ON A DARE !

*** Standing in front of the most popular boy in school was more nerve-wracking than I thought it would be, the butterfly fluttering through my tummy was almost unbearable, but being the brave girl I was, there was no stopping my love confession. The love letter clutched tightly felt wet as I thrust it toward him, a smile on my face.

"Ryan, I love..." My voice faded as he started laughing, his shoulders shaking really hard as if I was the funniest thing he'd ever seen. His friends joining in the laughter added more salt to my already bleeding heart.

Ryan stepped close to me, his face becoming monster-like. "I won't ever date someone as hideous as you and please try to brush your teeth, your breath fucking stinks," he said and the roar of laughter that followed floated right for me like darts of an arrow.

******

I jerked awake and cursed as my alarm shrilled through the room. "Fuck!" That was the most horrible moment of my life and why my subconscious choose to torture me with it so early in the morning was beyond me. Like I didn't cringe and shudder enough whenever I thought about it, I had to dream about it too. And Ryan was a jerk. My breath was fine and I looked nothing hideous, or maybe I did, but...

"I will survive, I will survive..." Um, what was the next part in that song? I looked up at the ceiling just waiting for inspiration to hit me and make me remember, but I was such a freaking wuss. I couldn't remember the next part even if I went on and had brain surgery. Wait, was that self-shaming?... fuck if I knew.

I turned around on my bed and tripped as my leg caught on the blanket wrapped around my ankles. I went down with an ump. My face smacked against the ground and I winced In pain. Great, just what I needed to make me feel alive.

"ugh. Can I just start one day like a normal person" I got out, trying to untangle myself?

My hair was like a volcano on my head, it was sticking up whichever way, all struggling to make a debut. I normally cut It short, but I've just let it be, so it's been growing out these few weeks.

I stared at the mess my room was, shuddering at the heap of clothes lying around sporadically over the room. I'll clean it tomorrow. Mind you, I've been saying that for a month now. I know, I know, I'm a chronic procrastinator, but come on, cleaning is so hard. You had to pick up the dirt, wash all the piles of clothes, and dust everywhere, who had the strength to do all that when you can just watch TV, listen to music, do assignments, and catch some fun.

I trudged to the bathroom, rubbing at my shin as I took up my toothpaste. I fumbled for the toothbrush, then proceeded to scope it on, but nothing came out of it. I peered at the sachet that looked like it had been mauled by a wild bear. Just kidding. It was freaking empty. I looked around the tiny space I stood in, taking more notice of my stuff on the vanity. Everything was finished, even my soap. What in the fucking world happened overnight.

"How can this even be real. I used them just yesterday right" I paused as I thought about the day before. "Or didn't I?". ugh, frustrating day ever. I turned on the faucet, but nothing came out. I made more animalistic noises in my throat, pressing harder on the offending object.

"Is this thing clogged again? life is so unfair. Now I have to use the bathroom downstairs." I whined. I quickly combed my hair, which still refused to be straightened despite all my love and attention. well, I'm just going to have to deal with it. Bitch hair. I rushed out of the bathroom, yanking the door open. My Mom_Jessica_ bless her soul, was standing right there, waiting as if on cue.

"It's about that time of the year," she got out like she didn't know what to do with all my problems. I don't know what to do with them either, so don't ask me. She shook her head, with an amused look on her face.

"It's an emergency this time. I promise, I'll pay back". I made prayer hands to sell the act, batting my lashes

She nodded at me like I was a lost cause. I think I might have an idea of what's going through her head, 'what did I do to deserve this. I feel the same way, mom.

She sighed, batting my hands down. "You don't have to pay me back. I am your mother baby. I've got you".

Oh my gosh, she's just the best. "I love you mom," I said hugging her fiercely, trying hard to bring out ugly tears. I don't succeed, but I think I got an A for the effort. She smiled before pulling me off.

"Here," she said stretching a shopping bag to me. I grabbed at it quickly, before she could decide to change her mind. She just rolled her eyes at my antics, not letting go of the bag either. "I got you creams, perfume, soap, lotion, everything you need. Make sure they last this time" She warned slash advice, and I smiled cheekily, collecting the bag from her with a hard yank.

I grinned up at her. "Thanks, mom."

"I'll call the repairman to unclog your faucet, so you can use mine in the meantime."

Is that angel's halo around her head, I literally saw it shining just now. "Oh mom, what will I do without you," I sobbed going in for another hug.

"Absolutely nothing!" she answered pushing me back.

Halo fucking disappeared. "Aww, come on, don't be so mean. But you're right. I'm going to do better I promise" I crossed my fingers.

