I nodded along.
“So you’re saying I should workout and eat right,” I asked.
“I’m saying that you need to find what works for you,” he said, “try a new sport or travel, take a class you never thought you could take; Or even something simple like a makeover; just one small change can have a large impact on your life. But, I wouldn’t change a single thing about you.”
His words stirred in my breast, and I wanted to make a change. I had thought about what I would do if I could; his words were inspiring me to act. Still, I wondered what he meant about not changing a thing.
“I think I have an idea,” I said.
He laughed.
“Good! Now get out there and make it happen,” he said. He sighed and stood to leave, but he lingered for a thoughtful moment after picking up his bag.
“Coach,” I asked.
“Yes?”
“You seem to have something on your mind, is there something you wanted to add,” I asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” he replied, “just a thought.”
He grabbed his bag from the stand and started walking away, but turned before getting out of earshot.
“Just make sure you don’t change too much because some people like you the way you are.”
I nodded, confused, and wondered what he meant by that. I felt my heart race after what he said. It became a longing to spend some time with the coach, just him and I. Part of me wanted to surprise him, show him just what I could be.
I’d considered doing a makeover for a while, and even Jennie had suggested it on more than one occasion. I wanted to be better and more attractive. Maybe, if I’m more attractive, someone like the coach would fall for me.
Or, maybe even the coach would fall for me, I wondered. I know he’s attractive and not even that much older than me. He always has a way with people; a way that influences people to improve. I wondered if he would ever fall for someone like me as I was now, but he wouldn’t want someone that was so unsure.
I needed help, and I knew who might just be able.
3.
Jennie and Brad were already making out on Brad’s car. I didn’t know whether to be assertive or disgusted. I chose the former.
“Ahem…” I coughed.
Neither of them paid any mind. I tried again but this time much louder.
“Jennie,” I said, “I need your help.”
Jennie leaned off her boyfriend and turned toward me. I felt a little nervous talking to her like this, but I pushed past my feelings.
“Sandy, why don’t you go home and get ready for tonight. I’m going to stay out with Brad,” she started turning back, but I had to interject.
“Jennie, I go to a lot of trouble to keep you happy, the least you could do is help me out for once.”
She leaned back and straightened her back.
“You follow me because you want to, Sandy. I don’t force you to keep me happy,” she said.
“If you still want me to go tonight, then you’ll help. At least, I thought friends help each other out.”
She sighed, and threw her head back in an exaggerated motion.
“Fine, Sandy, I’ll help. Brad, I’ll catch you tonight,” she said.
Brad happily entered his car, kissed Jennie goodbye, and sped off. We were finally alone.
“What do you need,” she asked.
I didn’t really know what I needed, but I knew what I wanted.
“I want you to make me look good. I’ve gone too long with this look; I need a makeover.”
Sandy smiled wickedly and tugged me by the arm.
“You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for you to say that,” she said.
She started talking really fast, and I could barely keep up, even with the experience I’d had with her motor mouth in the past.
“Slow down, Jennie, what are we doing first,” I asked.
“You need clothes first; we’re going to the mall!”
I was always nervous when I rode with Jennie; she wasn’t exactly the safest driver I’d ever known. It usually took about twenty minutes to get to the mall from school; she did it in ten.
She pulled me inside the mall, holding my arm the entire way. I was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed. I wasn’t one for buying new clothes, generally preferring to shop when necessary, not for fun. Jennie was the opposite.
“Considering how tiny you are, I think we should get something that shows off the curves you do have,” she said while throwing piles of clothes at me.
I looked at a couple of price-tags and knew this wouldn’t be a cheap trip. With my mound of clothing in tow, I was shoved inside a dressing room. Jennie joined along and eagerly helped me strip off my usually jeans and t-shirt I had made a habit of wearing.
“Okay, we need to get you some new underwear, this just doesn’t work for me,” she added.