The Girl Inside (Raura)

Chapter 9: Change Your World

Laura's POV

Best friends don't have to spend every day of their lives talking together. It's possible to not talk for weeks, but when the dry spell ends, it's as if the talking never stopped.

Eight hours after I part from my long conversation with Ross, I awaken the morning after. My hair is warped into a messy bun and I recall being too exhausted to have showered and changed clothes. 

That blond goofball kept me up into the morning laughing my butt off in a call that lasted nearly twelve hours. I swear, I can never get tired of connecting with Ross. His personality is too lively and free-spirited to be owned by such a devilish girl like Courtney. Ross owns me, even if he knows it or not.

When I enter the bathroom in the hotel room after my shower, I spot all of my Courtney makeup sprawled out on the counter. Tweezers, hair trimming scissors, and custom skin-tightening concealer. The overwhelming amount of products momentarily causes me to forget the process of applying the mask. The stilts rest against the doorframe, taunting my courage.

I remember the reason I'm seeing these products and begin applying the mask. Starting with the hair dye, I massage the dark color into my roots and hair extensions. While staring at my hair becoming darker, I realize that I'm still here. I can transform into Courtney within one hour and yet, I'm still me. If someone spots my hair from behind, he or she would be convinced that I'm Courtney. On the inside, Courtney has never existed. Courtney has never spoken from my mouth, not even through the voice modifier. My soul has never heard of that girl, but only of me, and Ross, and Raura. Rourtney is not in my personal dictionary.

I feel the same plasticity and tightening up on my face from the makeup once it is applied. My clothes and jewelry fit nicely and the voice modifier taps correctly into place. The stilts require multiple trials until they're correctly placed under my feet. Courtney's embodiment becomes of me in all its discomfort.

When I'm eight inches taller than usual, my perspective shrinks through my eyes a little bit. And when I'm myself, when I'm 5'2", my perspective is larger. I have more aspiration in me when I'm shorter. I'm sure Courtney has less when she's eight inches taller than me.

If there are security cameras in the hallways of this hotel, there is a small chance I will be bombarded by questions from the management. Yesterday when I arrived at room 2023, I was a petite brunette with little makeup. Today I leave the hotel room with eight extra inches in height, black hair extensions, and enough makeup for someone to choke on.

In a short walk with no costume malfunctions, I seat myself in a quaint café downtown. "Cinnamon tea and an apple turnover, please," I tell the lady across the counter. 

"Can I get a name for the order?" she asks.

"Courtney," I reply with full confidence. The lady nods and begins pouring hot water.

I feel for the stilts underneath my bootcut skinny jeans, they fit perfectly. Outside the glass window cars run along the street, giving me limited vision to the other side of it. Across the road there lies a music store, I can see a young girl clutching a CD in her arms, enthusiastically thanking her mother for the gift. The mother takes the girl's hand while the girl jovially bounces next to her mother, along the sidewalk and out of my range of view.

Right as I lose sight of the mother and daughter, the waitress calls my name. "Courtney?" I gesticulate to her and she presents the table with my order. "Here's the tea, and here's the turnover. That'll be $6.25 on your way out."

I thank her and nibble on the apple turnover, still looking out the sun-filled glass window at anything to attract my eyes. Familiar chatter engulfs me when Rydel and Vanni suddenly come into view. I power off my voice modifier and shout their names from inside the café. The ajar door allows them to hear my voice, but see Courtney.

Vanni and Rydel bewilderly rush into the café with puzzlement written on their faces. "C-Courtney? Is it really you? What are you still doing in LA?" Vanni stares me down.  

I stammer to reassure them. "No, it's me, Laura. I'm wearing my Courtney disguise, see? This little device manages how I'm able to speak like her." I power the voice modifier back on and discourse like Courtney, but in a mocking tone. "Hey, I'm Courtney. I'm only dating Ross Lynch to become super famous."

Rydel and Vanni's eyeballs nearly roll out of their heads and they're left too speechless to allow any of the millions of thoughts depart their mouths.

"How did you...? Wait... where did you...? ...Huh?" they almost speak in unison, I have to conceal my laugh.

"I went to that makeup artist Rydel recommended...Helen was her name. Do you think her 'Courtney Eaton' mask will be foolproof... to everyone?"

Rydel gives a small smile, they both understand what I mean. "Have faith in this. He would be an idiot not to fall for this plan. There's no doubt that it will work, especially with Courtney in New York."

I tilt my head like a lost puppy. "Wait... what do you mean she's in New York?"

They make faces as if they had been confronted with everything they have ever wanted but never asked for. "As a matter of fact, Courtney left three days ago for an extravagant modeling job in New York. It's, like, one of the most famous in the country, so she won't be back in LA for a month. This should provide plenty of time to see through your plan."

I beam up at them from my chair, asking if they would like to stay and help me practice being Courtney. To my utter disappointment, they politely rebuke the offer and continue on to their pre-planned double date with Riker and Ellington.

Defeated, I leave shortly after them in my Courtney get-up and stilts, but not before paying on my way out. 

---

I lie down to sleep in my dark hotel room, noticing tonight will be one of my last nights here. Only a few more practice runs and I'll be ready, but I could never really admit this has been a challenge. I already had Courtney and her mindset figured out before I underwent any transformations. 

Whatever the hell Ross sees in her, I don't believe he really does. He doesn't see anything in Courtney because he's love blind.

But maybe the wrong relationships teach people how to recognize the right one when it arrives.

I admit: it's difficult waiting for Ross to realize inner beauty, but it's even more difficult to fight the urge to give up when I know the light at the end of the tunnel is everything I want.

***

Happy December! Lil update right there for #5YearsOfAustinAndAlly.

Ross didn't tweet about it. No surprise. :(

Anyone see that "2023" reference? ;)

Happy belated 21st birthday Laura!

Wow I have finals soon rip me.

I might be integrating in some Raura in next chapter...

Guess what Raini replied to me tonight on Twitter about the "group chat." Go check it out, I'm statuslynch. Ahh she's so amazing and I luv her yet she's torturing us.

Vote/comment!

Steph (yesifeelgoodr5)