Nerd Fashion.

“Dad, please!” I pleaded. Standing in front of my dad in his office, practically begging him not to make my high school days officially o-v-e-r. “It was only, like, 3 tickets!” 

“Five. Madison.” He said, not looking up from his desk. 

I rolled my eyes. “Okay, five, that's hardly worth getting my car taken away for a month. I mean, it's not like I crashed or anything." I really hoped that dad would see the absurdity of his decision and realize he was being totally irrational. 

All I got was a glance up from his paperwork and a sigh.  

“You know what you told me when I first bought you that Porsche?" He said, putting his pen down to study me.

I groaned. “But how will I go to the beach? Or or to the mall? Oh my god. No. You have to reconsider—”

“Answer the question.” He said firmly, his signature poker face on.

If I answered that question, dad would interrupt me midway and answer it himself. 

loudly. 

It was one of his tricks to keep control of the situation. 

“I said I was going to—” 

“You said you were going to take care of it.” He said, his voice bouncing off the office walls. “And do you know what else you said?”

“That-you-were-the-best-dad-ever-and-that-I’m-so-lucky-to-have—”

“You said that if you acquired a single ticket, I could take away the vehicle permanently.” 

“God, of course. I completely forgot.”

“It was only a few days ago.” Dad said, totally not buying my act, his eyes still locked on me.

“Yeah.. It’s, like..” I schooled my face into seriousness. “Look dad, I keep forgetting things these days and—”

He sighed loud enough to shut me up. “Even more of a reason you shouldn't be driving, Madison.”

“It’s..” I looked around at his office, trying to get something, anything, that would make him agree but all I saw were his dozens of Art and fashion awards, framed and perfectly arranged. 

I was running out of time. Any minute now his bonehead assistant was going to come in and tell him his plane was leaving. 

I had to bring out the big guns.

“How would I get to and from school?”

He thought for a moment before replying and my heart skipped a beat. “You can take the bus.” Then it started beating again.

Okay, so I guess my guns aren't very big, but seriously? The bus? Me. Madison Prince. Taking the bus to school? Yeah, when hell freezes over. Twice.

 “Dad, please, I promise I’ll be more careful—”

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and we both turned to face it.

“Come in.” Dad said.

His assistant walked in with a clipboard close to her chest and a high ponytail, her heels clicking with each step. I glanced down at her dress, it was a 2000s prada. 

classic.

 I figured she took my advice. Forever 21 was so 2 years ago. Besides this woman was, like, 40. This was a much better look for her.

 She nodded at me before turning to my dad and clearing her throat. “Your plane is leaving, Mr. Prince.” She said, My dad nodded and got up from his desk.

It was now or never, who knows how long it would be until dad came back. “Wait!” I shouted just as he was about to leave. 

Crap I haven't even thought of anything. 

Dad looks over his shoulder at me, his silver hair hovering over his tired, ice blue eyes. He sighed slowly as he read my mind.

“Listen, you really want your car returned?” he asked. “Show me you’ve matured. Madison. Show me you're not that little girl who sleeps with stuffed animals anymore and can handle such a big responsibility.” For a moment, I saw something in his expression that made my stomach twist with guilt.

༻ ✦ ༺

“What's wrong with sleeping with stuffed animals?”  Jessica says while touching up her lipgloss in the mirror that was on the inside door of her locker. A couple of weirdos walked by and totally checked her out. I give them a nasty look before turning back to Jessica.

“That wasn't the point, Jes. I need to do something that makes it look like I’ve matured so I can get Drama back.” Drama was the name of my Porsche that was taken away from me. It was a fitting name. I named it that so I could say ‘I’m bringing Drama’ whenever I go places. I always brought Drama wherever I went. Too bad it's gone now. See? Fitting. 

“Why don't you just actually mature.” Jessica said, Shutting her locker closed while I get my first good look at her outfit today. A low cut, hot pink top from Victoria's Secret and flared jeans paired with a cyan Balenciaga belt that goes well with her eyes. The proportions make her slim figure stand out. It's simple but still whispers her generational wealth. I don't expect anything less from Jessica Deer.

“Oh please, by the time I finish becoming “mature” by my dad's standards I’ll be in my 30s.” I said, fixing up my own under eye concealer in my mini mirror.  “Besides, it's easier this way.”

Jessica hummed. glancing at her phone. “I was just thinking you do it for real.”

I fully turned my head to look at her like she just said the stupidest thing ever. Which she had. “Real is overrated.”  I said almost accusingly.

“Real is real.” Jessica replied. “And I also think it would be a lot easier for you to—”

“Ok, Jes, stop.” I took a deep breath as Jessica shrugged and rolled her eyes.  

Basically everyone knew I was the brains of the two of us, whenever a question is asked about us its always expected of me to answer while Jessica chews up her gum and spits it out. Obv-iously.

Where she lacked I made up for and where I lacked— Who am I kidding I don't lack anything. 

Except for a car. 

Then I am lacking.

 Majorly. 

 “I really need drama back.” I muttered to myself. 

“Sup, guys!” Jessica’s current boyfriend says. I stopped learning their names a while ago. There was no point. 

“Hey!” Jessica smiles before turning to me. “Bye madi, love you!” She said, turning and pushing through the crowded school hallways before I could answer. They're probably going somewhere to have a  make out sesh. Ew.

Alas, I was alone when a flash of color on the school floors caught my attention. I picked it up—carefully in case it had some sort of disease attached to it— and unwrinked it so I could read the words. 

The poster read: fashion competition in big bold letters and for the first time that day I smiled.