Chapter 3
"Oh my gosh! This would look so cute on you!"
Emmy couldn't believe she actually went to the mall with Yena.
"I think it's a little revealing," Emmy said, looking at the skirt Yena was holding.
"That's the point," Yena said. Her sidekicks, Wendy and Olivia, nodded.
"Well, I don't feel comfortable wearing this."
"Just give it a try," Yena said, throwing the skirt at Emmy.
"You could really hook us up with Troy Bolton?" Olivia asked, changing the subject.
"Well, if he wants to, I guess…."
"He is the hottest guy I've ever seen," Yena said.
"So hot," Wendy said dreamily.
"Well, he is my favorite cousin," Emmy said.
"You are so lucky!" Yena screamed.
Emmy smiled. She was beginning to like this attention.
"So, how about each of us picks out an outfit for Emmy?" Yena said. "Then, we'll go to my house and give her a makeover."
Wendy and Olivia ran to find outfits.
Yena smiled. "You're one of us now," she said.
Emmy smiled. She always wanted to be popular.
-
Troy dropped all of his books as he saw his cousin walking down the school hallway in a…. miniskirt. She was also wearing makeup, which wasn't like her. She looked like a clone of the girls she was walking with.
As she reached him, he stopped her. "What are you wearing?" he asked.
"Yesterday I went shopping with my girls," she said, pointing to the three behind her.
"Emmy, that outfit is totally inappropriate…."
"I think I'm old enough to make my own decisions," she said, flipping her hair.
"You're only fourteen," he said.
"Yeah, your point? You know, I don't even want to know what it is. We need to go to class. Love you. Bye." With that, the four girls left him.
Troy didn't know what to do. Emmy had never talked back to him before. She had never worn such obscene clothing or makeup, either.
"Hi, Troy," Gabriella said, walking up to him.
"Hey."
"What's wrong?"
"It's Emmy. She's turned into some frilly pink brat."
"What do you mean?"
"When you see her, you'll know."
"Well, anyways, I noticed you stayed for the entire Science Club meeting again," she said.
"Yeah," he said. "It's great."
"Did you get in trouble?"
"Loads of trouble."
"Troy, you don't have to come. You might get kicked off the team if you don't show up."
"I doubt my father would kick me off for that reason."
Gabriella smiled slightly.
"Well, I'd better go," Troy said.
"I'll see you later."
Troy ran off.
Gabriella sighed. She had been able to hide her secret…but she didn't know how much longer she could keep it.
-
Emmy looked at herself in her mini mirror. She smiled. She didn't know why she had never dressed this way before. This was the best day of her life.
"Miss Bolton?"
Emmy looked up. "Yeah, what do you want?"
Her teacher looked surprised. "I asked you what the improper fraction would be of four and two thirds."
Emmy rolled her eyes. "How am I supposed to know? It's not like you teach us anything in this class. All you do is talk about crap with your ugly haggy face."
"Miss Bolton!"
"What? It's true! I mean, come on, who else agrees with me that she is probably, like, ninety years old?"
"That is enough!"
"Actually, I was just getting started." Emmy stood up. "Why don't you try and actually teach us something in this class? And why don't you try to look presentable? Take me for example. I'm gorgeous."
"Miss Bolton, go to the principal's office. Now!"
"Fine! But it's not fair that you're punishing me for my beauty! I mean, it's not my fault you all don't even look half as good as me!"
"Get out of here! Now!"
Emmy flipped her hair. "Whatever." She grabbed her things and headed for the principal's office.
-
"Hey," Troy said. "What's up?"
He had been called down to the principal's office on account of Emmy. He saw her sitting in a chair, which left one open chair. He sat down in it.
"I understand that your cousin has been talking back to her math teacher," the principal said. "Not to mention her inappropriate clothing."
Troy looked at Emmy. "You talked back to your math teacher?"
Emmy nodded. She didn't look the least bit guilty.
"That isn't good, Emmy. Yesterday you were fine, but today it seems like you've changed."
"So? I got some new friends. I look good. What's wrong with that?"
"Emmy, I'm happy you're making some new friends and that you feel comfortable about yourself. But you still have to respect your elders." Troy looked at her with an upset look on his face.
"I make my own decisions," she said. "You can't always be telling me what to do!"
"Em, I realize that…."
"Just let me be independent!"
"The only reason I'm saying this is because I care about you!"
"I don't think you do! You just want to embarrass me and make me miserable! You used to be my favorite cousin, but now I hate you!"
Troy didn't know what to say.
"Miss Bolton…"
"Yeah," Emmy said, looking at the principal. "I'll be at detention." She got up and left.
Troy put his face in his hands.
"Mr. Bolton, it's not your fault."
"I don't even know who she is anymore," Troy said.
"So, she just basically changed over night?"
"I guess."
"Is she being pressured to be like this?"
"I don't think so."
"I'll talk to her friends. Who has she been hanging out with?"
"She mentioned going to the mall with these three girls in her grade."
"I'll track them down," the principal said.
"Thank you."
"Oh, and Mr. Bolton.?"
"Yeah?"
"I just got off the phone with your father. He is livid that you haven't been showing up to practice."
Troy sighed. "I've had other things to do."
The principal nodded. "I realize that. But, you're letting your team down."
"I've only missed two practices."
"Two could turn into twenty pretty fast, don't you think?"
"Tell him I'll be there today."
"Alright."
Troy walked back to class. What could be worse?