Was it nature or nurture, Karyn idly wondered as she snuck a glance at Paige McMillan shuffling through a makeup bag at her locker.
It had been a week, and she couldn't shake Gladys and Leonard's argument from her head. Paige's glances, although more common, seemed to hint at something else. Something behind those icy blue eyes.
Maybe she was trapped.
Between her sister and psycho ex-model mother, what other choice did Paige have? Karyn tried imagining what she would be like had the McMillan gene not coursed through her veins. Would they have been friends? Karyn knew other younger girls. It was almost as if Paige was being forced into a pink fluffy world against her will. How she got to that conclusion through a simple glance, she didn't know, but Gladys and Leonard just had to hear about it.
####
"You can't be serious, Karyn," Leonard snorted, in between sips of his Mountain Dew. "We know this. Nature beats nurture every time."
Gladys let loose a powerful fake-cough. "That's the biggest load of " Leonard was back at it again before she could finish.
"Just look at the way she touches up that make-up. There's no way that can be taught! It's like a dance that each member of that family is programmed for from the day that they're born. What's the over/under on different McMillan high heels this week, anyway?"
An audible scoff came from across the table. "Ugh. You know, Leonard, Karyn might be on to something. Maybe we settle this debate once and for all. You should talk to her, Karyn, befriend her. Paige McMillan, heiress to the social throne. I say she'll change. Leonard thinks she'll spit you out. And maybe you can get her to stop staring at you while you're at it."
"Yeah, and maybe she'll let you borrow some of her clothes. That sweatshirt you wear everyday could really use an improvement. It's so-"
Karyn gave Leonard a sharp elbow to the ribs before packing up her things to leave. If her hunch was right, Paige would gladly talk to her. She was a senior, right? What could a little freshman do? Even one as popular as, gulp, Paige McMillan.
