eeks a

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size duckling struggling to fit into a society where the standard of beauty

I attended a prestigious high school where only the top 1% of society could enroll, so you could call it a haven for demi-gods. Prime High had a soci

our status compared to other students using a h

y school barely remembered my actual name anymore. Growing up, I've had a phobia of clothes like gowns, crop tops, skirts, and leggings because society's judgements have distorted every

size 8, 5'5", effortless beauty; a fashionable, social butterfly. She was the kind of girl everyone

le my mom died some minutes after she was rushed to the hospital. Since Rachael was a single parent who had never been married, Dahlia had no one to take her in when Rachael passed. Rather tha

barely two chapters in when Dahlia appeared at the open door of my b

see me sprawled on my bed. "Why aren't you dressed yet?"

lied without looking

asked in a di

on't fit in there. They're just going to

e me. "Is this about what happened a

ny Diaz, the entitled rich kid of a well-known business tycoon, self-crowned queen of the populars',

er, then quietly leave after a few minutes. I was beyond skeptical about at

tly because I was curious to witness what goes on

was seated on my bed, immediately stood up when she saw me, her lips curling up into an amazed

light as she smiled even w

ran through my thighs, which I had always covered up with pants, were now in plain sight. And my large arms felt ev

ridiculous," I blurted, he

op me. "No, you don't. You l

any's party. Plus, I always felt Dahlia only said things like this to make me feel better about myself, when in fact, t

w up in these. Either I change, or I

hands to the air. "Fine. Wha

ew seconds later, I rushed back in and grabbed a sarong, wrapping it firmly ar

lled up at the entrance o

ol party?" Dahlia asked with an excit

smile, followed by a s

me and shooting me an encouraging smile. I t

out to explode. My mouth practically flew open when we finally got to the pool. Virtually everyone from Prime

l Dahlia was holding my hand, and luckily for me, no one

t to her from a distance, and Dahlia smiled a

was also on the school's hockey team. When he first started courting Dahlia, Dahlia went on and on about how she felt

o separate the lovebirds. Trevor and

ooking at me. Her puppy eyes were fixed on Trevor,

watched the two of them, slightly a

finish my sentence, and like a butt

of surprise that I was literally just abandone

s waist, lifted her up in the air, and

re they being so dramatic when they literally saw e

us. I was going to be 18 in a few months, and I had never had a boyfriend, let alone kissed a guy. I yearned for this kind of love in my l

es roamed to some of the popular girls in Prime High, giggling by the pool. I admired their slender figures, wishing I had their bodies so I could confidently show off like th

ll-defined abs and an athletic build that made girls literally swoon over him. He

him, and whispered something to them. They turned in my direction, and Tiffany's lips parted in disbelief, a wic

ckling'

irls in school, gave me a bitchy look, and I suddenly felt smaller. As I snapped my head away from her hosti

looks, motioning towards me like she was about to poun

assy tone, while Mason sniggered beside her. "Why are you sitting here all by yourself?" her voice dropped to a gentle ton

ed through my body. "Why don't you take off the sarong so we can see what's underneath?" he let out a t

ou don't have to be shy. I promise

going to have to take that..." Tiffany sh

ht out of my mouth, surprising me. I

?" I heard Tiffany faintly s

to embarrass me. I reached the poolside and scanned through the crowd for Dah

off to?" Mason snicke

ing me," I squeaked, struggling t

Come on, Donna, take it off,

phone and began to video me so she co

ol as I struggled to free my arm from Mason, and at th

it came off, making me lose my balance

las

Tiffany's laughter, erupting like fireworks, while Mason and Heather laughed their hearts out. Everyone who had initially been

s one thing

keep my head above water, I caught a glimpse of Dahlia and Trevor dodging through the clustered crowd to probably see what the commotion was

ied out in panic, throwing

, hurling himself into the pool and swimming ahead of Trevor with powerful strokes. I couldn't get a clear glimpse

learly saw the fa

ian Wal

emerald eyes of the last person I expected to see. I

the weight. Trevor and Christian swam with me to the edge of the pool,

ouring out of the

ahlia asked in a shaky v

e you okay?" his concerned eyes searched mine for an

curve I despised. I looked at the crowd of mocking face

ather chuckled gleefully beside her. A cluster of girls huddled together at the side of the pool snickered, cove

eyes, blurring my vision as I fough

s have to be the court

o Dahlia. She took the towel from him and choked out a thank-you, wrapping it arou

cruel

d on my feet, but I wouldn't budge no matter how hard she tried. How could I

her face, Tiffany extended my sarong

th glare, then yanked

pick up the remnants of my self-respect. I made a move to stand, and Trev

eyes watery, as we retreated,

y the mi

ent, an unfamiliar warmth flashed in hi

f what looked like a margarita

yself for not knowing my

ave never