This is a story blog. All characters and situations are fictional. I update it from time to time though there also might be a possiblity that I'd let go of this blog and stop writing. But, for now, thank you for visiting and hope you'll enjoy your visit.
NIcoLine LoVeS
As I stomped out of the library in fury, I jabbed the buttons of my cell phone and dialed for my number one retail therapy partner; Mallory.
“Hello? May I speak to Mallory summers please?” I said the minute the call was picked up.
“Yea, hang on for a sec.” A cool female voice replied.
“MALLORY! PHONE!” She shrieked.
I was startled by Mallory’s elder sister who was at the end of the line that I held my phone at an arm’s length away from me. It was a good thing that I had a firm grip on my phone; else I most probably would have dropped it. If I do, I will have to get this one with my own cash, considering that I “accidentally” dropped the last one too many times till it crashed on me.
“Hey, hey, hey! This is Mallory, who’s that on the line?” A bright cheery voice boomed through the receiver.
“Hey, Mal, it’s me, Lenna. Just called to ask you if you wanted to hang at the mall?” please say yes, please say yes! I thought as I crossed my fingers in hope.
“Yea, sure! I will go get ready. See you in 10 at the park.”
“Okay, bye” I did a little happy dance in my head and hung up the phone. Mallory was my absolute friend for almost 4 years now; she was in my home class when I got transferred to Wilkins Ville and most of my classes as well. I guess you could say that we clicked and has got along well ever since.
It was a good thing that the city of Wilkins Ville was such a tiny one, you can arrange to meet a friend or head over to their place easily. I thought as I waited for Mallory in the park. The only down point about this was that, if you wanted to avoid anyone, you’d have to go to the next town which was 10 kilometers away. As I was thinking about that, a thought struck me; “You’d most probably run into that arse if he is from anywhere around here. Since Wilkins Ville is such a small town...” I dismissed that thought as fast as it had come.
It was almost impossible that he was from the town. Judging from his appearance, he should either is of the same age or slightly older than I am. Plus, there is only one high school and I haven’t seen him around. Being the person that he is, as in his looks, he’d make the headlines of the school newspaper if he ever transfers to my school. Well, enough of him already, I need some thorough retail therapy to get that “THING” cleansed out of my head. Even though, he was such a good looking “THING”. What a waste too! But then again, if he had a great personality plus those looks, he’d “kill” many in the aspect of the “love battlefield”...
A hard pat on the back brought me back to reality. I turned and realising it was Mallory, I got up and told her “Let’s go!”
“It’s time to spend till our wallets burst! OOOHH! Hey Lenna, I saw an awesome pair of boots the other day, let’s go have a look at them and tell me if they suit me alright? Hope it doesn’t make me look too, tough” She said jokingly.
I laughed in reply to what she said. Mallory is 5 feet 2, red headed, big eyes and rather slender. She was one of those lucky few who were born with straight hair. Unlike me, who has to get mine fixed every 2 to 3 months, before it gets too unmanageable.
We chatted carelessly as we walked to the mall. I was rather surprised at myself for not bringing the library incident up to her. Perhaps it was better this way. I would most probably have no chance of running into that guy again. Or so I thought.
I went around the library hunting for books that seemed to be able to help me to write; good stories or good history reports. Basically, I am just searching for something to add into my knowledge vault. This way, when I go for the internship tomorrow, I wouldn’t be a disgrace to my mom; or myself.
Reminder to self; “dress appropriately, speak when needed, don’t blab, behave yourself, mom does not own the company, do tasks when asked to or when needed, do not just sit there like a flower vase; and most importantly show the people there that you are able to do your work!" Satisfied with the books that I have got, I went around the library to look for a spot which was comfortable enough to get me started on my work.
I guess, luck was shinning on me, I had managed to find a cozy spot in the library. It was a cushioned seat by the window with a rather huge study table. I was rather surprised that they did not add a few more chairs to that table, seeing that it could easily accommodate up to 4 people. Curious but grateful, I snuggled down to the seat, turned on my Ipod, put on my head phones, reached for the first book within my reach with a pink pencil in my hand and a note book laid open before me.
“Good”, I thought to myself, “I am all set and ready to work my way through this pile of books! Let’s get down to business.”
“Okay, Hitler wanted to establish a New Order of absolute Nazi Germany hegemony in Europe....”
