Chapter Three- "Hey! Not everyone likes to prance around in their underwear!"

Have you walked through school and had everyone instantly turn to stare at you? I was going through that. In what probably was the first time in years – alright, months – I walked into school late because I had overslept. By the time I managed to drag myself out of bed, my mother had hogged the shower and sang some old, eighties song at the top of her lungs, failing to realise that I existed.

Being late meant rushing through the motions of getting dressed. I managed to throw on the first thing that I could find, a pair of jeans and some baggy shirt with a faded logo of some obscure company and of course, my unsightly glasses. With my sneakers that I received from my mother on Christmas, I rushed out of my house like a woman on steroids. Although, thinking about it now, taking steroids might have helped my disastrous attempts at running in PE.

By the time I reached school, my forehead was sweaty – a problem seemed only made worse thanks to never-ending puberty and hormones and I was completely out of breath. So it was obvious when it slipped my mind that I had dyed my hair yesterday with the high school bad boy, Sean Gregory.

Ignoring the looks I was getting, I managed to make my way past the hall monitors who lived to punish latecomers like me and found my locker. Sighing in relief, I rushed towards it but was stopped by possibly the only other person besides Juliet who actually spoke to me at Redwood. It was Dave Peterson. He was the school's top swimmer and had also been my Chemistry partner for the past six months.

He was attractive in the way hot surfers were. All muscular and lithe with the perfect blonde hair and blue eyes. And as far as I knew, he was also the resident nice guy. The boy next door. The kind of guy that you hoped would ride a white horse and serenade you as he swept you off of your feet. Although, serenading seemed a bit much. Maybe he showed up with a bowl of ice-cream and movies instead?

Dave was also the only other, aside from Matt, who talked to me as if I existed. Wait scratch that. He was now officially the only guy aside from Sean. Perhaps my new hair had made him realise his secretly repressed feelings for me, because the next words out of Dave's mouth was one I could never forget.

"Your hair looks totally hot and I can't believe that I haven't said this before, but Viv you are hot! Will you marry me?" Dave exclaimed.

Okay, so he didn't say that but in my opinion it may have well been since he told me, "Wow Viv, your hair looks great!"

Forgive my overreaction, but this was the first time since Matt embarrassed me in front of the entire senior grade at school that someone else besides Juliet spoke to me.

"Uh Dave," I spluttered. "Thanks."

Dave flashed me his good grin, the one that meant that he was genuine. It made my chest feel light and I was suddenly aware that a very attractive boy was talking to me and it wasn't because of a deal or a dare.

"I didn't know you even had long hair," Dave commented.

I touched one of my now lighter locks self-consciously before mumbling, "I uh, well it was always tied up."

"Yeah I noticed," Dave replied before glancing at his watch. "Crap, I have first period with Miss Heinz. I'll see you around Viv."

I watched him leave before sighing to myself, my body slumping against the metal locker behind me. God, my life was amazing. I could take on anything now, and I mean literally anything-

"Well, well look what we have here girls."

The voice was familiar and saccharine and oh-so-fake. Great, just great. Just when I thought my life was looking up, the universe had to throw a spanner in my plans.

I stood up straighter, turning to face my arch nemesis Jessica Hubert. You would have thought that with a surname like that she'd be the loser of Redwood High. She was blonde – naturally so as she told anyone who'd listen, tall and had a chest that guys liked to stare at. She was also head cheerleader and popular at everything she did. She was so popular that when she used the toilets, people probably applauded her.

"Jessica," I squeaked.

I grimaced at my tone. God, why did I suddenly turn into such a mess around Jessica? She wasn't that intimidating. I looked up at her. Nope. I was wrong. Jessica was terrifying. She had this way of looking at you like you wished that you'd never have been born and it was that exact look she was throwing at me. My stomach did a weird flip-flop and I fought the urge to spew out my hasty breakfast of muesli – a favourite of my mother's.

Jessica rolled her eyes at me, the sudden fake-sweetness disappearing in an instant. Leaning in closer, she glared. I could smell the potent smell of her perfume. It made me feel ill and I was slightly tempted to run.

"I don't know what you're planning with Sean," she hissed, "but if you try anything, I swear I'll make you regret it."

I shrunk back into my locker, wanting nothing more than the confrontation to be over.

"I wasn't planning anything," I mumbled.

Jessica sneered. "Yeah right, I heard about you getting Sean to do a report on you."

"I didn't get him to do a report on me," I defended, "he just sort of chose to-"

"Shut it geek," Jessica interrupted. "I know all about your plan on stealing my spotlight. Back off or you'll be sorry."

Jessica smiled suddenly and turned to her two friends, Katy and Lisa. Both seemed like carbon copies of Jessica and if it wasn't for their different hairstyles, I might have believed they were all secretly clones of their leader. With a satisfied smirk at me, Jessica walked off with her two clones, leaving me alone and feeling more unsettled than when I ran all the way to school, this morning. Maybe this whole newspaper thing with Sean wasn't such a great idea after all.

