I have this weird habit of getting ideas for fics in some of the most random ways imaginable, and this one certainly counts. I was watching old Criminal Minds reruns on my TV (easily one of the most addictive shows out there) and I suddenly had this perfect image for this BB drabble that I had to write.
I didn't decide it would be good for Prismacolor Shadows until a little later, but I'm happy it fits here so perfectly. :D
$4$
This is the good stuff
Yesterday's only what you leave behind
It's only in your mind
- "Light in Your Eyes," by Sheryl Crow
Copper.
She's gorgeous.
Her hair is down, platinum tresses naturally falling in curls and waves down her back. Her skin is flawless, pale and unblemished and luminous, only split by the deep red fabric that wraps around her torso and drops straight to the floor, clinging to all the right places along the way.
Her crystalline eyes sparkle almost in tandem with the flute of champagne she has in her hand, effervescent bubbles catching the light just as much as the diamonds dripping from her elegant wrists.
Her red lips are curving into a smile that has every man in the room absolutely enraptured. Then she throws her head back, exposing the smooth column of her throat as she lets out a confident, beautiful laugh.
She's gorgeous for sure- no one can keep their eyes off of her, male or female.
But that's because no one can really she her, not the real her.
She uses her beauty and confidence as a mask, hiding her true motives and emotions from anyone and everyone. No one ever bothers to look deeper, anyway.
She doesn't know that there is someone that can see her, clearly, even from across the wide, crowded room.
That's because she used to be her.
It's a sort of bittersweet moment, to recognize the pain in those pale eyes, the microexpressions of cool distrust as she regards each person she comes into contact with as a possible enemy.
Melanie smiles, but there is no happiness or humor in that smile. Without ever having known her, she sympathizes with that girl in the red dress. There is a strange kinship in having once been that girl, something that sets them both apart from the rest of society.
Crossing the room, still carting the silver platter laden with more glasses of bubbling champagne, Melanie tucks a lock of red hair behind her ear, having fallen out of its otherwise neat bun. She is the future version of the girl in the red dress, the one that made her all-important decision when faced with that proverbial fork in the road.
Melanie was a waitress, but it was an odd sort of victory because it meant that she had finally broken free from that mold. She was something other than that girl in the red dress, free to live her life on her own terms and be herself.
It was the best feeling in the world.
She caught sight of herself in a mirror, blue eyes maybe a little too old beyond her years but friendly, copper hair surrounding her face like a halo.
After discarding her past and family, dying her hair had just seemed like a good idea. Getting rid of her golden curls was like a final act of rebellion- now, she doesn't even look like her family.
Most people considered going from gold to copper a downgrade, like first place to third. Melanie couldn't disagree more. Gold was soft, malleable, easily bent to others' will. Copper was capable of change, from going brassy and bold orange to mellow and gentle turquoise.
Melanie smiles again, this time a real one, making her whole face light up. To her, copper will always shine brighter than gold.
$4$
This was fairly short like most of the other drabbles, but I really liked the flow to it, considering it was a random thought that popped into my head at 12 in the morning. XD