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“Hey!” Steph shouted, blocking my exit. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Home.”
“Why? Are you seriously that upset over what I said? It’s a free country, Aria. I’m entitled to my opinion.”
“Of course you are. And I have every right to say that you are full of shit.”
“Don’t leave!” Jess protested. “I never should have asked that stupid question. Please, Aria, you promised you would come out with us tonight.”
Homesickness struck me like a hard slap in the face. I missed my mom. I missed Ally and Jade. I couldn’t believe how Jess and Tammy could tolerate being around someone like Steph.
“Apologize to her,” I said to the bitchy brunette.
“What?” Steph scowled at me.
“Apologize to Jessica now, or I’m gone.”
Rolling her eyes, she faced Jess before sighing a pathetic apology.
“Now, apologize to me for making me listen to your revolting bigotry.”
“Were you a fat girl once upon a time, Aria? Is that why you’re all butt-hurt?”
I reached for the doorknob but Steph closed it shut and said, “Okay, I’m sorry! Jeez! Don’t go! Look, I don’t mean to be a bitch, and I don’t mean to be so severe about this subject. I know you think I have no right to hate on fat people, but I have my reasons. I’m sorry—it just brings the ugly out of me.”
Tammy nodded and said, “She’s telling the truth, trust me—and it has nothing to do with Lilly Mullins.”
“Keep your hateful comments to yourself next time.” I scowled at Steph and pulled Jess into the bathroom, robbing her of a chance to respond.
A few seconds later, I heard a blast of rap music. Steph worshipped Nicki Minaj. I always wanted to go to her concerts. She’s such a queen.
“Don’t let her get to you, okay?” I shut the door, facing my friend. “You look amazing. Stephanie’s wholethin-spirationis based on self-starvation. I don’t want to see you skipping lunch on Monday because of her stupid opinions.”
She eventually smiled. “Thanks for sticking up for me.”
“Always.” I hugged her. “I can’t believe how ignorant she is.”
Steph was a mean girl, and I hated myself for associating with someone like that. I was wise enough to know that “mean people” were just wounded souls in need of healing.
“Don’t be so hard on her, Aria. There’s a reason she’s bothered by people who are noticeably overweight. Her dad had divorced her mother because she had let herself go. When Steph was twelve, her mother died because of her morbid obesity. It’s like she needs to hold on to the hate and anger because she never properly mourned her death. Steph still blames her mom because her death could have been prevented. Her stepmom’s kind of like yours… obsessed with body image.”
“I guess we finally have something in common then.” I sighed, listening to Steph rapping along to “Beez In The Trap.” I’m sure Nicki would have told her to shut up if she knew she was a mean girl.
“She loves me,” Jess said. “In her own demented way.”
Demented indeed,I thought.
“Does your dad think you’re sleeping over at Megan’s place, too?” Jess asked.
“Yep.”
We shared the bathroom mirror and fixed our makeup while chatting.
“Are you still not talking to him?”
“Nope,” I answered while reapplying my lip gloss. “It’s all because of Vanessa. I can’t believe she tried to ground me for a month and take away my social life. I can’t function withoutmy phone, or my laptop, or my iPod. I can’t survive without technology, period!”
Kind of sad, I know.
