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The Price of Perfection (Part 2)

I have to remember not to get into my pajamas as soon as I get home. Or take my makeup off. I park my Lamborghini and run inside to wait. I expect the doorbell will ring. I noticed it on the way in, but still forgot to look at the whole house.

What I don't expect is Jacoby King to come sauntering into the kitchen. But that's exactly what happens.

He's wearing his football hoodie and jeans. I'm sitting at the island.

"Hey," he says. He sits next to me. I hold my breath.

"Hey," I finally say. "Um, what were you going to tell me?"

"The reason I wasn't at school today."

I give him a blank look.

"Friday. You were at the game. I got a concussion." He looks at me like I'm supposed to remember something I wasn't there for, but apparently I was there.

So, I fake it. "Oh, right. Are you okay?"

He reaches his hand out, palm up. I stare at it like it's a snake about to bite me. Then it occurs to me he wants me to hold it. I do. It's warm.

"I'm fine. I'll be back tomorrow." His grip tightens around my hand. "I wasn't really supposed to come see you today, but I told my mom I'd be quick. Did you have a good day? You know, without me?"

Did I have a good day? Well, let me think. I woke up in a brand new life, yet still had to go to school, I am the new owner of the most beautiful Lamborghini ever, and I'm dating the guy I've basically been in love with since the first time I saw him almost three years ago. So yeah...

"I had a great day," I tell him, smiling.

He smiles back at me. "That's good." He leans closer, eyes closing. I panic and dip my head, forcing him to kiss my forehead. "You okay?" he asks. I ignore the hurt look on his face.

Yeah, it's just I've been waiting forever to kiss you and now it's finally happening. "Yeah." I sit up and lean towards him. He smiles and his lips are soft against mine.

"Good. I gotta go, but I'll see you tomorrow." I receive another kiss and he leaves.

=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=

My phone rings as I'm taking my heels off. They're black and sparkly, and I wonder why I wore them with a band shirt. The ripped jeans I get, but a band shirt? Really Helen?

I mean, Ashlynne.

"Hello?" I say.

"Hey!" a cheery voice squeals. "Do you wanna go to the mall?"

I would like to take my shoes off and eat some food, I think. I check the name on my screen. Hali. "I don't know," I start.

"Come on, Ashy. You're my bestie and I need some time with my bestie. You're always with Coby. Please?" Hali begs.

I move my phone away from my mouth long enough to sigh. "Okay. Yeah. I drive?"

"Sounds good. Be at my house in thirty?"

I nod, even though she can't see me. "Okay, yeah," I say. There's a pause, then I say, "This is gonna sound weird, but where exactly do you live?"

"Ha! Silly Ashy. I'll text you, okay?"

"Okay. I'll see you later."

We hang up and a few seconds later her address appears on my screen. I change into an all black shirt with rhinestones adorning the shoulders and slip the heels I just took off back on. They may make my feet hurt, but boy are they gorgeous. I sit at my vanity to touch up my make up.

I'm putting on my dark plum lipstick when something glittery and gold catches my eye.

I lean forward and see that I have a nose ring. I touch it carefully. It's real. How did I not notice it this morning? Still staring at it, my phone buzzes and almost falls off the edge. I catch it and see I have a new text from an unknown number.

How's it going pretty lady?

Um, okay? I think. I don't answer. What is going on? Finally I get up and go to pick up Hali.

She drops into the passenger seat. She turns her head to me, tilted so it lays on the headrest. "You've been acting really weird today," she says. "But I'm glad we're doing this. I'm trying to get a date to homecoming and I need a dress and shoes and everything."

She faces forward as I start driving. "Who do you want to go with?" I ask.

She makes a choking sound in the back of her throat. "Your boyfriend's best friend, duh," she says. "Logan. God, he's so hot."

I almost say that Jacoby doesn't have a best friend named Logan. Then I remember that in my perfect life, maybe he does.

"How are you gonna get him to ask you?"

She makes the noise again. "Seriously, Ashy. It's like you haven't heard a single thing I said last week. I'm gonna be me. Super hot and totally irresistible and he'll just have to ask me."

I don't respond.

"Then we can double date and all that other fun couple shit. It'll be amazing. Don't you think?"

I nod and smile, but don't look at her. I'm kind of scared to see what expression she has on her face.

"Totally. So, do you have a dress for the dance?" she asks. From the corner of my eye, I can see she's turned toward me and curling her already curly chestnut hair around her finger.

"No, I don't."

"Ashlynne! Ugh! Don't worry. We'll find you one today. And shoes."

"And everything," I add, repeating her words from earlier.

I see her shoulders rise and fall. "And this is why we're besties."

<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<•>

I drive Hali home and by the time I get home, it's past eight o'clock.

But I have a dress and shoes for homecoming. So that's a plus. Helen would have never even considered going to a school dance. Even though it was the second to last one she-I?-would ever be able to go to. It just wasn't my thing. But Ashlynne is everything Helen wanted to be, so I have to go. I check the calendar on my phone. Homecoming is three weeks away.

I'm about to go to the bathroom to take my makeup off, when I get a text from that unknown number.

Ignoring me?

I sighed and responded, saying, I don't know you

The answer comes back lightning fast.

It's Logan

My mouth dropped open, so wide, I nearly fell down.

Why are you txting me? I asked.

Cuz you're hot

Why is this happening to me? I thought my life was supposed to be perfect. The best friend of my super hot boyfriend should not be texting me and telling me I'm hot. No matter how true it is.

Besides, Logan continued, you told me I could txt you last week. Remember?

Why the hell would I do that? I'm with Jacoby. None of this makes sense.

Quickly, I type, Sorry. The timing is just really bad I gotta go

I see, Logan says. Playing hard to get

No! I want to scream. I'm not playing anything. I just want everything to be normal. Perfect and normal. But then I think about the guy in my car, saying he would need payment or something. Was this part if it?

I don't respond to the text. Instead, I get ready for bed, annoyed by the fact I didn't get a break between weeks. Maybe I could take a sick day...