Expelled

02 || Reflection

"Who is that girl I see, staring straight, back at me?"

"Charlene! What's taking you so long? Don't you want to see Lola and Summer?" Charlene's mother called from outside Charlene's bedroom door, where she'd been standing for the past five minutes.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Charlene sighed, sliding one last lock of hair through her hair straightener. She hid it under her pillow, then gave herself a once-over in the mirror. She wondered if her friends would even recognize her. Maybe they wouldn't. Charlene gave a small smile, but then her hand flew to her neck. She was torn. Should she put on the necklace, or did she want Lola and Summer to know she was over them? Over them. Charlene's stomach twisted at the phrase. She slipped on the necklace she'd been given years ago and headed for the door.

"I'm ready," she told her mother as she stepped past her and into the hallway. Her mother's gaze followed her as she made her way down the stairs.

"You look different," she told her daughter. "Why so?"

"Just trying out something new," Charlene mumbled, hurrying into the bathroom before her mother could say anything else. She took a deep breath, then adjusted her hair once more and followed her mother to the house next door, Lola's. Summer's was yet another door down, two away from Charlene's. Lola and Summer were both waiting on Lola's porch when Charlene approached.

"Hey Charlie!" they cried, jumping off the steps and running to hug her.

"Hi, um, Lola, Summer," Charlene replied, offering a small smile.

"Girls, are your mothers home?" Charlene's mother asked from outside their tight hug.

"Yeah, they're inside," Lola replied.

"Thank you, Lola. Have a good time girls."

"Thank you, Ms. Dixon," Summer called as Charlene's mother stepped into the house.

"I love your sweater," Lola told Charlene, reaching out to finger the soft fabric. Charlene stepped back, pulling the sweater out of Lola's reach.

"Thanks," she said. An awkward silence fell over the group. The girls were clearly confused about Charelene's new look, but they didn't want to insult her.

"Let's go to my house," Lola finally said.

"Sure," Charlene and Summer replied in unison, following Lola into the house next door and up to Lola's room.

"You sure got unpacked fast," Charlene joked as she looked around the room which, if possible, was even messier than the rest of the house. The desk was cluttered with supplies and the closet was overflowing into the room, but the center of the tornado, so to speak, was Summer's bed. It had been left an unmade heap of blankets, pillows, and a colorful mix of papers, clothes, books, and things Charlene couldn't even begin to identify.

"Yeah, I was trying to clean but then I started reading 'The Escape' and I got a little distracted," Lola said with a laugh. Charlene tried to laugh as well, but her laugh was dry and fake. suddenly didn't find Lola's bookworm habits as exciting anymore. Instead, then now seemed...dorky. Charlene couldn't believe herself. Was she really insulting her own friend now?

"So, how's Berkshire Academy?" Summer asked Charlene as Lola studied the back cover of a book that she'd pulled off of her bed.

"It's...good," Charlene said vaguely, not wanting to get too deep into the topic. "Um, how was your last week?"

"It was great," Lola told her, finally looking up. "Everyone told us to say goodbye to you," she added. Charlene felt touched.

"Thanks," she whispered, guilt washing over her.

"Let's go get some snacks," Lola suggested. Summer stood up, ready to follow Lola out the door. Charlene just shook her head.

"I'm...not that hungry," she lied. Lola shrugged and headed out, Summer trailing on her heels like a lost puppy. Once they were gone, Charlene stood up and took the opportunity to snoop around. Lola was still the same girl she'd been before they left. Books were left, right, and center, along with a couple blue ribbons and motivational posters. Charlene walked over to the closet, which had a mirror hanging on the back of the door, and stared at her outfit, hair, and makeup.

Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me? she asked herself. Charlene barely recognized the girl in the mirror. Was this really her? Could she have changed this much in just a week?

"We got food!"

Charlene jumped as Lola burst into the room carrying a plate stacked high with everything from brownies to granola bars. Summer entered two seconds behind her, looking a bit less frazzled and holding a plate of white chocolate chip cookies.

"Ooh, white chocolate!" Charlene hurried over, taking the plate from Summer and immediately grabbing a cookie. As the girls ate and talked, it started feeling more like the old times. In fact, to Charlene, it started feeling too much like the old times. So much so that she started to wonder if she should go through with her plan at all. And just like that, the moment was over. She couldn't let herself get swept back up with her old friends again, it'd only make it that much harder to get rid of them. But Charlene loved being with these girls so much. She blinked, and suddenly her mind refocused.

"I should get going," Charlene said quickly as they were finishing off the brownies. "I have to, um, get ready. For Monday. For school. Bye!"

Without another word, she dashed out of Lola's room, through the house, and kept running until she reached the sidewalk, where she crashed straight into another girl. Charlene looked up and immediately recognized her from her English class--Candice, maybe? She didn't quite remember.

"Sorry!" The girl cried quickly, jumping out of the way. Charlene bit her lip.

"It's all right," she told the girl--Candice?

"No, no, I'm really sorry," the girl insisted. "I didn't mean to walk into your path."

"It's all right," Charlene repeated, wishing the girl would just let her go already.

"Are you sure?" The girl asked. "Do you need me to walk you-"

"I'm fine!" Charlene cried. The girl stepped back.

"I--I'm sorry, I didn't mean to--"

"It's fine, I just have to go," Charlene said quickly, turning on her heel and heading to the house next door. She collapsed on her own bed with just her phone, her laptop, and a bottle of water. It was official. Charlene had clearly changed.