Beautiful Monster 2(9)

 
 
 
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The day of Sarah’s arrival, I was practically floating. Because she was coming from across the ocean, she missed the normal new student orientation. Liam had given me the master keys and told me it was my job to make sure she had a proper orientation. More than happy to volunteer, I had broken into her dorm room and adorned it with fifteen movie star posters of actors who we both loved. A few years ago, Liam’s face would have been on that wall too. Despite me thinking that he seemed pretty self-absorbed in his interviews, we were both dazzled by his good looks and his talent. We had once spent hours pouring over his acting style, line by line, dissecting every movement. Now, of course, I thought my obsession had been a little strange, although Liam had laughed when I told him.
 
“Do you want me to maybe autograph a poster for you?” he asked.
 
I rolled my eyes. “That’s ok, Mr. Big Shot,” I said, kissing him on the cheek. “Sarah knows how to not be a fan girl.”
 
“Good,” he replied, shooing me out of his office. “Now, go, I have work to do.”
 
Anticipation filled me as I waited at the airport, watching people stream off the plane she had been on. For years, I had been the girl whose best friend was an ocean away, never able to come to events or birthday parties. If I wanted advice, I couldn’t just wander over to her house and try on her clothes. But now, Sarah and I would be merely 2 doors apart.
 
I recognized her as soon as she stepped off the plane. Sarah was hard to miss. She was a mix of several different races, and all of them blended together to make her absolutely stunning. “Exotique” is what they called her, and I didn’t disagree. She had her hair dyed jet black, and it was gelled into spikes that fell across her eyes, perfectly done even after a transatlantic flight. She had at least seven piercings in each ear, as well as a few in her actual face. She was tall, and not quite lithe, but nowhere near fat either. I thought she was one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen.
 
“Sarah!” I cried, waving my arms.
 
She turned her head to see me and burst into a grin. “AMY!”
 
She hurtled herself through the lineup, dropping her bag and throwing her arms around me. I couldn’t believe that she was actually here, that we were actually separated only by air molecules rather than computer screens and an ocean.
 
“You’re here!”
 
“I am!” She finally pulled off me. “Oh my God, you’re beautiful in person.”
 
“So are you!” I said, and then nodded to her bag. “You should probably pick that up. Unattended baggage in the airport and all.”
 
“Right!” She turned back to grab it, giving me the view of the back of her outfit. It was mesh black over black, revealing a top covered by ripped nylon. Only Sarah would have the courage to wear something like that, and she looked absolutely fantastic in it. “So, where are we going? Do you have a car? Is Liam here?”
 
“Um, to school, no and no,” I answered all of her questions at once. “I was just planning on taking a cab.”
 
“Liam doesn’t send you in a limo?” she teased me as we made our way towards the exit.
 
I laughed. “Liam doesn’t even own a limo.”
 
“What about you? You’re a big superstar now! You should have your own limo.”
 
“Hardly.” I shook my head, grinning at her as I raised my arms to hail a cab. One pulled up on the curb, and Sarah and I tumbled in. I gave directions to the driver and then settled back.
 
“How was your flight? Everything ok?”
 
“Fine. I met a cute boy on it, and I told him everything about my life.”
 
“And what did he say?”
 
“He said I was weird and ignored me for the next 5 hours.”
 
I laughed. Sarah never cared what other people thought of her, and I was sure that was what made her so successful as an actor. She had a confidence I never had. She never second-guessed herself, or made a plan B, C and D. If she wanted something, she went for it, like she deserved it, and it worked well for her.
 
I pointed out a few landmarks as we got closer to the school. I promised to take her on a tour of the best places to eat and shop once we were settled in. When the cab pulled up in front of Leopard Academy, we got out, holding an arm over our heads to try and stop the light rain from soaking us through. Inside, Sarah looked around in awe.
 
“Wow. It’s also more beautiful in person. Where’s Liam?”