She lay in bed, with only a tangled sheet covering her wiry body. Her black hair was let loose and spread over the pillows. The softly played punk music covered the soft tapping of her fan and lulled the sweating adult to sleep.

* * *

She opened her eyes, and picked herself up off the cold linoleum floor. Audra looked around, wondering why she was back in the vaguely familiar halls of her middle school. The entire eighth grade class was bustling through the halls, most were carrying costumes of white robes trimmed in thick black stripes. Others carried, or wore black robes trimmed in crimson thread.

Audra started for the door, wanting to leave and get back to her own house.

She was halfway there when a voice stopped her.

"Audra," The student called to her. A boy she recognized as Chris Lyons strode towards her. "What are you doing out here? You need to be backstage, getting ready for the performance."

The black haired girl was at a loss for words. What was happening to her? Back in middle school? It wasn't possible.

"Ok, I'll..uh, be right there." She managed to mutter. She started to the bathroom, hoping to sort things out. She stumbled into the dim bathroom, and finding there was no one there, let out a large sigh.

She moved to the sinks and washed her face with cold water. When she looked up, she nearly screamed. Her reflection in the mirror was not what it used to be. Her lean face remained untouched but her body had returned to its former status. She was in her middle school body, a horrid near 250 pounds.

Audra rushed out of the bathroom and nearly into a line of her costumed classmates. She fell into line, forgetting about a costume, and followed the line to the gym. There were 10 tables and a stage set up in the large space. There were midnight blue curtains hanging over the stage as well as a podium to the right of center stage.

The class president was at the podium, she waited, in her black robe, until all of the class was seated then announced, "Let it begin!" and joined the cast in the seats. Audra followed the group she was seated with in gestures and movements of the performance. Soon the coordinator spots her and hurried over. It was Chris again.

"I told you to get dressed, You're not supposed to be here. You aren't supposed to be seen before your award. Now go." He said, pushing the raven haired girl towards the double doors. He seemed rather annoyed that anyone would dare disobey his command.

Audra moved down the hallway and into the locker room. She moved to the stall marked with her name and swept back the canvas curtain. Inside the stall hung an elegant medieval dress. Pulling the curtain closed behind her, Audra admired the beautiful deep red and cream dress hanging front off her. She began to undress and realized her body was covered in large sections of padding.

After she peeled off the extra weight, and dressed in the gown the girl braided her hair and tied it with ribbon, in the same red as the dress. When she finished, Audra sat down, still wondering how she got there.

"Are you ready, Audra?" called a girl's voice.

"I am." Audra replied, stepping out of the stall. The girl in the doorway stared at her before sputtering out "This way.."

She lead the way to the stage, where the principal was in the process off explaining the 'most changes student' award, and why this student deserved the special recognition.

"And here she is," He announced, "This year's recipient."

Audra walked onto the stage and stood next to the principal with her hands folded in front of her. Gasps were heard and murmurs of disbelief.

"Audra Logan. She has become a new person during her years here. And she kept it to herself. She had worked very hard with her studies and has managed to become the Valedictorian. Congratulations Audra." The principal said warmly, gesturing to the slender girl as he rambled on about her.

Audra closed her eyes for a few seconds. She was still a bit confused about why, but she was excited this was happening to her. It was what she always wished would happen. To show those boys, who never asked her on dates, and the snobby girls, who always laughed at her.

* * *

The woman on the bed opened her eyes and smiled. Her dreams had been good. She sat up and turned her alarm clock off.

After a good stretch she moved out of her bed and wrapped a robe around her slim body. She walked down the hall leading from her room. She paused near the end, and looked at the few pictures on the wall there. Her middle school graduation picture hung there, filled with a sea of white robes with black trim.

Next to that picture was two other graduation pictures, Her high school Graduation. The first the class in silly poses in street clothes, the second had solemn students in black robes with red trim.

She smiled, heading towards the kitchen and coffee. As she filled her cup, she looked into the living room. On the couch was what she'd be wearing that day, a long cream robe with deep red and a matching red stole.