WHEN THE DUCKLING BLOSSOMED

WHEN THE UGLY DUCKLING BLOSSOMED

CHAPTER ONE:

"Move! You're taking up the whole space!"

Amelia Collins quickly stepped aside, holding her books against her chest.

Three girls walked past her, laughing.

She lowered her head and continued towards her classroom as if she hadn't heard them.

It was only 8:05 in the morning.

Another day at Westwood High School.

Amelia was used to being laughed at. She was used to people whispering whenever she walked past and boys making jokes about her appearance.

Sometimes, she wondered what it would feel like to attend a school where people actually treated her normally.

But Westwood was different.

Here, popularity was everything.

And Amelia Collins was definitely not popular.

"Well, well, well. Look who finally arrived."

Amelia stopped.

She didn't need to turn around to know who was speaking.

Jessica Montgomery.

The school's queen bee.

Jessica stood with her two best friends, Brianna Wilson and Tiffany Anderson. Her blonde hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, and her expensive handbag hung from her arm.

She looked like someone who had never experienced a bad day in her life.

"Good morning, Jessica," Amelia said quietly.

Jessica looked at her uniform and laughed.

"Do you own another skirt, or is this the only one your wardrobe has?"

Brianna giggled.

"Jessica, leave her alone. Maybe she's saving money."

Tiffany laughed louder.

Amelia tightened her grip on her books.

"Can I go to class now?"

Jessica stepped aside dramatically.

"Of course. We wouldn't want to keep you from your important business."

The three girls burst into laughter.

Amelia walked away without responding.

She had learned that arguing with Jessica was useless.

---

The school cafeteria was already crowded when Amelia arrived during break.

She bought a sandwich and looked around for an empty seat.

Most tables were occupied.

At the centre of the cafeteria sat Ryan Mitchell.

Ryan was practically the school's favourite boy.

He was handsome, wealthy, athletic and popular. Girls found excuses to walk past his table, while boys wanted to be part of his group.

He was sitting with his friends, Lucas, Ethan and Daniel.

Jessica was beside him, laughing at something he had said.

"Ryan, are you coming to my house this weekend?" Jessica asked.

"Maybe. I'll see."

Jessica smiled.

"You always say that."

"Because you keep asking."

His friends laughed.

Jessica playfully hit his arm.

Amelia glanced at their table for a second before looking away.

She had liked Ryan for almost a year.

It was a silly crush, and she knew it.

Ryan probably didn't even know her name.

She found an empty seat near the window and sat down.

"Look at that," Brianna said from Jessica's table. "She's eating alone again."

Jessica followed her gaze.

"She probably likes being alone. Nobody wants to sit with her anyway."

Lucas heard the comment and chuckled.

Ryan briefly looked in Amelia's direction.

"Who's that?" he asked.

Jessica turned towards him.

"Amelia Collins. She's in our year."

"Oh."

That was all he said before returning to his conversation.

To Ryan, Amelia was just another student.

Nothing more.

---

Later that morning, their English teacher entered the classroom.

"Good morning, everyone."

"Good morning, ma'am."

The teacher placed her books on the desk.

"I have an announcement. The annual Westwood High School Gala is coming up in three weeks."

Excited whispers filled the classroom.

"The gala will be one of our biggest events this year. There will be music, performances, dancing and awards. Everyone is encouraged to attend."

Jessica immediately turned towards her friends.

"Obviously, I'm going. This year's gala is going to be unforgettable."

Brianna nodded.

"We already know. You'll probably be the queen of the night."

Jessica smiled proudly.

Amelia continued writing in her notebook.

She had never attended the gala before.

There was no point.

She could already imagine the beautiful girls arriving in expensive dresses while everyone else admired them.

Nobody would notice her.

"Amelia Collins!"

She looked up.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Since you seem distracted, would you mind answering the question on the board?"

A few students laughed.

Amelia looked at the board and quickly gave her answer.

"Correct," the teacher said.

The laughter stopped.

Jessica rolled her eyes.

"At least she's good for something," she whispered.

Brianna covered her mouth.

---

After school, Amelia was putting her books into her bag when Jessica approached her desk.

"Amelia."

She looked up.

"What?"

Jessica smiled.

"I heard you're thinking of attending the gala."

Amelia frowned.

"Who told you that?"

"Nobody. I'm just asking."

"I'm not sure yet."

Jessica leaned against the desk.

"Well, if you decide to come, please don't wear anything ridiculous. It's an important event, and people will be taking pictures."

Brianna and Tiffany started laughing.

Amelia stood up.

"Why do you care what I wear?"

Jessica's smile disappeared for a moment.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

For a second, the three girls stared at her.

Then Jessica laughed.

"Wow. Someone has finally found her voice."

Amelia picked up her bag.

"Goodbye, Jessica."

She walked out before the girls could respond.

Jessica watched her leave, her expression hardening.

"Did you see that?" she asked her friends.

"She's becoming brave," Brianna replied.

Jessica shook her head.

"Trust me. I'll remind her exactly where she belongs."

---

That evening, Amelia sat on her bed with the gala announcement open on her phone.

She stared at the pictures from last year's event.

Beautiful dresses.

Happy couples.

Groups of friends taking photographs.

Everyone looked like they belonged somewhere.

Amelia placed her phone down.

Maybe one day things would be different.

Maybe one day she wouldn't feel embarrassed whenever someone looked at her.

But for now, she was still the girl everyone laughed at.

And at Westwood High, nobody expected that Amelia Collins would ever become the centre of attention.

Especially Jessica Montgomery.

Because Jessica had no idea how much things could change in just a few months.