Life flew by, whizzing in front of her. So fast, she could hardly keep up. Always pretending she was current, but always ending up being late. Trends changed, and so did friendships. Because really, she was just the girl who was always stuck at the wrong place at the wrong time. Trying to stand up for herself only made the torment worse. When everyone else did it, they were surrounded by praise and approval, that could always be seen on their glowing face. When she did it, they all scrunched up their perfect noses, laughing at her. Never knowing what was in and what was out. The loose thread. The ugly duck. Sometimes, when she was alone, those rare moments when she wasn't trying to hang onto the ride of life - she smiled.
Every time she saw him, she grimaced. But, he was not ugly in any comparison. Blonde hair, and sparkling brown eyes, that lit up, and made everyone feel wanted. His attitude was sickeningly charming, and warmed many a girl's heart. He was funny, and current, and everything she wanted, and wanted to be. Never speaking to him, she glared at his popularity, not wanting to give him another ounce of attention. It would be a joke. The swan smiling at the ugly duck. The ugly duck who couldn't keep up, who was left behind with a broken wing. Too fragile to swim. In fact, she loathed him, and loved him so much, she strived to beat him. Be the best. In the times where everyone else was smiling, and laughing, and being caught in the in crowd, she was studying, and frowning, and drowning away from any social acceptance. You could hardly see her from behind a stack of books...pale face squinting from behind strong frames.
The debate competitions were her strong suit. Always managed to out argue even the popular girls. Her points flew across the room, hot and fast, too complex for her opponent to wrap their mind around. Dizzy, and doubtful of their own remarks, the humbled student would willingly step down, and make space for her. The audience would give her a standing ovation, signaling her win, and the opponents obvious defeat. "Layne!" The only time they would ever be screaming her name.
Then he came up. All handsome, and smiling, blinding her for precious split seconds. He would make his points….so lovely. Impressing the audience, even her, with charm and grace. You could see the stars in their eyes as they looked at him, and her gaze was the same. With him, every word was an experience. Even the most dumb, horribly put together sentence would make anyone cheer. When she came up to the stand, even her fiery words couldn't take the awestruck gaze out of their eyes. She threw every point...every strong, soulful, well thought out word. But he got the standing ovation.
After her own humbling experience, she sat on stage, waiting. Nothing, except jeers would greet her outside. The former champion would be disgraced. It would be an utter mess. Tears started to form in her eyes, but she blinked them away. Stay strong.
A shadow fell across the room, she looked up, then down. He came in, to collect his papers, smiling a smile that could over shine the sun. One look at her empty face, and it vanished. Carefully, he went up to stage, and crouched down. It was only a second. "I would have voted for you."