CHAPTER 7 Too Ugly to Date

Annie

I left his house feeling confused. Why does Evan care what I do with Brent on our date? Does he want to control my life that bad?

Brent and I texted each other all day. I felt giddy every time he texted me. Maybe my life will finally get better now.

My happy thoughts disappeared when I heard my mom's car pulling up on the driveway. Wonder what was on her agenda today? Slap me around some more for no reason or insult me for being a no-good ugly daughter? Or both?

She didn't speak to me for a few hours, which was perfectly fine by me.

"What the fuck is this?" she came out of the bedroom yelling. And so it begins.

"Wha...what is it, mom?" I asked. It was always something different, but I'm still curious to know why I was getting beat up this time?

She threw a shirt at me. I looked at it with confusion as I saw nothing is wrong with it.

"Why the fuck is this ripped?" she roared and pointed at a small hole on it.

Oh no...I must've forgotten to hand wash it. My eyesight wasn't the best nowadays so I didn't even notice it was one of her expansive silk shirts that were labeled hand wash only.

"I'm sorry mom it won't happen..." I stopped talking as she loudly smacked me on the cheek, almost knocking my glasses off of my face. I pressed my cheek with the palm of my hand and waited for it to stop stinging.

"You worthless piece of trash. Can't even do laundry right," she mumbled under her breath and walked away. I said nothing. Hearing my voice will only make her angrier and I didn't want that.

This is how it is every day. I don't remember the last time she looked at me with kindness or spoken to me in a gentle voice. I must've been very young when that happened.

I got a text on my phone which interrupted my thoughts.

What are you gonna wear on your date? A potato sack? ?, Evan texted me.

I sighed. Why was he so hung up on my date?

I don't know. Maybe, I answered. I'm not usually a smart mouth, but I wasn't in the mood for his mind games.

Come out and wait for me by the apple tree in five minutes, Evan replied.

Dammit, what does he want now? Did I somehow manage to anger him with my text? Why was I making everyone angry at me today?

Only one way to find out, I thought and headed to the park where the apple tree was.

Evan was already there, leaned against the tree. He had a black bag in his hand. He looked at me lazily as I walked towards him.

"Took you long enough," he scoffed.

"S...sorry. Why did you call me?" I hesitated.

He threw the bag at me and I caught it. "What is it?" I looked at him quizzically.

"Open it and see," he smirked.

I opened the bag and took out a black t-shirt dress.

"It's for your date. I've seen the kind of clothes you usually wear and they make me want to barf. You want him to do the same?" he asked me seriously.

"N...no...but why are you helping me?" I asked.

"Just a small reward for being my errand girl. Don't read too much into it. Now go away," he waved his hand dismissively.

I walked back to the house clutching the dress against my chest. Why am I so happy right now?

---

Saturday night finally came. I put on my new dress and checked myself in the mirror. The dress fit perfectly and it was really cute, but...

Nothing ever looks good on me. I thought sadly. I was too skinny and my chest was too flat. I wish I had a body like some of the girls in my school. And these glasses made things worse. I put my hair down then immediately put them up in a messy bun. I had way too much hair and it was too curly.

Everything will be fine because Brent still asked me out! I've been looking forward to our date all day. Surprisingly enough, Evan didn't call me all day. Maybe he was planning on leaving me alone today. Thank God. But as I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn't help but wonder whether he would like me in this dress. It was a gift from him after all.

Not that I need his approval...

My phone started to ring and my heart fluttered when I saw who was calling. Brent!

"Hey," I said shyly.

"Annie, hey!" Brent said.

"Hi. I'm ready to go whenever you are!" I said enthusiastically. I hoped I didn't sound too eager.

"Um...hey this is gonna sound awkward but, you know Megan Lowe from art class right?" he asked.

I remembered Megan. She has long brown hair and blue eyes. And she is very pretty.

"Yes? What about her?" I asked.

"Well...I've had a crush on her for a long time and I tried to ask her out on a date but she had a boyfriend at the time. But this morning I found out they broke up and I asked her again and she said yes!" Brent said excitedly.

He said something else but I couldn't hear the rest. Tears started to stream down my cheeks. I should've foreseen this. Why would anyone be interested in someone like me? I should've known Brent didn't want to go out with me in the first place.

"Annie, are you okay? I'm really sorry if I gave you the wrong idea. I wanted to hang out with you as a friend but...you understand, don't you?" Brent said.

"Y...yes..." I said, choking back my tears.

"Great. Well, I'll see you at school then. Talk to you later," he said, and we hung up the phone.

My mom was right. I am too ugly to get a guy.

I face planted on the pillow and sobbed. My phone dinged and I looked at it with hope. Did Brent change his mind?

Meet me at the park, RIGHT NOW!" Evan texted me.

I thought about ignoring him but that might make things worse so I sighed and got ready to go out there.