ARIA’S POV
When I walk into school, I notice people staring at me more than usual. But I’m used to stares by now. I’ve been getting them for years – the fat girl, the weird girl, the girl who doesn’t quite fit in anywhere.
Except something feels different today. The stares seem more intense, more focused. And there’s whispering. Lots of whispering.
I shake it off and head to my locker. Maybe it’s just my imagination. Maybe I’m being paranoid after everything that happened yesterday.
Actually, now that I think about it, the bullying has been less intense lately. People haven’t been calling me names as much, or making jokes about my weight. I wonder why that is.
I’m pulling books out of my locker when I hear my name being called.
“Ari! Ari, wait up!”
I turn to see Camile running down the hallway toward me, her face flushed with excitement.
“There you are,” she says, grabbing my arm. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“Hey, Cam.”
“Where were you yesterday? You missed chemistry, and you never miss chemistry.”
“I had some things to deal with.”
She looks at me more closely, taking in my slightly wrinkled clothes and the fact that I’m wearing the same outfit from yesterday.
“Oh my god,” she says, her eyes widening. “Did you spend the night somewhere?”
“Camile—”
“You did! You totally did!” She grabs my arm and starts pulling me toward an empty classroom. “Tell me everything. Right now.”
“I can’t. I need to get to class.”
“Class can wait. This is way more important.”
She drags me into the empty art room and closes the door behind us.
“Okay, spill,” she says, crossing her arms. “Where were you last night?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Try me.”
I sigh. “Miles came to my house.”
Her face immediately changes from excited to concerned. “What? Why?”
“He wanted to apologize. He wanted me to take him back.”
“Please tell me you didn’t.”
“Of course I didn’t.”
“Good. Because I heard some things yesterday that you need to know about.”
“What things?”
“The girl he was with? The blonde one? She dumped him.”
I stare at her. “What?”
“Yeah. Apparently it was just a hookup for her. She wanted nothing to do with him after that night.”
“How do you know this?”
“Jessica heard it from her friend who knows the girl. Her name’s Brittany, and she’s from the community college. She thought Miles was just some high school kid looking for fun.”
I can’t help but feel a little satisfaction at hearing this. “So he got dumped too.”
“Exactly. Which is probably why he came crawling back to you.”
“That’s what I figured.”
“But you said no, right?”
“I said no. But my mom…” I trail off, not sure how to explain the conversation with my mother.
“What about your mom?”
“She thinks I should forgive him.”
Camile’s mouth drops open. “What? That’s ridiculous!”
“That’s what I said. But she thinks I’m being dramatic. She thinks I should appreciate what I have because I might not find anyone else.”
“Your mom actually said that to you?”
“Pretty much.”
“That’s horrible, Ari. You deserve so much better than Miles.”
“I know that. You know that. But apparently my mom doesn’t.”
“So what did you do?”
“I left. I couldn’t deal with her defending him.”
“Where did you go?”
I hesitate. I haven’t told anyone about Xander yet, and I’m not sure I’m ready to.
“I went to a friend’s house.”
“Which friend?”
“Just someone from school.”
Camile studies my face, and I can see her putting the pieces together.
“Oh my god,” she says slowly. “You spent the night with a guy.”
“Camile—”
“You did! You totally did! Who was it?”
“It’s not important.”
“It’s totally important! This is huge, Ari. You’ve never spent the night with a guy before.”
“Can we not talk about this right now?”
“Fine, but I want details later. All the details.”
The bell rings, and we start walking toward the door.
“Just promise me you won’t take Miles back,” Camile says as we walk down the hallway. “He doesn’t deserve you.”
“I’m not taking him back. Trust me.”
“Good. Because he’s a total—”
“Slut.”
The word comes from behind us, spoken loud enough for half the hallway to hear.
I turn around to see three girls from my English class standing there, looking at me with disgusted expressions.
“Excuse me?” Camile says, her voice dangerous.
“I said slut,” the girl in the middle repeats. Her name is Sarah, I think. “That’s what she is, isn’t it?”
“What are you talking about?” I ask.
“Oh, playing innocent now?” another girl says. “That’s rich.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
The girls exchange glances and start laughing.
“Right,” Sarah says. “Like you don’t know.”
“Know what?”
“Maybe you shouldn’t go around taking pictures if you don’t want people to see them,” the third girl says.
My blood turns to ice. “What pictures?”
“The ones everyone’s been passing around since this morning,” Sarah says with a smirk.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure you don’t.”
Camile steps forward, her hands clenched into fists. “Back off. Now.”
“Or what?” Sarah asks.
“Or I’ll make you back off.”
“Ooh, scary. The fat girl’s friend is going to protect her.”
“That’s it,” Camile says, moving toward them.
“Camile, don’t,” I say, grabbing her arm.
“No, I’m sick of this. I’m sick of people treating you like garbage.”
“Ari!”
The new voice makes all of us turn. Miles is walking down the hallway toward us, and he has a phone in his hand.
“What do you want, Miles?” Camile asks.
“I want to talk to Ari,” he says, not taking his eyes off me.
“She doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“I think she will after she sees this.”
He holds up his phone, and even from several feet away, I can see there’s a picture on the screen.
“So this is the reason why you rejected me?” he asks, his voice carrying down the hallway.
Other students are starting to stop and stare, sensing drama.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, but my voice sounds weak.
“This,” he says, turning his phone around so I can see the screen clearly.
The world stops.
It’s a picture of me. A naked picture of me. From the other night when Xander took a picture of me.
Naked.
