The Beauty Project

Chapter 2: Time For A Change

Summer Before Sophomore Year, August 1.

Ginger: I'm coming over now. Be ready to change!

I rolled my eyes at Ginger's enthusiasm, but couldn't help but feel my heart speed up a little, too. Only one more month of this crap, and I'd be.. dare I say.. presentable!

Though, I was curious to see how she was going to help me lose all my excess weight in such a short amount of time. Who knows? She did tell me her dad was a doctor. Maybe he has some kind of trademark method to getting rid of fat! Or he could give me surgery, and peel all the jiggle off my body! Or..

Ding dong.

Or I could answer the door and find out for myself. I walked as fast as I could towards it, only to see Eliza had already opened it, and was talking to Ginger.

"Hi, honey! Oh, you are gorgeous!" Ginger blushed, looking shy and waved it off. "Not really, but thank you."

Eliza chuckled, before saying, "Look, I'm really sorry, but we already bought the cheerleading punch cards from someone else, but maybe next year.."

"She is not selling anything," I said, and they both turned to look at me, surprised at my entrance.

I took Ginger's slim arm. "Eliza, this is Ginger. Ginger, Eliza." Ginger smiled nervously, and Eliza flushed red.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry! I just assumed.." That I didn't have any friends. Yeah, we all caught her drift.

"Anyway," I said, taking over the silence. "We will be in my room."

Eliza nodded. "Of course! Would you girls like any cookies?"

"Ye- OW!" Ginger might be small, but she sure could pack a punch! "What was that for?" I whispered angrily.

"No cookies. Not now. Trust me," she said. My stomach growled in protest, but I shrugged and headed to my room.

"Alright," Ginger said, digging through her huge purse. "I brought a bunch of makeup that will help make you more.." she trailed off, seeing my hurt face. "Feminine," she said finally.

"Okay, just make it fast," I said, feeling emotional all of a sudden. I mean, what if her makeover didn't work? At least now I could dream I had beauty potential. I don't know what I would do if she squashed that.

"Fine, geez!" She said, picking up a brush, and looking around my room. She did that for a long minute before I finally had the sense to ask, "Um, what are you looking for?"

"Your radio!" she said, giving me a ‘duh’ look. I sunk into myself. "Um.. I don't have one."

Her huge green eyes seemed to pop out of her head, before she brushed it off. "It's all good. My iPod can be pretty loud, anyway."

"We don't have to listen to music," I twiddled my thumbs.

She turned to face me. "Okay, lesson of the day. They say beauty is internal too, right?"

I nod my head, and she smiles. "Right. So if you want to look hot, you have to act hot too, okay? And that involves.." she dramatically pressed the play button on her iPod, and some high pitched voice started singing.

"Listening to popular music."

I didn't say anything, and I think she got that I just wanted to be left alone, because the next thing I was aware of was a smooth brush sweeping my face.

"Damn, you have a lot of acne," she mumbled, and I instinctively covered my face. "And that's why."

I looked at her curiously, and she expanded, "Just don't touch your face unless you have to, okay?" I nodded, and closed my eyes.

Suddenly, the brush was replaced with a pencil rubbing my eye.

I heard Ginger laugh. "You have never worn makeup before, have you?"

"No." I said quietly, and I heard her giggle some more. "You know, this is just like having a doll."

Except, dolls were always pretty and thin.

"Open," she commanded, and I opened my eyes. She put mascara on my lashes.

"Wow," she murmured.

"What?" I asked, ready for another insult.

"Nothing!" She said, putting her hands in front of her. "Your eyes are gorgeous."

"Oh," I said, my lips pulling into a smile. "Thanks."

"It's true!" Then she grabbed my arm. "Come on into the bathroom, and see the new you!"

I led her there, and closed my eyes.

"I'm scared."

"Don't be," she said, and I opened my eyes.

I gasped. In front of me stood the same frizzy hair. Same overweight body.

But the face. Soft cheeks blossoming into a brilliant pink. Long lashes that framed aqua blue eyes. Pouty red lips.

It was beautiful. A small tear slid down my face.

"Th-thank you," I finally managed to say.

She laughed. "Don't thank me till you are done!"

I laughed with her, starting to believe in her magic.

"Okay, what's next?"

Her happy smile faded into something more sympathetic.

"Well, your hair will be easy. Just buy a straightener and you will be fine. But your weight.. we need to start now."

"I swear, right now, if you told me drinking dog piss would make me lose it, I would."

She smiled slightly, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"Honestly, you only have 3 options. One," she put out one of her slender hands. "You stay the way you are and continue facing hell everyday."

I shook my head. That was definitely not an option. Makeup can only go so far.

"Two, you can eat right, get rid of carbs, sugar, etc and exercise more." she paused. "That's the hard way."

"Why would I do it the hard way if there's an easy way?" I asked.

"Well, the easy way is a little.. controversial."

"What is it?" Her eyes flickered towards the toilet.

"No," I said firmly. I was not that desperate.

"All I am saying is it's easy. You can still eat, you don't have to work out, and it's fast." As if seeing my internal battle, she crouched down and whispered in my ear, "You do want to be skinny, right?"

Suddenly, her phone went off, and we both jumped back. Ginger laughed nervously and ran a hand through her hair.

"I gotta go." I nodded, and got up to lead her to the door, but she stopped me.

"No. You stay in there, and think about what you want. Text me when you decide." With that, she walked out of the bathroom. A moment later, I heard the door slam.

I glanced nervously towards the toilet. Wasn't binge eating a disorder? Wasn't it basically the same as starving yourself? But I couldn't.

One look back in the mirror proved me otherwise. Quickly, before I could think it through, I grabbed my toothbrush and stuck it down my throat, spilling all the contents of my stomach into the shallow bowl.

The worst part was that it actually felt kind of.. good.