Quirks Of Being A Queen Bee ✔ COMPLETED ✔

Chapter Fifteen

I walked into school, in something completely different - which made everybody stare. My dark brown hair spilled over my shoulders, - no longer in it's trademark braid - and I carried my handbag carelessly, letting it dangle from my wrist, and I wore a blank, loose white tank top, and simply had on a beige cardigan over the top. My legs were covered in simple black leggings, and I was wearing trainers.

Plain trainers. Not Converses or Nike or whatever. I was wearing nothing designer. My face was almost completely makeup free - not counting my pink summer berry flavoured lip balm - only flaunting simply outlined eyebrows.

I felt beautiful.

So maybe I wasn't wearing model material. Maybe I didn't look like a model - nothing hugging my curves - but I didn't really care. To be honest - I wanted to feel that way. I wanted to dress casually once in a while. I wanted to still be that little girl Trevor had cared for, the one who was still pure and radiated innocence.

When Heidi spotted me, her eyes widened, eyeing me up and down. She was standing with the rest of our clique, and they all turned to stare, jaws falling slack. Iris was the first to talk.

"Oh my God, Ashley, what are you wearing?"

"You don't like it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Iris made a 'hmm' noise, looked me up and down, then smiled at me.

"It's definitely...different." Iris was in Hollister pants and a tight lemon yellow tank top, her face coloured to perfection. Oh, I'd been there. And yet, I wasn't entirely happy. Only did I see that now. "But honestly, Ash? It's fab. I love it." I flashed her a grateful smile.

"Ash, you literally have no makeup on." Heidi murmured.

"I realised, sweet cheeks." I laughed, pecking her on the cheek. "Wanted to be a little more laid back. Is it a yay or a nay?" I asked.

"Yay!" Kristy yelled, beaming at me. "God, you look so casual yet so perf, Ash, teach me how to be as fashionable!"

"You look great." Prudence grinned. Heidi looked at me, then at the girls, wide-eyed.

"Um, Ash, private intervention?" She asked. I nodded. We waved at the group, turning away as Heidi yanked me into another corridor. "Okay, explain. What is up with that?"

"You don't like?" I asked. She gaped at me.

"Did you gulp down shots of vodka at the gallery last night? Are you hungover? Last time you and I spoke of fashion, this," she said, lip curling at my outfit, "was not in the catalogue."

"I wanted to experiment. I was going to wear high waisted shorts, but I thought the leggings would do me justice." I shrugged. "What's wrong?" Heidi rolled her eyes.

"Babe, you look like a fish out of water. We're all prettied-up and ready to rule the school - and then you've got this summertime-hipster-goth look." She said, trying to explain.

"Okay, 1) Not hipster. 2) Nor is it goth. They are black leggings." I looked at her distraught expression. "Look, I'm experimenting. Besides - at least my eyebrows are still in ship-shape, right?" Heidi pursed her lips, nodding hesitantly. "Hey, I've still got my makeup bag. If something goes disastrously wrong, we'll fix it, because we're incredible like that." I told her. "Look, I might grow out of this. But for now, it makes me feel good, and that's what I'm going to go with."

"I preferred you in knee-high boots and tight leather skirts." She sighed. "Whateves, babe." She smiled. "If it makes you happy, that's totally 'kay."

"Thanks, Heid." I said, pulling her in for a hug. The bell for first period rang, and I waved goodbye at Heidi. "Meet up in our usual spot?"

"Yeah, babe!" She exclaimed, giggling, then turning away. I checked my schedule, seeing I had English first - AP. With Mr. Atter. I blew out, walking to the classroom, passing Alex in the hallway. He stopped, and I felt his light blue gaze on me, but I ignored it, pushing open the door and heading in.