"You can't go back on your word ok." She huffed, her gaze slipping to the mess of hair on my head. She grimaced. "What happened to your hair?"

"You gave me this hair. You think I'm not asking myself that same question" I grumbled and she smacked my head."ouch"

"It's your papa's fault, not mine."

I rubbed at the spot she'd swatted. "Ok... you didn't have to hit it through my skull". I swiveled back to take in the mess in my room before turning back to face her with my mopping face on. "Mom, can you help me clean my room. My clothes are a mess," I got out in my not to be refused pleading voice, twiddling my thumbs, and slumping one of my shoulders.

I heard her suffering intake of breath.

"What do you ever do in this house. You don't even do the normal house chores, yet you can't take care of your room. Just look at it".

"I am looking at it. It's a pile" I would have added fucking, but I don't think mom will be too pleased with me cussing within her vicinity.

"You made that pile. Goodness Vega. Grow up!".

"Ok, mom. Jeez. I'll go shower now" I murmured, hurrying past her down the stair, knowing at the back of my head that she was going to take care of my room.

"What will I do with that girl of mine. Just what?" I heard her murmur.

Well, I didn't know what I'll do with myself too, so I guess we're in the same boat.

I am Vega Romeo, brilliant, pretty, friendly, the list was freaking endless. Welcome to my very peculiar story. I mean I am just that average girl, with a lot to give, that is if I was given the chance. I just needed to get through college first, without any hitch, and with no heartbreak. Yay! or not. I hope I survive. Fingers crossed.

A Lamborghini Aventador spider was what I rolled with. Yeah, I rolled with it, cause its not mine duh. Because in what language could I even afford a scooter, talk more of a Lamborghini.

It was my friend's car. Andrianna always changed cars like she altered her clothes. Her parent was in the oil business; well that's what she told me, and I believed her fifty percent. I've never met them so I was not sure if it was true or not, not that she had any reason to lie to me. Yup!. She had this expensive condo that made me drool, every time I went over to her place. She lived like a rich mafia princess, just waiting for her prince charming to sweep her off her feet.

We were like two different people, yet we clicked on the very first day we met. The circumstances were favorable for me but It was a disaster for her. She was in her white Balenciaga when the red dragon decided to make an appearance; period people, menstruation. The red dragon. I came to the rescue with my ugly brown sweater before the mean ones could take notice, or decide to mock her in person or do it through the internet. It was so freaking easy these days. They had all sorts of groups created just to make people feel shitty about themselves. They even had the memes creator. Complete utter nightmare. We're in college, but people don't change much. They just got busier with getting good grades and earning the professor's approval, so that kept them pretty occupied. Except for the rich entitled brats. They didn't have to work for shit. Not all of them, but most.

I got my baggy self into her posh, mouth-watering ride. She looked me over, shuddered, and started driving. Being aware of what I was wearing didn't stop me from glancing down to look at it once, maybe only to gauge why Andrianna was reacting like my skin was covered in garbage.

Looking at her, I got where she was coming from because I swear this girl was trying to reincarnate princess Fiona or any of those princesses in Disney World. Her hair was straight, curling at the edges. A deep rich brown that put my dark cringy curls to shame. Her lashes were highlighted due to her dark eyeshadows and curving eyebrow. Pretty pink pouted lips completed the look.

Andrianna never lacked attention, from both girls and boys.

The description for both of us would be very simple. She was the princess, and I was the stable girl with mud all over.

I loved being a stable girl tho. Sarcasm.

Andrianna looked at me once more. I knew she was dying to criticize me. I stuffed more Cheetos into my mouth, careful about the interior of the car. She snapped at last.

"Couldn't you eat at home, and what the hell are you wearing?" She asked incredulously, making me, for the third time to look down at my outfit. It wasn't that bad. I was wearing an oversized t-shirt, over a pair of baggy shorts with high boots, all in different colors. I think I pulled it off, considering these we're the last clean clothes in my closet.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you these were the last clothes in my closet that wasn't dirty".

She snorted "you and I both don't know that your room is always a mess. I don't get how you are so happy to volunteer for sanitation at school when you don't even care for getting things clean at home"

Ok, that was criticism at its finest form. "I didn't volunteer for free. It adds to my grade and I get paid. Plus it makes me look good" I noticed her glaring at my Cheetos. "We ran out of gas, that's why I'm eating junk"

"I already told you we'll eat at the cafe. I've got everything covered..."

