I walk into my house a minute ter and call out, “I’m home!”
Mom’s voice comes from somewhere at the rear of the house as she replies, “Welcome back! I’ve id out an outfit for you, so go change. You’ve got about a half-hour before we need to leave for the salon.”
I make my way upstairs to my room and walk in to find the outfit she picked out for me. It's a crop top, a mini skirt, and heeled sandals, but they aren’t my normal 2- or 3-inch heels; they're 5 inches. I guess the idea is for me to be comfortable wearing any heel height. If I can walk around in these, I can handle anything.
I undress, change into a strapless, padded, push-up bra, and slip into the outfit. Then I sit down at my vanity to slip on and buckle the sandals around my ankles. I stand, and it’s a little hard at first, like walking on stilts, but after a few tentative steps, I find my bance. Still, I take some time walking around in my room and practice making turns in them. I’d much rather not fall on my face because I didn’t get comfortable in them.
After a few minutes, I’m more confident. My heels tap rhythmically on the hardwood floor as I stride back and forth, turning with ease and pausing to gnce at my reflection in the mirror. The outfit is fttering, highlighting my figure. The blouse fits snugly around my modest bust, and the skirt accentuates my long legs, with the heels enhancing their shapeliness. I pose in front of the mirror and smile at the girl looking back at me.
“Jackie!” Mom calls from downstairs, her voice sharp with urgency. “Hurry up, or we’re going to be te!”
I grab my purse, drop the items I need into it, and make my way to the stairs, holding onto the railing for extra support as I descend. I make sure to step down and take my weight on the ball of my foot as I descend the stairs. At the bottom, Mom is already waiting by the door, keys in hand and impatiently tapping her foot.
“Finally,” she says, but her tone softens as she takes me in. “You look beautiful, honey.”
“Thanks, I feel... lovely. Like, seriously pretty,” I reply and hesitate as I search for the right word.
She pulls me to her and gently hugs me. “Sweetheart, you’re always pretty, but the outfit does add to your overall effect.”
She releases me, takes my hand, and leads me outside. The drive to the salon is quiet, save for the hum of the radio pying softly in the background.
I stare out the window, watching the familiar streets blur past as my mind drifts. Starlight Academy. The name alone makes me excited and terrified at the same time. I’m thrilled to step into a world where I can finally be seen, where I can shine without the shadows of, ugh, Jake hanging over my head. But the other part? I’m also terrified that I won’t be good enough. What if I’m just not able to keep up with the other girls? I’m not worried about the actual coursework; it’s everything else that’ll be required of me. What if I get lost in the sea of talent that Starlight is known for? I have so many hopes, wants, and dreams, but what if they’re all just that—dreams? What if I can’t turn them into reality? The thought makes my stomach churn, and I grip the edge of my seat tighter, trying to ground myself.
“You’re overthinking again,” Mom says gently, her voice pulling me back to the present. I gnce at her, and she’s smiling softly, her eyes still on the road but her attention clearly on me. “I can see it in your face. You’re doing that thing where you spiral into a million what-ifs.”
I sigh, leaning back against the seat. “How do you always know?”
As we enter the salon’s parking lot, she says, “Because you’re my daughter. You inherited the spiraling from me.” After parking the car, she turns to me with a warm yet earnest look. “Jackie, you'll be okay—more than okay. You’re incredibly smart, kind, and compassionate. Starlight is fortunate to have you. I have faith in you, and you can achieve anything you decide to pursue.”
I bite my lip, trying to let her words sink in. “I just... I don’t want to mess this up.”
“You won’t,” she says firmly. “And even if you stumble—because everyone does—you’ll get back up. That’s what we do. Now, come on, let’s get you your extensions, and we’ll have them pamper you while they are at it.”
I nod, taking a deep breath as I step out of the car. The salon’s gss doors gleam in the sunlight, and I can already smell the faint scent of citrus wafting from inside. Mom takes my hand and gives me a reassuring squeeze as we walk in together.
The salon is bustling with activity—stylists and nail techs moving between stations, clients quietly talking and ughing, and the occasional clink of something being set down. The receptionist greets us with a warm smile. “Good afternoon. You would be Jackie, right?”
Mom replies, “Yes, but I’d like to add the pamper package as well.”
“Of course!” The receptionist chirps. “We’ll be happy to do that.” She looks over her shoulder, then turns back to us. “Sally is almost done, so if you take a seat, she’ll be with you in a few minutes.”
