forhawkeye | [Opposite Plot] Pre-Play

Everywhere I went, people stared; I could feel their eyes trailing me all day long, as though they were paparazzi for the utterly unimportant. Much to my chagrin, changing into an unassuming outfit of a purple plaid shirt and a pair of ratty jeans hadn't convinced a single person to look elsewhere. I felt uncomfortable in my own skin and, as the day dragged slowly on, I wondered how I ever could have gone around in head-to-toe purple Kevlar. I was a freak among freaks.

I left Geometry in a hurry, my notes and things hugged tightly to my chest. My cheeks flushed a light pink as I walked past Ryan Atwood, and I gladly hid behind my curtain of dull black hair as to avoid making eye contact. I'd sat in stony silence for the duration of the lecture, replaying the stupid fight I'd picked with him only a few weeks prior. Luckily it was the only class I shared with him, which meant I wouldn't have to see him again until at least Saturday. I had never been more grateful to have class on the weekend.

Though it was well past six o'clock when class ended, I couldn't bear the thought of returning to the Compound for supper. The kitchen was always crowded at this hour and I'd had enough of being the center of attention for one day. Instead I trudged back to my hut, eyes downcast, trying to avoid the gaze of any potential onlookers. Unfortunately, in the act of trying so desperately to be ignored, I ended up walking right into someone.

"S-sorry," I apologized quickly, and I looked up with an expression of mild horror, a hand coming up to cover my gaping mouth.

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Arching an eyebrow, Alice felt the prickling in the back of her mind that something was off, but she has zero idea of what it is. Maybe it's just her imagination running off with the dish and the spoon.

"Totally golden. See?" She holds up her hands, displaying elbows that are in perfect condition and smiles. "In one piece. Are you feeling okay, Kate? It was just a little stumble."

"You think I'm a freak, don't you?" I said, eyes wide with hurt as I realized that must be what she was hinting at. I wasn't surprised, of course, as I'd long thought it myself, but it didn't make it hurt any less.

"Oh God, sweetie no," she assures her, complete genuine. Wow, she's having borderline Bella flashbacks and it's not that she doesn't love Bella, but Kate is Kate and definitely not Bella. Or at least, she thought she had been. "I was just curious. You were just reminding me of Bella again, that's all."

"Oh," I said, mollified by her response. I shifted awkwardly, folding my arms against my chest. Maybe if I made myself as small as possible, no one would pay me any mind. "What's Bella like, anyway? Prettier, I imagine."

"No, not really. She tends to dress in khaki and skirts that look like sacks. I mean, she has potential, but you use yours a lot more. Or..." Alice gives Kate a once over, fully taking in the purple flannel. "Or you normally do. Bella's sweet, but she doesn't really see the bigger picture."

"And now you think I don't see the bigger picture either, don't you?" I surmised, my head falling forward. A curtain of dull black hair obscured my vision, for which I was grateful. It meant I could avoid Alice's judging eyes, at least momentarily.

"I never said that." This is quickly turning into a giant trap and Alice knows it. Which is why she is going to avoid it by distracting Kate with something shiny. Sliding over to the over girl, she places her arm around and beams. "What was about to say is that we should go play dress up. How does that sound? We can wow Nate with your fabulousness."

"What fabulousness?" I asked, wondering what it was about me that made everyone want to dress me up. In that moment, I felt like an old decrepit house someone put up on the market. 'Fixer-upper,' it might advertiser.

I didn't consider myself very fixable. I was all awkward angles and big ears, and my hair was a rat's nest of curls due to the humidity.

"The fabulousness that is you, silly." Rolling her eyes, she loops her arm with Kate's and nods. "You just need a little confidence boost, and good clothes and a good de-frizzer can do wonders in that department."

"I didn't know the island had de-frizzers," I said honestly, looking at Alice with wide eyes. I didn't think a makeover would help matters but Alice was much older than I and presumably had some degree of wisdom that I could never hope to achieve in a normal lifetime.

"I have magic fingers, amongst my other various skills. Lack of appliances won't stop me." Sure Alice hadn't been forced to deal with something as frivolous as her hair actually growing in as long as she can remember, but Rose had been all about fussing over those things for forever. A girl learned a lot from playing sister to pretty girls.

"I thought magic didn't work here," I noted quietly, though, to my utmost chagrin, I soon realized that she had meant magic in the metaphorical sense. My cheeks burned crimson.

"It's not real magic. Not the 'oh I'm still a vampire and sparkle' magic, but like I can fix anything magic. That kind."

This is kind of turning into something of a thing. Well, back to plan A then. Oh well.

"Right," I said, and then I pressed my lips firmly together, nodding. I stood there awkwardly for a second before I timidly added, "Uh, shall we, then?"

"To the bathroom! Shampoo and drying it straight!" Alice gives her a gentle shove in the right direction, hoping that she'll get the hint and know to march there of her own accord. Actually dragging her would just sprain something.

I stumbled forward when she pushed me, though I found my footing soon enough. I tried for a tentative smile, but since it probably looked more like a grimace, I decided to keep my face blank.

[Opposite Plot] Pre-Play

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