Curvy Girls Can’t Date Soldiers by Kelsie Stelting

Twenty-Four

Apollo

On the daysI had to wear my uniform on campus, people looked at me differently. I couldn’t really blame them since my ironed pants and shiny black shoes stood out pretty starkly against their sandals and frayed shorts.

One of the first complaints my mom had attempted to bring up was how much work ROTC would be on top of my regular classes, but so far it hadn’t been bad. I could use my classes toward elective hours, and the extra time spent in leadership lab, where I learned drills or training, didn’t take too much out of my schedule.

But today, I really didn’t want to go.

Nadira and I had established a time for our next phone call before I remembered it fell right in the middle of my leadership lab today. And I couldn’t call her early because I had an advising appointment with Dr. Harris.

On my way to the engineering building, I sent her a text saying I wouldn’t be free until nine, and if she couldn’t talk, I’d understand.

Then I put my phone in my pocket and walked up the stairs until I reached Dr. Harris’s office. It was one of those nestled inside a larger office, and she had an assistant who made sure no one got to her space without an appointment.

The woman looked up at me from her keyboard and said, “Appointment?”

“For advising,” I said.

She moved her mouse around, leaning closer to her computer screen. “Apollo Banks?”

“That’s me,” I said.

“You can head back.”

I walked around the reception desk and went to the cracked door, knocking softly.

“Come in,” Dr. Harris said warmly.

I pushed open the door and stepped inside. She smiled at me and gestured at one of the chairs across from her desk. “Take a seat, Mr. Banks.”

I did as she asked, noting the stacks of paperwork on her desk. “Busy?”

“Just the way I like it. I actually need to leave after this for a meeting with the university president.”

I nodded, trying to pay attention to her words as I noticed the picture hanging behind her desk. She and her husband stood with their three children—two really tall boys and a girl. The boys were in basketball uniforms, holding a plaque, and the girl had her face painted navy blue and was covered head to toe in navy blue clothes. But now I noticed something on the boys’ jerseys I hadn’t seen before. Emerson Academy.

I wondered if Dr. Harris’s daughter knew Nadira. If they were friends since Dr. Harris’s daughter must know quite a bit about engineering.

Following my eyes, Dr. Harris turned toward the photo and smiled. “The boys won the state championship that year. They assisted each other on the final point. We were so proud.”

“I bet,” I said with a smile.

She nodded and turned to her computer, tapping on the keyboard. “Since ROTC students enroll in fall classes before other students, you can pretty much take your pick. I have a few suggestions for intro engineering courses, but I’d love to hear what you’d like to take as well.”

I thought of Nadira and how she’d be studying aerospace engineering in the fall. “Maybe an aerospace class?”

She nodded. “Sure. You can take one of those as your engineering elective once you finish the intro class.” She began listing out classes I could choose from—which ones counted toward my major, which ones were required by the college, and then added the hours I had to take for my ROTC program. When it was all said and done, I had fifteen hours of classes and Fridays free.

“That’s lucky,” Dr. Harris said. “That’ll be great time to catch up on homework or take a long weekend with family if needed.”

My stomach sank. I couldn’t go home to see family—not if my mom wouldn’t even speak to me or look at me when I walked through the door.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

“How has the research project been? Are you making a new friend?”

Thinking of Nadira made me feel instantly lighter. “Yeah, it’s been great. Really.”

She seemed pleased. “That’s amazing.”

An alarm on her smart watch went off, and she glanced at it. “I’m sorry. I need to go or I’ll be late.”

I stood, picking my backpack up off the floor. “Thanks, Dr. Harris.” I extended my hand, and she shook it.

“Don’t be a stranger,” she said. “My calendar always has room for you.”

I nodded and left, walking down the hallway and to the elevator. I had physical training to get to anyway.

I began the long trek across campus toward the rec center. ROTC students trained in one of the gyms there every Thursday evening. Luckily, we had our own locker area, so once I got there, I changed into my assigned shorts and T-shirt. As I tugged the shirt over my head, another guy came in.

“Hey, Connor,” I said, nodding to him.

He lifted his chin. “Ready to get smoked in the relay race?”

I swore. “Why is Sarge so obsessed with relays?”

“Because it’s fun to watch you lose.”

I flipped him off right as a few other guys came into the locker room. After a little explanation, they too joined in on the banter. It reminded me of high school before a football practice. No matter how different we were or where we came from, there was always fun to be had.

For the next couple hours, Sarge led us through relays designed to prepare us for the PT test—push-ups, running, sit-ups. And when we finished, we played Capture the Flag to get us running back and forth across the court.

By the time we finished, I was sweaty and relaxed. Something about moving my muscles and wearing myself out calmed my brain in a way little else did.

I showered off in one of the stalls and then put my clothes back on to walk to the dorms. Connor asked if I wanted to go get a drink at his brother’s apartment, but I turned him down. I wasn’t about to miss out on a chance to talk to Nadira.

As I walked back to my dorm, I couldn’t help but think about her. How had her day been? Were those girls still being mean to her? I didn’t understand why anyone would pick on her or call her fat. High school was a hard place, but not usually for girls who wore a size two. She did have the Mathlete thing working against her though.

I hoped she had at least stood up to Regina today. It sounded like Regina always gave her trouble at Mathlete competitions. I made a mental note to ask her about it tonight if she called—tomorrow if she didn’t.

I passed girls on campus, and I could see that they were pretty. That they looked at me like I was something special, but they didn’t hold any interest to me. Anyone would fall short compared to Nadira, and I hoped that wouldn’t come back to haunt me.

I reached the dorms and took the elevator up to the eighth floor. In a surprising turn of events, Josh was sitting at his desk, when I got to our room, sketching with what looked like a black piece of chalk.

“What?” I asked, stumbling backwards and clutching my chest. “You’re not playing video games?” I looked around the room. “Where’s the ice?”

Josh glared at me. “Ice?”

“Because hell must have frozen over.”

He snorted and chucked a piece of the black stuff at me, which I easily dodged. With the “threat” on the floor, I shucked my hat and shirt and hung them up in my closet, then took off my pants, hanging them carefully as well.

“Take it off, baby,” Josh cooed.

I pulled my underpants down, showing him my ass.

“Okay, going to have trouble getting that mental picture out of my head.”

“You’re welcome,” I retorted, pulling on a pair of shorts.

“Why are you putting on clothes? Shouldn’t you be sending nudes like that to your pen pal?”

“Nudes are gross, and she’s probably in bed,” I said, trying to take the sadness out of my voice. We’d only been talking for a couple weeks, but something already felt like it was missing when I couldn’t talk to her.

“Even better,” Josh said, waggling his eyebrows.

I threw a shoe at him.

He caught it and tossed it back. And then my phone started to ring.