Secure in my bed I surveyed the room, making sure I was alone. Quickly I switched my gaze toward the box of clothing in the chair. It appeared to be sealed and untouched. I sat wondering if my encounter with the angel was real or a figment of my imagination. My eyes swiftly focused on my dresser. The spiked leather dog collar was exactly where I'd left it. I took a deep breath and sighed, dismissing the apparition as a dream.

     I opened the box and dumped the contents onto my bed. The first thing I spotted was a really cute hot pink mini skirt. I paired it with a white tee shirt and pink angora sweater. I pulled on a pair of matching pink tights and thigh high black boots. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and secured it with a black ribbon. Gazing at myself in the mirror I applied a hint of blush and some pink lip gloss. Emma startled me.

     “Wow, Lizzie you look pretty like my Barbie doll.”

     “Thanks Emma.”

     “You’re so different . . .”

     “What do you mean?” I asked curiously.

     “You used to look like Halloween and you always yelled at me when I came into your room. Now you look pretty and you act nice.” Emma  hugged me.

    “I guess the accident put things into perspective for me.”

    “Per . . . pective . . . ?”

    “Perspective  . . . it means it made me see things more clearly.”

    “Okay, can I wear your new make-up?” Emma asked looking at my blush.

    “No, you’re too little for make-up.”

    “Huh, and I thought you changed!” Emma said storming out of my room.

    Grabbing my back pack I headed down stairs half expecting Damien to be there waiting. But then I remembered we weren’t talking. So, I decided to bus it. I walked to the corner and waited for the school bus. It wasn’t long before the others showed up and I could hear them snickering at me. To my surprise Nick Hartman came to my rescue. Usually he drove his Firebird to school but lucky for me his car was in the shop.

     “ Shut up and leave Lizzie alone.” He said.

     “Thanks Nick .  .  .”

     “No problem, Sally.”

     “Why are you still calling me Sally?”

     “Cause it fits you!”

     “Not anymore.”

     “You can take the girl out of Goth but you can’t take the Goth out of the girl. You and Damien are Jack and Sally.”

     “Whatever Nick . . . “I said, blowing him off.

        The bus pulled up right on time and I climbed the stairs apprehensively. Walking slowly down the aisle, I looked for a seat. My search was met with rude comments and evil stares. Someone even threw a crumpled up piece of paper at my head. That’s when Nick saved me again.

     “Hey Sally, you can sit here with me.” I quickly took him up on his offer and slid onto the seat next to him.  “What’s with the new look? Was the church finally successful in your exorcism?”

     “Very funny.”

     “Seriously, you’re almost normal.”

     “Almost normal?”

    “You’d be completely normal if you ditched that boyfriend of yours. Damien Mann is about as abnormal as you can get.”

     “He’s not my boyfriend! We’re just good friends.”

     “Good friends . . . yeah right.  I saw you and Jack lip-locked at the point.”

     “That was before the accident . . . lots of things have changed.”

     “You’ve definitely changed your looks. That’s for sure.” Nick said with sarcasm.

      “Do I look stupid?” I asked insulted.

      Nick raised his eyes to meet my gaze. “Actually I think you look hot.”

     My heart pounded erratically and I felt warm all over. I could feel my face turning red and I quickly turned away to hide my embarrassment. Saving me from further humiliation the bus arrived at school. I leapt from my seat and headed toward the exit. Hurriedly, I exited the bus and made my way inside the school. I realized in my haste I’d forgotten one of my books. It was too late to go back to the bus so I made my way to class.

     The morning went by quickly and I couldn’t wait to eat my lunch. Making my way to the cafeteria I had a stroke of panic. Who would I sit with? Damien was avoiding me. I had seen him earlier that day and he abruptly went the other away steering clear of me. As I walked into the lunch room I could hear the whispers around me. Everyone was wondering why I was dressed so differently.

     One girl even went as far as saying I was schizophrenic. I found it to be an offensive term, although I understood why she thought that considering my recent state of mind. My outward appearance and new personality seemed contradictory. It conflicted with the attitude and behavior of the girl I was before the accident. However, I didn’t have a split personality. Something changed the day of the accident and I had changed with it.

     Damien spotted me from across the room and he followed me with his eyes. I grabbed a sandwich an apple and headed inside for a seat. Unpredictably, he approached me. I didn’t want a confrontation but it appeared inevitable.

     “I see the clothes fit.”

     “Yeah, they’re great, thank you. I’m going to pay you back.”

     “I don’t want your money . . .  consider it a gift.”

     Unexpectedly Nick came up behind me. “You forgot your book in my ride this morning.

     Damien glared at him and then back at me. “Forgot your book?” he said with a nasty tone. “I skip picking you up for one day and you’re riding to school with Nick?”

     I could tell he was angry. Before I could explain that I had ridden the bus, Damien stormed off. Cherrie McLaughlin, tenth grade Goth wanna-be grabbed the arm of his jacket as he passed by. She must have asked him to join her for lunch because the next thing I knew he was sitting down across from her. Our eyes locked briefly before Nick distracted me.

     “It appears Jack’s got a new underling. Looks like you’ll be eating lunch alone.” Nicks eyes met mine and I sighed deeply. Faltering he said, “Unless . . . you want to sit with me?”

     “That’d be great,” I said breathlessly. Nick and I sat at the long lunch table with some of the other football players. They were probably wondering if he’d lost his mind. I sat in silence eating my lunch, happy not to be alone. Cherrie was talking Damien’s ear off and he was pretending to listen. I could tell because he was more interested in watching me.

     After lunch I stepped into the ladies room. Washing my hands I gazed at myself in the mirror. I fixed my hair and applied a touch more lip gloss. I caught a glimpse of someone in the mirror but when I turned around no one was there. My heart began beating rapidly and the palms of my hands became sweaty.  Uneasiness washed over me. Closing my eyes I drew in a deep breath while feelings of dread built inside me. Turning towards the mirror I was met with her reflection.