Magic Nails

Sat bored on the bus, Sarah hated buses, couldn't wait to get a driving licence, only another 2 years. She scrolled through Facebook on her phone, thumbs moving at remarkable speed as she typed response, shared posts and tagged friends in funny photos.

Not really reading as she was so bored she actually scrolled past them, but something made her scroll back up and was so glad she did. From the screen it they called to her like a torch on a dark night. They were amazing, no more than amazing, they were sick. She needed them, had to have them. No one else at school would have them. They were, there were no words.

Quickly she saved the post, knowing the annoyance when Facebook resets, and you lose what you were looking, then for good measure, she screenshot and downloaded the photo.

Glancing up she realised her friend was getting on the bus, typically she would have shown her the new find, but something stopped her, something made this her little secret, she would get those nails.

All day at school she found herself dreaming of those nails, the dress she would wear with them, not that anyone would be looking at her dress, how could they. Curt would notice her once she had those nails.

Curt, she loved Curt, from that first day she had seen him playing rugby. Of course, she had barely spoken to him, other than to say hello shyly as she walked past, though she doubted he had ever heard her.

Curt, the captain of the school rugby team, played for the local county team too and was hoping to play for Great Britain one day, she knew all about him, had spent hours online looking at his Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as local newspaper reports. He was amazing, fit body, sporty and apparently one report said loved kittens spending his evenings when not training volunteering at the local cats home. One day he would ask her out, but first, he had to notice her. That's where the nails came into play with those nails how could he not notice her.

*

Home that night she flipped open that laptop, clicking on saved item she found the nail advert again. Of course, she was supposed to be doing her homework, but that could wait, this as more important. Her eyes darted across the screen, they were from Thailand, unique new material, durable, fade resistant, only available from here. But then the cost, how much? No that had to be a mistake.

“$150,” she said out loud to no one but her childhood teddies, who sat looking down dusty and disapproving. She would do anything for those nails, anything at all. Oh, she had the money, her aunt had died left her a little, but it was supposed to be savings for college. She closed the laptop, removing the temptation. Swivelling on her chair, she flicked on her TV, there he was Curt on the news, picked for an international Rugby team tour, of course, the item was not about Curt, but the team, but she didn’t see the other players, just Curt.

*

School next day was unbearable double science, and she had to sit next to Libby. Libby was one of those, how would you describe her? Popular girls that's what her mother would describe her as, surrounded by adoring friends, all desperate to soak in her limelight. Boys smiled embarrassed as she glanced at them, all way beneath Libby, she had a boyfriend, he wasn’t stuck in school like these morons. Oh no Libby’s boyfriend went to College, and he had a job in a clothes shop in town. He Was gorgeous, drove a fantastic car and used to pick her up from school in it. People said they used to park up on the seafront and do stuff in his car, she doubted it though Libby is such a liar, she always was, we went to primary school together, and she was the same then. Perfect hair, perfect teeth, expensive clothes. They’d been friends once, but that was a long time ago.

*

After school sat alone in her room, opening her laptop, she was greeted by the nails, there again. She had almost forgotten them, but seeing them now, she knew she had to have them. Just as she was adding to basket, a pop-up appeared. She was about to close it but then realised what it said. Reading it out loud “Congratulations, you are Mr Timms most lucky 888 buyer, that is my lucky number, and so I am pleased to send you the most glorious nails for free.” She squealed with delight, pleased she had waited till tonight to purchase them. It was fate, meant to be. Quickly she typed in the remaining details and pressed send. Sitting back she looked at the screen, order accepted.

*

The days ticked by, and she forgot her order, half expecting it not to arrive.

But then when she came in from school a package there upon the floor. She picked up and read the label, it was addressed to her. Carefully she slipped her finger into the small box opening it she peeked inside. The contents seemed to glow in response to her gaze. Taking a deep breath, excitement filling her she pulled out the ornate box, glimpsing those nails that had captured her heart. She couldn’t wait opening the box she quickly read the slightly dodgy bad English instructions, but it didn’t matter the pictures showed her what was to be done.

An hour later the deed was done, her new nails looked amazing, and felt well like nothing she had ever worn before. They were lighter somehow, the colours seeming to change almost magically to blend with what she was wearing.

Click! Quick snap photo for snap chat, twitter and facebook. She couldn’t wait to get to school the next day and show the other girls.

That night she slept like a baby, content in the knowledge that tomorrow she would be someone, people would notice her, people would want to be around her.

*

Waking up the following up the following morning, she stretched scratching her face as she did, drawing a small line of blood from her check. “Ouch” she cried out not realising at first that she had inflicted this pain upon herself. She sat in front of the mirror looking at the damage, nothing a little foundation wouldn’t fix. Hurrying for the first time in a long time she made herself ready for school. 6 pairs of tights latter, fabulous nails and tights don’t go together, she pulled on her trousers resolving to work out how to wear tights with nails later.

On reaching the bus stop she tried to open her school bag to get out her purse but couldn’t, her nails catching, she terrified of breaking them. So she decided to walk.

Luckily school was not far, and as she had been rushing today, she was running early. That was until she tried to press the button to cross the road at the zebra crossing, once again her nails prevented her from doing so. And so she decided to go the slightly longer way to school, via the footbridge, she was sure she had time.

Climbing the bridge she began to feel a little warm and dare she say it as ladies don’t sweat, she was decidedly damp under the arms. Oh, this would never do, she was supposed to look beautiful like her nails.

She stopped in the shade of a tree to get her breath, splat, glancing at her shoulder she watched as a long dribble of bird poo-streaked from her hair to her blazer. “Oh no, this day can’t get any worse. Shoving her hand forcefully into her pocket as she could, she managed to pull out a tissue to dab her hair. She felt tears pricking at her eyes. She knew she looked a mess and now she was in danger of being late for school as well. She just hoped her nails would dazzle everyone, and they wouldn’t notice what a mess she looked. She hurried on, trying desperately to sort out her hair as she went, her nails growing more and more tangled as she did,

By the time she arrived at school, late, her right hand was stuck in the tangled mess that was her hair, bits of tissue sticking out like feathers from the nest. Pressing the buzzer with her free hand, she felt her cheeks flushing. The small granary screen buzzed into action.

“Hello” boomed the disinterested voice from beyond.

“Sarah Jones, Year 10” she whispered

“Who?”

“Sarah Jones, Year 10,” she said loader

“Oh my dear god what has happened to you,” said the receptionist at the same time as she pressed the buzzer, by the time Sarah had heaved open the heavy door with her left hand, the receptionist was on the desk and waiting for her. Before she could speak a word, a blanket was around her shoulders and a chair below her bottom. Others soon rushed to her aid, to her horror this all seemed to happen in slow motion as the bell rang, all around the school doors flew up, corridors filled with a noisy throng of children all pushing and shoving as the made their way to their next class. First, it was whispers, but soon the voices were more audible, she glanced up her cheeks burning as she saw first Libby then Curt, stood gawping at her along with nearly everyone else from her class. She wasn’t sure who laughed first, but she was sure it was Curt, he had his arm round Libby’s shoulders this was awful. Hot tears fell down her cheeks, she had wanted so much to be noticed, but now all she wanted was for the floor to open up and swallow her. She wished she had never laid eyes on those stupid nails.