From Fat Girl to Fated Mate Chapter 02
After school, I carried a stack of homework to the administration office. Through the slightly open door, I saw Ethan being lectured by the principal.
“Using your phone in class? You have no respect for your teacher,” the principal said. “I’m not giving it back until you graduate.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened. “Principal, I don’t care about the phone itself. But there’s a photo on it that means a lot to me. Can I at least back it up first?”
The principal sighed. “Fine.”
Just as Ethan got his phone back, I happened to walk past him.
I froze.
His wallpaper looked so familiar.
That ballet dress, that hairstyle, that turn, those eyes, oh God, it was me. Fourteen-year-old me.
It was my last ballet competition. I’d won first place.
Before I got sick, I’d danced ballet for seven years.
My teacher said I was her most gifted student. I used to believe I could dance all the way to the best professional company.
But after I gained weight, I put away all those skirts and shoes.
I’d never even seen that photo of myself, the one Ethan had.
Where did he get it?
Did he know it was me?
He turned around and caught me staring. His face darkened.
Oh. Of course he didn’t recognize me.
“You again?” He frowned slightly. “I’ve heard the rumors. No offense, but just to be clear, I’m not interested in you. Not at all.”
He looked me up and down coldly and critically. “Since you’re a girl, here’s some advice. Instead of writing creepy diary entries, try losing some weight. Nobody wants a mate covered in fat.”
I’d heard worse. I was numb to it by now.
“Ethan,” I asked quietly. “Where did you get that wallpaper?”
He narrowed his eyes. “You looked at my phone?”
“No. I just…”
“Enough.” His voice dripped with undisguised disgust. “Jealousy isn’t a good look on you. You’ll never be anything like her. Focus on yourself.”
He walked away coldly.
Back in the classroom, the student council president was finalizing the cheerleading roster.
“Still need one more person. Anyone else want to sign up?”
For years, all the grade-level cheer squads had performed together at the track and field meet, it was a tradition. I couldn’t participate freshman year because of my health.
In the midst of the noise, I raised my trembling hand. “I want to sign up.”
The room went dead silent. Then came the laughter.
“Is she serious?”
“They don’t make cheerleading skirts in XXXL, do they?”
“She’s going to collapse the stage.”
Even the president looked uncomfortable. “Josie. No offense, but if you go up there, you’ll embarrass our entire pack.”
Maybe I would, probably would. But I still wanted to dance. I missed who I used to be.
“I still want to participate,” I insisted.
They finally let me join because Jessica, our grade’s cheer captain, the one everyone whispered about as Ethan’s future Luna, gave me a sweet smile and said, “Okay, you can join.”
I thought she was nice.
Then she clapped her hands and gathered everyone together.
She looked at me, her shiny lip gloss curling into a mocking smile.
“To celebrate Josie joining us, I’m going to change our routine name from ‘How Beautiful I Am’ to ‘How Ridiculous I Look.'”
I froze.
