She stares at her face in the rearview mirror. “How do I look?”
Another thing about Kim’s trip? She lost more than twenty pounds and returned with this model-like body. Even her face has thinned, giving her cheekbones an alluring edge. Although I do miss her chubby cheeks. The mint-green coloured highlights make her appear like a fairy. She wore her skirt short, too short. Like a gust of wind can show her underwear, short.
I release my seatbelt. “You were always pretty, Kim.”
“Only to you, Ellie.” She rolls her eyes. “And my dad, but you guys don’t count.”
“Hey,” I scowl. “Rude.”
She sticks out her tongue. Determination sparking in her deep green eyes. “Today, I’ll show all those suckers what I’m made of. I’ll walk with my head held high like you.”
I can’t help the awkward smile breaking free. Kim thinks I’m that courageous, but she doesn’t know the entire truth.
Silver bangs on Kim’s window, her nostrils flaring. “You fat bitch!”
Two of her minions follow after her like she’s their mama duck. They’re all huffing and puffing, but I doubt it has anything to do with the weather.
Silver Queens is every bit the cliché of a mean girl. Blonde. Tall. Slender. Her mother is a member of the parliament. Her father is a minister. She also belongs to the school’s best students. Aka, the top ten per cent.
She has it all and makes sure everyone in Royal Elite School — or RES — knows it.
Kim lowers her window, grins at Silver, and flips her middle finger. “Fuck you, bitch.”
Silver and her minions’ jaws drop so hard, so fast, they turn speechless.
I’m speechless, too.
My best friend doesn’t curse and she certainly doesn’t flip people off — or bullies, to be more specific.
Kim didn’t only change in appearance. Nuh-uh. The world needs whatever self-confidence training she had.
“Let’s go, Elle.” Kim opens her door, pushing the dumbfounded mean girls
back.
I take my backpack and exit, too. I hold my head high as I stare down at Silver.
“What are you looking at, Frozen?” Silver snarls.
Of course.
The beloved nickname at RES.
But it’s not because of the Disney film. No.
Since the first day I walked into RES, I’ve been instantly marked as an outcast.
Kim and I were the butt-end of every fat and nerd joke. While Kim – the old Kim – hid in the garden behind the school until everyone went to class, I walked the hallway with my head held high.
Aunt and Uncle didn’t raise me to be stepped on. I kept to myself, but I never let them touch my dignity.
Apparently, I have an epic resting bitch face. Thus the nickname.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I keep my expression neutral as I meet Silver’s malicious eyes. “You’re not important enough for me to stare at.”
I interlace my arm with Kim and walk into the school’s huge doors. The ten towers appear eerie like they belong to a horror film, not a prestigious old architecture.
But then again, that’s how I categorised RES since that first day.