Skinny

Summer Before Senior Year

Chapter Three:

What about this one?" Mia came out in a bright pink bikini and I grinned, blinking dramatically.

"It's blinding. It's you, but tone down the shade a bit?" She nodded and held up another, less bright pink one.

I had my bikinis in hand, but I didn't want to try them on because there were guys roaming the store, some with their girlfriends and others were here in groups. The store we were in was having a pre-season sale and it seemed everyone knew about it. As I glanced around the store, I saw Mick and jumped out of my seat. He was with his friends and a short blond girl, who was chatting his ear off. He looked annoyed with her. I quickly ran into the dressing room with Mia.

"What the--?"

"Mick's here," I whispered, suddenly loathing the fact that this was the only mall in our small, apparently overpopulated town.

"With someone?" I nodded. She smiled. "Revenge plot begins." She slipped on her shirt, given that she was almost dressed, and I knew what was coming. "So, Vee," she winked at me.

"Vee?"

"He can't know it's you." She had a point there. It would answer my question as to how different I looked now, if I went by a different name.

"You should call me by my middle name. No one at school knows it," I informed her.

"Ok so, Raven, try on your bikinis. This one first." She picked out the red and black one that I really liked. I nodded and she left the dressing room. I got undressed quickly and put on the bikini. I looked at myself and grinned, glad I had thought to shave my legs this morning.

"Raven, are you gonna show me or not? Don't be so dang shy-- Oh hey Mick."

"Mia, I don't want to. I look fat." I was playing along, since I knew he could hear me and I figured he knew the sound of my voice.

"Come on, we want to be the judge of that," Mick said, I knew he was smirking. I could tell by the snicker in his voice.

He had to know it was me because I was practically Mia's only friend. Her parents were wealthy, but I had known her since we were babies. They liked me better than anyone else because everyone else had been mean to her before they understood the value of money. I hadn't, I had stood by her side the entire time. I valued her friendship and her opinion above anyone else's. I opened the door and peeked out to find I had drawn a crowd.

"No, I'm not coming out! There's too many people watching," I said, blushing because of the large crowd of guys.

Mick smiled probably thinking I was blushing because of him. Self-centered prick. Mia walked over and yanked the door open. I stood there in a bikini that suddenly felt too small. Mia pulled me over to the three way mirrors and I looked at myself from the different views. Mick's mouth was hanging open and so were many other guys. Some of the girls grimaced at me and dragged their boyfriends away. I smiled and Mick closed his mouth. The blond with him eyed me with an angry glare.

A taller guy behind him pushed through the crowd, probably wondering what the big deal was. Mia squealed at his appearance and ran to hug him. I turned around and walked over to them. Mick was slowly walking to me. I stopped as he blocked my way.

"Why hello there," he said, smiling down at me.

"No," I said. I walked around him; he grabbed my wrist.

"No?" He asked. I turned and looked at his hand on my wrist.

"Let me go, Mick," I said, with an edge of warning in my voice. I was no longer that pathetic little girl he had conned into being his girlfriend. I was stronger now and I wouldn't let him touch me ever again.