The Doomsday of Imitating Others

Chapter 1

My broke-ass roommate was always treating me like I was her personal nemesis.

She’d copy everything about my look, down to my makeup and clothes.

Anytime I had a date, she’d weasel her way into tagging along, then slide into his DMs on the low.

I tried to gently ask her if there was maybe some kind of misunderstanding.

She just batted her eyelashes and played innocent. The next day, rumors about me were all over campus.

The RA told me to just deal with it, to be sensitive to a scholarship kid’s self-esteem.

Finally, I got into college overseas, and I thought I’d finally be rid of her.

I threw a going-away bash for everyone before I left.

But she totally lost it and slipped something in my drink.

When I woke up again, I was back to the day she started jacking my style.

This time, I’m not taking any BS! Hello, Beverly Hills mansion, yacht parties, and designer bags!

Let’s see her try to copy that!

1.

Standing right in front of me was Bethany, rocking the exact same outfit and makeup. It was like looking in a freakin’ mirror.

She was twirling in front of the mirror, showing off her new duds.

One of our other roommates was giving me the side-eye:

“Geez, Ashley, you’re copying Bethany again?”

“Always matching. You’d think you were twins or something.”

Seeing that familiar scene play out, I knew I’d been given a do-over.

I scoffed, “Actually, I bought this outfit last week. So, who’s copying who?”

Bethany blinked, all wide-eyed and innocent.

“Ashley, why do you have to be so catty? There’s so many clothes out there, how am I supposed to remember every single thing you own?”

Yeah, right.

Last time around, she’d stalked all my social media just to rip off my look.

Even when I went to pick up a package, she’d be lurking around, making sure she didn’t miss any new fashion statements. Then, boom, three days later, she’d be wearing the same thing.

And if anyone ever mentioned how much we “matched,” she’d act all flustered: “Oh, I didn’t even know! I’ve been saving up for this outfit for ages. Not like Ashley, who can just buy whatever she wants.”

Gotta hand it to her, that was pretty slick.

Playing the victim while insinuating I was the copycat.

So slick that when I kicked the bucket, people said I deserved it.

“I have a ton of clothes, but you just happen to pick the one that looks like mine? Copycat!”

She looked shocked that I’d called her out so bluntly. Her face went white.

“Ashley, why would you say that?”

Big, fake tears started rolling down her cheeks.

“I finally saved up enough to buy something I liked, and you’re calling me a copycat?”

I just laughed. What was I supposed to call her? A freakin’ clone?

Last time, because she was a scholarship kid, I’d always given her extra servings from the dining hall and passed off new clothes as “didn’t fit.”

And she treated me like I was her enemy!

First, it was my makeup and clothes. Then, she’d glom onto my dates.

After the guys mixed us up a few times, she started sliding into their DMs.

She’d even ask them which one of us looked better in the same outfit!

I tried to talk to her about it, but she just played dumb.

The next day, everyone thought I was bullying her!

I went to the RA for help, but she acted like Bethany was entitled to be a jerk since she was poor, asking why I was so insensitive and privileged.

I couldn’t win. I moved out, but Bethany kept stalking me on social media.

And that was why, before I went overseas, I invited everyone to my party, and Bethany poisoned my drink.

I still remember her twisted face before I died.

“Ashley! Why do you have to be better than me? If I can’t beat you, I’ll destroy you!”

Our roommate, Chloe, couldn’t take it anymore. She stepped in front of Bethany. “Ashley, wearing the same clothes doesn’t make someone a copycat. You’re being a bully!”

“It’s one thing to make her take your leftovers and old clothes, but now you’re shaming her for liking your outfit? Just because you have money doesn’t give you the right to be a jerk!”

Bethany, seeing someone stick up for her, poured on the drama: “Yeah! I just happened to buy something that looks like hers. Is that a crime?”

“Are you saying this outfit is your trademark? Only you’re allowed to wear it?”

I fired back: “You’re so careless, how did you not notice it looks exactly like the knock-off I saw on the street last week?”

Before, I tried to spare her feelings.

This time, I didn’t care.

A copycat who wears knock-offs? Talk about a poser!

Hearing the word “knock-off,” Bethany flipped. She tore off the clothes and threw on pajamas, looking all pathetic.

“It’s just an outfit. Why are you attacking me?”

“Wah! I’m telling the RA. Since when do I need permission to wear something!”