A few minutes ter, a stylist with pink hair grins as she approaches us. “Jackie? I’m Sally. Are you ready?”
I nod and stand up to follow her. “Sure am.”
Sally leads me to her station and gestures for me to sit. I sink into the comfortable chair, and she drapes a cape around my shoulders and starts running her fingers through my hair.
“So, 24-inch extensions, right?” Sally asks, confirming the length of hair. It makes a difference. Longer extension cost more, especially when you’re talking about human hair like they’re putting in.
“Yes,” I reply.
“Perfect!” Sally says her enthusiasm is contagious. “You’re going to look stunning.”
As she begins sectioning my hair, another technician appears with a tray of supplies and the bundles of extensions. She sets it down on the counter beside Sally and gives me a warm smile.
“While Sally works her magic, we’ll take care of the rest,” the technician says. “Let’s get you started with removing any rough patches, and then wash your hands and feet. I’ll give you a nice massage and then move on to the mani-pedi. Sound good?”
“Sounds heavenly,” I reply with a huge smile. I’ve never had this kind of pampering, and I’m so looking forward to it!
As the stylist sorts the extensions into smaller bundles, the technician is removing any dry skin or rough patches on my feet with a buffing stone. I close my eyes, letting out a contented sigh, and allow the two of them to do their work.
By the time she finishes the massage and starts on my toenails, Sally is halfway through attaching the extensions. I catch glimpses in the mirror—my hair growing longer and fuller with each tiny bundle she adds. It’s amazing to see my hair slowly transforming from shoulder to waist length.
“You’re going to love this,” Sally says, smiling as she secures another extension. “It’s going to give you so much volume and movement. You’ll be turning heads wherever you go, young dy.”
I grin, excited to see the full effect when they’re done. “I can’t wait to see what I’ll look like.”
The technician working on my feet taps my ankle lightly. “Almost done with your toes. We’re going with French tips, right?”
“Mhmm,” I reply. I gnce down without moving my head and see she’s painted my toenails a lustrous white and is using a UV light on the polish so she can apply the gloss.
I watch as Sally finishes with the st bundle, then slowly goes back through every inch of my hair. When she sees my questioning look, she smiles. “I’m making sure I didn’t miss a section; then I’ll blend everything, and then we’ll give you a trim so it’s even. Not even your mom will be able to tell you have extensions when we’re done.”
Sally’s fingers move deftly through my hair, smoothing and blending until the extensions seamlessly merge with my natural hair. My once shoulder-length hair now cascades past my waist, full and flowing, with a soft, healthy shine. I can’t help but run my fingers through it, marveling at the difference it makes in my looks.
“Wow,” I whisper, catching Sally’s eye in the mirror. “It’s beautiful.”
“Mhmm, that you are,” she says with a grin. “Now, let’s get this trimmed so it’s perfect.”
She turns the chair around and ys it back, wets my hair, and pats out the excess with a towel, then sits me back upright to begin trimming my hair. When she’s done, my hair falls in perfect, even yers.
Meanwhile, the nail technician is using the UV light to set the final coat of gloss, and I think my hands look like they belong to someone else.
“All done!” the technician announces, standing up and admiring her work.
Sally uses a blow dryer on the fan only to dry my hair, then gently brushes it into a comb-over and spins me around in the chair so I can face the mirror fully. My reflection takes my breath away because I barely recognize myself. Two short hours. That’s all it took to take a cute girl and transform me into this… vision.
I smile and breathe out a happy sigh. I catch Sally’s eyes in the mirror and murmur, “Thank you. I love it.”
My hair falls in soft yers around my face, the extensions blending so perfectly that even I can’t tell where my natural hair ends and the new strands begin. The French tips on my nails are fwless. I look good… No, that isn’t the right word; I’m captivating, and I have to admit, it gives me a huge confidence boost.
Sally then tells me, “There are a few rules you’ll need to abide by if you want your extensions to st. Brush your hair gently, don’t use the high setting on your blow dryer, use a sulfate-free shampoo—all natural is best—and braid your hair before bed—it’ll help keep your hair from tangling. You’ll need to come back in a few months for us to check the setting, but other than that, enjoy.”
I nod as Mom steps up behind me, her eyes widening as she takes me in. “Jackie,” she breathes, pcing her hands on my shoulders. “You look absolutely stunning.”
