NOT THEIR KIND OF BEAUTY

eeks a

NN

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

vehicles. 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. M

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

y Diaz, the entitled rich kid of a well-known business tycoon, head cheerleader at Prime High School,

eyond skeptical about attending Tiffany's pool party, but Dahlia had insisted I come along with her. After much consideration,

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

eel my heart pounding so fast, to the poi

tually everyone from Prime High was here: girls in their bikinis an

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, an

re they being so dramatic when they

ahlia down like a true gentleman, his hands lin

uy. I yearned for this kind of love in my life-a love straight out of a fairytale movie whe

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

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

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

ierced at me. "Why don't you take off the sarong so we can see what's underneath?" he let out a taun

ou don't have to be shy. I promise

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

t of my mouth, and I immediately regretted

?" 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

I heard a bunch of screams, followed by the sound of Tiffany's laughter,

bursting into cynical laughter as they pulled out the

one thing I w

or air as I choked on chlorinated water,

the clustered crowd to probably see what the commotion was all about. Their gaze landed on me, and D

ied out in panic, throwing

guy emerged from the crowd, hurling himself into the pool and swimming ahead of Trevor

aist, lifting me up to the surface. And that

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

n as I fought the urge to disappear from sight. Why me? Wh

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