FFC: I Like you the Way you Are

[iaqitth]

This is my story for the Complicated contest. I hope you guys enjoy it. Comments are welcome and appreciated. This is just the first chapter, so bear with me as I decide what to do next!

Chapter One:
The New You

Nothing's been going right these days. It's like the world's against me. Has anyone ever felt this way?
It doesn't seem like it.
My name's Ashley. It's not like that matters much; most people call me Ash.
Back to my horrible life: it sucks. No matter how hard I try, I'm never happy.

Wednesday's the day, nothing special.
I walk down the halls with my best friend that actually cares about me, Lilly. I call her Lil.
Yes, I have horrible luck because we walk by Suzie, the most popular and meanest girl in the whole school, and her "friends."
"Look who it is!" Suzie laughs. "The girl that's such a punk-rocker."
"I'm not a punk-rocker," I say, calmly.
"You're such a punk, Ashley!" Suzie's friends cry.
"Punk-rockers finish last!" calls Suzie, leaving.
"I'll show you," I whisper to myself.
Suzie always thought I was a punk-rocker because I wore black and listened to Avril Lavigne.
But she's wrong.
Avril's not punk, and black rules.
Later, Lil and I go grab some lunch and we find, guess who!--Matt.
Matt's the coolest, cutest and nicest guy in the whole school. And best of all, he's single!
"Hey, Ash," he smiles. "Hey Lilly."
"H-h-h-hey," I begin to say.
"Nice shoes," he says and then walks away.
I look down at my crazy-colored Vans and smile. "I love them, too," I whisper at him.

Lil and I always walk home together, but today she had to go to the doctor.
I walk home all by myself, counting my steps.
"134...135...136...137..." I say between steps.
"...138?" says a voice behind me.
I turn around and it's one of my other friends, Jamie. "Hey Ash."
"Oh, hey, Jamie...140..." I keep counting in my head.
"Snap out of it, Ash!" she squeals. "What's bothering you?"
"I'm the biggest loser ever, Jamie! 146..."
"NO MORE STEP COUNTING! What makes you say that?"
"Suzie hates me and Matt doesn't like me. Like me like me."
"Suzie hates the world and Matt--well, Matt's Matt...he's like so random and once he--"
Jamie can get so off topic. "How can I change myself?"
"Change yourself?" I've never seen Jamie so surprised in her life.
"Make me girly, Jamie." I was actually crying. "Make me girly."
"Well, okay, if you really want it that way."
"So will you?" I stop and stand infront of Jamie, starring her in the eye.
"I will."

I hope you guys like the first chapter. I'll post another chapter tomorrow (which means it's not done yet).

[Av-Lav]

Awwww, that was cute.
Homegirl's gonna get her girly on.
I, for one, can't wait to see an update.

[iaqitth]

Thanks for your comment. Here is Chapter two. I'll make 2 chapters tomorrow hopefully.

Chapter Two:
Makeover Me

Jamie took me shopping to TJ-Maxx. She says it has good clothes and good deals. I didn't mind, of course, as long as it would help me.
She picked out lots of clothes with "frills" and pink. There was not one piece of clothing with a skull or black. It was all girly, just as I worried it would.
As I was changing, I heard the voice of Suzie.
"Jamie, what's with the sudden shopping spree?" Suzie asked.
"It's for--" Jamie paused. "--A friend."

When we got to Jamie's house, I was told to change into one of the outfits.
It was a pink dress with a belt in the middle of it and pants under. I didn't get this style, but if it was what would make me girly, it's fine.
Jamie quickly explained what to wear with what and how.

Next, she showed me makeup.
"You wear too much black," Jamie said.
She took a pink shade of eyeshadow and showed me how to apply. She gave me a dark pink shade of lipgloss and applied it. Lastly, she applied blush. She told me it was necessary every day.
"Here's an acne cream," Jamie handed me a bottle. She explained how it works and what to do with it.

"Now for the hair!" Jamie grabbed scissors and snipped. She added bangs and layers. I'm pretty sure she even dyed my hair!

And then she was done. She finally let me look in the mirror. My eyes widened and I was speechless. Should I kill Jamie for this? I didn't know what to do...

I hoped you like the 2nd chapter. Look for the next chapter(s) tomorrow!

[Av-Lav]

Nice update!!!!
More people need to comment.
Fer realz
Can't wait to read the next update.
*shakes fist*
There better be one....................

[sweety7852000]

there better be one! I agree with you! it's a good story! continue on!!!!!!!

[iaqitth]

Sorry I didn't update so much. (NO NEED TO HURT ME. lol.) I was so busy. Here are the two chapters I promised yesterday. I'll try to post a LOT tomorrow.

Chapter Three:
What the Hell?

My reflection was starring back at me. I didn't know what to say. I just--I couldn't tell Jamie how I really felt.
But I did.
"Wow--Jamie--I look--" I ruffle my hair. "HORRIBLE!"
"You just got to get used to your girly self!" Jamie smiled.
My hair was short, an inch or two below my ear. It was blond, the color of Avril's without the pink.
My eyes looked bright with the pink behind them. My lips looked very dark and they looked soft.
My shirt was pink and my jeans were so tight, it was hard to breathe. Not really, but it was tight.
"Okay," I said. "Okay."

