50. Day 4 Part 7

Chloe adjusted the straps on the tight one-piece swimsuit she'd been forced to adorn, and removed the large amount of fabric that had somehow worked it's way into her butt.

As typical of her luck of late, the only swimming regalia available at the reception desk was a ghastly yellow and black polka-dotted number. These used to be a couple of her favourite colours... not anymore, after wearing this fashion atrocity. Hopefully, her future costume as Queen Bee would restore her love for the two hues.

That wasn't the main problem with the appalling outfit, however. The biggest drawback to putting on something which wasn't designed with your measurements in mind would always be size, and as became more apparent with every single stiff step the heiress took, this attire was just a lil bit too small for her ample frame. And boy, did it show.

Even with the blonde being one of the thinnest teenagers in the school, she still felt like every muscle and curve in her body was being subjected to a slow, crushing death. Who knows which lightweight 'lost' this tacky suit before, but judging by the logistics they could probably have been knocked over with a feather.

The lack-of-comfort factor, combined with the terrible colour scheme and how revealing the ensemble felt when it was pressed against her, meant that there would be snow forecast in the Sahara desert before she'd willingly wear this nightmarish bathing costume in normal circumstances.

If Chloe wanted to fulfill her goal of befriending Mylene properly though, that is exactly what she'd have to do, modesty and death by asphyxiation be damned. Fortunately, Miss Bustier had assured her that the entire pool area would be out of bounds for the two swimmers during their session together, with no other classes due to use it again until the following day.

This gave Chloe a bit more confidence that no-one else would walk in and see her clad in such revealing apparel, but the blonde still wasn't sure how she'd handle the actual 'swimming' part.

Aside from Chloe's own complete inexperience wading in the water, whenever she'd try to maneuver herself about it would be like having an anaconda wrapped around her figure from head-to-toe. Great if you're a reptile aficionado, not so much if you're attempting to, ya know, not drown.

Well, at least I've found something worse than the old school uniform to wear, the heiress thought ruefully, trying to practice inhaling and exhaling without her ribcage aching in protest, whoopee for me.

Of course, there was also the pressing issue of her hirsute feet, that now resembled Ug boots, to be added to the equation. Chloe might have given them a thorough trim that morning, but she could do next to nothing about the itchy stubble that lingered afterwards, plus the thick bristle was starting to grow back already... Damn, Zzubo. I'll forever be grateful for everything you've done for me, but you really messed up this time. If I'm still sprouting them a year from now, you're paying for corrective surgery, mark my words...

The only possible solutions for her furry problem Chloe could think of at a moment's notice were:

1) Explain to Mylene that the Bourgeois were distant cousins to a tribe of Yeti. Wouldn't that look great in the papers.

2) Say that a magical, mythical bee, who was also her surrogate mother, accidentally did this to the blonde as a side-effect of a sleeping spell. Hmm... hope they've got room at the mental asylum tonight.

3) Just jump in the pool now, and hope against hope that Mylene doesn't spot her follicle-encrusted tootsies by the end of their session. Well... it sounds unlikely, but...

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. It looks like we have a winner. 3) it is. Woo-hoo.

Her mind made up, the hassled heiress took a few rigid steps forward to descend the ladder into the water, after all, ladies of her standing do not dive, ever. Or, that was her default programming anyway.

The first sensation that hit Chloe on entering the pool was her stinging eyes. Ugh, I hate chlorine, she growled to herself, cursing that there weren't any goggles in the lost and found department too, and they always put too much in. I can understand them taking precautions in case someone doesn't make it to the bathroom on time, but that doesn't make the chemical any less unpleasant.

It's while she was wiping the foul substance from her corneas and bemoaning the fact that the school wasn't located near a freshwater stream, that a certain special guest arrived.

"U-Um... Hi there. Are you okay? Your eyes look a little swollen..."

Her vision blurred temporarily, Chloe was about to respond with a firm 'I'm fine, let's get this thing started' before her eyesight abruptly returned... and the heiress was so taken aback by the spectacle in front of her, she nearly took on board a whole mouthful of H2o.

Pudgy, fudgy, lumpy Mylene... was wearing a teeny-weeny bikini. A red, white and blue one, marking off the colours of the French flag one by one, but that wasn't it's most striking feature. What shocked Chloe most of all was how scanty it seemed... especially for someone as shy as she'd previously thought the dreadlocked girl was.

