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And after two months, I achieved my goal weight by losing twenty pounds, and as long as I kept eating under my intended weight, I could maintain this figure.

The second, I changed my entire wardrobe and learned how to do makeup, which wasn’t something I liked doing, but I bit through it.

The third was probably the weirdest, where I practiced in front of the mirror to speak without blushing, act confidently, and school my silly expressions.

Because boys liked girls who were confidently aware of their self-worth but still carried an air of mystery and intrigue. At least that’s what the girls on social media said.

“You have changed,” Landon commented. “Did the aliens abduct you and bring you back looking like this?”

“Maybe,” I fired back. “I was well, you could say, figuring out my style this summer.”

“I figured,” he deadpanned. “At times, I really did think the aliens abducted you.”

“That’s not the story of every small town, Mr. Greige.”

He cocked a brow. “How did you know my last name?”

Because I eavesdropped on every single conversation you had with my brother and kept my ears trained on your bedroom window all the time like it was my new favorite hobby. “My brother mentioned it once.”

“Ah, it’s actually Greigewood. But it’s kinda a secret, but I’ll let you in on it.” His brown eyes slid to me. “I just go by Greige so people wouldn’t connect me.”

“Why is that?”

“You don’t know?”

“Know what?”

Surprise swept through his face. “The Greigewoods?”

“No, why are they like famous or something?”

“Or something. But it doesn’t matter.” He smiled, tugging me closer to him, and I liked it.

I made a mental note to google his family name. Judging from his weird living arrangement and the price of all his clothes, they could be someone important. Since learning about fashion, I could identify some of the pieces he was wearing, and they were all above the average price point.

“How are you liking Bellevue?”

“I think it’s soon becoming my favorite place on earth,” he said, looking right at me.

I didn’t ask why because I secretly wanted the reason to be me.

The party was in full swing by the time we got there. The first official house party for us freshmen. Emmie and Mikey were already there chatting with a bunch of boys and girls I didn’t recognize.

Instead of going to them, Landon grabbed a few cans of Coke, diet for me because I couldn’t afford the extra calories, and walked us to a quiet corner in the backyard. And for the first time in my life ever, I felt all those eyes on me.

Not just on Landon, the cool new kid in town, but also on me.

Like I wasn’t invisible anymore.

Like how they all stared at Sabrina on her first day of school. The kind of attention I always craved people would give me. I didn’t know if it stroked my ego or added to my confidence, but I liked it a lot more than I should.

“Here.” Landon dusted off an empty log seat.

“Thank you,” I mumbled shyly. Even though in the back of my mind I kept reminding myself that I should be different, I couldn’t help but be myself.

I flushed, knowing some eyes were still on us, but being beside Landon offered me a weird sense of comfort.

“Did you not wanna go say hi to Emmie and Mikey?”