Dylan started laughing in relief as she slammed her bedroom door shut and slid down the wall.
'Finally. I'm free I'm free I'm free!'
"Delilah! Come! We're going to the mall! Hurry now!"
'Son of a b*tch.'
Dylan groaned.
'Think, Dyl, think! What can you tell her to convince her to let you stay. Oh, of course!'
"I'm sorry Jessica, but I can't! I've got to practise my make-up techniques and learn some more TikTok trends so I can perfect it by the time we go back to school!"
'Please work please work please work.'
"Oh." Was the response from downstairs. Dylan could practically hear Jessica hesitating. "Alright then, I'll see you later tonight."
"Bye!" Dylan called. Once hearing the door shut, she immediately changed out of her light pink crop top, baby blue jeans, grey denim jacket, and blood-red heels.
"Oh my god, this outfit is disgusting."
She quickly changed into her iconic outfit, a long-sleeved light blue shirt, a dark purple checkered skirt, a dark green blazer, knee-length white socks, black Velcro school shoes, and a pair of black, rectangular glasses. She tied her hair back into two neat plaits that rested on her shoulders, and pinned back to first parts with a navy hair clip.
"Phew, I can finally look like the real me. I hate not being able to see properly because 'popular girls' don't wear glasses. It's awful."
Dylan smiled at herself in the mirror and slowly crept down the stairs and out the back door. She started walking around the side path and quickly tied back her hair into a neat plait.
Luckily no-one recognised her as she walked down to the library. She grinned as she saw the familiar three-floor building standing in front of her.
Dylan walked through the wide glass doors, her long, golden blonde plait flying in the air behind her. A tall, chestnut brown haired women with round spectacles saw her and smiled.
"Well, it's good to see you back here, Dyl."
Dylan laughed and gave the women a hug.
"It's good to see you here too Anna. I'll have my usual selection please."
"Nuh-uh. Dyl, you've been coming here for years, always alone and you always keep to yourself. I think it's about time you make some friends. Try the mixed selection corner on the third floor. And try talking to people. That's an order."
Dylan sighed and headed to the escalator. She tried turning around at the last minute, only to walk into another librarian, this once with shoulder length blonde hair tied back into a ponytail. She grabbed Dylan's shoulders and pushed her towards the escalator. Dylan chuckled slightly.
"Hey Molly. Good to see you. You guys really aren't giving up on this are you."
"Nope." Was the only response she got. She chuckled again and froze as she approached the top. Molly slowly lead her to the Mixed Selection corner, which is a separate room, and smiled.
"You're gonna do great! Go and meet people who are like you! Make friends! Good luck!"
With that, she shoved her through the door and Dylan fell straight into someone, knocking them over.
"Ow!"
Dylan immediately got up to apologise, but paused when she saw who it was.
"Oh my god I am so-Cinder?!"
"Dylan?! Oh my god, what are you doing here?"
"Umm, I live in this town you idiot."
"What?! That bitch Jessica told me you'd moved and didn't want to keep in touch."
"What?! Jess told me that you'd moved and didn't want to keep in touch!"
"So she lied to both of us! What a bitch!"
"Yeah, well she's my stepsister now."
"Oh, my god. Dyl, you poor thing."
Cinder pulled Dylan in for a hug and Dylan felt a few tears roll down her cheeks.
"I thought I'd never see you again Cindy, I thought you were gone forever."
"Me too Dyllie. I missed you so much! How have we never ran into each other before?"
Dylan sighed.
"Well, I've sort of had to act like a different person."
"What?! How different?"
"It's been awful! I've had to wear crop tops and light pink."
"What?! Oh my god that's awful! Don't worry, Dyllie, I'm here now, and I'm gonna help!"
Dylan smiled.
"Really?"
Cinder grinned and hugged her again.
"Dyllie, I'm always gonna help you. Now, tell me everything."