Seeing Chloe staring blithely at her, mouth agog, Mylene took a hesitant step backwards. "W-Well..." She cringed a little, but tried to keep a smile in place. "T-This is my new costume, the one my mother bought me to wear on our holiday to the Mauritius this year. I picked it out myself, d-do you like it?"

"U-Uh..." Chloe tried to be as diplomatic as possible, all the while desperately trying to stay afloat. "I do, I mean... who wouldn't like the Tri-Colour? You'd have to be pretty unpatriotic to even say that, and I. as daughter of the mayor of Paris, don't want to be arrested for treaso..."

"No, no..." Mylene stamped her bare foot on the ground, before gesturing over her entire frame once more. "I mean... how do you like how it looks, on me? Usually, I wouldn't be allowed to wear something this risque for swimming lessons, but I kept it in my bag on the off chance that I might be able to get a second opinion on it, before I went away. I don't have the guts to ask Ivan... but I'd appreciate a bit of honesty, and you're not known for mincing your words, so I ask again... do you like it?"

Chloe chewed the bottom of her lip nervously, feeling like a trapped rat all of a sudden. . Well, once more, it looks like my illustrious reputation precedes me. Brilliant, she realised, her mind turning cartwheels in it's attempt of what to say next. Should I try and be nice by telling her a white lie, or would I be better off being sincere? I don't want to hurt her feelings like I've done to so many others before, but I did promise Zzubo I'd be more truthful from now on, sssooo...

Eventually, she decided to shoot from the hip. "L-Listen, Mylene..." She couldn't look the timid girl in the eye, and instead watched the ripples play on the water. "I-I must admit, on the private beaches my Daddy usually takes me on abroad, I don't normally see people of your build dress so... lightly. Those that do, are usually asked to cover up by the officials there, because a lot of the other vacationers complain about their looks. So, if you really want to know what I think..."

"I-I knew it. I-I shouldn't have taken the risk..." That was Mylene beginning to weep quietly, suddenly feeling the urge to obscure as much of herself possible. "This is the first time I've ever worn something like this before, after being picked on since I was a kid for being 'fat'. It really knocked my confidence for a long time, but I thought that all might have passed now. However, now I see that the bullies were right all along, and I shouldn't have wasted my money. Thank you Chloe, I knew I could rely on you to be straightforward with me. I-I shall never look as good as you. . . I-I'll just go and change, throw this horrible thing away and no-one will ever have to see me dress like this e-ever a-again..."

As the tearful girl turned around and went to flee back into the relative sanctuary of the changing room in shame, Chloe couldn't help but feel responsible for crushing the poor girl's spirit the same way the current costume she wore was doing to her body right now. She hadn't meant to come across so harsh, she was simply speaking her mind as she'd been doing since she was a child. And now, if she wanted to halt the swiftly retreating form of the devastated Mylene from disappearing prematurely, she was going to have to act fast.

"Hang on just a minute..." Chloe yelled, sounding irritated all of a sudden. "You didn't let me finish what I was going to say."

"What?" Mylene spun around in surprise at Chloe's words, more intrigued than anything. "B-but, I thought your view was quite clear. Y-You thought I was an obese monstrosity, that I should be covered up at all times and..."

"Wrong!" Chloe lifted one hand out of the water, to indicate the jittery girl was quite mistaken. "I said that's what they did at the locales I stayed at, I never said I agreed with it. I might have gone along with the crowd at the time, but that's because I didn't know any better... and if those mean girls who were mocking you back then were here right now, I'd give them such a slap..."

Quite apart from the blistering irony of the identity of the person making that solemn statement, Mylene found herself crying once more, although these were more tears of a happy nature. "C-Chloe... I-I can't believe... I-Ivan was right about you now... Y-You really have ch-changed..."

"Wait a moment, I've got other stuff I need to say..." Chloe raised her other hand from the pool, to show that she wanted to continue speaking. "Do you want to know something else, Mylene? The person who should actually be jealous around here, is me... of you, and your freedom. All my life, I've been forced to avoid certain foods, exercise daily with a personal trainer, have regular weigh-ins... all for the sake of maintaining the perfect 'figure'. It was just so I could look good on my Daddy's arm at official functions and ambassador parties while the cameras were flashing, but all that is going to change from now on. I'm no longer going to be his stand-in for easy votes, you can count on that."