I feel a warmth spread through my chest. “Thanks, Mom. Thanks for this—for everything.”
She smiles warmly. “My daughter deserves all the best I can offer her.” She leans in and whispers in my ear, “And with your father’s money, I can offer her quite a bit.” She winks, making me giggle, as she takes a 50 bill from her purse for the nail technician and gives Sally two 100 bills. “That’s just your tips for taking such good care of her. Thank you, dies.”
She waves me out of the seat, and we stop at the register, and my jaw almost hits the floor when I hear the total. When Mom sees my wide-eyed expression, she simply chuckles and pats my back. “Looking good doesn’t come cheap, sweetheart.”
No sooner do we arrive home than I announce, “I’m going to show Kelly Anne. Be back ter.”
I grab my purse and step out of the car, the soft swish of my new hair brushing against my shoulders with every step. The sun is warm on my face, and I kind of feel a little like I’m in a movie—the kind where the girl gets a makeover and suddenly everything changes.
When Kelly Anne answers the door, she stops and stares at me. She blinks for a few moments, then breaks into a brilliant smile. “Oh my gosh, Jackie! You went from being, like, pretty to, like, seriously friggin hot!”
I smile as I run my fingers through my hair and say, “I take it you like my hair, huh?”
Kelly Anne grabs my arm and pulls me inside, her voice rising with excitement. “Like it? Are you freaking kidding me? You’re like a whole new person! I mean, you were cute before, but this? This isn’t just next level. The boys will be simply drooling over you.”
As Kelly Anne pulls me further into her house, I ugh at her overboard reaction, but this is typical Kelly Anne enthusiasm. Her fingers tug at my arm, and she spins me around like I’m some kind of prize she’s showing off.
“Seriously, Jackie,” she says, her eyes wide and sparkling, “you’re going to have to fend them off with a stick. Like, I’m not even kidding. You’re going to be the most popur girl in school.”
I feel a blush creep up my cheeks, but there’s a part of me that revels in the attention. It’s strange, this new aspect of myself that’s popped up out of nowhere. The one who wants to be seen. Especially considering that I’d always been the person who hid in the background under hoodies and jeans. But now, standing in Kelly Anne’s living room with the afternoon light streaming through the windows, I feel like I’m stepping into a role I didn’t even know I wanted to py.
“Okay, okay,” I say, ughing as Kelly Anne finally stops spinning me. “I get it. You approve.”
“Approve? Jackie, I’m obsessed,” she says, flopping down on the couch and patting the spot next to her. “Seriously, you’ve got me rethinking whether I’m asexual or not.”
I ugh at Kelly Anne’s over-the-top reaction. She’s always been like this, dramatic and uninhibited, and I’ve always loved that about her. “Okay, let’s take it down a notch or a dozen,” I say, settling onto the couch next to her. “I’m fttered you think I’m gorgeous, but we both know you don’t look at people that way.”
Kelly Anne rolls her eyes and leans in closer. “Yeah, but you get what I mean,” she says with a smirk. “Whew, let’s just bask in the hotness that is Jackie.”
We burst into ughter, picturing the reactions from the boys. Her expression shifts as she thinks, and then a mischievous grin spreads across her face. A heartbeat ter, she says, “I’ve got a fantastic idea. First, we’ll introduce Mom to the new Jackie. Then, we’ll call Macie and Olivia, and finally, we’re heading to the mall and the teen club afterward.”
She’s practically bouncing on the couch as she continues getting more excited. “Yes! The mall first. I want to see boys’ reactions to you as we window-shop. At the club? Girl, you’re going to own the pce. All of them are going to wonder where the new, hot girl came from. All of them will be like, ‘Did she just move here or is she just visiting.’ They’ll probably be hoping you moved here so they can put their moves on you.”
She ughs loudly as I simply stare at her in wonder. Then I shake my head and giggle. “You can be so ridiculous. Whatever, though, let’s do it. I mean, why not? If I’m going to do this whole new me thing, I might as well dive in headfirst because that’s exactly what I’ll have to do at Starlight.”
I gnce down at my outfit and then back up to her. “But if we are, I’m not going dancing in this. We’re coming back after the mall so I can change into one of the little dresses that Mom bought me.” I lean forward and whisper, “It’s Saturday, so I imagine the popur crowd from Abbot will be there, and I’d love nothing more than to give them a taste of their own medicine.”
