The Real Me

Chapter 2

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Serena's P.O.V

My parents couldn't believe it when I walked through the front door.

I think they thought I was a stranger or something.

It was as if they were still expecting me to come running through the front door and clumsily up the stairs.

Well, the old me. But I don't really blame them I mean I've changed a lot.

I'd taken down my 'meatballs' and my hair now reached the middle of my back. I had black and brown lowlights all over.

I also had lit cut into layers.

I'd stopped off at the mall on the way home and bought some new clothes.

Lets just say they didn't expect four-inch fluorescent heels on their 'little girl.'

I actually felt kinda sorry for my Mom. She hated it before when I would dress so differently.

She was the type of Mom that wanted me to be homecoming queen and dress like a princess.

Well, there was no way that was happening… anymore.

Gees, I have to learn to walk in these things. Everyone else makes it looks so easy.

I'm not even gonna go near the scouts before I can strut in them. I can just see it now.

I'm walking into the arcade, looking absolutely fabulous.

They so don't recognise me and I'm beaming under my bright red lipstick.

Then I have a klutz attack and trip over in these 'things' (my new shoes in other words).

That would ruin me surprising them with my new look and it aint happening.

As for Darien, well he aint gonna be happy with my outfit.

I'm thinking Gwen Stefani.

You know with the whole mid riff showing top and TIGHT hip hugger jeans.

I'm gonna look sooo different. I had a few guys make passes at me on the way home.

Which hardly ever happened to me before. It would always be Mina and Raye that people looked at.

But now it's gonna be me.

Anyway, I know Darien's going to hate the way I look.

But you know what? If he loves me he'll accept me for who I am. And this is who I am.

When I got into my room I dropped my shopping bags and headed for my wardrobe.

This was gonna be a long night. And with a pair of scissors and an imagination I might not even have to throw out any of my old clothes!

By the end of the night I had a wardrobe worthy of a superstar!

I had about 6 mini skirts which I'd cut down from my old longer ones. I'd pinned a load of badges all over them to funk them up a little.

Most of my tops had either lost the midriff section or were pinned up in weird places using safety pins and again badges.

I'd made holes in all my jeans, they now looked vintage, and totally cool.

I was soo proud of myself. I, Serena had finally, after all those years of misery and, well, basically crap finally sorted myself out!

A few days later I woke up bright and early, something I never did when I was 'pretending'.

I got up took a shower and washed my hair. When I'd blow dried and straightened it I got to work.

I totally over did my eyeliner and mascara and to be honest I looked better already.

Along with my bright red lipstick I had an edge you know? I rocked.

Anyway once I'd put on a black pair of tight three quarter length jeans I Grabbed my new vest top.

The one that showed the whole of my stomach. Oh my god, I need to get my belly button pierced!

I'm so going to do that later, how cool would that look! Oh right back to what I was wearing.

So my short top was covered by a pink fish net vest.

On my feet I had my new pink heels which I had totally mastered walking in. Kate Moss eat your heart out.

I could strut like a super model and I wasn't afraid to admit it.

My Mom and Dad had accepted the fact that I'd gone back.

They actually kinda liked it now.

They said it as great that I had so much self confidence and now that I'm older this look totally suits me.

I'm not sure my Dad's gonna be okay with this outfit though. So I grabbed my leather jacket and zipped it right up.

The walk to the crown was so much fun. Every now and then cars would stop and beep at me.

Guys walking past would smile or whistle. This totally boosted my confidence and I was loving it!

When I finally reached the arcade I glanced into the window slightly before entering.

As I'd taken so long getting ready, it was about 11am, the time I usually entered.

The scouts were all sitting in our usual booth laughing and chatting. And then there was Darien sitting on a stool up at the counter talking to Andrew.

Right, I thought to myself, this is it. This is your chance to prove yourself to everyone.

I slowly pushed the door open. The jingle of the bell made everyone stop and stare for a few moments, looking to see if they knew me.

I sighed with relief when everyone, even the scouts and Darien, went back to what they were doing and totally ignored me.

This was so far going well.

I strutted up to the counter, the sound of my heels clicking echoing throughout the whole room.

I could feel the scouts jealous eyes on me as I approached the counter and sat down on a stool next to Darien.