"R-Really?" Mylene had stopped trying to conceal herself, and now stood proudly with her arms by her sides, listening to the heiress's testimony with rapt attention. "I-I had no idea..."

"Hardly anyone did. It's not like the 'Bourgeois underage slimming programme' was meant for public consumption..." Chloe rolled her eyes, while dwelling on all of the routines she'd been subjected to that no impressionable young child should have to tolerate. "But, who cares... that's all in the past now. From this point onwards, I vow to spend entire days on the couch relaxing while watching junk, if I want. I promise to eat as much icky, sticky chocolate cake and yes, even pizza, as I like, even if it adds a few microscopic millimetres to my waistline. Most of all, I intend to enjoy life, without worrying about my 'place in society' or the 'body shaming' craze that seems to be sweeping the internet. I suggest you do the same, too. You're fantastic, Mylene... and amazing just the way you are. Don't change for anyone, especially for small,minded, worthless bullies like I used to be."

"C-Chloe!" Mylene could no longer contain her excitement over Chloe's inspiring words, and the heiress soon became aware of a little splash in the pool nearby, to denote that she wasn't alone in the water any longer, a fact confirmed by the sensation of two grateful arms thrust around her back, and a squishy, fleshy body smushed up against hers.

Yep, she was being given a hug, but this was a distinctly awkward one. Not only is it hard to grip onto an individual when you're drifting along together in the deep end, but when you're noticeably shorter than the other person you're embracing, and that 'other person' happens to be a female, who knows where your head might end up.

Such was the case with Mylene. "E-erm... glad I've cheered you up, M-Mys..." Chloe stammered, blushing one of the brightest shades ever. "I-I don't mean to sound rude, but could you please pull yourself back a little? Y-Your face...I-It's pressing right onto my... you know..."

"Hmm?" Mylene barely heard the blonde's stuttered request, as nice and snug as she felt between a pair of soft cushions. "What do you mea... oh. " Now it was the dreadlocked girl's (who was wearing a swimming cap, as a precaution) turn to feel embarrassed, as she quickly released the heiress, to float a few inches away. "S-Sorry, I didn't know..."

"I-It's fine, after all we're both girls, r-right?" Chloe tried to put a rational perspective on things, although she still felt utterly mortified. Which would be worst, this or everyone finding out about my bristly toes? Place your bets now...

"R-Right..." Mylene nodded her head in agreement, and by means of trying to change the tense atmosphere, began to swim in the opposite direction.

"Can't catch me!" She laughed, gliding with much more finesse in the water than Chloe thought possible for someone of her rotund shape. "You might not think it, but I've won swimming trophies all over the country! Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse... next time you're staying in any of those places, ask them if they've heard of Mylene Haprele, the champion of the backstroke, butterfly, breaststrok... oops, forget I said that last one."

Must be all that baby fat that gives her the extra buoyancy. Wish I had some too... Chloe lamented, while trying in vain to keep pace with her fish-like companion. Despite failing to capture Mylene at every turn though, the two had an extremely pleasant early afternoon together, and the next hour and a half flew by.

...

Chloe sighed with pleasure, as she finally got out of the pool. She'd never imagined splashing someone with water, throwing floats at them and clutching onto their sides as they sped along like a motor boat could be so much fun. But now, it was time to get changed, and return to the hurly-burly that was her ever-convoluted life.

I hope Mylene and Ivan put in good words for me with the others, Chloe pondered, as she made her way to her locker to talk with Zzubo about recent developments, while somehow prising off this corset cunningly disguised as a swimming costume. I unbelievably managed to navigate my feet away whenever Mylene looked my way too, so she didn't suspect a thing about my new hair growth. At least, I don't think she di...

Her thoughts died in her head, as soon as she spotted her open locker ahead.

Someone had broken into it.

Her bag inside, gone.

And inside that bag was... Zzubo.

Oh no.

Even by Chloe standards, the scream that followed was something to behold.

But no-one else was around to hear it.

...

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Cliffhanger ending aside, there's a not-too subtle message here. Can you spot it? Hmm... :)

The next chapter's going to be a lil bit different. Wait and see what I mean, when it arrives... ;)