The standard glass panes that made up the windshield of the Volkswagen Jetta rattled in perfect rhythm to the latest Keri Hilson single as four glossy lips sang along. As the school approached, a slight flutter of butterflies attacked the lining of Paige's stomach. Since that day in the locker room, things had changed for Jon a lot. In order to get his whole life back, it had to. For everyone else in the entire world, he was as he always had been -- Paige McMillan, sophomore, younger sister to Sarah, and after his half-inadvertent, half-strategic enhancements, a walking goddess. But, for him, today was the first day that he would walk into the school and embrace the role. Accepting his life as Paige was the first step. Annexing popularity, roles, and affections from Sarah like a game of Risk was the second.
The Jetta turned the corner and immediately screeched to a stop as it squeezed into the parking spot and a flurry of compacts instantly opened on cue as the girls touched up their make-up before getting out of the car.
He had spent the entire weekend locked in his bedroom perfecting this technique, as well as multiple others. Light foundation, simple blush, mascara, and a flick of the eyeliner was today's Paige special. It may've been a little overdone, but Jon knew that he couldn't afford to take any chances. He idly looked down at himself, taking stock of the merchandise he had on display. He looked so hot in leopard-print. The plunging neckline put his perfect-ten boobs on display, while the tube dress' hemline barely reached the middle of his thighs. It was stretchy where he wanted to frame his perfect features, and light and airy where he wanted to leave some for the imagination. Jon was pleased with himself as he straightened the buckle of his black oversized cinch belt to accentuate his waistline more. The diamond-encrusted script "P" necklace moved back and forth as Jon flitted with himself in an inanimate motion of approval.
Now, he just had to get into character. Before today, Paige McMillan had been accessible; Jon was talking to people, smiling at anyone, being friendly when it was required, but in order to beat Sarah at her game, he thought, he had to reinvent his persona. That weekend, Jon had buried the sweet, pleasant Paige under six feet of resolve. If people didn't like it, he thought, he knew a place where they could shove their condolences. The new Paige was going to be a gossiping, spoiled, self-absorbed bitch that got what she wanted. It took a lot of conditioning and practice, but Jon was confident that he could pull it off. He slowly transitioned his expression to what he had dubbed "the popular look." Equal parts judgmental, arrogant, and detached, "the popular look" was what he would use to steadily move his way up the social ladder, one high-heel at a time. He'd have to get familiar with it.
Jon took a deep breath as the keys came out of the ignition, and stepped out of the car.
