The Improvement Plan

Seven

Hope sat in her room looking absently into the mirror above her white dresser, lost in thought. It was not every day that someone took the time to write a song about her. 

"Honey," a knock on the door brought her back as her mom entered the room. "I have a client coming- is everything alright?"

She was pulling her hair into a ponytail as she spoke. The black apron was already tied tightly to her curvy body over her white blouse, a pair of silver scissors hung neatly in a pocket.

"Yeah," Hope stood up and smiled. Her mother's pink lip-glossed lips pressed into a thin line but she didn't push. "Of course, Mama. Who's coming?"

"Her name's Mrs. Parker," she said. "Seems like a nice woman. Are you sure you're okay, darlin'?"

"Ma, I'm fine," Hope assured again.

Her mother left the room after a few seconds of silence. Hope let out a dramatic sigh and flopped back down on her bed. She laid on her back and stared at the plain white ceiling. The song was about her but he had accepted the napkin with someone else's number on it.

Hope pushed the thought out of her head, feeling guilty at being jealous. He wasn't hers.

Why did she feel so upset about the napkin? It proved that her improvement plan had worked. He was good looking and free to express himself. He had gained new confidence in himself, or Hope assumed he had. It would have been hard not to once he realized how many people wanted to be connected with him, to meet him, after performing.

Hope understood perfectly why she was upset. She didn't want to end up hurt, just like her mom had been when Hope's dad had cheated on her. Alex didn't seem that kind of person, but Hope was in a place in her life where people were hard to trust. She didn't want to add another heartbreak to her book.

She didn't talk to him for the rest of the weekend.

*

*

In the halls people were talking loudly to each other, swarming every inch of silence. Hope only caught portions of conversations as she went on her way to her locker.

"-his voice was so beautiful," said one girl.

"You were there?" Another asked.

"He's so hot."

"Who knew he had it in him?"

"He looks like a douche," whined a random guy.

The exchanging of voices continued as Hope reached her locker. She entered the combo quickly, wishing she could get out of the crowd of overly excited people. A bump to her shoulder caused her to drop her mathematics book she had been holding back into her locker. It landed at the bottom with a sudden thud.

"Oh, I'm sorry," a girl with strawberry blonde hair and bright red lipstick said. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and adjusted her floral shirt so it wasn't falling off her shoulders. "Hey, aren't you Alex Denburg's friend?"

"Um..." Hope looked around, confused by the random question. "Yes?"

"You're the new girl, right? The one who can sing?"

"Yeah-"

"I love your outfit," the girl gushed. Hope couldn't tell if she genuinely meant it or if she was just trying to smooth things over for slamming into her. She looked down at her light maroon dress, long multi-layered pearl necklace, and country boots. It was a casual outfit for Hope but the girl apparently loved it.

"Thank you."

"Hey," Jessica intruded. She glanced at the girl with strawberry blonde hair. "Bye, Penelope."