He glanced at me slightly, but when I smiled he just went back to his coffee.

I couldn't believe he didn't even recognise me.

There I was sitting right next to him.

Yeah I looked different but it wasn't that hard to tell. I thought my trademark smile would give it away.

But oh no he had to make it harder for me.

"Hey Drew can I have er, a chocolate milkshake and a hamburger with extra large fries please." I said sweetly as I gave my order.

I swear Darien choked on his coffee the minute he recognised my voice.

The look on his face was hilarious.

Lets just say I could stuff the whole of my hamburger in his mouth he was so shocked. His jaw was practically on the floor.

I smiled sweetly at him and laughed. "Hey Dare."

"You-what-how…wow." Was all he could say as he sat there stunned.

I couldn't help but laugh, his face was just so funny.

"Serena is that you?" Asked Andrew, who wasn't as shocked as he'd known me when I looked like this before.

"Yeah it's me you like?" I asked flirtatiously.

I know, I know my boyfriend was sitting like right there, but it never hurts to have a bit of fun.

And besides I loved Darien too much to hurt him.

"Yeah you look great. I always wondered when you'd go back to that." He replied with a chuckle as he went to serve a customer.

"Se-Serena?" Stuttered Darien as reality came back to him and hit him in the face.

"That's my name." I replied as I looked him in the eye. "What?"

"N-nothing. It's just. Well, you've changed." He said stunned.

Oh… my… god. I really didn't think it would take him that long. Gees medical student or not he's still pretty slow bless him.

"Yeah, I kinda realised that." I said with a giggle.

"But why? I mean you were perfect the way you were." He said strongly, finally getting his voice back.

"No I wasn't!" I cried back. Okay big news flash.

This was the guy that made fun of me for like a year then when we got together

still managed to pick out my bad points when I 'embarrassed' him in public and stuff. I mean, what is he on?

"But you were, you really were. You were beautiful as you were. Why?"

"Okay Darien, I still love you and all and please don't take this the wrong way."

I sighed, my voice getting louder as I continued. "But why the hell didn't you TELL ME THAT BEFORE?"

Oh yeah, go me. Darien 0, Serena 1. Even though I don't think that counts cos he doesn't have a clue what's going on.

But hey, I can still be happy with myself right?

"What do you mean? I thought you already knew.

You were always so happy and carefree, I thought you knew!" He replied back as he looked me up and down.

His eyes widening when they reached my top. Here's a little tip for all you girls, wonder bras do the job!

"Okay, so I knew when you used to tell me I was a klutz,

I knew when you used to tell me I was immature,

I knew when you used to treat me like I was Rini's age… literally."

"Serena… I… I don't know what to say." He whispered.

By that point I could hear whispering from the booth the scouts were sitting in.

Were we really that loud when we used to talk about people.

And by the way it was kind of obvious they were talking about me.

"What?" I shouted at them angrily.

I think it took them about ten minutes to actually realise that they recognised my voice.

Amy of course was the first to come to her senses. "Serena?"

"Hey Ames. Heard you all chatting about me back there." I said with a smile.

She looked taken back as she tried to figure out what to say back.

This was so much better than I thought it would be.

Not that I mean it in a bitchy way, but well, you know.

"Serena we didn't realise it was…"

"You didn't realise it was me?" I asked finishing off her sentence for her.

"Meatball head what happened to you?" Asked Raye coldly from her seat opposite.

"I decided to get a new look. You like it?" I asked her saying it just as coldly.

"It's, er, different." Lita managed to pipe out.

Mina was the only one who hadn't spoken. She just stared at me.

After about another two minutes she got out of seat and walked over to me.

It was almost as if she thought I wasn't real.

I was just about to make a snide comment when I realised she had tears in her eyes.

My heart melted.

"What's wrong Mina?" I asked as she looked me in the eye.

"You look amazing Sere." She cried as tears started spilling from her eyes.

She came at me in a huge bear hug.

The other three just sat there staring at me like I was some monster form the Negaverse.

But Mina, she really made me feel like I still belonged with them. I

mean I knew they were gonna be shocked and that it would take them a while.

But Mina, she really amazed me.

"Thank you." I replied softly as I hugged her back.

"Thank you Mina."

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Princess Consuela Bananahammock xxx