The Conversion

Chapter Four: Goofy Smiles and Cold Water

After my meltdown with Luna, I continued keeping up my popular girl image. I sat at Max's table, but he had yet to ask me out. After school, I would either have rowing or hang out with Luna. We had a lot of catching up to do!

Together, we were beginning to come up with a plan, but we couldn't agree on one thing. She didn't want to become popular, but I wanted to stay how I was. Fortunately, I had convinced her to lay low and not do her usual sassy Veronica Mars act while we figured things out.

Today was one of the days I had rowing, so I had changed in the bathroom and was now riding the bus to the lake. My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was Luna.

We need to talk. I'm not sure if I can do this whole popularity thing.

I texted her back. Yes u can, it's actually pretty easy when no one knows u. Just come to Savannah's party with me tonight. People will love u bc I love u No one will question it.

OK, fine... but what shuld I wear?

I mentally went through her wardrobe. wear ur bright blue polka dotted dress with ur gold bird pendant...

She immediately texted me back. What about my hair and shoes?

Remember that time u french braided ur hair to the side @ the school dance? do that. wear ur gold heels.

Those!!!! But theyre so tall!

I sighed. thats the point, L

Fine...

I smirked. Luna had never liked to wear anything girly. In fact, I was surprised she didn't put up a fuss about the dress. The bus jolted to a stop. I looked up quickly. It was my stop. I grabbed my backpack and stood up, shuffling out of the bus behind a cute boy. Hmmm... what was he doing here? Probably one of the rich kids going on one of those speedboats.

"Hey, you're Bella, right?" he asked me, slowing down to walk beside me.

"Uh... yeah. Should I know you?" I said.

He rolled his eyes. "No, you probably wouldn't. I'm Peter. I just started at your school." I nodded in understanding, turning bubbly, popular girl mode on.

"Cool, it's nice to see you! What are you doing at the lake?" I said cheerfully.

"I'm joining the rowing team. I was about to ask you the same thing. Are you going on your fancy speedboat with your rich daddy?" he said with disdain. I scoffed.

"No, you asshole. I'm on the rowing team. This is my seventh season. So I suggest you don't say things like that to me or anyone else on the team," I sneered. God, he was a jerk! He would get what was coming for him.

He laughed. "I knew you couldn't be as sweet and cheerful as you always pretend to be."

"What are you getting at?" I said, clenching my teeth.

"You always put up an act of being popular and nice, but I know that you're a bitch at heart," he said with a sly grin.

"Excuse me?" I said, completely dropping any fake personalites. "You don't know me, you don't my life! All you know about me is what you've gathered from seeing me at a distance in school and the twisted gossip that has been fed to you! The fact that you now pretend that you know who I am infuriates me. So don't talk to me again or I'll ruin the rest of your high school career," I yelled. Why the hell would someone walk up to a stranger and try to tell them what they were feeling? I stormed up the hill to where the boats were. Peter just calmly continued strolling down the street.

"Hey, Anna. Are you okay? What's up?" Skyler asked me. I frowned.

"Some novice rower came up to me and basically called me a bitch!" I fumed. Skyler and Kendall rose their eyebrows. I repeatedly kicked the pavement.