hi my name is sue and this is the story
of what happened to me just over six
months ago it changed my life I was in
my second year at college studying art
I've always really liked painting and
drawing since I was a little kid I
always got lost in my work
mom said I needed to get out more
socialize but the truth was that I
didn't have friends I didn't really fit
in my clothing was mainly black and I
used the usual makeup and adornments
most girls in college wore mom tried to
make me look more ladylike said I could
be gorgeous if I tried but I didn't care
how I looked well not really
there was this one boy called Jamie in
one of my courses that was hot but he
was way out of my league I hung out with
Trish my only friend she was like me and
everyone at college nicknamed us the
ugly sisters but we didn't care or if we
did we didn't let it show Annie how that
all changed when one day on lunch break
Trish whispered in my ear don't look now
but Jamie and his buddy Alex are
watching us of course I immediately look
around despite my friends warning Jamie
would never be looking at us well not
intentionally how wrong could I be I
felt my face colouring the two boys were
looking in our direction and whispering
together
I pulled Trish away out of their sight
line they obviously weren't looking at
us it was her wishful thinking we went
to join the lunch line the noise level
in the dining hall seemed at an all-time
high
it was almost the end of term and in two
weeks a college party was coming up of
course Trish and I weren't going
we had no date anyway we got our food
and sat on a table away from the others
I was just tucking into a vegan burger
when Trish looked up almost choking on
her salad it's them they're looking at
us again she gasped this time I didn't
turn around sure it was all in her head
but then she put down her fork eyes
almost popping oh my god sue they're
heading this way
Trish put her head down pretending to
eat and I sensed them approaching good
afternoon ladies do you mind if we sit
down my heart was racing a thousand
beats per minute as
Jamie and Alex took seats next to us
well what do you want Trish said with
her snobbish tone does there have to be
a reason for sitting next to two lovely
ladies
Alex smiled a sickly smile that should
have told me he was up to no good it's
my birthday at the weekend and I'm
having a pool party I wondered if you
two would like to come he asked
Trish looked at me and frowned I'm
afraid we're busy she spoke for both of
us but I was already lost in thoughts of
Jamie sitting next to me but I didn't
dare to look at him well the sound of my
voice startled me as if I was thinking
out loud I'm free I could hardly believe
my words Alex turned his attention to me
hey that's great it's 2:00 p.m. on
Saturday
here's the address he handed me a piece
of paper even though everyone knew where
Alex lived it was the biggest house for
miles around see Saturday that includes
you too Trish if you change your mind
the two stood to leave and I managed to
turn and look at Jamie
he seemed awkward but gave me a half
smile as soon as they were out of
earshot Trish went mad why on earth did
you agree to that a pool party everyone
will laugh at us I'm not wearing a
bikini
I'd never been excited about anything in
my whole life for once my art didn't
matter and all I could think about was
the party it was only then that I looked
in the mirror and noticed how boring I
looked I hadn't cared before but now of
course Trish made it totally clear that
she wasn't going to swim and when I
called for her on Saturday morning she
was still wearing her usual oversized
t-shirt and pants you're wearing makeup
it was the first thing she said as she
opened the door it was true I had used a
bit of mom's foundation and mascara
Trish made me feel like a traitor well I
thought I'd make a bit of an effort I
answered somewhat sarcastically looking
at her shabby clothes and unbrushed hair
she looked more scruffy than usual and I
knew she'd done it on purpose that's the
first time we'd ever really argued and
we set off for the party in silence
Alex's house was even bigger than it
looked from the outside and they had a
half covered full-size pool all the
beautiful people were there and as Trish
and I approached I thought perhaps
that she had been right we didn't belong
there we shouldn't have bothered
but then Alex appeared and called to us
as if we were his long-lost friends he
took us to sit around the pool and I
could see everyone looking at us some of
the girls even started laughing but I
ignored them I laid out a towel on the
lounger and looked around all of the
girls were in their swimwear
I felt slightly awkward taking my
clothes off especially in front of these
people
but I knew I look good in my new bikini
the girls just eyed me critically up and
down and shrugged while the boys raised
their eyebrows in admiration
it was a weird feeling but I liked it I
wondered if Jamie had seen me but I
didn't dare to look I laid on the
lounger and felt sorry for Trish she put
on her shades and made herself
comfortable and started to read a book
or at least pretended to I could feel
her eyes on me she hadn't forgiven me
for making her calm I closed my eyes and
soaked up the Sun for a while
daydreaming about Jamie after ten
minutes it seemed to cloud over I opened
my eyes to see Jamie standing over me hi
glad you could come
can I get you a drink I could hardly
speak but nodded and tried to smile you
too Trish she grunted and he went off to
fetch the lemonade
Trish looked over her glasses at me
what's he hanging around for I shrugged
I guess he's just trying to be friendly
Trish snorted those two are up to
something just be careful I laughed
she was so paranoid I'd never been
happier Jamie returned with the drinks
and when he smiled I swear my heart
melted fancy a swim
Trish coughed and sputtered on her cold
drink you don't mind do you Trish I gave
