Deconstruction of Privilege

[02] Cassey Williams

Cassey looks up from her scribbled notebook to see all eyes on her.

"Cassey, you will be partered with Amelie," their teachers repeats. Amelie does not know Cassey. She has never noticed the girl with her dirty blonde hair in a messy knot, and the dark circles contrasting her pale skin.

Cassey is last to walk out of the room when the last bell rings. Amelie comes up to her as she sits on her seat, looking like she is about to doze off.

"Um, I'm Amelie," she extends her arm to introduce herself but Cassey just looks at her.

"Everyone knows who you are," she replies instead.

Amelie slowly retracts her arm. She offers to come to her house to start the planning of the big project. Cassey coldly agrees, and they walk the hallways together that afternoon.

Every head is turned, not for the same reason they did when Amelie first arrived on campus; they are staring at the odd pair Amelie Jones and Cassey Williams, when the should be looking at Amelie holding hands with the most popular boy in school.

Amelie waves at the people she passes by on the way out of the school, but Cassey keeps her head down; she is never getting used to the unwanted attention.

Maybe it's the red hoodie she's worn every day of the week, or the black sweatpants that so clearly needs a wash. Maybe it's her unwashed hair, tied in the same knot every single day, each day being a worse hair day than the previous.

It is only under the hot and bright sunlight that Amelie finally pays attention to the girl's face. Her cheekbones are extremely pronounced and her lips are greying like her skin. Amelie has never seen anyone look so... tired.

But what Amelie sees the most when she looks at Cassey is potential. Potential to be pretty and popular, just like her.

"I have to stop by the house first so you just go, text me your address," Cassey announces, putting Amelie's train of thoughts to a halt.

Amelie waves her hand dismissively, "Nah, I'll just come with."

Cassey no longer has the energy to argue, nor does she have the energy to hide. It is smeared all over her face; there is no point in hiding the truth from Ms Perfect, even if sometimes she feels a jab in her heart seeing girls in makeup that costs more than her net worth, or designer bags that could feed her entire family.

They stop in front of a crumbling house, less than half the size of Amelie's. The white sidings have been chipped of as the seasons change, and the lawn is unkempt, with weeds growing all around the house and the grass a pale shade of green and brown.

Amelie has been paranoid the minute they stepped into the neighborhood. She hugs her leather backpack closer to her, and avoids eye contact with the residents.

They enter the house. They are welcomed by an old woman in a wheelchair, Cassey's grandmother. Amelie notes she has a lovely smile, one that makes you want to smile with her.

The house is a mess, with unwashed dishes everywhere. It reeks of coffee. Cassey has four little brothers, and she is the oldest. Her mom works all day 'till late.

They leave the neighborhood with Amelie's heart heavy.

Cassey is Amelie's new project.

Author's Note: 

A little longer than the first. Again, it's a little rough, but I hope it's not too bad. Thank you for reading!