All she wanted was a normal life, a little attention, and maybe even love. But fate had other plans. When one choice drags her into a world of temptations and secrets, she discovers that beauty may be her greatest weapon... or her deadliest curse.
The phone rings repeatedly.
Emily groaned. "Ugh, turn that thing off."
The phone rings again.
Emily grabs the phone. "Who?"
Sarah. "You idiot, you're late for school."
Emily jumps up quickly. "Oh my god, I totally forgot. I'll get dressed and come over real quick."
Sarah. "Okay, just hurry up."
"Where'd All Time Go?" plays.
Emily puts down the phone and quickly brushes her teeth and combs her hair. Then she starts putting on her school clothes.
Emily looks at herself in the mirror. "Am I getting a little fat?"
Emily rushed out of her room and hurried downstairs.
"Good morning, Daddy (kiss on the cheek)"
"Good morning, Mommy (kiss on the cheek)"
George was drinking coffee. "Good morning, sweetheart. Aren't you going to eat?"
Emily was putting on her shoes. "No, Daddy, I'm too late. Bye, I love you."
George: "Wait, I'll take you to school."
Emily arrived at school, said goodbye to her father, and quickly went to her classroom.
Emily knocked on the door before entering.
Teacher: "You're late again, Emily. This is the second time this week."
Emily: "I'm sorry, teacher. It won't happen again, I swear."
The teacher pointed with a pen. "Come in, Emily."
Emily entered, and everyone's gaze was on her, both boys and girls.
Emily sat in the classroom, but there was a guy staring at her a lot, not taking his eyes off her.
Sarah: "Look, it's Marco looking at you."
Emily: "What do you want me to do then?"
Sarah: "Emily, he likes you. Why don't you want him?"
Emily: "I don't care."
Teacher: "Shhhhh."
Sarah: "Okay, as you wish."
The school day ended after many boring classes. Emily left the class, and amidst the hustle and bustle of the hallway and the clanging of locker doors, she heard his voice behind her:
"Hi, Emily."
Marco. "Hi, Emily."
Emily smiled. "Hi, Marco, how are you?"
Marco smiled. "I'm fine. Hey, Emily, I wanted to ask you something."
Emily wondered. "What?"
Marco looked nervous, as if searching for words. "Actually, I wanted to go on a date or something."
She was silent for a moment, Her heart didn't skip a beat. She felt nothing. Then she slowly closed the locker door and said, "Marco, you're a handsome guy, but I'm not interested. Sorry."
She didn't wait for his response. She left him standing in the middle of the crowd while she rushed away, trying to convince herself that being alone was easier than any other experience.
Emily walked, leaving everything behind. Her friend Sarah noticed her and walked over to her.
"What happened, Emily?"
Emily. "Nothing, Sarah. Marco came to me and asked me out on a date, and I said no."
Sarah. "How long are you going to be alone, Emily?"
Emily. "I don't know, Sarah. I don't know. I'm going home."
Sarah. "Wait, wait. How about you come over today? Mary's coming too."
Emily. "I don't know, Mary. This girl hates me so much, and I don't know why."
Sarah. "Don't worry. I'll tell her not to bother you. Okay, what do you think? Will she come?"
Emily. "I don't know. I'll tell you when I get home.
Emily went home, changed her clothes, and lay on the bed, looking at the ceiling. Then she received a message from her friend Sarah, asking if she was coming or not.
Emily replied, "I still don't know, Sarah."
After that, Emily logged into Sarah's Instagram account and saw that she had over 20,000 followers. It seems Sarah is on her way to fame. She's actually beautiful. I wonder if I uploaded my photos to social media, would I be that famous? Am I even beautiful? Everyone's looking at me badly. I don't know why. My profile picture is so stupid.
Emily stood up and looked at herself in the mirror. Her soft yellow hair and wide eyes were trying to smile. She was actually pretty, but she felt like she wasn't. It was as if an inner voice was telling her she wasn't pretty.
Emily took her phone and sent Sarah a message. "I'm coming, Sarah."
Emily put on her clothes and went downstairs. "Mom, I'm going to Sarah's house. I'll stay with her for a while."
Grace was sitting scrolling on her phone. "Okay, Emily, but don't be late."
Emily. "Okay, Mom."
Grace. "Do you want me to take you to her house?"
Emily. No, Mom, I'll go. Bye." Emily closed the door behind her.
She went to Sarah's house. Sarah welcomed her and led her into her home. Then she saw Mary. Emily tried to smile, even though she hated Mary, who had bullied her in middle school.
"Hi, Mary. I hope you're well."
Mary gave a fake smile. "Me too, Emily."
Sarah. "Let's go to my room, girls. I'm going to my room, Mom, okay?"
Sarah's mother. "Okay, Sarah."
Sarah caught up with her. "What happened?"
"Nothing. He just asked me out. I said no."
Sarah frowned. "Emily, how long are you going to keep shutting everyone out?"
"I don't know, Sarah. I just don't." She forced a smile. "I'll head home."
"Wait! Come over tonight. Mary will be there too."
Emily hesitated. "Mary? She hates me. Always has."
"Don't worry, I'll keep her in check. Come on—please?"
"I'll think about it."
---
At home, Emily lies on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Sarah's text popped up: Are you coming?
Emily typed back: I don't know.
Out of habit, she opened Instagram. Sarah's profile glowed back at her—over twenty thousand followers. Perfect selfies. Perfect comments. Perfect life.
Emily touched her own empty profile picture and muttered, "What's the point? Nobody sees me as beautiful anyway."
The mirror across the room disagreed. Her silky blonde hair and wide eyes were striking. Still, the voice in her head whispered: Not good enough.
She sighed, then messaged Sarah: Fine. I'm coming.
---
At Sarah's house, laughter and music drifted from the open door. Sarah pulled her inside with a grin.
And then Emily saw her.
Mary. The same girl who had made middle school a nightmare.
Emily forced a smile. "Hi, Mary. I hope you're well."
Mary's lips curved in a fake smile. "Me too, Emily."