(MOMENTARILY ON HOLD) The Other Girl (Harry Styles)

The Other Girl

Prologue

I know that I should be grateful to have a best friend like Chloe, but I can’t help feeling just a little bitter towards her sometimes. Chloe’s that perfect girl you read about in the books and watch on TV, that girl you envy when she sweeps past you in the school hallway, that girl who unofficially gets voted ‘most likely to become a model’ every single day of every single year.

Don’t ask me why Chloe chose me to be her best friend. You’re as equally likely to see a girl like me in a movie or in a book, but not for the same reasons as for Chloe. I’m the invisible girl nobody notices, hidden in Chloe’s shadow, permanently outshone by Chloe’s stunning beauty and style and just perfectness. I'm 'the other girl'.

And yet Chloe sticks with me, always has me go shopping with her, and never goes somewhere without me, except for the bathroom. It gives me a warm feeling, but an icy one at the same time.

But deep down I know that Chloe doesn’t just let me tag along because I’m her ‘best friend forever’.

Chloe likes to compete with me a lot; I think she likes the feeling of winning. When I was in sixth grade I liked this guy that Chloe thought was ‘gross’, but when I told Chloe of my feelings for him, she instantly chatted him up, flirted with him, and in a matter of days they were dating. I can remember how angry I was at Chloe that time, but how Chloe managed to soften me by pleading for me to forgive her and swearing that she didn’t mean to hurt me.

See? Some people say I’m too easy to win over. Still, sometimes it’s easier for me to be that quiet girl who says ‘sure, that’s fine’ to everything rather than the feisty fashion-loving girl like Chloe. And not just because I don’t know much about all that stuff – it’s because I know that Chloe would never let me become that girl. Chloe likes being in the spotlight, and if I do anything to threaten that, she’ll socially destroy me.

Besides, I’m not special like her. I’ve got nothing to offer. I know that in the end I’m basically a servant. Chloe’s the star, not me. I don’t even know why I feel so jealous; if Chloe’s the ocean, I’m a muddy puddle. I'm nothing against her, nothing. I should just be happy that I get to go around with the most popular girl in the city.

So why do I always feel so alone?