Anastasia
I woke up the next day. Maybe it was the way the sun streamed through the curtains, painting golden lines across my room, or maybe it was the leftover boredom gnawing at me since the last party. Either way, I refused to spend another day pacing in my house like a trapped bird.
No. Today, I was going to do something different. Something that would remind me I wasn't here just to fade into the background.
My mind has already decided, I wouldn't go alone. The party, in my view, was nothing but a glittery trap full of fake laughter, high heels, and shallow conversations. If I had to endure it, I needed someone who made the night bearable.
That someone was Talia.
So, I picked up my phone and sent Talia a short message:
Be my plus one today. Shopping, spa, beauty treatment. Let's make them choke on our glow.
Her response was almost immediate. Say no more. I'll be there in an hour
The knock echoed at my door an hour later; I was already smiling. Talia's grin matched mine when she breezed in, carrying that unstoppable energy that always made the air feel lighter.
"Rise and shine," Talia sang. "We've got a mountain of things to do. If the company wants a show, we're going to give them one."
I chuckled softly. "You sound more excited than I."
"I am," Talia admitted, barging in with her bag.
"Finally!" she declared, clapping her hands dramatically. "Do you realize we've been living like nuns compared to the rest of them? It's criminal."
I laughed, shaking my head. "Which is exactly why today we're fixing that."
Our plan was simple: treat ourselves. Shopping for dresses, manicures, pedicures, hair treatments, the works. We were going to look so fresh and radiant.
The first stop was a high-end salon nestled in the heart of the city. Crystal chandeliers glittered above plush velvet chairs, and the entire place smelled faintly of roses and lavender. It was the kind of place that promised transformation, if you could afford the price tag.
Talia leaned close and whispered, "If we walk out of here without looking like goddesses, I'm suing."
I giggled, but fate decided we wouldn't have it that easy.
While we were waiting for our treatments, Talia had just grabbed her cup of takeaway coffee when someone brushed by too quickly. The liquid jolted forward, splashing across the sleeve of another woman dressed in head-to-toe designer wear.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" Talia exclaimed, reaching for tissues. "It was an accident. Here, let me..."
But the woman snapped her hand away as if Talia's touch was poison. "You clumsy thing! Do you even know how much these costs? Do you know what you've done? This is a limited-edition jacket!"
Her shrill voice drew attention, and before I could intervene, another figure appeared, tall, elegant, and radiating entitlement like a crown.
I didn't know her name yet, but everything about her screamed importance, the way she carried herself, the dismissive flick of her eyes, the cold curl of her lips. She was beautiful in a sharp, dangerous way, like glass that would cut you if you held it too long.
"What's the commotion?" she asked, her tone laced with annoyance.
Her friend pointed accusingly at Talia. "She ruined my jacket. Careless, clumsy..."
"It wasn't my fault!" Talia protested. "Someone pushed me. I apologized."
The woman's gaze slid over us, slow and assessing, before narrowing in disdain. "And who exactly let you in here? This isn't a playground for… people like you."
Heat flared in my chest. Do people like us? I clenched my fists beneath the table, trying to keep calm. "Excuse me?" I asked, my voice sharp despite my attempt at control.
She tilted her head as if I were amusing, then looked at the manager who had rushed over. "Cast them out. Their presence is ruining my mood."
The manager shifted uneasily, glancing between her and us. His loyalty was obvious. "Miss, perhaps…"
"Now," she interrupted, her word final.
Talia's eyes burned with suppressed fury, but I touched her arm, steadying her. "Let's go. We don't need validation from people like this."
It didn't matter that Talia apologized. It didn't matter that the spill hadn't even been her fault. We were judged, dismissed, and treated like dirt because we weren't flashing wealth like badges of honor.
Talia's face turned crimson with anger. "Unbelievable," she muttered, grabbing her bag. I stood as well, forcing myself not to give them the satisfaction of seeing me break.
"Let's go," I said coldly.
We walked out with our heads high, though inside I was seething. My nails bit into my palms as I thought, one day, she'll regret underestimating us.
The air outside was a bomb, but it wasn't enough to cool the burn of humiliation. Talia and I exchanged a look, and without a word, we knew we weren't giving up on our plan. If one place shut us out, we'd find another.
So, we did.
Our next stop was a different salon, not as extravagant, but warmer, friendlier, and blissfully free of people like Vivian. By the time our nails were polished and our hair gleamed under the lights, I felt lighter. Almost invincible again.
Until fate decided round two of the day's trials was waiting for us.
We had barely stepped out of the salon when I spotted them across the street: Rachel and her minions.
Rachel's eyes landed on me instantly, narrowing into a glare filled with disdain. I could practically hear her thoughts: What is she doing here?
She sauntered over, heels clicking against the pavement like warning shots. Her friends flanked her, wearing matching smirks.
"Well, well," she drawled, folding her arms. "Look who's playing dress-up. Did you raid the bargain bin, Anastasia?"
Talia rolled her eyes. "Don't you get tired of picking fights you can't win?"
Rachel's smirk didn't falter. "I don't need to win, darling. Some of us are already at the top."
Talia bristled beside me, ready to pounce, but before I could respond, a familiar voice broke through.
"Anastasia! Talia!"
Relief washed over me when I saw Zoey and a few of our other teammates approaching. Their presence was like a shield, instantly breaking the tension.
Zoey looped her arm through mine, smiling sweetly at Rachel, though her eyes held steel. "Funny seeing you here. I didn't know vultures shopped in daylight."
Rachel's smirk faltered, just slightly, but she recovered quickly. "Don't get too comfortable, Zoey. Pretty faces fade fast. Some of us are born to win, others… well, you know." Her gaze flicked to me deliberately.
I met her stare head-on. My voice was calm, steady. "We'll see about that."
Something flickered in her expression, irritation twisting her perfect features. She hated when I didn't crumble. Good.
Rachel sniffed and turned away, her entourage trailing after her like obedient shadows.
The moment they were gone, Talia let out a dramatic sigh. "First that witch-ling, now this snake (Rachel). What's next, the universe throwing dragons at us?"
I laughed, tension easing, though part of me couldn't shake the thought that today wasn't just about beauty treatments. It was about survival. About proving that no matter how many times people tried to put me down, I wasn't going to stay down.
And judging by the way Zoey squeezed my hand, I wasn't going to face any of it alone.