"Oh my God Viv," Juliet squealed when she spotted me in the cafeteria, "Your hair is gorgeous!"

I blushed at the compliment. "Thanks Jules."

"My pleasure sweetie," Juliet responded, "if I were batting for the other team, I'd totally want to do you."

I snorted back my laughter. Juliet and her parents moved to Redwood after her father opened a new Italian restaurant in town, I know it was really complicated. While Juliet's mother was French, her father was Italian. On the plus side every time I went over to Juliet's house there was always pasta or crepes to eat. Not that I complained about my mother's cooking – not that she cooked much. She was always ordering Chinese when she was going out on her dates with these random men she met on the internet.

"So I heard about you and Sean," Juliet breathed.

I blinked, before frowning. "He's only helping me because I'm tutoring him."

Juliet laughed, "Yeah and I'm only your friend because you use glasses, come on Viv! It's Sean Gregory, the sexy bad boy with a British accent."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah well there might be a problem with that."

"What? Is he hitting on you?" Juliet asked. There was a gleam in her eyes that made me wince.

I groaned, "Jules! No, it's about Jessica."

Juliet frowned before glancing around until her green eyes landed on the she-devil Jessica, sitting at the popular table next to Matt. Turning back to me, Juliet looked ready to kill someone. The venom in her eyes matched the venom in her voice.

"Is that bitch causing you trouble again? Because this time I'm not just going to stand by and watch her walk all over you, I will pummel her face in until the only thing recognisable are those fake boobs-"

"Jules!" I hissed.

Juliet grinned at me, tossing her hair over her shoulders.

"Oh please, those boobs are the only thing that people see."

"Even you?" I asked.

Juliet snorted, "God no, I'd rather notice Toby's pet goldfish than her boobs."

"Toby's sweet," I defended.

Juliet gave me a look of disbelief.

"Yeah to you! It's because he's not your little brother and you're not the one who has to share a bathroom with him," Juliet scoffed. "And don't get me started on his obsession with trains."

I shrugged, shooting my best friend a smile. As much as she complained about her younger brother, I knew she cared about him deep down. It almost made me want to have a younger sibling, but with my mother's age, I was pretty sure that that boat had sailed a long time ago. Pushing away my thoughts, I fixed Juliet with a look.

"Do you want to hear about Jessica or not?" I asked.

"Yes," Juliet responded. "Did you punch her and find her chicken cutlets?"

"What? No! And gross, why would I find her chicken cutlets?" I muttered. "Anyway it's about this whole school paper thing."

I proceeded to tell Juliet about Dave and how he had asked me to marry him. Alright I told her the truth – and she was just as excited as me. Then I told her about Jessica and her warning about not trying to upstage her. Did Jessica seriously think that I'd even have a chance at upstaging her? It was me, Vivienne the girl that no one knew and ever since Matt happened, no one spoke to anymore. I was a geek, worse than that. I was the scum below dirt.

Juliet frowned at me. "Are you insane Viv? Screw Jessica and her minions, you are so going to be in the school paper and by the end of this, Matt will be kissing your ass for you to give him a second chance."

"You think so?" I asked.

"Sweetie, I know so," Juliet replied with a smile.

***

"Lanter hurry up."

I frowned while I tied my shoelaces, before hurrying up to catch up with Sean who was waiting at his car for me. After I complained to him yesterday all about his bike, he finally gave in and decided to bring his black, expensive car. Even if it meant that I got him to do something, Sean was still as stubborn as ever and he was making me hurry up to go to God knew where. What probably made the whole ordeal worse was the idea of going back home to an empty house, due to my mother going on another random date.

"Sheesh woman, you walk slower than my dead gran," Sean commented.

I scoffed, "Hey!"

"Hi right back at you," Sean replied, grinning.

I rolled my eyes, before hopping into the front seat of the car. Sean cleared his throat, making me realise that he was looking at me with an uncomfortable expression. Raising an eyebrow at him, I turned to Sean with an expectant look. Sean's black hair was brushed back today, giving him a bedhead sort of sexy look. His deep hazel eyes were lighter up close and his lips looked fuller too. I must have stared at him for too long because he broke the awkward silence.

"Uh let's go then shall we?"

I nodded and soon we were heading off to Redwood's boutiques. Unlike yesterday when it was too windy to speak, seeing as how I was riding on the back of Sean's bike, today it was just silent. Sean turned on the radio, probably to get rid of the same awkwardness that I felt. God Viv, you stared too long at him, didn't you? Now he probably thinks that you're after him too! You're such an idiot; you're so going to become a nun because no boy would ever be trusted near you.

"We're here," Sean said, breaking me from my thoughts.

I glanced around and realised that we were parked in front of Bridget's Vintage & Glamour Boutique. It was renowned in town for having the latest designer outfits and of course all the best dressed girls in school came here for get their Prom dresses. Not likely that it was going to happen to me. I frowned and looked at Sean with questioning eyes.

