Chapter Two – So Overrated

Lizzie sighed as she opened her locker.  Her boyfriend of 3 months, Ryan, had just broken up with her.  He wanted too much, too fast, and she did not feel ready for that.  So he had dumped her.  Oh well.  At least being popular hasn't cost me my dignity.

But it has cost me a lot more.  She bit her lip, her mind racing.  There was an empty place in her heart, as much as she didn't want to admit it.  There had been since four years ago, when she had started high school.  She had thought that being popular would be the greatest thing in the world, that the popular kids had no problems.  But for some odd reason, she had preferred wanting to be popular, rather than actually being popular.

She gazed at herself in the mirror on her locker for a moment.  It had become a daily ritual.  Every time she looked in the mirror, she began to wonder why she had changed herself so much, and deeply regretted it all.  Her face was covered in make-up, so much that it felt like she were wearing a mask.  Her clothes were extremely revealing, and tight in all the right places.  More than that, the changes went past skin-deep.  She had become very shallow, and outwardly cold.  She carried with her an air of superiority, the same attitude she had once hated so much about Kate.

I am Kate. She realized with dismay.  I'm nothing more than a little Kate clone.  My so-called friends only like me for my looks and my status.  Nobody really likes me for who I am.

She felt another sharp pang in her heart.

I remember in junior high… I went through so many tough times.  But I always had Miranda and Gordo there to help me through.  We did everything together.

Tears began to well up in her eyes.

I wonder if they ever miss me.

The tears were flowing gently down her face, and she sniffed, wiping her face with the back of her hand.  She knew what the empty feeling was.

I miss them.  I had the two greatest friends in the world, and I blew it.  And for what?  Look at me…

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to regain her composure.  Her face was wet with tears, and she shook as she drew in a deep breath.

It's no use now, I guess.  They probably hate me by now.

The thought made her feel even more dejected.  Lost in thought, she heard the bell for class ringing faintly in her ears.  Forcing herself to clear her mind, she gathered her things.

Being popular is so overrated.