Gladys got up early. She felt full of energy. She dressed. The school had a nine period day, only eight of which any student had, giving either a late or early schedule. She already had a late schedule, and thus didn't have to change anything now, just show up early and practice.
She felt more and more good about herself. Her clothes felt a bit looser. The exercise she was getting as a cheerleader, even in one day, clearly was gaining results. She wasn't even very hungry and only ate a very small breakfast.
Across town, Sarah dragged herself out of bed, feeling exhausted. She dressed, her clothes seeming a bit snug that day. If she didn't feel better by the end of the day, she was definitely going to see a doctor. It was bad enough the thick glasses made her look less than perfect...and she hated that. But she felt off.
Melissa Smith, Amber Levine, Jessica Davis, Allison Wright and Erika Webber were already there when Gladys arrived in the girl's locker room, changing into their uniforms. Tiffany Sanders was off the squad for now, due to pregnancy and rumors were still flying over it. Sarah McMillan hadn't yet arrived.
Erika approached her. "Look...I just wanted to say...you're one of us now." It wasn't exactly an apology for anything they'd done to her in the past. "We stick together," she said. Erika herself hadn't picked on Gladys individually. She'd more been part of the group picking on her. Some people were followers, rather than leaders. She shrugged. "You were great yesterday. Like you've been doing it for years. You're a natural."
Gladys smiled. "Thanks," she said. "I'm eager to do it again."
"If Sarah ever gets here," Jessica complained. "What was up with her yesterday? She was making all of us look bad in front of the recruits."
"She said the nurse told her it was malnutrition from dieting so much. But it is not like she's a doctor or anything. Sarah can't be on any kind of diet right now. I saw her scarf down two full lunches yesterday," Melissa added.
Sarah entered, and sat down by her locker. Gladys had taken Tiffany's, which was right next to hers. She had some trouble putting herself together that morning, and it showed.
"I didn't know she wore contacts," Allison whispered to Erika. "What's wrong with her? I've seen train wrecks that looked better."
Sarah changed into her uniform, which was starting to feel just as snug and they all headed onto the field to practice. As the Coach called out instructions, Sarah found herself falling out of step with the others, falling down, losing her breath.
By contrast, Gladys did everything perfectly. To an outside observer, it would have seemed as if Sarah was the newcomer, not her. The coach even singled her Gladys, telling the others to do it the way she had.
After most of the practice was over, Sarah looked spent again. The other girls started downstairs, but Gladys stopped to help her. Sarah was too tired to wave her away.
Gladys helped her down to the locker room. The other girls quickly changed and left. Sarah let her help strip off her sweaty clothes and go under a cold shower to cool off. Gladys noticed Sarah was a bit pudgy, something she never had noticed before. She wondered how she'd missed it.
She helped Sarah back to the lockers and sat her down on top of a towel to dry off. Just because Sarah had been mean to her seemed no reason to be mean to her when she wasn't well. She handed Sarah her glasses, which the other girl put on. "What's wrong with me?" Sarah asked. She really wasn't expecting an answer. But she felt so confused.
"You must be sick," Gladys said, trying to help make her feel better. "This isn't like you. You were right, what you said. I don't have a fashion sense, and I don't wear makeup much. I always envied how you could make yourself up." Especially now, when she could see how Sarah looked when not made up.
Sarah was silent for a long time, unsure of what to say to that. Part of her was shocked. If she'd been in Glady's position, she would be taking full advantage of Sarah's weaknesses. She dried off, and reached into the locker in front of her and slipped into the clothes in it. They felt so loose and comfortable, unlike the tightness she'd felt all morning in her uniform.
"I'd better get to class," she said, grabbing her bag and heading off, not even noticing she'd opened the wrong locker.
Gladys hadn't noticed either, until Sarah left. "She must have been really out of it," Gladys mumbled. She looked at Sarah's clothes and bag and an odd feeling came over her. She wanted to try them on. Part of her told the rest of her it was a bad idea, but she ignored it.
She slipped into the clothes, which were much fancier than hers. She'd lost enough weight recently to fit into them, she noticed, proud of her fitness. With a sudden feeling of naughtiness, she grabbed Sarah's makeup bag and went to the mirror, expertly applying lipstick and makeup to her face.
Then she paused. Staring back at her in the mirror was a familiar...yet unfamiliar person. Her weight loss of late combined with the makeup and the clothes made her look...beautiful. She felt like Cinderella at the ball. Or the Ugly Ducking turning into the Swan. *All she had to do was lose a few more pounds...*she thought, self-consciously.
She had to get to class herself. She'd met up with Sarah later and give her her things back, if Sarah didn't find her first.