It was very surprising that I did not feel bored doing all that heavy reading. I mean, the books I had gone through were things like “the rise and death of the Nazi regime ”,“ Nuclear Arms Race ”,“ The Potsdam conference ”and “ Winston Churchill and the Iron curtain speech”. These were the kind of books that I would not read even if someone paid me a million bucks to do so. Now, I totally have no idea what possessed me, I managed not only to read through those load of books without actually falling asleep and what’s more, I had all the main points written out! Amazed with myself, as well as pleased and smug about it, I was smiling to myself and was doing a happy dance in my head.
“Whee! Ha-ha! I did it! I finally DID IT!!!!!!” It was fun while it lasted, until, HE came long and destroyed my happy thoughts.
“Hey, can I borrow that book for a sec?” A deep masculine voice breaks the silence in the library like shattering glass.
“Sure!” I looked up only to find the most piercing brown eyes staring into my eyes. The guy was a real stunner! If he wasn’t right before my eyes, I don’t think I would have believed that such a person existed! He was at least 5 feet 9’, jet black hair that looked like it fell into place on its own, a sharp dignified nose, and high cheek bones, utterly kissable lips, high arched eyebrows and the most attractive part of him, electrifying brown eyes that would make any girl go gaga over. He was so tall and his body so well-built that you would think that he was an actor or a model.
He bent over me, glanced at the note book on the table, gave me a very smug look and said “Well I think you should study beforehand in future. Don’t you think so?" and laughed as he pushed his hair away from his eyes.
“Mugging now will get you nowhere. Looks to me like you have a lot of catching up to do.” Smirking at me, he said, “Good luck, I think you will need it badly. I will return this to you in a bit." With that, he winked at me and left.
He walked off, ever so smugly. All I could do at that moment in time was to stare at him as I was dumbstruck and didn’t know what to say. It was almost as if the words were stuck in my throat and were unable to come out through my mouth! Somehow, he seemed to have sensed me staring at him. He turned, winked at me and blew a kiss in my direction.
Typically of me, I just sat there; glared at him with my cheeks burning red. I felt the surge of fire within me, “what nerve that guy has! He does not even know me! What right does he have to judge? That ass!” I muttered under my breath heatedly. I regretted being too superficial and awestruck by the appearance of the guy that I was unable to give him a proper tongue lashing and tell him exactly what I had thought of him. Grumbling to myself, I decided to leave.
My perfectly excellent mood was ruined thanks to that JERK, I stuffed my things into my beaded bag, grabbed the books by the armload and as I was walking towards the bookshelves to return them, having my vision blocked by the pile of books that I was carrying, I bumped into someone on the way, causing the books to crash onto the floor.
“Sorry, I didn’t see you there.” I bent down to pick the books up as I apologised to the person whom I had collided into.
“Wow, you are eager to see me aren’t you?” A smug deep voice replies, "or are you eager to bump into me?" he said with a smirk on his face.
I look up only to see the same annoying pest smirking at me. "OOOH HOW I WISH I COULD WIPE THAT SMIRK OFF HIS FACE!!" I thought as I felt a sudden explosion within me. I couldn't control my emotions any longer, I was about to give that guy a thorough tongue lashing just like I had wanted to.
“Why would I want to bump into a menace like you? Mr. I think I am all that? You know what? It was just my luck to have met you today”, as I struggled to put the books back onto the shelves and not forgetting to give him my fiercest glare at the same time.
When I had the last of my books unloaded onto the book shelf, I said, “Let me remind you, though looks maybe the cause of a good first impression, that wall will quickly crumble and fall once your true personality is revealed! Have a nice life!”
As I turned to leave, I remembered I had something of more importance to say to him. Something that he assumed I would need. What was that? Oh yeah, luck! Remembering that, I whipped back and said coolly, " Oh yeah, before I forget, I pray we may never ever, Ever meet again! Oh and good luck, I think that you will need it BADLY." With that I turned sharply on my heels and left heatedly.
As I left, I couldn’t help but wonder what would I do if I ran into him a second time? “Argh, whatever” and dismissed that thought as fast as it had come. I shall treat myself to something nice later; perhaps a new bag?
''OH MY GOSH!" I shrieked. "MOM! THIS IS JUST SO AWESOME! YOU GOT ME A JOB AS AN INTERN JOURNALIST??!!! OH MY GOD! YOU ARE JUST THE BEST MOM! THE BOMB! SERIOUSLY! WAIT TILL THAT BITCH SHERLY FINDS OUT! SHE'LL FLIP! I LOVE YOU MOM! THANK YOU SO MUCH! GOSH! I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOU-''
''Well if you want to thank me, you CAN START BY NOT SCREAMING! I AM NOT DEAF! Oh and Lenna, do the dishes will you?'' She walks past me and dumps the stack of dishes on my outstretched arms.
