AllFreeNovel
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I stop the recording and throw my phone down. How do influencers do this? I feel awkward talking to myself! I stand and stretch my legs, trying to plot the words out in my mind. Mrs. Reyes said I need to pretend like I’m talking to another person. I need a name. I plop down in the purple moon chair beside my bed. Stephanie and I found it at a farmers market a few months ago and we cleaned it up. It’s totally retro, and I love it! I sigh and push record again.
“Hey Steve, so here’s the story. I’m supposed to be popular. At least that was always the plan.”
I spill everything that happened this morning, describing every gruesome detail. And when I’m done, I do actually feel a bit better. But I have no intention of telling Mrs. Reyes that.
Chapter Three
My head is hiding in my locker when Stephanie comes up behind me the next day.
“I didn’t realize we started using our lockers again, I’ve been looking for you everywhere,” she said.
When I don’t respond, she tries to make a joke.
“I’m not sure you can fit in there, but if you want to give it a go, I’ll push from behind,” she says.
I pull my head out slowly and look at Stephanie.
“Whoa!” she says, taking a step back. Then she leans closer again and wipes my cheek with her thumb. “Emma? Is that you under there?”
“I know! It’s awful, isn’t it?” I put my head back in my locker and pull the door against my neck. “I don’t need to go to classes today. I’ll just stay here until school is over, then I’ll sneak home once everyone is gone.”
Stephanie pulls me back out again. “It’s not that bad. In fact, you look kinda stunning. It just caught me off guard is all. You don’t typically wear makeup.”
“My mom took me to get my eyebrows threaded yesterday after school. It was horrible! Then this morning, she attacked me with her paint brushes.”
“You mean makeup brushes?” Stephanie smiles and I want to murder her. This is not funny.
“It feels like the same thing,” I say, closing my locker door. I hold my history book up to cover my face.
“Babe, you realize you puked in front of the entire school yesterday, right? A couple kids even made you into a gif. Looking too fiery should be the least of your worries.”
I whip my phone out of my back pocket. “Are you serious?” It doesn’t take long to find what she’s talking about.There I am. A slo-mo image of greenish vomit spewing out of me like a firehose. Someone had filtered a crown on my head, with the highlighted caption ofVom Queen. I groan.
“Don’t sweat it,” Stephanie says. “It could be worse.”
“Really?”
She laughs and shakes her head. “No, probably not.”
Stephanie has to jump out of the way to avoid my swat. She laughs harder.
“Hey Vom Queen, I’ll take you to prom.”
I turn to see Brody and one of his friends standing behind me. He’s been the class dick since fifth grade. A calling he takes very seriously. I wrap my arms around my books and try to walk away.
“Oh, come on,” he says, following closely behind me. “I’ll give you a fair price.” He and his friend laugh hysterically.
“Hey Brody, you missed a spot wiping this morning,” Stephanie yells after him. “Oh wait, never mind, that’s just your face.”
Brody flips her off.
Stephanie grabs my elbow and pulls me forward. She grunts loudly. “I hate him,” she says, glancing back.
I tuck my head and move forward swiftly. “What was that all about anyway?” I ask. “Why would he think I’m desperate enough to pay for a date?”
Stephanie shrugs. “Beats me. He’s probably just not loved enough at home.”
I point at my face. “I’m loved too much, if you can call it that.”