I walked into school the next day, wearing everything.
The first person that noticed was Suzie.
"WOW!" Suzie beamed. "I totally love it!"
"Um, thanks," I said, surprised.
"Wanna hang out with us?"
"Who's 'us?'"
"Me, Anna and Cyndy."
"Um, okay."

So that was it. I was popular, just like that. I guess I was happy. Suzie was--and so was Jamie. There was one person that wasn't.
Lilly.
She was crying when she saw me.
"So, this is the new you?" she asked, sobbing.
"No--I mean, yes, but Lil--" I began to say.
"Forget it, Ash."
"NO! You can be popular, too!"
"I don't wanna. I like you the way you are."
She walked away and left me speechless.

Later at lunch, Suzie and I were talking.
"So, who do you like?" she asked.
"Like, like like?" I asked.
"Like, like like, yeah."
"Okay... It's Matt!"
"NO WAY!"
"WAY!"
Our conversation went on with the "no way" and "way"'s. And then he passed by and Suzie almost knocked me off my seat.
We greeted each other and there was a long silence.
"So--wanna hang out tonight?" I asked.
"Sure, catcha later!"
"Bye, bye, cutie!" I blew kisses.
He looked back at me and gave me a strange look. I shrugged and smiled.

Here's the 4th chapter I promised:

Chapter Four:
That Song

When I was walking to class, I was Lilly. I didn't want to face her again, but I did.
And she was in damn tears.
She started singing a song to me. It didn't sound familiar.
"Chill out, what'cha yellin' for? Lay back, it's all been done before! And if, you could only let it be, you will see. I like you the way you are, when where, drivin' in your car..."
She kept singing it. And then I remembered. It was "Complicated," by Avril Lavigne, my favorite singer.
Ex-favorite singer. When I became popular, I realized she's too "skater," and "tomboy," even now.
"I hate that song," I told her.
"You didn't before. Look what's happening to you!"
She ran out sobbing again.

I got home and Jane, my sister, said she wanted me to listen to a song. Just my luck, it was Avril Lavigne's "Complicated."
That song was mocking me.
Then Lilly called. She began to sing where she left off:
"...And you're talking to me, one on one, when you've become. Somebody else, round everyone else."
I hung up at that moment.
How could I face this song mocking me?

And them I remembered--MATT! Our date...
I picked a pink dress with flowers and practically ran (in heels!) to the diner.
"Hey Matt!" I said, breathing loudly.
"Ash--you look--" he looked at my dress.
"Stunning? Amazing? Beautiful?" I smiled.
Matt was going to make my day better!

Tomorrow I'll post two more chapters... or however much I can. I hope you liked these two chapters.

[sweety7852000]

Loved it!

[Av-Lav]

*claps*
Lovely update.
But, is it wrong that I totally didn't understand any of it?
It was still good....
Maybe I'll re-read it later when I'm more awake.

I'm not too bright sometimes.

[iaqitth]

Sorry I didn't finish the story in time for the contest. I just decided to write the last chapter if any of you guys want to read it. Here is the last chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter Five:
The Change

I was smiling big at Matt and hoping he liked my dress.
"No! You look horrible!" he yelled.
"What?" How could he say that?
"It's all so--not you."
"Now it is."
"Then I don't wanna date you!"
I was shocked. First Lil and now Matt! Why can't they accept me for who I am? Why?
"What?"
He blinked. "I like you the way you are, Ash."
Then the song popped back into my head. I had to be somewhere else and it was important.
It was more important than dating Matt.
It was more important than being best friends with Suzie.
It was more important than anything I've done since Jamie changed me.
"I have to go," I bit my lip.
"Let me guess, it's something with Suzie?" He rolled his eyes.
"No," I shook my head, still bitting my lip. "More important than that."
I ran as fast as I could.
I ran so fast, my dress was getting ruined.
I ran so fast, my heel broke off.
I ran so fast I was out of air.
But it was more important than that.
Maybe not more important than the "no air" part, but you get my idea.

I knocked once at the door.
No answer.
I knocked twice.
No answer.
I rang the doorbell.
No answer.
I rang the doorbell non-stop for 2 minutes.
There was an answer.
"What do you want?" Lilly was at the door, upset.
"I want to talk to you," I bit my lip again.
"Too late." She almost closed the door infront of my face. I stopped it with my foot. I began to sing:
"I feel so complicated. You see the way you're acting like you're somebody else getting me frustrated. Life's like this you..."
She then interrupted me. "You're telling me I changed?"
"NO! I did!" I screamed. I was crying.

We stood there in silence for about three minutes. And then she spoke up, "I forgive you, Ash."
I smiled and there was another silence for five minutes.
"What about--that?" she whispered, pointing at my clothes.
"I'll fix it out." I smiled and nodded.

~ ~ ~

If you're wondering, Lil and I became best friends again. And I went back to being the "tomboy."
Suzie went back to hating me and of course, calling me "punk-rock."
I promised Jamie I'd never asked her to change me again and she promised she'd never agree.
I dyed my hair back to brown and gave all my "cool" clothes to Jamie and some to my sister as hand-me-downs.
And Matt and I? Well, we started this "dating thing" again and then we became boyfriend and girlfriend.

I guess that there is no one else to really be but yourself.

I hope you guys liked the whole story.

[iken]

It's wonderful! So I lose capability to speak anything.