I rolled my eyes for the millionth time. "I'm not a charity Andrianna... Let me at least take care of my food. If I ever need you to buy me food, you know I'll be all over you right" I said playfully. Andrianna exhaled in exasperation, then a half-smile touched her lip, transforming her face. Oh to be that pretty.

"You don't eat well, that's why you're so skinny" she complained, eyes probing, searching for whatever flaw she could find.

"It's because I work. Plus, guys like skinny girls" I sing-song. It was her turn to roll her eyes at me. I laughed because she managed to add a touch of grace to it. Everything she did was so flawless. Oh for the love of God.

"So how are your mega-rich parents," I asked after I stop my stupid grinning, and internal whining.

"They're good. What about yours" she asked, not meeting my gaze. Talking about her parents always put her on the edge. I tried hard to pretend I didn't notice.

"Mom is still her bossy, loving self, and I bet dad Is eating steak in heaven" I joked. My dad died when I was pretty young. But the way mom and I spoke of him, you'd think he was still living. Mama told me he was perfect, and I believed her. I missed him, but the fond memories made it easy to hold on to him.

"Sure thing. You wanna go eat steak with him" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'd love to, but I have tons of things to do here first, so I'll be taking a rain check this time. I'm sure Dad will understand".

Andrianna laughed in that rich chuckle of hers that made everyone feel warm around her. We got nearer to our destination and I noticed the smile drained from her face. She looked suddenly apprehensive.

"You have to change that outfit, Vega. Please" she begged as she drove into the parking lot. I could already see the student milling about turning to admire the car.

"Why? Do I embarrass you?" I asked, holding her gaze as she turned off the ignition.

"Of course not. But don't you feel self-conscious at all. That shirt is hideous all on its own" she pointed out. Ok, that was not nice.

"It looks fine to me, besides who's attention am I trying to catch if I dress flashy or sophisticated as you. They all hate me, so let's just leave them to it" I defended calmly. This was not the first time she felt I had to change myself to fit into school. You could change your whole existence and still not fit in. That's how the world works, they'll always find a flaw. Or being jealous for flaky reasons.

"I hate this" she muttered, pulling off her seatbelt. I do the same, smiling.

"No, you don't". She shook her head, pushing the door button. She's a show-off and trusts me, I loved this part. The car door slid upward like wings, looking like a majestic bird about to take off.

We stepped out of the car and I watched as Andrianna flip her hair. Yep, mesmerizing. We need this in slow motion bitch.

I felt all the gazes on the back of my head as we head to our department. Note to self, never pair clothes with different colors, because it is guaranteed to get people's attention. They were surprised at our friendship... Like I said, nothing in common. I was the plain, badly dressed hobo and I was not even wearing my glasses yet.

"They're staring at us" Andrianna complained.

"Let them stare. They don't have better things to do. No matter what they say, you're still the most beautiful girl on campus, and I'm still the top student, in the favor of all the professors, cause I'm fabulous". I flipped my short cringe hair.

Her gaze followed my movement "Your hair is a mess" she pointed out. Jeez, she's on a roll today.

"My hair is always a mess, you know that".

"I gotta go. See you later" she got out, turning and striding off before I could hug her.

"Hey, no friends hug" I screamed after her. She increased her pace, acting like she didn't hear my voice. "Bye," I yelled out of breath. This was kinda starting to sting. I took a deep breath, turned, and bounded up the stair. Time for business class. Ugh, I hate school.

Capital_boring. Revenue preservation and distribution_more boring. Is the professor hot, young, and every girl's wet dream_fuck yeah!. I grinned at him anytime he looked in my direction. He turned to write something on the board, his shirt riding up a bit. I see the other girls blatantly ogling him and almost screaming in their seats.

No drooling. I warned myself trying to listen to what he was explaining. He was distracting. But I also already knew half of what he was saying, so I didn't need to force my brain to concentrate. The lecture finished just in time for lunch hour, and Mr hotness decided to assign us to research ways on how to maximize our resources. I mean ok like school isn't stressful enough, we have to take more work home. We all trooped outside, friends moving off in pairs while I stood alone. I'm minding my business when someone knocked my textbook out of my hands. I whirled to face the culprits, then took a suffering breath as they turned out to be who I thought they would be. They just never got tired of bullying me, right from high school until now. The three villainous bitches_Arielle, Jenny and Nicole. Sometimes I wonder if they applied to this college on purpose just to bother me. Ok, that might not be true. I'm here on scholarship, and this is pretty much the college where the rich kid goes. So I might simply be the one who set up myself for this.

