wanting to start any conversation. It was pretty much that way all night.