Ugly Duckling

I glanced sideways at Smriti. She was doodling on the back of her history register, slouching slightly with her head low, so that Mrs. Joshi wouldn't notice her chewing a gum. But I noticed. I noticed her long locks, the red streak in her gorgeous silky black hair, discreetly hidden in her braid. The few freckles scattered across her fair high cheek bones and her chocolate eyes enhanced her already perfect heart shaped face. Soon I realized that the 'noticing' had turned to staring and I faced front before she realized the same.Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a face looking in my direction. I glanced at that person and mentally corrected my mistake.
He was looking, scratch that, gawking at her not me. But not in the way I was staring at her. But then again, why would he be envious to her looks. He had that dreamy, romantic look on his face. Well, I shouldn't have been bothered by this, since every second boy has the same look on his face while looking at Smriti. But seeing Mayank looking at her like that only increased my dislike towards Smriti. He was so lost looking at her, he didn't even see me scowling straight at him. I gave up and turned my head away in disgust. Suddenly the bell rang. Recess time. I caught hold of my books, and pushing them under the desk in one swipe, I rushed out of the class as soon as Mrs. Joshi exited the room. But the look on the face of my crush looking at my roll partner the way I'd look at him was stuck in my head. As I was hurrying through the corridor I ran into a junior. Not much damage done, I apologized vaguely, and as I was turning around to keep moving forward, I saw a faint reflection of myself in a classroom window. A short, bespectacled, dark complexioned, too skinny girl with oily, matted hair stared back at me. I could feel my eyes stinging slightly. Then suddenly, I heard my best friend's voice booming in the corridor,"Hey beautiful!",  pulling me out of my self pitying reverie. I turned the way the voice came from, and saw Sid walking briskly down the corridor towards me, with a huge smile on his face. I could see Gargi, my other bestie, rushing with him. She was also beaming brightly. "Why'd you leave so suddenly, without waiting for us, huh?" Sid questioned and Gargi added, "Yeah! You left like a bolt. Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!" and I was suddenly being almost strangled by the 'hug' Gargi had caught me in. As Gargi let me go quickly I started breathing deeply, grateful of the air I was now receiving After Gargi, Sid came upto me and hugged me as well, but he was  gentler, and he too wished me a "Congrats".  As I ended the hug, I enquired what this was all about.
Gargi started, "You don't know? Oh how would you, flying through the door as soon as the bell rang." She taunted. I looked at Sid and he explained, "Mrs. Grover came into the class today and informed me that you'll be wearing your general uniform tomorrow since you'd be getting awarded for the Zonal Essay Competion you won the other day." Before I could react, Mayank came upto me, and said, "Hey, congrats girl. I heard about you winning the Zonals. Dude, you rock!" with that, he shook my hand and left with his friends.
I was shocked and couldn't breathe, this time out of sheer happiness. I looked past Sid, at the reflection of a beaming, slightly tanned, studious looking girl with average height and neat hair. I don't look so bad, do I?