“Sorry.'' I said peevishly as I placed the dirty dishes into the sink, put on the rubber gloves and turned on the faucet to let the water run , '' I was just so grateful for what you had done for me. That's all. Well, you knew that it was my dream to work in the media someday. Even though I am working there as an intern right now, I am really sure I will prove to them that I am totally capable of doing my tasks well. Who knows? They might hire me when I grad from college and-''
''Lenna'' she said wearily,'' It is graduate NOT grad! How are you supposed to write good articles when you do not even speak in proper sentences?'' she let out a long sigh and resumed reprimanding me, “Just make sure you do not embarrass me alright? I have got a reputation to uphold.''
My mom work's as a chief editor in the journalism department or whatever you call it. She, unlike me, produces splendid work. Be it grammar, vocabulary or what-so-ever, she's got it all going. To be exact, she's like the 'check vocabulary and grammar software that comes together with Microsoft office. My mom has it all going, work, figure, love life... oh yeah... all except maintaining a family. She and my dad divorced 5 years ago. After which, she completely changed my lifestyle. She changed me from a ''hi you little ugly wimp'' to ''hello you gorgeous thing''. No, no, no, I did not go for plastic surgery. I am absolutely afraid -no scrape that out, mortified is a better word- of operations.
Basically, after my dad left, she said all sorts of stuff to me, enough to make me feel like an utterly useless freak. Though at that point in time I knew I was one, but having that being told to your face by your mother is just, well... HARSH. Even though i knew that it was the truth and all. That night, I went to bed crying, and to be honest, I tried to commit suicide by trying to suffocate myself with a pillow, but being the weak little wimp I was, I gave up because I didn’t have the guts to do so. I basically just ended up crying myself to sleep.
The next day, I was woken up by my commander (mom), when she, splashed a cold bucket of water over my head. She told me that she had to use this as a last resort as I was sleeping like a log and did not wake up even though she yelled at me. I didn't want to bicker with her and decided to go along with her story instead.
She told me to get my lazy butt out of bed, get dressed and put the mattress in the balcony to let it dry. I did as I was told. We set off for town in our Volkswagen beetle, little did I know that I was about to meet a brand new me.
She got a stylist for me, signed me up for a gym membership with personal instructor, a package at a slimming salon, got my hair curled, dyed brown and after a few months when I had successfully shed off the 44 excess pounds that were previously clinging on to my body, she got me a whole new wardrobe of clothes. Well, I'd always knew that my mom was stocked up on cash but I didn't know that she had that much cash that she could do this for me! At that moment in time, I was shocked but grateful to my mother for all that she had done for me. I had thought that that was the end of my transformation, but apparently, she had more in store for me. She got me an etiquette instructor! Apparently, mother dearest thinks that I lack social skills as well as confidence, she has tried to teach me those ''things'' but it just didn't sink into this thick skull of mine. The etiquette instructor was her last resort. She wanted me to be a ''brand new'' me and not a bum like my dad.
Well, she got what she wanted. As unknowingly, I had evolved from a caterpillar to a butterfly at the end of the 6 months of training with the instructor. Oh I had forgotten to mention. During this ''transformation'' I was home schooled like a little freak! My mother didn't find me fit to go to school in such a state. Therefore, until my ''transformation'' was over, I was to be home schooled! In the beginning, I kept sneaking out of the house to meet with my friends from school, all was well until one fine day, I was caught by my mother off guard. Ever since, we shifted to Wilkins Ville which was much nearer to her headquarters as she got promoted to chief editor and was to be stationed at the headquarters and stuff. By the end of that year itself, I was completely transformed, from head to toe. It was bye bye to Esilenna Bryan and hello to Lenna Bryan. It is the name that I go by these days. Not that there is a big change or anything, i just went by this nickname instead. As the saying goes, a brand new life for a brand new start! I had figured that if I really want to get rid of my old self forever, I'd better change everything about myself including my name, but the name changing thing was a no go with my mom, thus, the nickname.
Now, I am a “me” that I never was 5 years ago. Though my mom's harsh, it is really an undeniable fact that she has made me a better person that I am today. All my achievements for this past 5 years would not have been possible for the old Esilenna. To be honest, without my mother, I am nothing. Though sad to say, with my dad, I am still nothing. Not that i hate him or anything, just that, though my dad's a music producer and all. Though he is capable in his work and excelling in his career, he is still a zero in my mother's eyes. I am still in contact with my dad although I spend time with him and have those father daughter days; I still feel that the separation of my parents was a good choice made on my mom's part. 'Cause without mom, my dad's more of a man now I suppose, his career is at it's peak and though women come to him like a swarm of bees, he still keeps the goal of winning my mother's heart back as the main objective. Which is sweet, I suppose.
