Jay and Randy took her in Jay's car across town. Pulling up to a house, Randy rang the doorbell, and a rather attractive, but wholesome looking college-age girl answered. She looked at Randy, then at Jay and Buffy.
"So this is the girl?" She asked him.
"Buffy, this is my cousin, Sandy," Randy said, "she's going to help you."
"Well, if I'm going to help her, you two had better come back later. You're making her all uncomfortable," Sandy said. She looked at Buffy. "Come in," she said. She looked at Randy. "Go get a burger or something."
"But..."
"Do you want my help or not?" She said. Randy mumbled something and the two boys did as she asked. She slammed the door. "What did you do to get my idiot cousin and his friend so interested that he'd ask me for a favor?"
"Well...Jay..." Buffy started, uncomfortably.
"Look...Buffy, was it? Randy is an idiot, and so are most of his friends. Maybe...well, they aren't stupid, they just act that way. Some of them will grow out of it, some of them will be that way for the rest of their lives. At least he has enough sense to bring you to someone who can give you some good advice."
"Who?" Buffy said, looking around.
"Me. I used to be unpopular in high school. When you get to college, things change. You can reinvent yourself. But you can do that at any time."
Buffy had planned to get far away from her parents by the time she went to college. Her mother was like a grown-up version of the girls who picked on her. Her father...well, he thought she was smart, and was good to her, but he seemed embarrassed by her at times. "What do you think I should do?" She whispered.
"Well, give what I'm suggesting a shot. I think my cousin thinks I'm going to talk you into wearing clothes more like what the sort of girls he goes after would wear. You know, tight, short, heels taller than your head...He just doesn't know any girls other than me who would do him a favor."
Buffy couldn't see herself dressed like that. It would feel like she was naked. She was self-conscious enough. But she wasn't sure this stranger's idea was good either. But if she left...and didn't at least try it...Jay would never stop hounding her. And...she was starting to grow curious about it.
Sandy looked her up and down. "First...we'll get your hair cleaned up. Then, get you a different pair of clothes. Nothing racy. Do you wear jeans?"
"Not really..." she admitted. She had a pair or two.
Thus began a whirlwind afternoon, where Sandy got her to do things even her mother couldn't. The girl didn't take no for an answer, but kept trying to get her to compromise, but she got the impression if she ran, that Randy and Jay would come after her. Sandy took her to a beauty parlor to get her hair washed and styled. It didn't come out that different than before, but it was much cleaner and neater.
Then she took her to the mall and got her to try out some different clothes. Finally, there, they compromised and she did wear out a jean skirt, but it went down to her knees, and she did buy several tops that were not overly revealing, but more fashionable. She also invested in a new pair of shoes.
It actually became a bit fun. She really didn't have female friends. Sandy was, at the least, as aggressive as Randy, but she was surprised to discover that she was a computer science major, and could keep up a conversation in many areas that Buffy could.
The nerd girl refused to consent to contacts. They hurt her eyes, but she was talked into a new pair of glasses that matched her prescription, but looked less thick.
At the end, she settled into a chair in the food court, where she'd been the previous evening, her mind whirling as Sandy called her cousin to come meet them.
