No One's Perfect (A Zodiac Story)

Reality Check

Libra

When I first heard that we were going to the mall, I was pretty excited. They've only let us outside two times in the week that we've been here, and even that was for a short time. 

During the drive there, apprehension and anxiety began to take hold of me again. There's people out there. Lots of people. In the hospital, this fact didn't bother me that much because most of the others around me had problems of their own, but out there were the normal people. The ones who made fun of you for being weird.

"Hey, are you okay?" Pisces asked from his seat next to me. 

"Yeah." I said shakily. 

"Oh, okay. You were just a bit pale." Pisces said, before turning back to look out the window. 

I stared down at my hands. No, I couldn't be pale. I needed to get my nerves in check. My outside had to fit in with the crowd, so that no one would notice the flaws inside. 

I steeled my nerves as we entered the building, giving slight acknowledgements to the people that brushed past me on the way out. 

In 

Out

You've got this, Scaler.

I breezed into the Old Navy store, nerves feeling considerably better after I gave myself a pep talk on the way in. Gemini was besides me- he was one of the few friends I had made here. 

I picked out a few hoodies and jackets since Leo had stolen another one, leaving me with only two in my possession. I glanced over to see Gemini holding a few shirts in his arms. 

"Ready?" He asked.

"Yeah," I replied simply, walking up to the counter. 

"That'll be $43.50" The cashier spoke, lazily scanning my items. I pulled out two twenties from my pockets and reached for my wallet, where I knew there would be a few more bills.

When I fumbled with the flimsy latch, I could feel the cashier's and the customers behind me's gaze boring into me. Shit shit shit, I'm moving too slow. They're all thinking for me to get out way, hurry hurry hurry-

I finally opened my wallet and threw out three $1 bills onto the counter, then made a move to close the latch. 

"Sir, you need fifty more cents." The cashier said, this time with a hint of annoyance at me. 

Oh no, I'm so stupid, it was $43.50, how could I have forgotten?

I threw another dollar bill out and mumbled my apology, before hurrying out of the store, clothes in hand. I didn't even get my change. 

Shit. I'm a walking disaster.

"Libra, you alri-"

"I'm gonna go to the restroom. See you at the food court?" I cut in, anxious to get away. 

"Yeah, sure. Watch out for yourself, man." Gemini said slowly, giving me a once-over. 

I nodded and hastily retreated. I finally made my way to the corner of the mall, where the only person was a janitor who was busy cleaning the restrooms quite a few feet away.

So stupid, I thought angrily, punching the wall. You always fuck things up. Reality check: You're a dumbass. Always lagging behind, not fitting in, you're the odd one out, Scaler.

Maybe I'd just be better off away from everyone.

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Taurus

I couldn't help the wave of disgust that rolled over me when I couldn't even fit into the size 0 skinny jeans. I used to be able to fit into those and size 00 with ease, sometimes even size 000. Not to be dramatic... but I took pride in my jean size. They were like a part of who I was. You know, the details that may seem insignificant but actually mattered a lot to the person.

Why the hell did I ever try to gain weight? That was a terrible mistake. I was fat, and ugly. I didn't deserve more food. My new jean size was perfect proof of that. 

"Do you want to get anything?" asked Aquarius, snapping me out of my thoughts. She was also looking through stuff next to me. 

"No," I said, even though the only clothes I could fit in now were my t-shirts and sweatpants. "I don't want any of them."

I slowly made my way to the mirror, trailing behind Aquarius as she held up a pair of jeans in front of her. 

"Think these will fit me?" She asked. 

I shrugged. "Why don't you go try them out? I'll wait." 

"Okay, thanks!" She replied, hurrying into the dressing room. 

The moment she left, my reflection in the mirror warped. The downcast expression that had been on my face twisted into a sneer, and cold fingers reached out to grip my jaw tightly.

"Hey, fatass." My reflection growled, steely brown eyes boring into my own. "Reality check, how much weight have you gained recently? Better lose it quickly before someone notices you've been putting on quite a few pounds, eh?"

And with that, everything shifted back to the way it was a few moments ago. My reflection looked exactly like itself again- like me. 

Fat. Too wide around the waist. And my arms- holy heck, they could be wood clubs that cavemen use.

Dammit. I needed to lose a lot of weight.

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Scorpio

The silky satin shirt was soft in my hands, the edges slipping through my fingers like water from the tap.

It was a nice shirt. Pretty cool design, great material, hell- I was never one to care about what I wore, but I wanted this one.

Then I flipped the shirt over and saw the price tag.

$35.99

We'd all been given $20 by the hospital for the mall trip, and that included our lunches. Whatever else we wanted to buy had to come out of our own wallets.

I sighed. Just when I thought I was fitting in again. I glanced over and saw Capricorn with a couple pairs of leggings in her hands. Even the girl with a stick up her ass 24/7 was shopping without a care.

Who was I kidding? I really needed to bring my head back down to earth. Being surrounded with kids whose problems seemed to overshadow my own had given me a sense of normalcy. Reality check: I'd always be the weird orphan who never fit in. The poor kid. Better get that fact implanted into my brain before it was too late.

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Hey everyone, I'm still alive! I'll be working on chapters for this book as I attempt to overcome writing block for Hit and Run!

Anyways, if you enjoyed, please vote or comment!