Finding the real Khloe

How it all began..

"Yeah, she's definitely trying too hard. Why on earth would someone wear that?", Lara comments as she scrolls through her Instagram feed. I get up from the window seat and walk towards my bed. I lay on my back and close my eyes.

"So junior year starts in two weeks. Are we going to talk about it Khloe?" I groan softly and take a deep breath. The left side of the bed dips slightly and I slowly open my eyes.
"What about junior year Lara? I thought we already went over this during summer." She nudges me and I sit up. I grab one of the thousand pillows on my bed and clutch it to my chest.
"For ten years I have watched you make yourself invisible during school and it bugs me. I'm your best friend and I know we are totally different but you've got to loosen the reigns at some point in your life. I think junior year is that point." Lara combs her hand through my hair.

"It's not so simple and you know it. You're the head cheerleader, you're dating the most popular guy in school, you're the founder of the Girls in Science club, you're a chairman of the fundraising comitee, and you also volunteer to so many charities. I'm just me. Nobody at school even knows who I am." I sigh sadly and lie on my back again. I stare at the ceiling as Lara thinks of her response.

She puts her hand on my forehead and then kisses it.
"Honey, you're so much more than that. You are this cool, smart and shy hot chick. Yes, you don't like being very social as I am but you are special. So I'm going to ask you to do me a favour?" I hesitantly nod.

"You have to promise me that you will not shy away from the entire world. You'll make more friends,come to games and party's, go on school trips, join a couple of clubs, and just enjoy junior year. I know it will be hard for you but just give it a try. For me." She looked at me hopefully and I get up once more.
"I'd say yes but I don't even know where to begin." I say frustrated and she gets off the bed and starts putting on her heels.
"That's why you have me in your life. When you were being nerdy in the library I was learning all of this and now you don't have to go through it all alone. First stop is the mall." She says signalling for me to join her.

"Why the mall?", I ask looking for my sneakers and pulling them on.
"I have three answers for that. Firstly, you literally only have sweatpants and old tshirts. Secondly, you have to make a good impression on other people. To have a great year you need to have a great beginning. And lastly, you have zero fashion sense which is why I'm going with you."
I looked at her and rolled my eyes, before leaving my room and following  Lara downstairs, I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

Lara wasn't wrong.
I could try harder and my fashion sense was non-existent. So maybe this wasn't the worst thing ever. Maybe I could enjoy junior year and act like a normal teenager. And if i can't at least I will have tried to.

"Khloe, honey." I turn to see my dad at the my door. I give him a faint smile.

Quick back story on my life: my mom and dad were married for 11 years and had 2 kids. Me and my 7 year old little sister, Kitty. My mom died a few days after giving birth to Kitty and since then it has just been me, Kitty and my dad. My dad tries to make our lives as normal as he can but the pressure is on as he only has daughters. The fact that my dad is a high profile surgeon doesn't make it any better. He always is meeting some clients and sometimes overseas and I'll be left alone with Kitty. He keeps himself busy with work but I can tell that he is lonely.

"Lara tells me that you two will be heading to the mall for some shopping." He says and I nod.
"Yes I'm sorry that I didn't let you know earlier but it was kinda a spur of the moment thing dad." I say apologetically.
"Oh no. It's quite alright really. I'm actually happy about this. You're finally becoming a normal teenager.",he puts his hand in his pocket and pulls out his wallet.
"Dad honestly, I have money saved up and I can just use that.... you don't have to..."  I say trying to reject his offer kindly.
"Honey,save that money for something else. Here's my card. You know the pin and honestly have fun. Kitty and I are headed for the zoo." He says placing the bank card in my hand and squeezing my hand slightly. He turned and walks away.

I look down at the card and take a deep breath.
"Khloe!! Are you ready yet?"Lara shouts from downstairs. I walk out my room and take the stairs two at a time.
"Yeah I'm ready." I say with a smile on my face and show her my dad's bank card. She raises her eyebrows and makes a face. I giggle.
"You lucky little duck." I shrug and let her drag me to her brand new car.

Quick backstory on Lara's life:
Her mom and dad were married for 5 years then got divorced and she's an only child. Her mom is a stylist for many celebs and high-rollers and her dad is a famous football player. They only got divorced because of her father's infidelities. So now she has two super rich parents competing for her affection by buying her gifts and not actually paying attention to her.

"I've got to call my mom so be quiet." She says as she dials her mom's number and puts her phone on speaker. She starts the car and starts driving away from my house.
"Hey mom."
"Hey Lara,quick question leopard print or snakeskin?" I frown.
"Neither, a simple colour will do just fine. Don't forget that accessories also contribute alot."
"I've taught you well. Anyway what's up?"
"I want to take Khloe shopping. Get her looking good for junior year. Hopefully catch a boyfriend." I give her a look.
"Oh my soul. If you could do that we will all owe you a gift. She's so beautiful but she hides under those boys clothes." Lara laughs and I sigh
"Hi Ms Dales." I say.
"I'm on speaker, well I don't mind. You two have fun shopping."

A couple of minutes later we arrive at the mall and walk in.
"So sensei Lara where do we begin?" She walks ahead of me and I simply follow.

We hit atleast five stores and only bought 3 outfits
A black dress that hugs my body and shows a little cleavage and a pair of black open toe wedges.
Baby blue loose shorts, and a black vest to be worn with a black blazer and black heels as shoes.
A grey skirt and white tshirt with knee length stripped socks and high heeled boots with spikes on it.

"Lara I'm hungry!" I say as we walk past the food court.
"Fine we will take a break then." We walk up to McDonald's and order.
"So what do we do after this little break?" I ask whilst waiting for our order.
"Well now that you have seen how I pair out these outfits I'm thinking you can do it at home. Now we shop randomly. Jeans, skirts, tops, belts, bags, jackets, caps, dresses, the list goes on. If you like it and you look good in it we buy. And if you still are in one piece we go brand shopping courtesy of my mother!" I nod and they call out our order number.

We decide not to sit and just walk and shop whilst eating.
"Hey, I was looking at your Instagram account and it is about books you read and like there's only one picture of you here." Lara calls out as I am trying on a pair of black jeans and a red see through loose cropshirt.
"Yeah I know but I am not you Lara. I don't look good in pictures." I say stepping out of the fitting room cubicle.
"Damn, I think I just made you look too hot." I chuckle and we laugh hard.

That night as I walked back into the house with atleast 10 new pairs of jeans, a designer backpack, 4 belts, a ring set, 3 different bracelet sets, 7 hoodies, 7 jackets, atleast 6 pairs of shoes and tons more I felt happy. I spent the day being happy with my best friend and learnt that I actually love shopping.
"That is a big smile and it makes me happy."  I shrug and he offers to help me with my bags. We walk up the stairs and into my dark room.
We put the bags on the floor and on my bed and walk back downstairs.

"Kitty ordered pizza and we are watching movies you in?" I nod and join my little sister on the couch.
"You missed out on a fun day at the zoo. They got a new elephant." She says and I ruffle her hair.
"Kitty your hair is a mess. Before school starts we need to have a girls spa day."
"Daddy can we?" My dad looks at me and nods.
"Of course, anything for my girls." he kisses Kitty's forehead and she giggles.