The girls who weren't

The Call

The sun shone brightly over the school campus, and birds chirped merrily. It was a beautiful spring day, and students were eager to start summer vacation. In the midst of the crowd, a blonde girl stood out. She was tall and slender, with green eyes and a shy smile. Her hair was long and wavy, and she wore glasses and braces.

Her name was Emily, and she was a nerd. She loved to read, study, and learn new things. She wasn't very popular at school, but she didn't care. She was happy with her own company.

Emily was walking to her last class of the day when she heard a voice behind her.

"Emily!" the voice shouted.

Emily turned around and saw her teacher, Mrs. Jones.

"Mrs. Jones!" Emily said. "What is it?"

"I have some very special news for you," Mrs. Jones said. "Can you join me in the teachers' lounge for a minute?"

Emily nodded, and the two of them headed to the teachers' lounge.

When they arrived, Mrs. Jones closed the door and turned to Emily.

"Emily," she said. "You know that senior girls from all over the city were selected to participate in a contest to win a ticket to the Barbie Neighborhood?"

Emily nodded. "Yes, I know," she said.

"Well," Mrs. Jones said. "I am pleased to announce that the winner from our school is... you!"

Emily smiled, her eyes shining with joy.

"Me?" she asked. "But I'm not a Barbie girl."

"I know," Mrs. Jones said. "But that doesn't matter. You are a smart, beautiful, and deserving girl. And I know you'll love the Barbie Neighborhood."

Emily smiled even more. "Thank you, Mrs. Jones," she said. "This is amazing!"

Emily walked out of the teachers' lounge, still smiling. She couldn't believe what was happening. She had won a ticket to the Barbie Neighborhood! It was her dream come true!

The final school bell shrieked, a cacophony of cheers erupting like fireworks across the campus. Emily clutched her books, a nervous butterfly fluttering in her stomach. Now is the time, the time to reveal her unexpected prize to Jennie. Spotting her best friend by the lockers, Emily took a deep breath and navigated the human obstacle course. Jennie, headphones snugly in place, bobbed her head to an unseen rhythm, a book wedged under her arm.

"Jennie!" Emily called, her voice barely audible over the happy commotion.

Jennie's head snapped up, her dark eyes crinkling with a smile. "Hey, Ems! Didn't expect to see you here. Didn't you have homework to avoid?"

Emily chuckled, her fingers itching to spill the beans. "Not today, something much moreinteresting happened." She pulled out a small, brightly colored card from her bag, the image of a perfectly coiffed Barbie girl in a pink convertible glaring back.

Jennie's eyes widened to saucers. "Is that a ticket to the Barbie Neighborhood?" she wheezed, disbelief coloring her voice.

Emily grinned, a mix of excitement and apprehension bubbling within her. "Yep, yours truly."

Jennie snatched the card, examining it with a mix of amusement and awe. "No way! How?! Did you find a magic lamp and rub it?"

Emily recounted the story of Mrs. Jones' surprise announcement, her cheeks warming under Jennie's curious gaze. "I still can't believe it," she admitted, a sliver of doubt creeping into her voice. "Me, in a land of pink perfection? I don't know if I belong there."