Curvy Girls Can’t Date Soldiers by Kelsie Stelting
Forty-Six
Nadira
I’d neverskipped school before. Not after I had my tonsils removed in second grade. Not after we were in a car accident in sixth grade. Not when the school van had broken down after a Mathlete competition sophomore year and we had to wait until one in the morning for our parents to come and rescue us from the middle of nowhere.
But on Monday, I wanted to lie in bed. I wanted to hide under the covers and not face the embarrassment and devastation that was sure to come at school, whether at the hands of my own feelings or at Tatiana’s inexplicable hatefulness.
My friends had a different idea, though. Cori and Faith arrived around the time I usually got up with a cup of creamy iced coffee and a box of chocolates.
I blinked at them, my eyes rough from all the crying. “What are you doing here?”
Cori smiled gently, sliding under the covers next to me. “Thought you might need some friends.”
Faith sat on the other side of my bed, rubbing my hip through the comforter.
A gush of hot tears soothed my eyes, and I leaned into her shoulder. “I messed up so bad, Cor.”
“You did,” she agreed, taking me off guard. “But he did too. If I’ve learned anything from being with Ryker, it’s that relationships are a give and take, and they require a whole lot of grace and forgiveness.”
I raised my eyebrows, surprised. “I thought you two were perfect together.”
“We are.” She laughed, resting her cheek against the top of my head. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t fight or argue or mess up. We’re only human, Dir.”
“Well I don’t feel human,” I mumbled. “I feel like a piece of garbage that got ran over by a bus.”
Faith said gently, “Maybe the coffee will help?”
Cori nodded. “I know you’re disappointed, but I can’t let you wallow. There’s nothing wrong with you.” She turned sideways so she was lying facing me on the bed. “You are a beautiful girl like no one else. You’re smart as hell, and you’re going to run the world someday. Don’t let one mistake make you act like any less than the gem you are.”
“Gem,” I breathed, wiping my eyes. “More like a diamond in the rough.”
She smiled. “Where else would a diamond come from?” She shifted, getting up. “Sit up, Dir.” She took the coffee from Faith and handed it to me. “You’re going to face this day and your feelings and your doubts head-on. My best friend deserves the best.”
I shifted to sit up and gave her a hug, then extended my arm to Faith. The three of us embraced for a moment, and I reveled in the feeling of having them support me.
Maybe, maybe if I had friends willing to do this for me, to support me even when I was at my worst, maybe I wasn’t as bad as I’d thought I was.
I drank deeply from the coffee, feeling the bitter mocha and sweet cream rejuvenate me from the inside out.
Cori got up and went to my closet, picking out the pieces of my uniform for me. “Go take a quick shower and get dressed.” She winked. “Wouldn’t want you to be late for math.”
I smiled softly and got up, grabbing the hangers from her and walking into the hall for the bathroom.
Terrell was just coming out, and we nearly bumped into each other. I kept my eyes down to pass him, but he gently took my arm. “Hey,” he said, “Are you okay?”
I looked up at him, seeing concern in his eyes that looked so much like mine. “I’m going to be,” I said. And I hoped it was true.
