Jen McConnel - Beautiful Curse

BEAUTIFUL CURSE

By JenMcConnel

Published by Jen McConnel

Smashwords Edition

Copyright of the 2nd edition, 2016 JenMcConnel

Cover Designed by Paper and Sage, 2016

Cover Photo by Meet Cute Photography, 2016

Translations by Matthew McConnel, 2012

This book is a work of fiction. Characters,locations, and events are products of the authors mind, or havebeen used in a fictitious manner. The author acknowledges the rightof all trademark holders for products mentioned in this work offiction. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, or toactual events, is purely coincidental.

License Statement:

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoymentonly. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people.If you would like to share this book with another person, pleasepurchase an additional copy for each recipient. If youre readingthis book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for youruse, then please return to your favorite eBook retailer andpurchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work ofthis author.

Jen McConnel

Translations by Matthew McConnel, 2012

About the Author

To everyone whos ever run a little short onhope.

and yet, the youngest girl was so singular,was so splendidly beautiful, that no tongue of men was able toneither praise nor sufficiently express it. Manycitizens andstrangerscame to see the rumored beauty and were struck dumb byher presence and they began to adore her as if she were the goddessof love herself

Apuleius, Metamorphosis

Chapter One

After checking my hair one more time in the smallpurple mirror, I slammed my locker, excited. For whatever reason, Ilooked really good, better than Id hoped; my blond hair was smoothand perfect, and I hadnt even taken the time to straighten it thatmorning. It wasnt just my hair; my skin glowed like a girl in amagazine, and I had the ridiculous feeling Id been airbrushed. Itwas a little weird, since I hadnt done anything that morning thatI hadnt done a million times before, but I wasnt about to look agift horse in the mouth. If the universe wanted me to be gorgeousfor the first day of junior year, who was I to complain? My stomachflopped around as I scanned the hall, looking for Elaina. Shedbeen visiting her grandparents in Montana all summer, but eventhough I hadnt seen her for two months, I needed her beside me. Ifthe face in the mirror was any indication, junior year was going tobe our best year ever, and I couldnt wait to see her. Energyrippled around me, and finally I spotted a familiar brown ponytailthrough the crowd.

Elaina! I stood on my toes and waved,trying not to care that the people near me whipped their headsaround to stare. I smiled at my best friend. Let them stare;were upperclassmen now.

Elaina elbowed her way through the crowd,grinning, but her smile faded by the time she got to me. I gave hera quick hug, but she pulled back, studying me closely. What didyou do to your face?

I reached for my cheek. Is there somethingon it? Hurriedly, I turned to open my locker and check the mirroragain, but Elaina put her hand on my arm.

Stop fooling around. Seriously, what did youdo?

I ran my tongue over my teeth, hoping Ididnt have any food stuck in them. What do you mean?

She squinted at me. Psyche, you look like africkin' super model. What gives?

I blushed. Id been excited when I woke upand realized how good I looked, but something in Elainas tone mademe uncomfortable. I forced a laugh. I know, right? Its so weird.Its like magic or something.

Elaina raised her eyebrow. Did you have workdone or something?

What? No! I looked around and lowered myvoice. You know Id never do anything like that.

Makeup, then. What brand are you using?

I shook my head. Seriously, I didnt doanything. Its like my face finally decided to behave. I smoothedmy long blond hair out of habit, and Elainas eyes followed myfingers.

And your hair. You look way too good for thefirst day of school! Her words were light, but her smile looked alittle strained. If you dont want to share your secret with me,thats fine. She turned abruptly, but I hurried after her,hurt.

There is no secret! Im just having areally, really good hair day, I guess.

Before she could reply, the warning bellrang, and I glanced at my schedule, my stomach suddenly tight withanxiety.

Ive got Farkner for homeroom, and thenCalc.

Elaina nodded. Ill see you at lunch. Hertone was distant, and I bit my lip, trying to figure out what wasgoing on.

She slipped into the crowd before I could sayanything else, and I stared after her for a moment before I turnedand began pushing my way through the students to the math room.

Someone bumped me from behind, and my bookswent sailing to the floor. So much for this being a good day.Conscious of my knee-length denim skirt, I knelt to grab mythings.

An underclassman with red hair and thickglasses handed me my pencil case, and I grinned at him. He starteddrooling, and his eyes glazed over. He looked like hed beensmoking pot behind the track with his buddies, and I scrambled awayfrom him, scooping up my books in a hurry. Who came to schoolstoned on the first day?

Eager to get away from the strange freshman,I skidded across the threshold of Mr. Farkners classroom just asthe late bell rang.

Ah, Miss Jones. Cutting it close, arentwe?

His tone made me wince, and I looked at thefloor and nodded. Mr. Farkner sighed heavily and turned back to theboard to finish writing the warm up, and I slipped into an emptydesk beside the dirty window and opened my notebook. A folded scrapof paper fell out, and I glanced around. No one was paying anyattention to me; they were all dutifully copying down the Pre-Calcproblem on the board. I guess we werent going to waste any time onintroductions or stuff, I thought, staring at the numbers on theboard. Id heard Farkner was hard in class, but Id met him when Ipicked up my schedule, and he hadnt seemed too bad. Still, Ihadnt expected him to jump right in on the first day.

Distracted, I unfolded the note, keeping itunder one corner of my desk so no one could see what I was doing. Iskimmed it, confused, then read it more carefully.

Roses are red, but your lips are, too,

I wish I had a girl as sweet as you.

Your hair reminds me of the beach andsand,

I want to hold it in my hands.

Who would write me a love letter? I lookedaround the room, but the only person who met my eye was Lydia, agirl Id never really liked. She glared at me and wrinkled hernose, and I glanced back at the note. It was kind of creepy, Idecided, skimming the words again. The whole thing sounded like ajoke, with the pathetic rhyme about my hair and the sand. With asigh, I crumpled the note up, trying to pretend it hadnt made myheart race for a minute.

A loud noise made me jerk my head up andstare at the front of the room. Mr. Farkner was slamming his ruleragainst the board as if he wanted to smack us, but couldnt.

Didnt anybody do the review work I sent outthis summer? I swallowed nervously. Id always liked math, but Ihated the idea of speaking up in class. Mostly, I tried to blendin, unless I was in class with Elaina. She made me feel brave, butshed been so weird this morning, I was almost relieved we didnthave class together.

You! Miss Jones. Did you do the homework Iassigned over the break?

Yes, I mumbled, keeping my eyes down.

Speak up, girl.

Yes, I said a little louder. Someonesnickered from the back of the room.

Mr. Farkner rocked back and forth on hisheels. Then would you care to solve this problem?