Being Born

Chapter 4 

I got the job…

My smile widens staring at my reflection in the mirror… “mom… I am a step closer to you”

The email has been sent out early hours of the morning. ‘The Rivers Style Appointment Letter’

Julie had took the initiative to pull me out from my suffocating room. Away from Ethan's breakup text.

      “You look graciously sexy darling” she chided, giggling like a child. 

    “Julie… I don't feel too good”

She turned, giving me the not again look. I haven't felt safe coming to this get together party. I feel something will go wrong. 

    “Be free Annie… Nothing is happening. See, everyone has moved on”

I followed her gaze. Everyone in the closet is about their business. Makeover. Chattering. Selfies.

Everyone has truly moved on. Right?...

Back to my reflection. My mind couldn't bugle how I look on this. 

A bikini.

My breast clung to the tiny cloth. Barely covered. The big mouth of my nipples sticked out.

So visible.

           “Julie… This is too revealing”

       “Of course… duhrr, it's a bikini” she rolled her eyes at me.

Julie turned my face, applying her lip gloss on me as a finishing touch to her work of art. 

My eyes touched the golden slope of her bare shoulder, taking in the strapless bikini to her slender figure, to the deep cleft between her generous breast. 

We wore a matching bikini, but she looks different. Breathtaking.

        “Julie, are you sure I look good?”

I looked around, no one looks anything like me. 

Fat. Heavy.

       “You look sexy, trust me”

I nodded, taking in her words. 

The blasting music filled my ears as we stepped into the party hall. Boys and girls of Riverside are now elite gentlemen and ladies. 

Money. Fame. Power filled the air.

Looking around my busy environment, entertainment filled the space.

Our eyes met. Hudson River.

Electrified. Charmed.

I couldn't move. My eyes swallowed his whole physique. 

Tall, blue eyes, and star of his own show. Hudson has always been intimidating with his presence. 

His dark piercing blue eyes glued to me. Or so I thought.

But as always it wasn't me. But her.

Avery York, his girlfriend. 

She rushed into his long arms, kissing and giggling like the love birds they were. As always, she has owned his heart.

Lucky pants.

      “Girl what are you looking at?” 

Julie tugged my arm, jerking my hands. I followed behind as we head deeper into the crowd. 

          “The asshole”, Julie cursed at the disgusting sight of Ethan smooching a blondie. A skinny blonde.

He never held me like that. Our intimacy never passed kissing and cuddling. 

He said our first night together made him feel like he was on a bouncy ball. And he had crumbs all week.

So he was never having sex with me again.

Asshole…

         “Ignore him Annie… Remember we are here to have fun”. 

Julie sneached a drink from the bartender, as we slide into the dance floor. 

Not long before a guy asked Julie to dance. He even said hi.

I guess everyone has sincerely moved on. Six years is enough to move on, I guess

But then, my heart flipped. 

Beauty, the Sexy-Six girl climbed the dance table. Shaking her waist. She has always being a show off. 

Who wouldn't be. With that body.

Slender figure, firm breast that clung to her white bikini. Her white skin glowing under the dim party light.

She is a real beauty. A goddess 

She dance beautifully, moving her body to the tune of the music, her smile captivating.

Our eyes clicked.

My heart jumped. Thudding louder. Fear.

Beauty is the second in command of the Sexy-Six girl. Ruthless. Although not like Avery; their leader

Our gaze lingers. Her smile seizing. 

The memories I'd fought to bury rushed back to my head. The flour bath. Staining my new uniform. The solo beatings I got for getting all my test. The lunch bath. 

But then she removed her gaze.

 I gluped down the drink. It burned me as I grabbed my chest. But my heartbeat increased.

    

‘Everyone has moved on Annie’

Julie's word's rang on my mind. I dropped the glass as I stride out, praying to get out of the situation.

But I didn't succeed.

“Hey… Fat Annie!”

I know that voice. It was Beauty

Gasp. Murmur. Glares.

The name that rings a bell. A bell for mockery.

I know what must be going on their mind. 

‘Always fat’

       “Is this really fat Annie?”

It was Marilyn this time. The sixth. 

Gentle and soft. Not much of a bully, but she only tag along. 

   “You are really beautiful now”

Beautiful?...

I don't want to be beautiful. I don't want to be bullied anymore.

The Sexy-Six girls bullies for anything. Anything at all. Beauty, brain, kindness, good grades. Overweight. 

The music went down as all the attention span to me.

       “Long time girl… You are still fat?” Beauty teased. She's known for that.

I held my shaky hands. This time I can imagine what they will do to me.

I thought Julie said everyone has moved on.

My eyes glistening with tears. My body vibrating.

         “Look up” Beauty tugged at my shoulder as she match towards me. “You should say hello when you met your bosses”

I stepped back. I knew something was going to happen. My instinct told me so. 

I shut my eyes, praying the land will open and take me.

     “Fucking look at me!”

I looked up sharply, but instead my eyes met his, again.

Hudson stood staring at us. Expressionless. 

     “What do you feed on girl… You look way too big”

A loud roar of laughter erupt from the crowd. I was the laughing stuck. Again.

Beauty keeps marching close to me, and I keep stepping back. Afraid of what will come.

What will be my fate. 

      “Are you sure you can breath from that rope all around you?”

More laughter. Cameras. Murmurs.

I should stand up for myself. For my dignity. 

Do I have any dignity left?...

Beauty smiled. I always fear that smile. 

      “How about entertaining us a little. Maybe a pool splash” 

Her words had barely registered when I felt a push.

A loud splash. Followed by laughter. And my tears.

I was in the water.

No one has really move on. They were all waiting for someone to start the show.

I should never have come outfrom my shell. I should never have listened to Julie's plea. Or even promise her anything.

I should never had believed it when she said everyone has moved on.

Maybe I should never have been born.