Perfect

I finish putting on my last coat of cotton candy lip-gloss. I look in the mirror and give myself one last confident smile before I head to school. My makeup is perfect, my blonde hair is pin-straight and my clothes don't have one wrinkle in them. I head downstairs, grab my backpack and head to my bus stop.

The smell of fresh dew welcomes me as I open my front door. I walk to my bus stop and sit down on the damp, cold bench. After about 10 minutes, I hear a chirpy and slightly annoying voice.

"Hey Ella! I love your outfit!"

The voice is coming from Jessica. I can't help thinking her overly excited voice is too much for 7:00 am. Jessica has naturally curly, short brown hair that falls right abover her shoulder. She has dark brown eyes and always wear the brightest colors she can find. I smile back at her.

"Hey. Thanks. I like your hair."

It's true. I really did like her hair. It was in her natural curls pulled back by a light blue headband. She giggled.

"Thanks Ella, but it's nothing compared to yours! Mine is a boring brown. Yours is blonde and straight! It's perfect."

These are the sentences that make me cringe. Especially the last word. Perfect. It's what everyone thinks my life is. But what they don't know, is that it's anything but perfect.

My name is Ella Hawkins and this is just the beginning of my story.