Chapter 4

The next day, swan crest twinkling on her nightgown, Marella flurried into our room, basket filled with makeup. "We were supposed to dress up" she said, so she went to work, helping us gloss our lips, style our hair and buff our nails. Still we seemed no closer to being dressed, and indeed, when the clock struck 8:00, signaling the start of breakfast, not me, nor any other girl showed up. As my lips were painted, my hair styled into a fancy braid, my nails buffed and painted dark blue, and my body sprayed with perfume, I sifted through The Recipe Book for Good Looks. Once I was finished she pulled me to a mirror. "Marella," I said, gazing at my face in the mirror. "what?" she gazed at my face as if she had missed something. "you are a miracle worker." I gazed at my face, somehow molded into perfection. My stomach rumbled. "Breakfast makes you fat." Marella said to me. "I at least need an apple" I said, holding my empty stomach. "Just wait until lunch." She said, painting her nails light pink. The clock struck nine. "Come on Asia!" Claire pulled me from the mirror. "We need to go to class!" I grabbed my sewing kit, notes, and basket and followed Claire down the stairs.

"Welcome to Good Deeds," said Professor Dovey to the students settled into their desks in the candied classroom. "Every time you do a Good Deed, your soul grows purer and more Good. Though lately, my students have been doing them like chores, preferring to add to their arrogance and waist size." I listened to her drone on about good deeds while jotting down the occasional note. Next to me, Marella buffed her already perfect nails, across to the left, Claire was dutifully taking notes, and behind me, I could hear Jaydra picking at her swan. I saw, out of the corner of my eye, Nick drawing on a sheet of paper. I sneaked a peek at it. It had him, and me, under a huge H. Under the first picture was a sign that said HOLLYWOOD, surrounded by palm trees. He was a good artist. "Now," Professor Dovey finished, holding up a sheet of paper. You will take this 10 question quiz to give me some background on what I need to teach you." She handed the test to me. I opened it up:

Question 1:

An Evergirl you meet on the first day of school keeps telling you about all the famous princes and princesses she's friends with. Do you:

1. Try to become her best friend so you can hang out with these famous princes and princesses too

2. Tell her that you have famous friends too

3. Stay away from her because you hate people like that

4. Get to know her better and find out what's beneath her obvious insecurity

I wrote 4. "Because she is probably a good person and you should get to know her. she might surprise you."

Question 2:

2. You and your friend are supposed to write the school play about Cinderella together. But, you realize that he is the worst writer ever. Do you:

Quit the play and let your friend embarrass himself

Help your friend out and try to give him constructive criticism

Tell him you don't like his work and want to write the play alone I wrote 2. "Because if you are a better writer than him, you can give him ideas and help him be a better writer."

I answered the next eight questions, pondering them all, then passed the paper to the professor. She looked at my paper, then placed it on the stack. I went back to my desk, then opened up my sewing kit to do some embroidery. "ahh!" I turned around to a girl laying on the candied floor. She must of tripped on her way to the teacher. "oh no!" she gasped. there was a tear in her uniform. "here" I said. helping her up. I threaded the needle, and quickly mended the tear. "thanks" she said. She handed her test to Professor Dovey, who whispered something to her. "She wants to see you after class." I must of looked puzzled because she said to me, "She is really nice. I'm sure you'll do fine." But I worriedly picked at my sewing until she dismissed the class. Once they had all left Professor Dovey beckoned to me. "Come here." she said. I walked over to her desk and picked up a plum. "may I have this?" I asked as my stomach rumbled. "I didn't have breakfast." She stared at me for a moment then nodded. She pulled out my test. "Asia, first of all, thank you for helping out Jenna. That was very good of you." I nodded. Jenna, so that's what that girl's name was. "Second," she pulled out my test. I peeked at the corner. 95% "You have the second highest score in this class." I dropped the plum in surprise. "Wow." I breathed. "That means next class, when I pass out the grades…." "I'll get a 2" I said. I imagined the silver cloud materializing over my head. "But, because of your good deed." The dean continued. "I will give you a 1." I didn't know what to say. "Thank you." She nodded. "You better get to your next class." I nodded and left.