Chapter 1
Monday [0 pts]
I woke up to the faint sound of paper sliding under my door. The rustling of the sheet was a familiar and unwelcome intrusion. Another updated chore list. My heart sank as I realized that the weekly ritual had begun again. I stretched and rubbed my eyes.
As I lay there, I couldn't help but reflect on how it all started. The loss of my job as a waitress had thrown my life into disarray. The memory of being unceremoniously fired still stung, and I couldn't shake the bitterness that came with it.
The only good thing that did come from it was Kimmy. The daughter of the man who fired me. The girl who took my job. We had our second "date" this week, and I was excited. The memory of her lips on mine intruded my thoughts.
My thoughts then wandered to the changes I'd undergone. My natural black Latina hair was now dyed a slutty blonde. Once filled with sarcasm, my voice had taken on the airy, flirty tone of a bimbo. The exaggerated hip-swaying walk, the constant hair-twirling, and the flirting all had become a part of me. Did I hate it? It was hard to say. It was out of my control and felt like roleplay, but I had to keep it up to fit my roommates' expectations.
The outfits they picked for me were outrageous. Some days, it added to the idea I was roleplaying a character. A much sluttier character than I portrayed my whole life until two weeks ago. But then again, I had chosen this path, hadn't I? I had agreed to take on the chores to stay here rent-free. To avoid being homeless.
And then there was Jason. I know Izzy, don't shit where you sleep, but he was so sweet. Of all my roommates, he seemed to be the only one who cared about my well-being. Our kisses were passionate, but was this realistic? Being in the position of having two potential relationships right now while I was dealing with this arrangement was a bit overwhelming.
Reality called me back. I had a job interview at the Jiggle Joint for a waitressing position. It was the only waitress job in the city I could get after Kimmy's father blacklisted me.
Why is this all happening to me?
Finally, I couldn't avoid it any longer. I sighed, threw the covers off, and climbed out of bed. The new chore list awaited me, as did the 100 points I needed to earn this week to earn my keep.
I slumped into my chair, chore list in hand, fully prepared to face the new tasks that would dictate my life for the upcoming week. As my eyes moved down the list, a surge of irritation coursed through me at the sight of the changes.
The first item on the list? A complete wardrobe makeover. For a whopping 30 points. Seriously? I couldn't help but scoff. This felt more permanent than my roommates choosing my outfits each day. If I wanted any regular clothes ever again, I'd have to get them myself after this was all over.
But it got worse. I glanced further down and practically choked on my disbelief. Breast enlargement surgery, a mind-boggling 100 points, the entire weekly quota. My chest tightened with exasperation. This had to be some kind of joke. It was Braden, no doubt about it. He'd teased me about my size enough times to make his point, and now this? It was beyond infuriating.
And if that wasn't enough, there was the photo shoot for my social media account, IzzyEcchi, a mere 10 points. But here's the kicker: I'd lose 15 points if refused. It feels like the choices I was given each week were getting more and more limited.
It was high time I confronted my roommates about this absurdity. This was getting out of hand. I couldn't let them dictate every aspect of my life and make these decisions without my input. They were going too far, and they were going to hear about it.
I stormed into the living area, where my roommates were gathered around the breakfast table, my frustration simmering just below the surface. I was determined to have a serious discussion about this arrangement.
"Hey guys, we should totally chat about these chores," I began, my voice laced with as much annoyance as I could muster after going through the vocal training I had gone through. But before I could delve into my grievances, Jason, ever the peacemaker, interjected with an attempt to lighten the mood.
"Hey, have you seen this meme, Izzy?" He showed me his phone, and as I watched, I found myself unintentionally spacing out for a moment.
While my attention wandered, Teddy, the shy nerd of the group, glanced down at his plate. He couldn't handle conflict.
Regaining my composure, I managed to return the conversation to the chores. "Okay, guys, let's, you know, get back on topic. What's up with this whole wardrobe makeover thingy?"
He smirked, "Oh yeah, that. Well, we thought it might be better if you started picking your own outfits. Taking turns picking your outfit was fun, but we figured you should have more control. So, we thought we'd get rid of the clothes we don't approve of and buy you a bunch of clothes we do approve of. Then, you can just make your own choices."
I couldn't help but think that for 30 points, that's not so bad. It's almost a third of the week's worth. Plus, it put some control back into my life.
With a flirty twirl of my hair, I gave my agreement. "Oh, perfect. That sounds like really great."
The roommates nodded, and they explained that the wardrobe makeover would take place that night. While I was relieved that the conversation hadn't turned into a heated argument, I couldn't help but wonder how the changes to my wardrobe would further alter my life outside this home. It was one thing to parade around like a bimbo in front of my roommates, but to do it in public?
With breakfast behind me, I was ready to face another day in this peculiar life I'd found myself in. I glanced at my closet, pondering my outfit for the day. It occurred to me that it might be the last day I had complete control over my wardrobe choices.
I perused my closet, eyeing my clothes critically. Many of them seemed to have faded into the realm of the bland and outdated or just plain faded. It had been years since I had had the money to keep my wardrobe fresh. Today, I was in the mood for something comfortable but still eye-catching. I picked a pair of short shorts and an older, tight-fitting T-shirt that I always thought looked nice. The high heels, which had become a part of my daily attire, were slipped on effortlessly.
The morning and early afternoon were dedicated to my cleaning chores, the routine I'd grown accustomed to. There was a certain rhythm; it had become a part of my life. The 6 points to begin the week always felt great, plus it kept the house nice.
As the day transitioned into late afternoon, I took on today's training video, not wanting to lose points by skipping it. It continued with the behavior and attitude training. More hair twirling and flirting for me, oh boy. I hit play and settled in but found myself spacing out again as the video unfolded.
The content of the video slipped away, leaving me in a trance-like state. When it finally ended, I blinked and looked around, feeling strangely relaxed. It was as if the video had smoothed out the edges of my thoughts, leaving me in a state of pleasant calm.