Chapter 1 - A big step
Jenny had always been a shy girl. She had a small physique, light brown shoulder length hair and a few freckles. What made her most insecure about her appearance were her large glasses, her strict parents had selected for her. In the past she didn't have many friends, especially not very close ones. She wasn't too bothered that she never even had a boyfriend as she hadn't met anyone she was remotely interested in.
After high school she worked a few years at her local convenience store to save up some money to help finance her college degree.
On her first day at college she met Sophie who lived in the dorm room across the hall. Sophie was the total opposite to her. Her hair was dyed bright purple, she had a large tattoo on her right forearm, a large hoop pierced her septum and she wore a large tongue stud which gave her a small but cute lisp. She just looked 'cool'. Over the course of the next few weeks they became good friends despite Sophie's frequent complaints about how 'lame' Jenny was.
One Tuesday afternoon Jenny was sitting at her desk working on a boring essay when someone knocked on her half opened door. "Come in," she said. Sophie took a step into Jenny's room and asked "I'm driving to the mall later this afternoon to get a new outfit for the party next Friday. Do you want to come?"
"I wasn't planning on going to that party," Jenny answered. "I still have a lot of homework to finish" "Come on, even if you're not coming. I might need a second opinion. It will be fun" said Sophie.
"Promise that you won't take forever choosing." Jenny said.
Sophie came a few steps closer and put her arm around Jenny's shoulders. "Sure, I might even treat you to something nice," she said. Jenny smiled, "Sure I'll come." Jenny's parents would be very disappointed if they knew that she was spending time with people like Sophie instead of studying.
A few hours later she hopped into Sophie's car and they drove across town to the new mall. After over an hour of shopping around in several boutiques for, in Jenny's opinion, way to revealing clothes, Sophie said "I need some jewelry that matches this shirt. Let's head over to Claire's."
The shop was quite busy when they arrived and they started looking for necklaces. Jenny found a delicate silver one and pointed it out to Sophie "How about this one? It really suits you." Sophie studied the necklace for a moment and then said "I think it's far too simple. Let's look for something a little more unique." Jenny went over to a small jewelry display in a back corner of the store. She picked up a necklace that was made out of green colored glass beads and a large green fake gemstone. She brought it back to Jenny and said "Is this more to your liking?"
Sophie looked at the green necklace and then up at Jenny and said "It's a little strange but it's unique. I love it."
By now the shop was much less busy than it had been when they arrived and Sophie decided to look for matching earrings. Jenny spotted a lovely pair of dangling silver earrings and said "I think these will go nicely with your necklace." "They're gorgeous," Sophie replied. "Let's get them," said Sophie. Jenny was about to move on to another display, when Sophie showed her a pair of small pearl studs. "I told you I might get you something. These would be perfect for you." She said and added with a grin. "They might just be boring enough."
Jenny took a quick look at the pair. They were simple but pretty. She turned the package around and saw the stud and butterfly clasp. "I don't know," she blushed, "I don't have my ears pierced. They won't work for me."
"You never got them pierced?" Sophie replied "I had my first ones done when I was a baby. And since then I've gotten a lot more."
"My parents never allowed me to get them done" Jenny muttered "They think it's uncivilized." She shook her head and said "Sorry, they're just not for me."
"Come on, they'll look great on you." Sophie smiled mischievously.
Jenny was starting to feel embarrassed. "I'm too scared about the pain. Also my parents might punish me if I do get them."
"You won't feel a thing," Sophie replied, "little girls get them all the time. We can get them pierced right here." She pointed to a chair next to the entrance with a sign "Free ear piercing" above it. She added "Now is as good a time as any. We're already here."
"But my parre..." Jenny started.
"Nonsense! You are 21! Your parents can't stop you." Sophie replied "Trust me. You need to try new things if you ever want to stop being lame"
This finally was one remark too many for Jenny. She said "Fine I'll get them pierced. I'll trust you. But stop calling me 'lame'"
"Great!" Sophie replied "I'll get the shop assistant".
A few minutes later Jenny was sitting on a chair next to the entrance of the store.
