~Ugly Oversized Hamsters~

It was a clear, sunny Friday afternoon in Chesterfield high. Dolores and Adelina stood in line with their trays to get their food in the school's cafeteria since it was lunch break. After they were served they walked to their favorite spot close to the window. It offered them a clear view of the students outside.

The senior students were rowdy as usual but the topic that remained ever green on their lips was that of prom which was happening in their final days as senior high students. As expected, they were eagerly seeking out dates early before the good ones would be taken.

On the other hand, Dolores did not seem bothered about picking dates or if she got picked. That everyone was talking about it didn't mean she should follow suit. She told Adelina that those things were simply superficial and temporary but deep down, she wished her Mom was alive to witness her most anticipated moment. Her first official prom.

Anyway, who in his sane mind would want to ask me out to prom? She thought, feeling lowly of herself.

Out of nowhere, she felt a jab in her side. It was Adelina studying her with worry displayed in her forest green eyes.

"What's the matter?"

"What? Nothing." She looked away from her friend.

"It's not nothing. You're doing that thing with your eyes again." Adelina sighed as her thin eyebrows joined together in distress. "Is it about your Mom?"

Dolores raised her head to keep the tears from falling. It would be too embarassing for her if someone else noticed her shedding tears like a baby.

"You have me here, Dolory baby, don't you worry. I'm your mama bear, did you forget?"

That brought out a small chuckle from Dolores. "I know. It's why I love you the most."

"Good, now finish up your food." Adelina ordered sternly. It reminded Dolores of her mom and it was amusing to watch her best friend get into that character with her.

They turned their focus to their meal and in a matter of seconds, there was nothing left on their trays. Dolores leaned back in her seat with her eyes never leaving the window while Adelina busied herself with her phone.

A loud commotion soon broke out at the entrance of the cafeteria which snapped Dolores' out of her thoughts. Her eyes flitted to the doorway to see Carlos and Nicolas walk in, closely followed by their lackeys. She watched as a group of girls from the cheerleading team waved flirtatiously at Nicolas and Carlos while they sent a wink their way in reply. That earned a squeal from the girls.

Adelina scoffed. "So predictable."

Her words caused Dolores to smile but it was frozen in place when she saw that Carlos had his eyes stuck on her. That wasn't even what had her stumped for words, it was the intense look from the gray eyed guy standing next to Carlos. It burned into her very soul making her feel open and vulnerable. Hastily, she forced her gaze from Nicolas to focus on anything else that wasn't his gray eyes.

From her peripheral vision, she saw the group head in her direction. Filled with dread, she hoped for them to walk by and not stop at their table.

Adelina who had earlier returned her gaze to her phone, snapped her head up as fast as lightning. "What are they doing walking in this direction? They had better not."

Unfortunately for both, it didn't go the way they wished. Dolores whipped out a book then dipped her head, pretending to be deeply engrossed when someone slid into the next available seat. She caught sight of the sparkling white sneakers of the person who sat beside her. She raised her head just in time to see Nicolas sliding into another seat opposite hers. The other guys who came in with them spread themselves to different seats.

Sighing in exasperation, Adelina turned to the guys. "I'm pretty sure you're here to cause trouble as always but let me tell you this; we're the wrong pair to mess with, so just pick up your trash and leave."

"We're not here for trouble. I don't think I want to spend another time in detention with you again." Carlos eyed her with disdain then tossed Dolores a haughty look. "Hi, Dolores."

A feeling of dread washed over the person in question the moment she heard her name. If there was anything Dolores disliked, it was being the center of attention and at the moment, their presence awarded her what she loathed the most; Attention.

Her eyes moved unconsciously to the table of the cheerleaders and for a moment, she thought she heard something along the line of 'that nerd of all people?'. She swallowed the lump that lodged itself in her throat and added in a small voice. "I don't want trouble, Carlos. Please go."