her a hard stare daring her to say
anything she just shrugged it's your
life the water cooled my hot skin is I
dove in we stood and chatted for a while
he asked me questions about my life even
seemed interested in my art I wasn't
sure how long we'd been in the water but
when I looked up Trish was gone and I
suddenly felt guilty for deserting her
after all I'd dragged her along in the
first place I was suddenly torn between
my loyalty to Trish and wanting to stay
with Jamie but in the end I pulled
myself from the pool
sorry I have to go Jamie looked
surprised maybe a little disappointed as
I started to dry myself and dress Hey
I was wondering he started I looked up
he seemed almost embarrassed I was
wondering if you'd like to go to the end
of term party with me I stood speechless
for a minute my mouth open unsure if I
had heard correctly you know the party
on Friday night he repeated unsure if
I'd heard my legs felt like jelly yes
that would be great
I finally managed to speak Jamie smiled
looking relieved great I'll pick you up
at 7:00
I went home via Trish's house but when I
called her mom said she didn't feel well
and wouldn't come to the door I felt
terrible for leaving my best friend but
at the same time I was stunned by the
fact that Jamie had asked me to be his
date and kept having to pinch myself to
make sure I wasn't dreaming
Trish stayed off college all week I was
pretty much on my own but didn't mind
occasionally I bumped into Jamie but he
always smiled I expected him to talk to
me more now that he was taking me to the
party but somehow he seemed to be
avoiding me I saw him and Alex arguing
about something one lunchtime and when
they saw me Jamie stormed away I started
to get a sinking feeling in my stomach
maybe he was having second thoughts but
I shut those feelings out of my head and
tried to concentrate on what I would
wear instead of course mom was delighted
that I'd got an actual date and pulled
out all the stops a new dress new hair
new everything I still hadn't spoken to
Trish but I would see her after the
party as I got ready
I hardly recognized myself in the mirror
I looked almost beautiful as I was
finishing my hair I heard the door ring
but let mom get it I heard Jamie's voice
and my heart missed a beat I sprayed my
hair with lacquer before rushing down
the stairs mom was waiting for me alone
in the hall well where have you hidden
him mom looked at me and I stopped
smiling there were tears in her eyes Oh
sue
I'm so sorry she set me down and told me
that Jamie called to say that he
couldn't take me to the party after all
gave no reason but just that he was
genuinely sorry
I wanted to cry but I didn't I'd been so
stupid I should have listened to Trish
Trish I needed my best friend more than
ever and rushed up to my room to phone
her it was only then that I cried she
listened to my tale of woe and sounded
genuinely sorry for me hey why don't I
come around and we can go to the college
party together we'll show him she
suggested helpfully at first I didn't
want to but then I thought of all the
money mom had spent on me why waste a
good dress I agreed and within an hour
Trish and I were standing at the
entrance of the Sports Hall the party
was well and truly under way as soon as
we walked in I knew it was a big mistake
I felt all eyes on us as if everyone was
laughing at us I headed to the powder
room while Trish went to get us both a
drink I needed a few minutes to get my
confidence back I shut the door on the
cubicle just as I heard a group of girls
enter I recognized one voice Jessica a
girl who was always hanging around with
Jamie of course he'll ask me out tonight
God knows why he was ever thinking of
asking that dork sue out although I
blame Alex he encouraged Jamie in the
first place thought it was some huge
joke the joke was on him when he
realized his best friend had actually
asked her out I mean she would never fit
in with our crowd well Alex finally
knocked some sense in him thank God he
did I mean Jamie and sue come on I
didn't want to hear any more so that was
it it was all a big joke I was all a big
joke to Jamie and his mates I waited for
them to go before I ran from the powder
room and out onto the sports field
beyond it was only then that I allowed
myself to cry my tears washing the
mascara and carefully applied makeup
from my face what did that matter now
the mascara was stinging my eyes as I
heard someone approaching reaching into
my bag I pulled out a wipe and started
to scrub the makeup for my eyes Trish
no it's me Jamie I turned away not
wanting him to see the state he'd made
me I want to apologize I could feel the
anger rising in my throat as I turned to
him for what humiliating me in front of
the whole school why did you even bother
asking me out in the first place he
shocked for a minute please let me
explain he added I turned my back but
then felt a gentle hand on my shoulder I
really like you sooo I gave in to
pressure all of the others were being so
horrible about you when they found out
I'd asked you to the party and now
they're laughing at me because I got
dumped even before the date nice one I
turned my back on him once again and
heard him sigh I guess I've messed up
big time huh I suppose you have then he
grabbed my arm spinning me back around
to look at me with his big brown eyes to
hell with a lot of them
let's make amends will you come back to
the party with me as my date and looked
at him with streaky eyes like this he
laughed you look beautiful
and I'm proud to have you on my arm
although you might want to fix those
black smears before we dance huh I took
his arm my head was confused although my
heart was only thinking one thing he
really likes me we shared our first kiss
that night and have been dating ever
since he no longer hangs about with Alex
and we have our own friends even Trish
as smartened up and has a date
we even double date together life has
changed so much for the better