"Why are we here?" I asked.

Sean gave me a look that screamed 'Are you serious?'

"We're here because we need to get you some new clothes Lanter. You really don't think that Matt's going to regret ditching you, while everything's covered up?"

"Hey!" I protested. "Not everyone likes to prance around in their underwear."

Sean hopped out of the car and I followed him. He threw me a glance. "Then Lanter, I'm afraid to say it but with that attitude you'll die being a virgin."

I gaped at Sean for a few minutes. God Viv, close your mouth! You look like a gaping fish, just hold it up together and walk into that shop like nobody is like you. Well granted you won't find anyone that's as geeky or badly dressed as you so- Oh shut up, walk in there confident and pretend like you're the hottest girl in town that will show Sean and more importantly, Matt, up.

I closed my mouth and walked into the shop, with Sean following behind me. As soon as I had passed through the double glass doors, I froze. Lily was standing at the receptionist's desk talking to another girl with long brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. She looked beautiful and her clothes screamed supermodel. Sean came in after me and instead of gawping at the pretty girl like I was, he walked over and hugged her. My eyes must have widened even more because Lily finally noticed me. She turned to face me and gave me a toothy smile that instantly lit up her face like Christmas lights.

"Vivienne, it's so great to see you," Lily greeted me. "And look at your new hair? It's great isn't it?" Lily asked, turning to the pretty girl.

The supermodel girl nodded eagerly. "It does look gorgeous Lil! You really need to do my hair like that, some time."

Sean smirked at me, as if to say 'I told you your hair looked bad before', before he turned to the supermodel girl. "Amanda, I want to introduce Vivienne Lanter, the girl I'm writing about in the school paper."

The supermodel girl, Amanda, turned to give me a bright smile.

"Hi! It's great to meet you. I'm Amanda, Sean and Lily's long lost friend from boring old St Charles Academy for preppy school girls."

I smiled before greeting her back, "Hello."

Well done Viv. That was the smartest thing you've said so far. Give yourself a pat on the back for looking like boring old soup compared to waffles with maple syrup. Yes, you Vivienne have finally been awarded as the geekiest, most badly dressed girl in Redwood. Just go hand in your application to the nunnery and you'll fit right in.

"Well look at the time, I've got to go, check you cool cats later," Lily announced, before heading out of the air conditioned store.

Sean turned to Amanda and grinned.

"Okay Amanda, you have Lanter for about two hours before I need to get her back home to tutor me, do your magic on her."

Amanda squealed like someone meeting their celebrity crush, before she took hold of my arm and dragged me towards the mass of clothes on the metal rails. Oh dear God, help me! After following Amanda for what felt like a slice of forever, she finally glanced at me, seeming thoughtful for a moment. Looking around and then back at me she grinned.

"I totally know what you need Vivienne," she stated.

I snorted, "A bra?"

"What? Well, yes, maybe a better fitted bra will do you some good, but no, I meant some something short, like a mini skirt or a high-waist shorts. Your legs will look great in them," she answered.

"Short?" I repeated.

Amanda nodded and soon she shoved me into a small changing room with clothes that she had 'hand selected' for me, with the simple order of, "Change and reveal". It left me no other choice but to change into the flimsy and equally revealing clothes that were in my arms. Or Viv, you could be brave for once and sneak out of the store never to return because you'll changing your identity to the girl who never changes into very low cut shirts.

Yeah right, as if that was going to happen.

I stepped out of the changing room, feeling unusually exposed and into the sight of Amanda and Sean. I did a small twirl, wearing shorts and a loose flowery blouse that revealed more skin than I would have liked, but it wasn't like I had the best fashion sense. Even if my clothes were comfy and warm and totally great to sleep in on those rainy days, I had to admit that they made me look more than a little drab and more like the girl who cuddled cats for a living – now that was the life.

"Oh wow," Amanda breathed, staring at me like I was her child, "You look stunning."

I blushed, frowning at my new clothes. "Really?"

"Really Lanter," Sean answered, "you clean up good."

For a moment I stared into Sean's hazel eyes and I suddenly felt confident. I was Vivienne Lanter. I was amazingly attractive with stunning hair and new clothes I was so going to make Matt Jacobs pay for humiliating me. I was going to become popular and then my life would take off from there and-

Oh wow.

Amanda shoved me in front of a mirror and my eyes bugged out of their sockets. I looked like an entirely new person. Gone were my baggy clothes that hid my arms and legs replaced by shorts that showed my legs were longer than I thought they were and a fitted blouse that hung loosely around my torso, giving me the illusion of a super skinny belly. I looked good even if I did say so myself.

"Hey Lanter, maybe you're not going to die a virgin after all," Sean said with a genuine smile.

***

Author's Note

Hi everyone! Thank you so much for reading and being so supportive this far. I really appreciate all your love and kind words! Make sure to vote, comment and spread the word if you enjoyed!