He likes me better this way as well. He thinks that the she-wolf at home had done a pretty neat job in polishing his baby girl to a real diamond. Now that I have fitted into the new school that my mom dumped me in and am in my senior as well as final year, I guessed to show that she is pleased with me; she got me a post as an intern, which is just AWESOME! I know my mom loves me a lot but is harsh with me to whip me into shape, one day, I will thank her for turning me into the me that I never was. Confusing? You'll get over it in due time. I should really get going to the library to do some research. Wouldn't want to slack on the first day of the job would we now?
''IT IS TIME TO KICK SOME BUTT BABY! WOO HOO!''
''LENNA! WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT SHOUTING IN THE HOUSE??'' mom shrieked, ''GET YOUR BUTT TO THE LIBRARY NOW OR THE ONLY BUTT TO BE KICKED IN THIS HOUSE RIGHT NOW WILL BE YOURS!'' in a sweet voice she added '' Now take care of yourself now darlin' and remember to take your meals. Go and make your mother proud of you.''
‘‘Or else'' she added in a soft hiss.
''Okay, okay, I'm going, I'm going! I will and I promise I won't forget to eat. I love you! Bye, see you tonight!'' I said as I hastily grabbed my coat and bag and ran out of the house in a matter of seconds before my mom decides to put her threat into action.
As I walked down the bricked path, I sighed and thought to myself, ''this is going to be a LONG day but hey, who knows, I might have an adventure tomorrow.''
I'm sitting by the window ledge, glancing at the street full of people passing by, not really paying much attention to each and every one of them, and just looking, as usual. I feel a sudden surge of emptiness in my chest; it felt so tight that i thought for a moment, my chest was going to burst. It has always been this way for me. Starring at people walking hand-in-hand in the streets and thinking, when is that going to be me? The couples look so in love with one another, all lovey-dovey and such. I buried my face in my hands and stared into the reflection of myself that can be seen from the glass of the window. I didn’t like what i saw. Messy tuff of black wavy hair that juts out in every direction possible, a slightly sharper nose than before (believe me, it was not plastic surgery I pulled it practically everyday in hopes of getting a higher nose bridge), huge eyeballs that make me look either very afraid or very aggressive, depends on the person's point of perspective (I'd say neither is very favourable but if I don’t have a choice and have to choose, I'd rather look afraid than aggressive), a small pout of a mouth (it's my most favourite feature cause at least I'd be able to say I have Angelina Jolie lips, HA! yeah right! But at least they are nicer than my other features which makes them, erm.... much nicer, to me at least) and what's more, I'm on the plump side, I'd rather say plump than something as direct as overweight. Though it's a fact, I'd rather describe myself as Junoesque. Not to mention, in addition to that, you could say that I’m sort of busty as well.
Sometimes I really wish that someone will look under all these and actually love me for who I am not what I look like. But I guess, it is only human to be so superficial and all. Even I do judge people by their looks, so who am I to comment on others? But I am sure that my prince will like what he sees inside of me. If only I had a prince now.....
Like a rebuttal in a debate, an aggressive voice in my head brushes off that idea in a minute:
''Nah, things have been going on like this for thirteen years right now. Perhaps it's better off this way don’t you think?''
As if in agreement, rather, facing defeat or in this case reality, I had to agree with that voice... Oh I am so sorry, I was too overwhelmed by my thoughts that I forgot to introduce myself! How atrocious of me! I sincerely apologise!
I am Esilenna Bryan, thirteen this year, an utter social reject (well not utterly but I am considered one since I'm never in the IN-crowd of my school, not even once), boyfriend less, a fibber (or rather, I have a rather wild imagination to be exact and tend to talk about it a lot) and I am considered to be rather tall for a girl. Other than all my short comings, I am sure we'll be the best of friends don't you think?
Here! That's better! Though i know talking to an imaginary friend is not beneficial psychologically, but, I guess it doesn't apply to me. I am already crazy as it seems! It pays to be polite even to an imaginary friend! We wouldn't want mother to scream at me would we? Yikes I am getting too carried away again. Perhaps we should stop for today? Goodnight! I love you my imaginary friend. Don't think of me as too mad now, alright? Yes, it is a promise! We shall think of a name for you in the morn'! Wait! I've got one now! How about, Jules? Aha! So you like it eh? Jules it is then. Good night Jules! We shall have a good day tomorrow.
