The Wrong Path - By Vivian Marie Aubin du Paris Page 0,3

Claire disappeared into the back to find out what was taking so long, reappearing a few minutes later with her lips in a straight line. “Mary’s getting her hair colored,” Claire announced, sounding borderline annoyed. “So we’re going to get some food.”

Annabelle hesitated. She felt bad leaving Mary alone in the salon, but the other girls were already heading out into the mall the salon was connected to. She followed quickly, not wanting to get left behind.

“That is so cute!” Claire exclaimed, stopping short at the front of the group to point into the window of one of the stores they walked by. Immediately, Annabelle and the other two girls turned to look.

“It’s totally cute!” Erin agreed enthusiastically.

“The boys’ll die,” Claudia agreed, sounding almost amused.

Annabelle studied the outfit. It was a light blue mini-skirt and a short, cropped white shirt with a matching light-blue sweater over it. On the wrong person it would look hideous, but on Claire it would be stunning, just like everything else she wore. Claire could probably turn heads wearing a track suit three sizes too big.

“Annabelle?”

Annabelle turned sharply, startled to find three sets of eyes on her. Claire was giving her an expectant look, waiting for her opinion.

Embarrassed, Annabelle grinned. “It’ll look amazing on you,” she assured Claire. “Just like everything else.”

Claire smiled broadly. “That settles it, then,” she declared. Pleased that she had been part of the decision, Annabelle and the other girls followed Claire into the store.

“I’m trying this,” Claudia announced succinctly, studying a pair of black Capri pants that looked like they were made specifically for a mannequin. She disappeared into one of the changing rooms.

Annabelle watched as Erin also disappeared into a fitting room, and suddenly found herself alone in the store. Feeling instantly isolated and conspicuous, she glanced around the store, keenly aware of the eyes on her. Flustered at the probing, accusatory, annoyed looks that were being directed at her, she quickly looked down at the racks of clothing. She and her friends had been getting stared at like that for years in the mall, and she still didn’t understand why. At first she had thought it was jealousy at how pretty they were and that they were out having fun, but as more time went on, she wasn’t so sure.

“You should try this on,” Claire said, appearing out of nowhere. Annabelle looked over at her gratefully, thankful to be saved from the judging, hostile stares. Claire smiled, holding out a plaid, pleated mini-skirt and a cropped white polo shirt.

“How was the outfit?” Annabelle asked her, nodding at the items over Claire’s arm as she took the hangers Claire held out to her.

Claire grinned impishly. “Amazing.”

They giggled and headed back to the changing rooms. Annabelle pulled on the skirt and the top, surprised at how good the outfit looked on her. Claire certainly had an eye for fashion, right down to knowing Annabelle’s size without even having to ask. And she had an uncanny ability to put clothing together that always looked polished and perfect, as if it had been designed to fit together.

Once the girls had bought and paid for their clothes—and they had all bought at least one new outfit, and Claudia had even grabbed some new accessories—they made their way through the mall to the food court.

As they walked, she caught sight of a boy and a girl around their age sitting on a bench drinking coffee. They were dressed in dark clothes, the boy in black pants covered in chains and zippers and a black t-shirt with a long-sleeved black shirt underneath, and the girl in baggy black pants and a shredded burgundy tank top over a skintight long-sleeved black shirt. The boy had his back to Annabelle and her friends as he talked to the girl, blocking their faces from Annabelle’s view.

What kind of courage, Annabelle couldn’t help marveling, did someone have to possess to be able to dress like that? How were they able to walk around with their heads held high amidst all the stares and sneers? She didn’t think she could do it. While she was pleased to be part of the group everyone was envious of, she didn’t think she could handle being one of the outcasts—one of the ones who were noticed because they stuck out, not because they stuck in.

Still, a part of her couldn’t help but admire their strength.

“What do you think, Annabelle?” she heard Claire’s voice ask, breaking into her thoughts.

Startled, she tore her eyes away