Switched

Chapter 3- Melissa

I tugged on the hem of my past-the-knee yellow and brown plaid skirt, wondering if it was possible for any piece of clothing to be this hideous. It's officially been decided. My parents don't have any sense of fashion whatsoever. I mean, do they honestly expect me to wear this? And it doesn't help that it's been matched with a dull red puffy blouse. I spinned around slowly, trying to fake being perfectly excited about this outfit. My parents clapped their hands together in glee. They were sitting down in the family room waiting for me to model the first day of school ensemble they had bought for me. When I received the package, I had a little bit of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they had gone to Forever 21 instead of The Yellow Boat (like how is that the name of a fashion store)? I would definitely understand if it was a fancy seafood restaurant, but a store that sells clothing? No way. Anyways, The Yellow Boat (known as the Fabric Graveyard by my friends and I) is my mom's absolute favorite store. She'll buy literally everything there.

"Do you like it?" she asked, even though she knew I would say yes no matter what.

"This outfit is where fabric goes to die," I wanted to say back. But instead, I just swallowed and smiled. "It's...lovely."

My mother stood up and pinched my cheek. "I knew you would love it! It looks absolutely amazing, right Han?" Her husband looked up from the newspaper he was reading and nodded.

"You're mother has an eye for style," he agreed. This was an absolute disaster. I knew my parents wouldn't change their minds about letting me express my own style, but I had to do something. Maybe now that I was 15 they might let me wear what I want for once.

"Um, Mother," I said. My mother looked up from the overly thick scarf she was knitting and waited for me to say more. I was at a loss for words. This wouldn't work out. "This outfit is," I paused. "Great," I continued, cringing, "but maybe for 10th grade I could wear something from, oh I don't know, Forever 21?" I tried anyway. She just sat there for a few seconds and a smile began to emerge on her face.

"Oh sweetheart, you're growing up." She got a little teary and stood by me. Wait, was this actually working? Ohmygosh, this was working! "But whenever you're 25, you can do anything you want. Right now you are still so young. You will wear this." I looked down. I should have known. Living a double life was easier.

Did you actually think I wore this stuff at school? No way! I used my birthday money and other cash I got from Christmas and some bake sales to buy myself clothes that actually looked good. One of my best friends, Lindsay was always buying me new clothes because she felt so bad that I have to wear these "murdered clothes." Her parents were loaded with money that she always snuck into my purse with a wink whenever I came over. And Cindy helped out in whatever way she could too. Her grandparents were mega-rich and owned a beach house in Bermuda.

Stashed away in my closet, unknown to everyone but me and my friends, was a collection of neatly stacked Forever 21 cashmere sweaters, low-rise jeans from Hot Topic, and golden sandals from Zara (generously donated by Lindsay, who loved everything from that boutique). Obviously I had the money to buy all this stuff myself, but my parents would know if something was gone, which was why I always had to use money I collected by myself, which led to never-ending babysitting jobs for the neighbors.

"But," my mom continued. Was she reconsidering what I had told her? "I did make something for you by myself!" She held up the thick, wool scarf that would surely strangle me if I put it on.

Sigh. Hopefully, things were going better for Lindsay and Cindy.