She pulled out her phone and called the RA.

2.

The RA dragged the three of us into her office.

Bethany was sobbing into Chloe’s shoulder.

“I really didn’t know Ashley had the same thing.”

“I might not be able to afford the real deal, but I just wanted something I liked. Is it my fault I’m poor?”

Her words made my skin crawl.

I couldn’t believe I’d ever tried to help her.

Being a scholarship kid was like having a get-out-of-jail-free card.

The RA didn’t even ask what happened. She just started lecturing me.

“Ashley, just because you have money doesn’t mean you can bully people! Bethany’s a scholarship student. It’s not easy for her!”

I laughed.

She might be on scholarship, but she wasn’t working or studying. She was just obsessed with ripping off my style.

And, I might have money, but I worked for my spending cash and never asked my parents for a dime.

And when Bethany killed me, the RA stood up for her.

She said Bethany was a quiet, hardworking girl who had been tormented by me and my bullying.

It was my fault that Bethany had done what she did!

So, getting poisoned was my own fault!

Now, Bethany was playing the victim:

“Ashley, I swear I didn’t know you had the same clothes. Even if I’m poor, I wouldn’t buy a fake just to copy you.”

“You don’t have to be so passive-aggressive. I’m poor, but I have my pride!”

Fine, she wanted to copy me?

This time, it was going to be mansions, yachts, and designer bags.

Let’s see her try to keep up with that.

I took a deep breath, squashed my anger, and told the RA, “My family isn’t donating to the school building anymore, because my dad wants me to move into the mansion he bought me.”

“Plus, my clothes aren’t cheap. Since Bethany can afford them, I guess she doesn’t need my dad’s sponsorship.”

“So, I get it, I was wrong. I won’t call Bethany a copycat anymore.”

3.

“Yeah, right. If you were so rich, you’d be studying abroad!”

The RA snorted. She didn’t take me seriously.

The only people who could donate big bucks to the school were legit millionaires.

I was just a normal student working my way through college, so she thought I was just blowing smoke.

Seeing they weren’t buying it, I pulled out my phone and called the college president, telling him everything that had just happened.

“Give it up, Ashley. The acting is not worth it…”

The RA’s mocking words were cut short by her ringing phone.

She glanced at the caller ID, and her face dropped.

“President Thompson? Yes, this is she… really? You will be withdrawing your sponsorship?!”

The RA stared at me, looking like she’d just seen a ghost.

After she hung up, they both realized this was serious. They started backpedaling.

“Ashley, we can talk about this. It’s just a misunderstanding. Don’t pull the donation!”

“Ashley, how can I afford designer clothes? My family can’t lose my scholarship!”

They changed their tune faster than a radio DJ.

I laughed.

“I understand, there’s no mistake and I learned my lesson. I’ll change for the better.”

“Bethany, it’s okay if your family doesn’t have much! Now that you can afford expensive clothes, get a job!”

I packed my bags faster than you can say “eviction notice”.

I got out of that dorm as quickly as I could.

I moved out and changed my electives.

Bethany still followed me, she even dressed like me when I went to offer my crush water.

When I got to the basketball court, Bethany gave me the once over.

“Ashley, where did you get those threads?”

I ignored her.

She parked her butt next to me.

Her friend then rolled up, and she looked at me with disdain.

“Does the copycat need to copy the water girl too?”

I opened my mouth to reply, but Bethany spoke first.

“Luke, Ashley isn’t copying me, we just have a similar style.”

“She is trying to be you, doesn’t that make her a copycat?”

“Luke, stop it, your hurting her feelings! Ashley is my friend.”

Who is stalking who?

I laughed.

I recently dyed my hair, and today she rolled up with the same cut.

The same color.

The same shop!

I do not know what she feels, but I was disgusted!

He then fired a basketball at my feet.

“Copycat! Take off what your wearing, and give Bethany back her scholarship!”

Bethany then jumped in front of me and started to cry.

“Even though Ashley isolated me and moved out, she is still my friend.”

“We like the same things and have similar styles, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

People around me began to throw out jabs.

“Is Bethany her mother? Why is she copying everything she does?”

“Be yourself! Stop trying to copy Bethany!”

Have they forgotten?

When we joined, our styles were polar opposites.

I then pulled out my phone and started typing into the group chat.

“Please join me this weekend for a party at my mansion!”

“I’ll be covering all the expenses for it!”