Sarah shuffled through the crowd with the rest of the student body, never more did that name hold true, she felt like she was part of a massive organ of students all shifting towards the exit. Even though it felt like everyone was touching her, it didn't feel like anyone took note of her, nobody got out of her way, and a few even cut her off as she would dart for an opening, trying to get out sooner. This never happened before. She really hated it, but not in an angry way that she used to, this was more a sad way, like having to eat peas.
She found her way out of the mass of people, and saw what she thought was Kyla, far ahead, she tried to follow. "I must have won the bet" Sarah thought. "Clearly I have, I've done everything that anyone could hope for...someone even held my hand." she blushed at the thought.
By the time she got to who she thought was Kyla, Kyla was gone, if it ever had been her. Instead it was Karyn and some other people she didn't like talking to because there was geeky weird, and there was freaky weird, and they seemed to be into something even stranger than that. She felt a tap on her shoulder.
Melissa stood before her in a cheerleader outfit that made her look amazing, Sarah had never thought of anyone other than herself as pretty, only as acceptable to be around her or not, so this was the first time that Sarah looked at her former friend and thought to herself. "Wow, she's amazing."
"Come with me." Melissa said as she grabbed Sarah's hand and lead her back towards the gym she had just escaped. "Kyla's taken off, which means we need to seize the day for what it's worth."
They passed through the doors of the girls locker room which was empty. Melissa opened a locker and passed Sarah a cheerleader uniform.
Sarah had worn these a hundred times with pride and joy, but Sarah felt that putting this one on would be presumptuous.
"Oh I couldn't" Sarah reacted.
"Do it. They are made to fit, you'll love it trust me!"
So, Sarah took of her clothes and put on the outfit, which she knew was going to fit, as it had before, but as she was zipped up, encased in spandex and nylon, she felt a sense of unknown. Still there was a certain freedom that came with this sort of outfit, a bendy flexy sort of feeling, as well as the cool air on your legs from the skirt. Then she saw herself in the mirror and was shocked.
She had never looked better. It was like traveling into the past with shorter hair and glasses. The outfit made everything great about her stand out and in that moment she was a cheerleader again. She was beautiful again. She was herself again. and she started crying.
Melissa was suddenly at her side. "Oh Honey, it's ok....what's wrong."
Through her tears Sarah choked out a "I've.....never.....been.....sob....this...."
"shhh....shhh....it's ok...too much too fast maybe. Yeah, these are cut to make you look amazing, everyone gets a little shock when they see themselves the first time...it's ok..it's ok."
Sarah was amazed at the kindness and understand of her friend. Sarah had never been kind to Melissa in the past, yet here she was, taking care of a blubbering mess who couldn't even handle looking pretty without crying.
"You wanta try a high kick?" Melissa said to try and change the subject from the crying.
"ya...yeah....I...do...." Sarah sobbed with joy. It got better from there. Much better.