"Are you all blind or what?" I asked my fist clenching, eyes hardening. I was not afraid of them anymore, because if there's one thing I've learned the hard way, it was that if you act weak, or show just even an ounce of being scared, they become a million times worse and more daring. Fighting back made our exchange more on the verbal side, not like in the old days when I had to try to cover a black eye or a broken nose. Yup, the good old days.

They all look amused like I was some green-eyed frog that crawled out of a pond. Apt description cause my baggy shorts is a glaring green. Yup, green and orange are not a good combo.

"Nope, I didn't see you dirtbag. I only see people who are on my level. You are not, so I'll watch my tone of voice if I were you. What the hell are you even wearing".

She contradicted herself so much, that it made me want to pull out my hair, or hers.

"I believe they're called clothes. I also know that I'm pulling off this look, while you can't. Not surprising with that figure of yours" I pointed out sweetly and she glared Hades at me. She was elegant but too insecure, so of course, my jab hurts. I had teeth, and I tend to bite hard when I'm shoved off a corner.

"Watch your trashy mouth" Jenny jerked a finger in my face like she wanted to pluck out my eyes. Arielle, who was the leader stopped her.

"Don't waste your breath on her Jenny. She's not worth our attention" she got out, looking straight at me. Jenny calmed down, a smirk replacing the scowl. Such a fucking puppet.

"Yeah you're right. You're just a pathetic lowlife nobody".

I've heard enough of their nonsense. I moved closer to her, asking for trouble. My scholarship pleaded in my subconscious, but for once I refused its request.

"You're the pathetic one, Jenny. You couldn't learn shit even if you were paid to. What? You're going to run crying to daddy to have me expelled for pointing out how such a dumb brain piece of shit you are" I sneered. She grabbed at my shirt, yanking me forward.

"How dare you" she yelled in my face, spit flying. Yuck. Like does she not realize the concept of brushing one's teeth as Ryan said. I did not sign up for this.

Nicole pulled her away, subtly hinting at the CCTV. She might as well have been pointing at it. I adjusted my shirt, a perpetual frown on my face.

"Don't ever talk to Jenny like that," Nicole warned, her expression manic. "You're the laundry woman's daughter right" she stated, and I felt the hollow at the pit of my stomach widen. I glared at her as she smiled, then adjusted my glasses on my face.

"I'd be more respectful if I were you, or someone could suddenly lose their job. We'll be seeing you around" she whispered, tapping at my cheek. I fought myself from roaring like an animal and ripping her pink hair out. They giggled as they left. When will they ever grow up?

Everything was fucking upsetting. A continuous tapping sound seemed to be ringing in my head with every step I took. I never wish to come across them again. They ruined my day just by breathing in the same vicinity as me. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Could I just pull out my hair now? I stopped myself just in time from face planting on the floor, as I tripped for the second time in the same day.

If I had fallen, well that would be the nail in my none existent coffin. Even now the second-hand embarrassment at the noise I made had me cringing. I tried not to look around to see who noticed.

I breathe a sigh of relief once I stepped out of the department. Thank God I only had one lecture on Fridays... The night was for the party animals, and as you might have noticed, I'm not. Bookworm, lazy ass procrastinator will be a more apt description. Self-shaming must be a thing now.

A nice ride was in Andrianna's spot. The door opened, drawing people's attention as Michele Morrone stepped out of the automobile... You fell for that, didn't you? It's not Michele Morrone duh, but he might as well be his younger brother.

Tall, tan skin, long mane of light gold, or was that brown... He even put Mr hotness_aka my professor to shame. He had that lean athlete built that made you just want to drool all over him, then there was his handsome out-of-this-world face. Darn, those pink lips should not even be real. He had striking long lashes, thick eyebrows, and green expressive eyes. Is he real? Like for real. I looked around and yes, everyone was suddenly zombies and he happened to be the only human specimen remaining. Can I just feel up his chest please, because, I'm already hooked on them?

Earth to vega. Snap out of your foolishness. You've already had enough rejection to last you a lifetime. Thank you self, much.

He stared around, taking in the appreciative stares. A smirk ghosted across his lip, his eyes trained on a pretty girl. He winked, making the girl blush into ashes. Playboy alert goes off in my brain. Of course, he'd be a playboy. You can't be that fine, fine, and be nice, nice.

I gave him another look, then glanced at myself on the large glass double doors. I definitely could not pull him, I couldn't even pull his pants.

"Lost cause. No need to even try" I sighed, walking away but not before I noticed the three villains approaching him. If he wasn't off-limits before, he was now.

Oh well. Not like I stood a chance in the first place.