"Enlarge your boobs."
"Get a man who values you."
"Gain weight to look thicker."
"Wear tight clothes and flirt more."
Svetlana blinked at the words, her heart sinking deeper. Her reflection in the darkened screen stared back at her; a too-thin, glasses-wearing mess of a girl who wouldn't even know how to flirt if her life depended on it.
The idea of herself trying to get thicker or find the right man was laughable.
She wasn't Miranda, or Mom, or any of those confident girls online who could just snap their fingers and get their lives together.
She was just… herself.
There was a knock on the door, startling Svetlana out of her spiraling thoughts.
"Go away!" she croaked, her voice hoarse from crying.
The knocking got louder. "Svet! Open the fucking door, or I'll break it down!"
She froze.
Miranda.
"I mean it!" Miranda yelled, and Svetlana could almost see her glaring through the door. "Don't make me do it, Svet. I'll drag you out of there."
Svetlana groaned, chucking a crumpled napkin in the direction of the door. "Leave me alone, Mimi!"
"Nope. Not happening." Miranda's voice was sharp, commanding, the complete opposite of Svet's. "You're being pathetic, and I'm not letting you wallow like this. Open the goddamn door."
Svetlana hesitated, staring at the mess around her. The thought of Miranda seeing her like this was mortifying. But at the same time, she knew Miranda wasn't going anywhere.
With a sigh, Svetlana shuffled off the bed and unlocked the door, cracking it open just enough to glare at Miranda. "Happy?"
Miranda pushed it wide open, stepping inside without hesitation. Her eyes scanned the room, taking in the tissues, Svetlana's red face, and the dim lighting.
"Wow," she said, crossing her arms. "You look like a raccoon who got hit by a bus."
"Thanks," Svetlana muttered, retreating back to the bed.
Miranda flopped onto the chair by the desk, spinning in it dramatically. "Look, I know you're heartbroken and whatever, but missing classes and this…" she gestured to Svet's disaster of a room, "...is not it. You're letting that jerk win."
Svetlana pulled her knees to her chest again, avoiding Miranda's gaze. "It's not that simple, Mimi. I.. he… I just… I can't handle this."
"Can't handle what? A guy who clearly wasn't good enough for you? Girl, you've got three overprotective brothers and a dad who'd probably throw West jerk out a window if they saw what happened."
"That's the problem!" Svetlana snapped, her voice breaking. "I can't even go downstairs without them treating me like some helpless baby. And Mom…" Svet trailed off, her throat tightening. "She loves you more than me. You're everything she wants me to be. She'd only judge me for being stupid."
Miranda's face softened.
She leaned forward, her voice quieter now. "Svet Sweetie, your mom loves you. She's just…."
"A headache," Svetlana finished for her, managing a small smile despite herself.
Miranda grinned. "Exactly, and I'm your BFF. But seriously, Svet. You can't let this break you. You're better than that. And if you're not, we'll fake it 'til you are."
Svetlana wanted to believe her. She really did. But the weight of everything was still crushing her, and she wasn't sure how to dig herself out of it.
"Let's start small," Miranda said, grabbing Svet's phone. "First step? Delete those dumb search results. You don't need bigger boobs or added flesh to be amazing, okay?"
Svetlana laughed weakly, wiping her face with another napkin. "Okay."
But deep down, she wasn't sure she believed it. Not yet.
_____
Svetlana stared at her phone screen, scrolling through the endless list of links. Miranda was sprawled on her bed, her legs kicking up in the air as she chewed on a piece of gum like that was her idea of fun.
"Click that one," she said, pointing to an ad with glossy gold lettering that read: 'Where to Meet the Right Man: Sophistication and Desire Await.'
Of course, Svetlana hesitated. "This feels… desperate."
"It's not desperate," Miranda argued, sitting up. "It's strategy. Look, Svet, we're just exploring options. Don't you want to know how it feels to have a guy who actually want you? Like, really really… really want you?"
Her words made Svetlana's cheeks flush. Svetlana didn't answer. But the idea lingered. It grew roots in her mind now.
"Not just any guy," Miranda continued, leaning in like she was revealing some big secret. "An older guy. Someone who's been around, knows what he's doing. Someone who'll not only want you but tell you why he wants you and how to keep him wanting you."
Svetlana laughed nervously, trying to brush Miranda off. "You make it sound like we're plotting some seduction scheme, Mimi."
"Isn't that the point?" Miranda said with a smirk. "Face it, babe. West jerk didn't deserve you. But if he's too dumb to see that, then maybe you should show him what he missed out on. Show him what it's like when you've got guys lining up for you; guys who actually know what they're doing, unlike that man-child."
"West isn't a man-child. And he's not a jerk too. Stop," Svet muttered, but the words felt hollow.
Miranda snorted. "Oh please, Svet. You're telling me you didn't notice how he treated you like an accessory? Like you were just there to make him look good? He didn't even want…"
Her voice trailed off, but Svet knew what she was going to say. West didn't even want her the way a guy should want his girlfriend. Not fully.
Not in the way that made Svet feel… desired.
"Look," Miranda said, her voice softening. "I know you're still hung up on him. And yeah, maybe this is still about him. But you also deserve to feel what it's like to be wanted. To have someone look at you like you're the only thing they've ever needed. You're an adult now anyway."
Svetlana's chest tightened.
She hated how much she agreed with Miranda.
"And let's be real," Miranda added, her grin returning. "My bitch of a sister Beatrice might've been right about one thing. Older guys? They've got their shit together. They're confident. They know how to make a girl feel… everything. Just like your older brother, Kyle."
Wink. She winks. Tchh!
"Kyle's not even the oldest or finest of my brothers. If only you had met Senior Hose before he disappeared into thin air nine years ago." Svet smiled, not really knowing why.
Hose was the eldest of them all, Harpers, but he's no longer with them. He left for something… school? A job? Svet can't remember, she was barely eight then. And he never came back till now.
"Your mama did show me pictures a few times and he looked hot in all of it," Miranda admitted, laughing. "Hey, back to the main thing. You just need someone who's mature enough to take your virginity like a man, not a boy, and show you how to make guys want you."
The mention of her virginity made Svet's face heat up. She looked away, embarrassed. "You make it sound so easy."
"It is easy," Miranda said, grabbing Svet's shoulders. "We'll find the perfect place. Somewhere exclusive. Classy. Where you can meet someone who'll not only make you feel wanted but also teach you everything you need to know to knock West jerk flat on his ass when he sees you again."
Despite herself, Svet let Miranda's words sink in.
As much as she hated how everything came back to West, she couldn't deny it. She still cared what he thought. She still wanted to prove something to him.
Miranda grinned as Svet clicked on the link Miranda had pointed out earlier.
The page that loaded was sleek and polished, with photos of elegant lounges and promises of 'refined connections.'
One location caught Svet's eye: The Velvet Fox. It wasn't far, and it looked… different.
"That's the one," Miranda said, her eyes sparkling. "Get ready, babe. Tonight's going to change everything."
Svet glanced at overjoyed Miranda who had rushed off to her closet.
Maybe Miranda was right. Maybe it was time to let go of who Svetlana had been and try something new. Something bold.
Maybe tonight, Svet would finally learn what it felt like to be wanted.