Chapter 3
The next day, I was jolted awake by the sound of a door slamming shut.
The sun was already blazing outside. I glanced at my watch. It was half past twelve.
In my previous life, I'd agreed to meet Alexander at the restaurant at 10:30. Madeline must've gone there and found the place empty.
Bam. Madeline slammed her Chanel bag down on the table.
Her face was thunderous. She hadn't bothered to kick off her heels before stomping over to my bed and ripping open the bed curtains.
"Sophie. Why are you still in bed?" Madeline barked.
I rubbed my sleepy eyes, putting on my best confused act. "Huh? Maddie, what's up? It's the weekend. What else am I supposed to do but sleep?"
Madeline was practically burning holes through me with her glare, her eyes full of accusation. "Weren't you supposed to meet Alexander today? Why didn't you go? And why didn't Alexander show up at the restaurant either?"
Seeing her all worked up like that, I couldn't help but feel a rush of satisfaction.
In my previous life, she'd found out where and when Alexander and I were supposed to meet, dressed to the nines, and showed up right on time at the window seat, swooping in to steal him away.
But today, she'd gone all out, dressed to impress, hair and makeup perfect, only to sit there like a fool for hours, not catching a glimpse of Alexander.
I let out a sigh, dropped my head, and nervously twisted my fingers, trying to look as insecure as possible. "Maddie, I looked in the mirror last night, and I feel so fat, 204 pounds.
"How could I ever be good enough for a guy like him? So I decided not to go. I want to lose some more weight first."
Madeline totally lost it, her real self showing as she spat out the words, her voice dripping with venom and sarcasm. "Are you freaking crazy?
"Have you ever looked in the mirror? You're nothing but a fat pig. Do you really think you can lose weight? Every time you try, you get bigger, you know that? Seriously, you think you can turn into a freaking swan?"
I sat up in bed, my expression turning cold.
Every time I tried to lose weight, I got fatter, and that's all thanks to her.
I lowered my gaze, then looked up, my eyes sharp as knives as I stared her down. "Madeline, why do you care when I meet Alexander? How do you know he didn't show up at the restaurant?
"You got all dressed up and rushed over there first thing this morning, and now you're so desperate. What exactly are you so anxious about?"
Madeline was left standing there, completely stunned by my rapid-fire questions.
When her eyes met mine, my stare was so cold it sent a chill down her spine.
She never imagined that the Sophie she used to bully, the timid, insecure girl, could ever look at her like that.
"I..." Madeline was totally flustered, stammering and unable to get a word out.
She took a deep breath, realizing she'd lost her cool. The panic flickered across her face and disappeared, replaced by an awkward, forced smile as her attitude flipped instantly.
"Oh, Soph, you're misunderstanding. I was worried about you, really," she said.
She stepped forward, reaching for my hand, but I dodged to the side.
She awkwardly pulled her hand back, forcing a smile as she tried to explain, "I thought you and Young Grant had such a good thing going. If you don't show up, what if he thinks you ditched him? Wouldn't that be a waste?
"Besides, he loves your personality, not your looks. Stop being so hard on yourself.
"Why not text him now and ask if he wants to meet up tonight? Don't be nervous, I'll tag along and cheer you on, okay?" Her eyes sparkled with calculation as she tried to persuade me again.
Watching her so desperate, I couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
She still wanted to lure me out, so she could happen to run into Alexander and hijack the meeting, taking my place.
"No need," I said, expressionless, as I pulled the bed curtains shut, and my tone was icy. "I've already told him that we won't be seeing each other for the next three months.
"Madeline, I'm locking myself away to lose weight. For the next three months, don't let anyone bother me."
I thought I'd made myself perfectly clear, but Madeline still wouldn't back off.
The next morning, I laid out a three-month plan to completely transform myself.
Weighing 204 pounds wasn't a disaster for my looks. It was a ticking time bomb for my heart and my health.
I found a highly-rated, closed-off weight loss boot camp near campus. Three months there would be what I needed to finally get rid of all that hormone-induced bloat.
I sat down at my desk, fired up my laptop, and got ready to fill out the application form on their website.