The Deeper Love the Shallower Hate

LUCELLY/BRIANNA

“Gosh, look at him go. The hunk, the jock, the stud-"

“Are you quoting Daffy Duck again, Lucelly?” My best friend Sylvia asked with a laugh. I grinned sheepishly. “Touché.”

Well what could I say, Daffy was my favourite cartoon character of all time, hell I'd totally marry him for his wit and sarcasm if I had a chance.

“You know, you should go talk to him if you like him that much.” She said with a shrug as she dug into her fries. I stared at her like she had grown a second head. She was speaking like someone who didn't know the rules of Serenity High; the rules that had probably been drawn up before the dawn of time;

Know where you belong on the popularity ladder.

Don't even dream of climbing up that ladder.

The jocks belong to the cheerleaders, or the rich kids so back off, nerd!

Nah, the last one wasn't really part of the rules, but... let's just say I've added it to mine. It kept me, uhm grounded for lack of a better word.

There was a little problem though.

I didn't just like Dylan Knight, I was completely and utterly in love with him. I don't know when it started, but probably somewhere around the first time I met him, when he had gallantly opened a door for me, because my hands were so full of books to do so myself. When he had smiled and even bowed slightly, his messy curls getting in his face. He had run his fingers through to brush his hair away from his eyes and I had felt a clench in my stomach at the yummy sight. Back then, I had hopes that we could have had a chance. To be you know, friends or maybe something more even, but then Amanda Richfield, head cheerleader and most popular girl in Serenity High had interrupted us, sank her claws in his flesh - figuratively and literally - and staked her claim.

And, I had lost my chance.

We were in senior year now, and Dylan was now a complete popular, captain of the football team, quarterback, boyfriend of head cheerleader. There was basically no hope for me.

“Lucelly, are you even listening to me?”

I snapped back to my senses. “Huh? Oh yeah, you were saying?”

Sylvia rolled her eyes, but continued anyway. “I said if you like Dylan that much, then you should probably go talk to him.”

I laughed. A dry humourless one. “I can't do that Syl. I mean, look at me.” I gestured at my glasses, my braces and outfit, but Sylvia was undeterred. Her eyebrows lifted significantly. “What about you, Lu?”

I groaned. “Ugh, don't make me say it Syl.”

“Say what?”

“I'm a fat nerd with braces and glasses for crying out loud!” I whisper shouted for her to hear because saying that out loud would have been... well embarrassing.

I glanced over at the popular table where Dylan sat laughing at something his best friend Marlon had said in all his handsome glory. Amanda sat beside him if I could even describe it that way. She was almost on him, it was ridiculous. We were in a cafeteria, not some strip club for god sake. Even then, she looked nothing short of perfect as usual.

“I honestly can't compete with that Sylvia.” I whispered sadly, like admitting that had drained me of every bit of strength I had left. She threw her arm around me and drew me close to her in a comforting hug since we sat side by side.

“Oh Lucelly, you silly girl! You're completely beautiful inside and out. So what if you wear glasses? So what if you wear braces? And, what are you referring to as fat? Cos all I see is curves, girl. Real curves that would give celebrities a run for their money if only you learnt to own it.”

A tear rolled down my face even as I laughed with Sylvia. That was another thing I hated about myself, my ability to quickly summon tears even for the most non relevant of issues.

“You think I'm beautiful?” I asked, hope seeping into my tone.

“I don't think it, you doofus. I know it, and I’m not saying this because I'm your best friend only, but because it's the truth.”

She scooped another fry into her mouth. “One thing though... we've definitely got to get you out of those clothes; now those are the only things completely hideous about you.”

“Hey!” She laughed when I tried to smack her and missed. “Take that back Syl. My clothes are amazing.”

The girl had the nerve to wheeze. “They totally suck and you know it.” I glared at her for a second and then joined her in laughter, hell she was right. My clothes were hideous, but incredibly comfortable. And just like that, the gloomy moment passed.

We ate in silence for a while until Sylvia looked up so suddenly, I almost gasped out loud in shock. “We should give you like a total makeover!” She squealed in delight, clapping her hands like an excited Episodes character. I shook my head assertively. “Nope. Not a good idea.” I brushed her off.

“Think about it Lu... you’ll get new clothes that show off your figure and tell the world how confident you are... hell you may probably find the confidence to finally tell Dylan how you feel.”

I chewed on the thought for a while and then quickly thwarted the hope blooming in my chest. My amply bosomed chest. “He has a girlfriend, or have you forgotten?” I reminded Sylvia. And myself.

“Pshaw, we all know that relationship is as fake as these leather tights I have on. Dylan, though popular is a very nice guy, and I think he'll listen to you if you muster enough courage to talk to him.”

I bit my lip uncertainly. Sylvia was so damn convincing sometimes. Wait who was I kidding? All the time!

I actually didn't want to do it, but a part of me kind of sort of wanted to.

Oh wait.

Perfect.

“I can't do it Syl.”

Her face fell. “Why the hell not? You seemed to be buying into the idea a while ago, what changed?”

“I have an over-protective dad, and five even more over-protective brothers, remember?”

She was supposed to have thought of this... she had a crush on one of them after all. The glint in her green eyes didn't die out like I'd thought it would after the reminder though. Instead, all I saw was hard-core determination. “Lucelly, will you do the makeover if I manage to convince them to allow you to?”

“Uh... yeah, I guess. But good luck convincing them.” I said smugly.

There was no way in hell she was going to be able to achieve such a feat.

***

“So how long does she have to dress like this, Sylvia?”

“Just for about a week, sir.” I heard my best friend answer demurely as I watched the scene unfold, mouth opened slightly. I honestly didn't even think she'd make it this far.

“And you're saying it's for a school project?”

“Yes, Mr. Knight.”

He assessed my outfit critically. I must say Sylvia surely knew her stuff. I was an almost different person I didn't even recognize myself. The only way I could tell I was still me was by my glasses. Oh, and my braces; I unfortunately had about six months left to take them off.

“Well, she looks different, but still modest enough, I guess she can help you with your project.” I heard my dad say, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Wait, he said yes?

He said yes!

Unbelievable!

Sylvia and I squealed as we hugged each other in excitement.

We charged up the stairs and headed for my room still chattering in elation and ignoring the disgusted and surprised looks on the faces of my four out of five brothers; Matt, Alex, Jordan and Cedrick as we made our way past.

We met the last one, Nick coming out of his room right when we were about to enter mine, and he was bare chested.

Yuck.

Sylvia's face turned crimson and I would have laughed if Nick hadn't spoken up. He was the second oldest and in college, and was otherwise known as Sylvia's crush. It truly was funny and sad to see how she always got tongue-tied and shy whenever he was around her.

“What are you wearing, Lu?” he asked in confusion.

I rolled my eyes and groaned. “Why did you have to even talk to me? Just pass by, I'm a hallucination, I'm not even here.”

His eyes narrowed. “Are you going to be dressing like this from now on?”

“Uh, yes?”

“Like hell you are.”

“I don't know what your problem is, dad said it's fine, so suck it.” I pulled a frozen Sylvia into my room and banged the door shut.