Barbie Transformation

How to be 'Unpopular'

When I reach home, the familiar smell of grapes fill the air and I run up the stairs to get rid of its stale scent. My father must be back. I take my shoes off and lock the door behind me. I shower and get changed. When I hear loud bangs on my door I start to cry and plead for help.

"Open up! Em, it's, me." My dad slurs and I start to get my pre-made blanket rope from under my bed. "Emmerson! Open this door, now." He shouts and I immediately start to climb down from my window.

When I reach the bottom, I don't know what to do. All I have is my phone. I look thigh my contacts and scroll until I notice Grandma's.

I dial immediately.

"Lily speaking." She answers and I sob, "Granny, it's me, Em. Daddy's back!" I cry and she gasps and hangs up.

Five minutes later, a black BMW comes screeching down the road. Gran opens the backseat door and allows me in. I immediately start to cry onto her shoulder.

"Hush now, it will be alright." My gran caresses my hair and I cry harder.

When we get to her mansion, Gran demands two hot chocolates and she guides me to the lounge and orders someone to start the fire.

"Did he do anything?" Gran asks protectively.

"No, and mother wasn't home." I sniff. "This is terrible." Lily Bear says sadly and hugs me. "I'll call Carol." She says, referring to my mother.

I just nod and she picks up her phone dialling the all-too-familiar number. "Carol? Yes sweetheart. Max is back." Gran says and a loud screech is heard from the end if the line. "I know dear." Gran replies to my mother. "Yes, she's fine, just a little scared. She's at my place and I think it's best if Em stays here for a while. You're welcome to come too, but the other spare bedrooms are being renovated so you'll have to sleep on the couch." Lily talks. "Alright, you do that. Bye." Granny Bear replies and hangs up.

"It's alright darling, Mummy's fine. She's going to stay at a hotel for a few days, okay?" She says and takes the two hot chocolates from the maid and hands me one.

I fall asleep on the couch after watching a few films. I wake up at eleven at night and ponder on what to do. I walk into Gran's study and borrow her laptop.

Logging in, I go onto Facebook and try to search for 'Hunter'.

Four hundred-and eighty eight results pop up and I rub my temples. How am I supposed to identify him if I've never seen his face?

I move my long blonde hair and start to twirl it around my fingers.

What about the year book? Oh. I left it at the house. With my dad...

I curl my knees under my chin and fall asleep in that position until I wake early the next morning.

"Hey Maria." I greet the maid and she smiles at me. "Good morning, Emmy! You could have slept in the other spare room. There is one not being renovated at the moment," she says kindly and I nod, "okay."

"What's for breakfast?" I ask and she grins, "Pig shit and onions on toast!" Maria jokes and I laugh, "that joke is so old, Maria." She chuckles, "Do you know any better jokes?"

I twirl my hair, "no. I don't think so." I reply blankly and sit up straight in the chair.

"So you have school tomorrow, eh?" She asks, trying to engage in conversation. "Yes, I do. But I don't have any clothes here." I frown and Maria smiles, "Im sure Lily will ask the driver to get some." She comforts and I smile slightly. "You don't happen to have mascara here, do you? I have a feeling mine is smeared all over my face." I laugh lightly and Maria grins, "You want that black plastic? Let me tell you a secret..." She starts to make pancakes, "when I was your age, maybe eighteen, my parents didn't allow me to use their mascara." Maria states and I walk with her through memory lane.

"I used my friend's instead, her parents allowed her. I was supposed to meet up with her one day but she was already at the cafe, and of course, I needed to use her mascara. I didn't want to sneak into her room an use it so I walked back to my house and searched for something to use. Instead of mascara, I used black polish." Maria laughs and I rest my elbows on the island table.

"When I reached the cafe, everybody was staring at me and my fried asked me, "What happened?!" And I asked her what was wrong. She took me to the bathroom mirrors and my eyelids were covered in black. I looked like a panda!" Maria and I laughed.

"It was very funny, but I was so embarrassed." She says softly and I smile. "Sometimes it's okay to do something different than what you usually do. But it's not always okay to go off the edge." Maria tells me. "What so you mean?" I ask and Maria stops pouring the milk into the bowl. "For instance, Flowers grow upwards, but sometimes they become adventurous and full of themselves, so they move in all directions. But if they're not smart, the sun won't reach them and they'll die." She explains and I nod.

"So it's like; I'm popular but when I always want to be number one, I make everybody unhappy and jealous." I ask and Maria nods, "If that's what you want to relate it to, then yes."

"Sometimes being the prettiest flower doesn't matter, nor does it matter if you are the smartest. But it does matter which way you grow. Upwards, is the right direction and you want to live happily. So make the right decisions, Emmy. Most people don't even get a choice in which way they grow." Maria reminds me and I frown, "I will."

"Good! Now, white chocolate buttons or blueberries in the pancakes?"

As wise Maria said, "Maybe Lily will ask the driver to collect your clothes", he eventually did. He only brought about two weeks worth of items, which I'm thankful for but, I was hoping he could have brought my Victoria Secret vintage shoes with...

"You're ready for school, right?" Lily double checks and I nod. "My alarm is set for the morning and I'll be the first one to get up in the morning!" I say gleefully.

"Good girl! Now, Granny Bear is off to bed, so have a nice sleep." She kisses my forehead and I smile.