You!

The makeover

It's Monday morning. I spent the entire day yesterday shopping, cutting my hair, going for contact lenses, and colouring my hair dark brown. The transformation was complete, and I was ready to take on the world in my new Barbie doll wardrobe.

I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but feel a little ridiculous. The mini skirt and tank top were definitely not my usual style, but if I wanted to blend in and execute my revenge plan, I had to commit to the look.

"Leah, are you ready?" my mother's voice echoed from downstairs. I took a deep breath and headed down to face the day, feeling slightly self-conscious in my new attire.

I made my way to the kitchen, and my mother's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, Leah, you look... different," she stammered, trying to find the right words.

I flashed her a fake smile and grabbed a piece of toast, trying to ignore the uncomfortable stares from her. This was all part of the plan, I reminded myself. I had to become someone else to get what I wanted.

"Are you going to school like that?" my mother asked, eyeing my outfit sceptically as I shovelled toast into my mouth.

I shrugged, not really caring about her opinion. Mr. Anderson walked into the kitchen and complimented me on my look. I couldn't help but roll my eyes as I grabbed another piece of toast.

I made my way to the front door,  and yelled a quick goodbye, not wanting to stick around for Luke to come downstairs. I needed more time to mentally prepare myself for facing him after what he did to me.

I hopped into Lucy's convertible, trying not to let my confusion show. How on earth was she driving a sleek, modern convertible when her style screamed 1950s housewife?

"So?"

"So what?" she asked pulling away.

"How do I look?" I asked, spreading my arms wide to showcase my fabulous ensemble.

"Girl, you look like the girls that just bullied us two nights ago," she said as she kept her eyes focused on the road ahead.

"That's the plan," I muttered to myself as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I needed to look like them, the popular girls at school, to exact my revenge. It was a crazy scheme, but I was willing to do whatever it took to make Luke pay for what he did to me.

I plastered on a fake smile and practised my flirty laugh, trying to mimic the girls who had made my life a living hell. I would make Luke fall in love with me, only to break his heart when I moved back to Virginia in four months.

I didn't exactly say that out loud, as Lucy was head over heels in love with Luke, but I didn't care right now. I could feel the rage bubbling inside me, like a volcano ready to erupt. Luke had crossed a line, a line that should never be crossed. He had used my father's death as a twisted sick joke to punish my mother, and I couldn't let that slide.

As Lucy pulled into the school driveway,  I climbed out of the car, the sun glistened off my perfectly straightened long dark brown hair, causing it to shine like a beacon of light.

All eyes were on me as I strutted confidently towards the school building, my hair swaying in the wind like a model on a runway. My skirt was just short enough to turn heads, but not short enough to get me sent to the principal's office. And my white tank top hugged my curves in all the right places, leaving just enough to the imagination.

I could feel the whispers and gasps as I made my way through the halls, students parting like the Red Sea to let me through. I could practically hear the gossip spreading like wildfire behind my back, but I didn't care.

"Who is that?"

"Gosh, I would like to get a piece of that,"

"You girl, are you an angel?"

I strutted confidently down the hallway, the whispers followed me like a trail of breadcrumbs. Lucy was practically hunched over trying to shield herself from the sudden spotlight.

"This makes me feel uncomfortable Leah," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

"Me too," I admitted, feeling a twinge of guilt for dragging her into my latest scheme.

"Then why are you doing it?" Lucy asked, her eyes wide with confusion.

"Because, I told you, I want revenge for what Luke did to me," I explained, trying to sound confident in my decision.

"How? How will this get your revenge on Luke?" Lucy questioned, gesturing towards my newly transformed appearance.

I didn't dare tell her my plan. Frankly, I wasn't even sure if my plan was going to work. Sure, my makeover had turned me into a stunning goddess, but deep down, I knew my shy, nerdy personality was still there, shouting from the rooftops. I was still the girl who struggled to fit in everywhere I went.

"Leah?"

"Mmm?" but I didn't pay attention.

I was staring at the poster for the surfing competition, and a mischievous smile crept across my face. This was it. This was my ticket to getting back at Luke.

I turned to Lucy, excitement bubbling up inside me. "Surfing," I declared, holding up the poster like a trophy.

Lucy's eyes widened in surprise. "Surfing? But Leah, you can't even swim!"

I shrugged off her concern, determined to show Luke that I was not to be underestimated. "Exactly. That's why this is perfect. Does he think he can humiliate me by throwing me in the pool? Well, I'll show him. I'll learn how to swim and surf at the same time."

Lucy looked at me, concern etched on her face. "Leah, your father drowned in the ocean. Are you sure this is a good idea?"

I nodded a steely resolve in my eyes. "I have to face my past one way or another, and this is how I'm going to do it."

I remembered hearing about the surfing competition happening in a month, and a plan started to form in my mind. "Imagine the look on Luke's face when he sees me out there, fearlessly riding the waves. It'll be epic."

"Hide!" Lucy suddenly said, and before I could respond Luke and a girl came walking down the hallway.

I quickly scanned the hallway for potential hiding spots, but before I could even move a muscle, Luke and his new fling strolled into view. His arm was casually draped around her neck, and they were giggling like school kids on a sugar rush.

I cursed under my breath as Luke's eyes locked onto mine, a mischievous glint dancing in them. The girl he was with, whose name I couldn't be bothered to remember, seemed to recognize me.

"Is that... Leah?" she exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise.

I plastered on my best fake smile and tried to act nonchalant.

"You look," she coughed, clearing her throat dramatically, "well, you look different from Saturday," she said with a sly smile that made my blood run cold.

"Well, thank you, I think," I stammered, feeling the awkwardness of the situation swirling around me like a thick fog. Lucy kept tugging on my shirt, urging me to make a quick exit.

"We have to go," I blurted out, my voice betraying my nervousness as Luke's eyes seemed to bore into me with an intensity that made me squirm uncomfortably. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks as I tried to physically pull myself away from their piercing gaze.