The Headturner

The Options

Chapter Three - The Options

She looked at the skinny models in "Vogue" magazine. She felt a pang of jealousy burning inside her. How she longed to look like them? She knew it was impossible to look like them, but still, no harm in dreaming, right?

"They probably have buttload of money. They can afford to look like this. With all the cosmetic surgeries and all. Who would pay for poor me?" She pouted at herself. She did know about people throwing up to look skinny. But it sounded too desperate. She was not so desperate, was she?

"No," she told herself. "I am not that girl." She reassured herself. "Now quit obsessing and focus on your studies."

She remembered about the Chemistry notes that Adam had returned to her and suddenly her thoughts wandered to him. How he looked at her with his hazel eyes. "He is way out of your league", she reminded herself again. She absentmindedly flipped through the pages, but stopped abruptly when she saw it. There lay a red rose tucked between the pages. A bit too much cliched but still it was nice. Nobody was ever nice to her. She was too confused with what was happening in her life right now. It was too much to bear.

She was woken up next morning by the sunlight in her bedroom. She apparently had fallen asleep, with her arms around her Chemistry notes.

Her memories of last night flashed back. She opened her notes again. The rose was still there. She had not dreamt it after all. She found herself blushing, against her will.

"Anne, you are going to be late for school!!!" Her mom was calling from the kitchen. She could smell the pancakes in the kitchen. As if on cue, her stomach growled. "No", she said with determination and got ready for school. She put on her bulky, distasteful clothes.

She cringed at her reflection in the mirror. If she wanted a makeover, she had to get new clothes.

"Mom, I'm so late, I don't even have time to grab a bite."

"What are you talking about? You still have half an hour till school starts. You've got plenty of time."

"Um, I've got practice," she lied. She felt guilty but could not afford to eat that much calories, no matter how tempting they looked.

"Have some juice at least."

"Yeah, ok mom." She hesitated before asking. "Uh, mom? I need some new clothes."

"What about the clothes you have now? What's wrong with them?"

"Nothing. I just... other kids have such nice clothes. I just don't feel like I fit in school."

"Honey, I know you feel peer pressure and want to wear nice clothes. But it does not matter, since you go to school to learn, not to show off." She was starting to feel disappointed when her mother added, "I don't want you to let them get to you. But sure, we will get you some new clothes. Just promise me you will eat something at the cafeteria at least."

"Uhh, moms..." She thought. But nodded and rushed out.

She didn't have any practice. It was not like she was a part of any band or something. She just wanted to walk to school. Get some exercise. Her stomach growled again. She chose to ignore it.

A/N: Hello readers!!! How are you today? Thank you for reading my story. Vote if you like it :)