The Monitor Masquerade

Level 14

GraceKelli's POV

"Please just do it!!"

"NO!" I shout back at Prince.

A collection of pleases and do its are shouted back at be from the guys.

"Gracie listen to me right now." Jordan said. The guys had gotten into different ways to say Grace, careful to not let it slip that I was in fact a Kelli and not a Grace. "You either do this, or you have to come to Central Station Comics with us and create a DnD character."

"I'm not letting anyone dress me up."

"Look just let her dress you up. It's not like she has terrible taste. You fit in her clothes and if you don't like anything you always have your own." Ryan slurs through the mic.

"Yeah I don't know..."

"Ryan are you drinking again?" Zach asks worried.

"I'm fine calm down Mr. Diamond Dick."

"RYAN I TOLD YOU TO STOP CALLING ME THAT FOR CHRIST'S SAKE I'M ON MY WAY OVER THERE NOW! STOP DRINKING!!" Zach left the call.

"I hate that that's the only way to get him to come over these days."

"Maybe just tell him?" Andy asks cautiously.

Ryan made a puffing noise. "Tell him what?" Jordan asked.

"That I...I don't know..."

"That you want to date him? In a fully commitment kind of way." Prince blurts out of place.

"Yeah that." Ryan took no notice.

"I get that. Its hard to tell people who you are friends with that you like them. Even if you think you do stand a chance. I get that."

"Oh?? Prince gotta Princess???" Jordan asks knowing vaguely of his shitty girlfriend.

"I don't know...like I said it's hard. Especially when they have someone else."

I felt all eyes dart on me even though I was hidden behind a screen. I was lost in code, somewhere in the ones and zeros of a program.

"Fine I'll play dress up."

"Good choice." Prince said totally normal. "Send me a picture of what you plan on wearing tomorrow. I'll give the final go on it."

"I'm not sending you a picture of me."

"This whole identity thing is really getting on my nerves Grace, you know that?" His voice was playful but had an edge to it. "Just lay the clothes out and send a picture."

"Okay." I was already texting Anya.

That night she came over to help me pick an outfit. "So tomorrow will be kind warm it looks like so you could get away with a t-shirt and a light jacket since its always freezing first hour."

I pull out some worn jeans and my black high tops. "This look good?"

"Kelli. Those jeans have holes in them...and not the good kind. Do you own skinny jeans?"

"Yeah I think." I looked through my drawers and pulled out a pair.

"Perfect. Now we want to keep your personality in this. I don't want you to look like I made you over because that is lying. We want Taylor to like you for you. So lets see all the fitted t-shirts you have."

"Fitted?" I felt a little dizzy. I can't go through with this. I start doubting everything. I can't move.

"It means tight fitting, like, it shows your figure. Like what I'm wearing." I looked at her plain white t-shirt. It fit in all the right places but look comfortable. I pulled out a black skull shirt. "It'll work. What about a jacket?" I fanned through the clothes in my closet for my favorite green flannel shirt. "Perfect. Put it all on now and lets see." I hated changing in front of people. I turned a way a little and took off my shirt. "Fuck Kelli."

"What??" I didn't move I was paralyzed with fear.

"Do you always wear a sports bra?"

"Yeah usually why??"

"Oh my...KELLI WEAR A REAL BRA!!"

"Okay!!" I ran over and pulled out a t-shirt bra my mom got for me the other day on sale. I put it on then the t-shirt, somehow managed to get the skinny jeans on and finished it off with my shoes. I grabbed my flannel at the last minute.

"I can work with this." Anya smiled a big smile.

We spend the night flat ironing my hair which I argued didn't need it but it did look less messy after the fact.  I send Prince the picture including a black beanie I throw in at the last second. He gave the thumbs up saying Romeo was lucky to have a girl with killer clothes. I smiled but felt a pit in my stomach. Yeah, Romeo. Anya came over early that morning to do my make up. Nothing killer just some liner and concealer. "The goal with make up is to high light your features not hide them." Anya had said. I drove to school like I normally did on Fridays and Jason was freaking out over the transformation I had gone through.

"Kelli so many of my friends are going to start hitting on you. Why did you do this to me?!"

"Cause I love you." I said but really I was just scared. What if it didn't work? What if Taylor doesn't notice me? We got to school and I immediately went to the bathroom to hid. My phone buzzed.

PrinceOfASSHOLES: YOU GOT THIS!!! STAY CONFIDENT YOU ARE GRACE MOTHERFUCKING KELLI! YOU COULD TEAR HIS ASS APART ANY DAY!! FEAR NOTHING!!!!!

I smiled and put my phone away taking a deep breath. I went to my locker and pulled out my books for the day. I liked getting them in the morning as opposed to at lunch or between classes. I saw my class at the beginning of the hallway and say Taylor standing outside. I turned around and looked the other way at my locker. I can do this. Just walk in with confidence. You are GraceKelli feared by all gamers. Taylor is just a guy. I can do this. I took a deep breath and turned around.

I dropped my books.

It all happened so fast. I turned and saw Taylor making out with Amber. I was mad he was still with her after Felix. I was mad that it wasn't me in his arms. But more than anything I felt stupid he would ever go for someone like me. I dropped my books in utter shook. I cursed myself trying as hard as I could not to cry as I picked them up. The loud crashing sound stopped everything including Taylor and Amber. I couldn't walk past them. I couldn't walk past him. Not with what just happened. Not with everyone watching me. I felt dizzy and my throat closed up. I couldn't breath. I ran out the school, books and all. I heard somewhere in my head Prince's voice shouting my name and other things I couldn't make out. I felt another wave of panic run over me thinking about how I would ruin my chances with Prince just like I did with Taylor. I liked Prince. I could see it now. He was perfect. But I couldn't take any chances. I felt the panic attack pounding on my veins and in my chest begging for release. I got in my car and drove straight home. I texted my mom that I came home sick and would email my teacher for make up work even though we both knew I wouldn't.  I texted Anya and Jason to take the bus and that I was sick and left. Then I texted Prince telling him it didn't work, I saw him kissing his ex and that I got so worked up over something as small as that I sent myself spiraling into a full blown panic attack. I got went straight to my bed and stayed there crying and hyperventilating alone in the somewhat dark for about three hours.

Wow. I am such a catch.