Teen Ink

New Look

As Lilly James runs her fingers through her damp brown hair she frowns in the mirror. Her lower lip puckers just like all the girls from her school do; playful yet intimidating, sad but alluring, before she laughs lightly.
That’s just not me. She thinks.
Turning from the mirror she trips over her miniature schnauzer, Cocoa, wincing as she crashes into the bathroom counter. Brushing her fingers quickly over her hip she knows she’s fine, shaking her head as she walks back into her bedroom.
As she slams the door she flips on her music, metal filling her ears while she dances around, deciding what to wear for the day, finally grabbing the closest thing as she rushes out the door towards the bus stop. Trying to hold up her bag as she sprints she gets to the bench at the bus stop before anyone is there and sits down. Rummaging through her bag, the sound of footsteps hits her ears.
“Lilly?”
Looking up, her eyes narrow as she glances up at the cold blue eyes that bring back so many memories of being teased and tormented. As she turns away in disgust he goes to grab her arm before pulling back as she cringes away.
“What Drew? She asks, exasperated.
As she watches him, his eyes rake over her body before reluctantly meeting her eyes again,
“I see your summer treated you well.” He states, lips curling in a small smirk making Lilly’s stomach churn.
“Wow Drew, don’t be so desperate,” Adam smiles, seeing Lilly roll her eyes.
When’d he get here? Lilly wonders before smiling back at him.
Turning to Drew, she sees him glare at Adam before walking to the bus as it screeches to a stop.

Laughing she turns to Adam and finds him staring at her, confused.
“What are you staring at?” she snaps, walking towards the bus.
“You look different,” he says, still confused.
“Is that bad?” Lilly jokes but looks down at her toes, curling in her simple black flip-flops. Over the summer the baby fat she had once been taunted for had turned into curves as she started going to the gym with her mom.
The week before they had gone to the mall together because all her clothes from the year before were too big, so her mom had decided to use some of their saved money, refusing Lilly’s protests that they should save it for something else. She self-consciously pulled at her new skirt (specialty of Wal-Mart’s back to school sale) and her plain black t-shirt sneaking a quick glance at Adam before returning her gaze to her toes, but not before he saw the hurt look that tinged her features.
“Lil, you know I didn’t mean it like that,” he smiles softly, “you look really nice.”
Their eyes meet quickly before Lilly looks away, not wanting him to see how much she likes him looking at her like that. They both jump at the sound of a horn before getting on the bus.

Walking through the halls girls whispered and shot her dirty looks, while guys smiled at her.
Guess they don’t think I look so bad after all…
Lilly thought it was pretty funny, but Adam didn’t which he made clear when he saw her.
“They’ve never talked to you before, don’t you even care that they’re only talking to you cause you look different?” he says, eerily calm, muscles twitching in his jaw when a hurt look crosses her face.
“Of course I care, but I’m not going to be rude to them and,” suddenly Lilly couldn’t remember what she was going to say. Her head started to pound and her ears ached. Everything started spinning as she felt the felt the color drain from her face.
“And what?” Adam asks with his back towards her.
“Adam...” voice cracking she clutches her head, whimpering in pain. Turning, his cold expression quickly vanishes, replaced by concern.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, trying to stay calm.
Too loud…
She flinches away from his voice, loud to her ears, moaning as he touches her cheek lightly.
“Lilly!” his control slipping as she sways on the spot, panic in his eyes. He calls for help, but Lilly is oblivious as the pain becomes unbearable, puking on the table before everything goes black.