Cover

Chapter One

Fall 2002 - Junior Year

I glanced around the crowded apartment nervously. Over the summer I'd lost forty of the last seventy-five extra pounds I’d been carrying around with me for most of my adolescent life. I had yet to show anyone, save for my grandmother, whom I’d spent the summer with.

Before leaving the dorm, I'd made sure my new dark wash boot-cut jeans hugged my curves tightly and that the black corset did its job in making my boobs, smaller than average, look hot. But halfway to the party my palms started to sweat. I still wasn’t used to having this tiny body. And I wasn’t ready for the amount of questions I was going to receive, especially from my skinny acquaintances who were going to want to know my secret, even though they didn’t need to know. And it wasn’t a secret at all.

Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe I shouldn’t be showing off just yet. They’d all see me when I returned to classes in a few days and I wasn’t really ready to face Kent and Jen. Jen especially. She was going to rub it in my face that she was still with him and I wasn’t.

I was about to turn around when a car passed by and honked at me. I braced myself for the usual insult to follow but instead the college guy yelled, “Hey baby!” It was the confidence boost I needed to keep going.

Three steps into the party and I was assaulted with greetings and compliments. I smiled politely and accepted them, but I was distracted, searching for a certain someone.

I scanned the room, looking for my best friend, wondering how Kent would react now that his long-time BFF was not fat or just average but finally super-hot. He probably wouldn't even notice but I was eager to find out just the same.

I couldn’t help the smile that broke out on my face at the sight of him, moving back and forth on his feet, chatting amongst a group of guys. It looked like all the working out he'd been doing was treating him rather well, the blue and white plaid button down he was wearing stretched across his wide chest and larger than average biceps.

It also appeared he'd had surgery or perhaps he was wearing contacts because those thick glasses that I’d loved so much weren't perched on his nose. I wouldn’t have recognized him if it hadn’t been for his uncomfortable expression as he stood amongst the sea of people. I knew that I'd get over his way eventually and didn't rush it. I didn’t want to seem over-eager to see him. I had to play it cool. That’s what hot girls did, wasn’t it?