Paranormal & Pretty

C H A P T E R O N E: F O R G O T T E N

Sliding on a thick sheet of gloss onto my lips, I stared out the window. Darkened, because we always took the limo these days. I batted my bright blue lashes, a new fashion trend I was trying to set and failing so far, and felt a prick of unease on the back of my neck.

Maybe they will think I'm fat. Am I fat?

I wished I could shut the nasty voiced off in my head. My waist had shrunk, from a 6 to a 2. It was still dropping.

I am fat. I am not good enough.

I fiddled with my fingertips, the blue tips matching my eyelashes. Where were we going? I hadn't bothered to ask Mom why I was switching schools, and where. The limo seemed ridiculous out here on the long highway stretch, far away from the city I was used to. This was the country. I shuddered. My school wasn't here, was it?

"Mom, where is the school?" I ask quietly.

She turns her eyes. Her show, "The Daily Grind", was more popular than ever. She was barely home.

"I'm going to come clean, Dylan."

Fear choked me. Something was wrong. I should have guessed that suddenly switching schools was fishy.

" . . . Not enough time . . . Leaving . . . . Sorry . . . Visits . . . Boarding . . ."

"What?" I cannot understand her, she's mumbling.

"Dylan, I don't have time to look after you anymore, or your condition. I paid for a top-end boarding school here that knows how to handle you. I'm sorry. I'll visit as often as I can."

The car speeds up, and I can see a brown brick building surrounded by tall, black gates in the distance. I begin to sweat. This is wrong. How can she leave? She's my mother!

The limo speeds up, and the gates open. The school is shaped like a boomerang, a wide half-circle. It's long, with gothic windows and a giant door to enter. Window after window after window. The parking lot wraps around us as the sleek black limo halts.

This was all happening too fast. My mother leaned over, kissing my forehead with her red lips, smoothing one hand over my tamed – for once – curls, the colour of her lips. She whispers a good-bye and the door is opened. Why get rid of me so fast?

I look at the time. Right. Her show is in an hour, and she is afraid of me. Afraid of what I can do.

I remember the Pretty Committee, I remember Massie, Alicia, Kristen, Claire, and me, all together. Happy. OCD was our home, and we ruled it. A new school? A boarding school? This place doesn't even reflect my class. Mom mentioned it would help with my condition. I shiver with pleasure at the memory.

Before I know it, I'm standing outside the limo and watching it drive away.

She abandoned me. I'm a lost puppy.

Puppies are so cute.

I turned on my heel, my gold sandals kicking up grey dust, and head for this school. The big white doors look daunting to my eyes. I walk forward, crossing the parking lot. This is in the middle of nowhere! I have nothing with me, which I realize is weird. I should have thought I would bring school supplies. It's probably in my dorm.

I twist the gold handles and heat rushes to me. I cross my tanned arms over my sundress and hear my sandals clicking against the shinny, flawless black flooring.

The lobby is wide, and round in shape. To my left is a sitting area, forward is a long hallway with stairs at the end, and to my right is a desk. I hurry forward. Is this really happening?