Curvy Girls Can’t Date Soldiers by Kelsie Stelting

Forty-Seven

Nadira

I rodeto school with Cori and Faith, letting the boys take my car. When we arrived, I was more thankful than ever to have my friends at my side.

Ryker got there only seconds after us, as if he and Cori had planned it. He walked beside Cori, his eyes darting between me and the threat we all knew we were approaching.

Tatiana, Isabella, and their groupies hung out around Grant’s pickup, and it was only a matter of seconds before they’d see us walking by.

As if smelling my fear, Isabella caught my eyes, then nudged Tatiana.

Tatiana’s gaze landed on me, and her lips curled into a feral snarl. “I’m guessing lover boy found out you were catfishing him?” She looked around the parking lot. “I was half expecting cameras to show up and film how pathetic you are.”

“Enough,” Ryker snarled.

She raised her eyebrows at him. “Still playing for the fatties, I see?”

Ryker’s lips thinned, and from here, he looked absolutely terrifying. I was glad he was on our side. He lowered his voice to a menacing growl, and he said, “Tatiana, you know your dad recently hired on at Dugan Industries, right? Would be a shame if he was let go.”

Her eyes widened and then narrowed. “Is that a threat?” she asked.

Ryker gave her a cold smile. “Of course not. I don’t make threats. I make promises. And I promise, you will regret messing with Nadira.”

Goosebumps rose on my arms, and Tatiana’s skin went ashen.

“That’s what I thought,” Ryker growled. “Come on, girls.”

He led us away from the viper den, and the farther I got from them, the more I realized how shallowly I’d been breathing. I took in a deeper gulp of air and whispered, “Thank you.”

His eyes were kind as he turned on me. “I know I’ve said it before, but I’m sorry, Nadira. I can’t believe I ever treated you like they do.” He reached across Cori and took my hand for a second. “You deserve so much better.”

My eyes stung, but I blinked quickly and nodded. I didn’t quite believe him about me deserving better, but I hoped I would soon.

* * *

I slid into my seat in calculus and tried to keep my expression neutral as Mr. Aris began passing out our graded exams.

He placed mine face down and said quietly, “Not your best work.”

My heart sank as I flipped it over and found the C staring back at me. I placed it back down, rubbing my temples. How had I let myself get so far from who I was? I’d lied, kept secrets, dismissed responsibilities, all for a chance at being loved.

Next to me, Regina asked, “How’d you do, Harris?”

I glared at her, but that didn’t stop her.

“I got an A minus.” She leaned over, catching sight of my grade and winced. “Oof. Losing your touch?”

“Drop it, Regina,” I said.

She feigned innocence. “So hostile for an ex-Mathlete captain.”

“You won, okay? Can you just let it go and stop being jealous?” I demanded, my voice rising with each word. “I have one thing that I’m good at. One thing. Can you let me have it? Or do you want that too? Do you want me to just be a pathetic little black puddle on the floor? Huh? Would that make you happy?”

“Ladies,” Mr. Aris cut in.

I shook my head, tears forming. “I’m sick of arguing with you, Regina! I’m sick of never being good enough anywhere in my life!” I grabbed my backpack and stormed toward the hall. I’d thought I could handle school surrounded in the warm, supportive blanket of my friendships. But the real world didn’t treat me like that. No, it tried to tear me down every chance it got. I couldn’t take it anymore.

I opened the door and left, but Mr. Aris was only a step behind me.

“Nadira, wait!” he said. I paused outside the door, turning to face him. Through the window to the classroom, I could see the people in the front row peering curiously at us, but I focused on his face.

“What?” I said, more harshly than I meant to.

Concern laced his features. “What’s going on?”

I shook my head, wishing these tears would just stop. That I could cry them out and be done. “I made a mistake, okay? And I know you hate me for what happened.”

“What?” he asked, confused. “I could never hate you, Nadira. I was disappointed by what happened, but you’re in high school. No one expects you to behave perfectly all the time. I’m worried about you.”

I blinked toward the ceiling, seconds from breaking. Maybe I already had. “I had a pen pal. And he was amazing. And I fell in love with him. But I lied and showed him a picture of Tatiana and told him it was me. And then he found out I was lying. He hated me because I lied. And now I’m doing bad at math and Regina’s being Regina, and I just can’t take it anymore!”

I walked in a circle and tugged at my hair, pulling my curls straight.

“Nadira, Nadira.” He put his hand on my shoulder. I’d expected to see judgement in his eyes, but only found sympathy. “I know I focus on math, but I also understand that being in high school is hard. That’s why I have those posters in the room. To remind you all to take a breath. To get back up and try again. And to not take yourself so seriously. Remember, there’s not a problem that can’t be solved. If you can’t find a solution, you need a new equation.”

What equation could there possibly be for me? I looked away from him, seeing through the classroom window to the poster that hung over my desk.

“If I had more time, I’d write a shorter letter.”

My eyes focused in on the words, and they went straight to my heart.

I’d already written all the letters. Maybe it was time to try something new.