Curvy Girls Can’t Date Soldiers by Kelsie Stelting

Ten

Nadira

On the wayinto school the next day, Terrell leaned over to me. “I need your help.”

I glanced toward the back seat, wondering why he was being vulnerable in front of Carver, but saw Carver had his ears covered with headphones. If I strained my ears, I could hear fast paced music coming out of the bulky device.

“What’s up?” I asked, confused. The last time Terrell had wanted my help was on a math assignment, and he didn’t have his folder out in front of him at the moment.

“I’m seeing this girl...” he began.

He wanted girl advice? “Do you know who you’re talking to? Carver would probably be more help.”

“He’s not a girl,” Terrell pointed out.

I pressed my lips together. “True. I’ll do my best.”

“Okay, so I’m seeing this girl, and I want to ask her to be my girlfriend—”

“Who?” I asked. “Is it someone I know?”

Terrell sat lower in his seat. “Never mind. Forget I asked anything.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” I said. “Who is it?”

He gave me a look before letting out a sigh and saying, “You’re not going to be happy about it.”

“Is it one of my friends?” I asked, getting worried. The only single two left were Des and Faith, and I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about either of them dating my baby brother.

“Not exactly.”

“Then who?”

“Tatiana.”

It was like all the wind had been sucked out of the car in a single word. How could my brother want to date the girl who’d made it her life mission to make me (and girls like me) completely miserable? Despite the betrayal, my sisterly instinct kicked in, and strong. I didn’t want Terrell to be just another one of her conquests—making out in front of the lockers one day and a castoff the next.

“You like Tatiana?” was all I managed to say.

He shook his head again, reaching for his own headphones. “Forget it. I thought you might be able to help me with what would impress a girl, but obviously it’s too much to ask for any advice.”

“Wait,” I said, keeping my eyes trained on the road. I didn’t want to see how much this mattered to him, even though I could hear it in his voice.

“What?” he asked skeptically.

“She loves dance. Maybe something related to that? Adriel’s always looking for good scrunchies to keep her buns in place.”

“Okay, I can do that.” He nodded. “Thanks.” He put on his headphones, and I blinked quickly, fighting tears as we arrived at school.

The boys got out of the car, and I leaned forward, resting my forehead on the steering wheel while I rubbed my temples. How could my own brother want to date Tatiana? She was sneaky about her meanness, making sure there were never teachers around when she bullied me, but Terrell had to know.

Maybe it just didn’t matter to him.

A horn honked as Des’s red convertible passed by, jerking me out of my self-pitying stupor. I unbuckled and got out, walking toward her and trying to act like I wasn’t completely crushed. My own brother preferred Tatiana, knowing how cruel she could be.

Des was out of her car, putting her sunglasses into the case, when I reached her. She looked me over. “What’s wrong?”

I shook my head. “My brother has a crush on Tatiana.”

She made a gagging sound.

“I know.” I readjusted my backpack. “He asked me for advice.”

“Ew.”

I shook my head, trying to breathe deeply. “Can you blame him for liking her?”

“Um, definitely.” She smacked her knuckles into her hand. “If my baby brother even looked her way, I’d take him out.”

“I’m not that strong, I guess.”

She put her arm around my shoulders. “It’ll be okay. She has the attention span of a gnat when it comes to guys.”

“But what about Terrell?” I asked. “What if he gets hurt?”

Her lips twisted to the side. “Everyone has a first love. And a first heartbreak. He’ll be okay, especially with a sister like you.”

* * *

Mrs. Johnston stood in front of the board, writing as I walked into the classroom. Tatiana and Isabella were already in their seats, and I looked at them with fresh eyes, wondering what my brother saw in Tatiana beyond her appearance. Or was it really just her looks that caught his attention?

Tatiana jerked her chin toward me, whispering, “Take a picture. It’ll last longer.” She flipped her hair. “This is my good side.”

I rolled my eyes, muttering, “Original,” and went to my seat behind her.

The bell rang, and Mrs. Johnston turned toward us, pressing the cap onto the marker. Her long nails crackled against the tray as she set it back in place.

“We’ve completed our fall pages, but now it’s time for our editors to assign spring pages. Tatiana and Isabella, can you come up here and begin divvying them out?”

Isabella crooned, “Of course, Mrs. Johnston.” She and Tatiana walked to the board, passing Mrs. Johnston, who teetered on spiky heels to her desk at the back of the room.

They went down the list, giving the best pages to their friends and leaving the leftovers to everyone else. At last, they reached the ‘Best of’ page, and the two of them stared down the room, their eyes calculating. Then they turned toward each other, whispering something the rest of us couldn’t hear.

Finally, they faced the room again. With an evil grin, Tatiana said, “We’re giving the ‘Best of’ page to Nadira. We’re hoping for something extra unique.”

I glared at them. Not only were they insulting me with my title, they were making sure I would have to see it and focus on it until the page was complete.

Mrs. Johnston clapped her hands together. “Fabulous idea, girls. Now let’s get to work, class!”

I shook my head, frustrated. I had gotten the measly quarter-page dedicated to the Mathletes and the “Best of” page, which didn’t leave me a ton to work on for the rest of the semester. I hated this class. With a passion.

And since I didn’t know how the Mathlete season would end yet, I only had the “Best of” page to occupy my time.

I pulled up the spread in the design software we used and began adjusting the type to fit the names of each student until I finally reached the wild card category.

Most Unique.

I willed my fingers to type the letters, but they shook over the keyboard. Typing in my name would only mean Isabella and Tatiana had won. I wanted no part of their victory.

The bell rang, and I let out a relieved sigh. But my relief was short-lived, knowing by the end of the year, I would be on that page and in everyone’s yearbooks, memorialized by their disdain for me.