Wayward

“Can I have one of those...brown things?” I asked, pointing to some nugget-like stuff on the plate.

“Oh, that,” the waiter said, “sure. They’re the finest delicacy here.”

I raised my eyebrows as the waiter handed me the brown stuff. They certainly looked nice.

That was until the waiter said that they were fish guts. Ew.

So, as usual, I sat down in a corner, watching all those ‘upper-class’ people flaunt their jewellery savagely in front of us, normal people. I usually felt like a fish out of water at such parties, which Tessa’s dad usually made her attend, so she dragged me and Adrian along, too. Boy, I hate dressing up for such occasions. It’s so...unwanted. You go in there, flash your pearlies, and get out. That’s all there should be. You know what, I would have been totally lonely at such parties, if not for my best friends' company. Thank god for Tessa and Adrian, I say, during these parties.

Then again, if it wasn’t for Tessa, I wouldn’t have been there right then.

But most of the time, I usually am too busy being jealous of Tessa’s killer looks and effortless attitude, or asking God why on earth He sent Adrian down to trouble the life out of me. However, the important thing here is that both of them were there for me when I needed them, and that was right then, at the most boring party in the world.

Or rather, Adrian and I were there for Tessa.

It had always been that way, since the day we met Tessa, six years back, a new and totally lost girl in school. But all these six years, through all the times I’ve hated and envied her for everything, I’ve really come to enjoy and like her company. Tessa could infuse brightness into everyone within miles of her. Her enthusiasm and rebellious nature was almost contagious. She was bold, daring, popular and outspoken(and had purple highlights in her hair) – all of these which I never was, I probably never can be.

Adrian was more like me, and I knew him longer than I had known Tessa, or any other friend for that matter. But god, he was annoying! There were times when I felt like hurling rocks at him, telling him to shut up...but he never listened. I think he likes to pretend he’s more brave than he actually is, while in reality, he’s really this introvert, kind of like I am. I seriously have lost count of the number of times I’ve quarreled with him!

Actually, the three of us have never really had a real fight, where we would stop talking to each other for days. Well, except when I was five and Adrian didn't lend me his new computer game...

Anyway.

Back to Tessa’s- Dad’s- friend’s- friend’s- whatever’s party...

“Fish guts,” a voice commented behind me, and I almost jumped. Tessa was looking over my shoulder, at the uneaten, apparently edible fish body part lying pathetically on my plate. “Must be good. Tried them yet?” She grinned at me as we sat down on some really posh cushioned, suede leather couch.

“Mhmm,” I mumbled painfully.

“You don’t have to eat that if you don’t want to, Mel. It’s not like the cops are going to come and check, or anything. Just throw them away,” she suggested. I guess she was conscious enough to remember that I was a vegetarian. Stealthily, I went over to the rubbish bin and poured all that guts down into it, and went back to Tessa with a relieved smile.

“You know,” I said, “How can anyone have the heart to rip off guts from fishes?! I mean...how will the poor fishies digest the tadpoles?”

That was me, as usual. Eccentric and crazy, but in a weird and environmentally friendly way, which was not exactly appealing to everyone (particularly the snob gang in our school; they thought I was an alien).

Tessa’s face showed revolt. “Urgh, Mel, you should really give up on turning the world into vegetarians. You know, not all of the world is actually interested in seeing little hens running about alive. They mostly want to devour those critters.”

“Tessa! Mel’s going to be devastated if that happens!” Adrian’s sardonic voice came from behind us. There he goes, I thought, being infuriating again. He never gave me a break. He ceremoniously plonked down on the couch next to us.

“You guys never take me seriously!” I complained, sulking. When were they going to realise that the world needed to be saved?

“Oh we do,” Tessa assured. “We do take you seriously, you know, in the appropriate...circumstances.”

"Cut it, I'm really bored here," I complained - yet again.

“You know what, I’m bored too. C’mon, let’s go home,” Tessa said, getting up defiantly.

“But Tessa- your dad...” Adrian started, but Tessa had already strode up to her father. Shaking his head, Adrian muttered, “Boy, she has guts.”

And well, I winced, because that last comment reminded me of the fish body part I had just been about to eat, had I not known what it was called. “Please,” I groaned, “No comments using that word, Adrian.”

He looked sideways at me. “Fine, Miss Vegetarian.”

As I opened my mouth to retort, Tessa came back with a triumphant smile on her face and the keys of her dad’s car twirling in her fingers.

“No way,” Adrian laughed, “You’ll drive us all home? Mel, I think we should save her before she murders.”

“Oh come on,” Tessa rolled her eyes. “Where am I going to get a license from at this age, from you? My driver’s here.”

So, well, we went home, but not before Adrian reminded us that we had no school the next day. Trust Adrian to bring up school on an extended weekend like this(since our school’s annual day was the day before, they were kind enough to give us a couple of days off).

It had always been just the three of us for six years. We had no other noteworthy friends at school, nor did we belong to any special clique. And somehow, somewhere inside me, throughout these years, there was a tiny part of me which yearned to be in Tessa’s place. I thought it was impossible for one person to have all the luck in the world, until I met Tessa. It was impossible for anybody not to like her, she was so...well, likeable. And cheerful, and bold, and...well, I think I’ve already elaborated on her characteristics.

I had always been the shy one, the writer, the quiet one, who was more into turning people into vegetarians rather than rebelling against everything that was remotely of discomfort to me, like Tessa does. I was the reclusive one, always shying away in Tessa’s shadow, never coming out of it.

Which is mainly the reason Adrian and I hatched a plan the next day. A plan to transform me, Melanie Hagel, into a Tessa-clone - lucky, carefree, outspoken, bold and- did I mention lucky?