He leaned forward, staring intently at her. "I know you haven't gotten a date by now seeing how ugly and undesirable you are, but I'm going to be doing you a favor by telling you to go to the dance with me."

The anger that arose from deep within her surpassed the initial feeling of shame when they first sat at her table. The audacity!

"Hold on, hold on. You really have some guts to come here and talk me down for not having a date to the prom yet. You think you're better than everyone else that you meet, isn't it?"

Carlos gave a smirk in response; one that made her want to wipe it off with the back of her palm. "I was about to say that but since you beat me to it, that's a very accurate perspective."

She was already livid with rage at this point. "For your information, I would rather walk in proudly to prom with a vulture in matching pink outfits than attend prom with you."

His mouth hung open in shock from her sharp witted response. Meanwhile Nicolas and Adelina were trying unsuccessfully to contain their disguised laughter. Dolores' outbursts had drawn the attention of everyone in the cafeteria, including the cooks.

She didn't stop there despite the looks she was getting. "I would advice you to keep your mouth closed now. You look like an ugly overstuffed hamster." She turned to Dolores whose eyes had widened to huge saucers. "Do you want to leave now or do you want to stay and watch the hamster drool?"

Doubling over in laughter, Adelina stood up, grabbed her purse as she followed right behind her enraged friend. Never in her life had she seen Dolores so mad at anyone. It used to seem like nothing could get her riled up until her encounter with Carlos.

She quickened her steps to meet with Dolores as she wrapped her arms around her from behind. She was beside herself with glee that she danced around for a few seconds. Finally, she whirled Dolores around. "Dolory baby, I can't believe you put that strutting peacock in his place. The audacity of him to think you desperately needed him to be your date to prom."

Dolores huffed in reply as she was still fuming from the heated encounter. "I didn't even say I was looking for anyone to go to prom with. If it would be just us two, then I have no problem with it. But for him to insinuate I was helpless because I didn't have a date? That's really audacious of him."

"I'll say the truth and only the truth. Leaving him speechless was a real bold move. I feel like a mother whose daughter just took her driving class and passed." She wrapped her hands around her again, jumping up and down in happiness.

Dolores rolled her eyes then laughed. "I'm not sure I understand why you're this happy, but I think I'll leave you to celebrate my small victory."

"Whatever you say." Came Adelina's reply.

°•°•°•°•°•°

First thing Dolores did the moment she arrived from school was race to her room without stopping by her father's office. As she got in, she locked the door then proceeded to the full length mirror to study at her reflection in it.

Carlos' words came back with an echo in her mind.

"I know you haven't gotten a date by now seeing how ugly and undesirable you are, but I'm going to be doing you a favor by telling you to go to the dance with me."

Throwing off the large sweatshirt from her body, she turned about still looking at the mirror. The tank top she had worn that morning underneath the sweatshirt clung to her body like a second skin making her c-cup breasts appear larger than they were. Her hips filled out in the baggy pants she wore which was the main reason why she always made sure to add an oversized hoodie or sweatshirt over it.

The words didn't seem to have any effect when he first said them, but as she drove home, they started to reverberate in her head.

'Was she really ugly and undesirable?'

Her phone rang, distracting her from herself for a moment. It was in her bag. She poured out it's content to retrieve her phone when she rummaged and didn't find it. Adelina's name was boldly flashing on the screen. She placed the phone on her ear.

"Hey."

"I forgot to say this to you earlier. You are too beautiful to be existing as human, don't forget that. Don't let what that jerk said get to you, alright?"

There was a sad chuckle from Dolores. "What if it already did?"

"Come on. He was only hating on you for being so beautifully imperfect. You are the most beautiful girl I have ever come in contact with and what's more, you have a beautiful soul which Carlos can't relate to. Also, this isn't to pacify you. I mean every word."

At that, Dolores' stretched her lips into a smile. She had the best friend in the world and that was all that mattered.

~~~{•}~~~

It was some roller coaster writing this chapter but we did it!
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~~Tequila~~