Chapter 4 Sorry Fatty, You're Still Fat

Aria’s POV

Present Day

“So I do remember that semester you guys had all the same classes and that you and Jalen became pretty friendly, but he didn’t know you were the witch’s roommate,” Nia says.

“Correct. Well, at first, he didn’t.” I nod, sipping down some of my juice.

“Well, how did he find out you were Talia’s roommate?” she asks.

I look at her and scoff. “How did you forget, girl? It was a complete shit show, and you were right there.”

Flashback

Third week of school Tuesday after Labor Day weekend

After returning from my modest home in the south suburbs of Chicago, I headed straight to my bestie’s shared campus apartment. I needed critical eye help, and Nia was always that for me.

This no-nonsense chick was my savior from day one. She was part Native American, part African American, with radiant cinnamon-toned skin and the kind of bone structure that stopped boys mid-sentence. People were constantly drawn to her, but her heart had only ever belonged to one person, Matt.

Matthew, or “Matt” to everyone who knew him, was 6’2" of walking temptation. A muscular god with wavy brown curls, piercing gray eyes, and golden tan skin that looked like it had been kissed by the sun. They’d been together since they were 17 and were pretty much attached at the hip ever since.

I knocked hard on the door, eager to get her opinion on the dresses Lucia had given me. I barely raised my fist to knock again before the door flew open, and there was Matt, shirtless, glistening, and clearly annoyed.

Which only meant one thing: I had interrupted something, and I don't think he was exercising in the regular sense.

"Hey, Aria. Come in," he groaned, stepping aside.

Yep. I think it was sexy time.

And sure enough, when Nia stepped into view, hair wild, shirt half on, no bra in sight, it was confirmed. It's definitely a workout session of the sex orientation.

Matt leaned in, grabbed her ass and kissed her cheek before heading toward the bathroom. “I'm taking a cold shower. We’ll finish what we started later.”

Nia rolled her eyes playfully. “What’s up, girl? What's the emergency?”

I held up the big bag of dresses Lucia gave me, " Girl, I need help."

Nia squealed. “Finally! We can show these people how beautiful you are.”

I grimaced. “I’m too fat to wear this stuff, Nia.”

“Girl, fuck that,” she said, giving me a look. “Yeah, your body is bigger, but you’re thick in all the right places. You're shapely and proportionate, especially that booty you always hide under those giant shirts.”

I sighed. “Okay… so, which one first?”

“Let’s go to the guest room. Try them all on. I’m gonna get dressed and be back in five.”

I changed into the first one, a short baby doll floral dress with a frilly sweetheart neckline and a hem that hit mid-thigh. When Nia walked back in, now looking more like her polished self than the aftermath of a category five sex storm, her eyes lit up.

“Bitch, that’s cute!” she gasped. “Try another one!”

I changed into a mustard yellow sleeveless hoodie dress, midlength, and shockingly flattering. Lucia’s daughter must’ve loved this style because she gave me five in different colors.

Then came the third one. A long, black fitted wrap dress. It hugged all the right curves, smoothed over the stomach I always worried about, and made my ass pop.

“Oh shit girl, that’s the style for you,” Nia said, jaw dropping.

“Wow,” was all I could say.

“Now you can stop living in that uniform of jeans and oversized T-shirts. Just sometimes.”

I laughed, but I decided to throw the yellow one back on.

“Good. Now let’s do your hair. And since you pissed my man off, I’m gonna go back with you to your condo and thank Lucia in person so he can calm down.”

I chuckled as she started gathering her hair products. Nia always had this magic touch with hair, literally. I needed whatever miracle products she used because my hair never laid correctly. She pulled it into a cute, messy bun with a few curly strands falling out in the perfect way.

When I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself.

“See? Gorgeous,” Nia said proudly. “Now pack your stuff. I’m throwing on my Crocs, grabbing my keys and phone, and let me go tell Matt I’ll be back.”

I laughed again and met her at the door, still glowing from her confidence, and maybe, finally, seeing a little bit of what she saw in me.

As we laughed and walked back to my condo, I noticed a few guys watching us from across the street. Probably checking out Nia—most men did. She was effortlessly beautiful, and she carried herself like she knew it.

As soon as I unlocked the front door and stepped inside, we were greeted by chaos.

The screeching voice of the wailing banshee, aka Talia, echoed through the space. “Why don’t we have any almond milk?!” she shouted at poor Lucia, who looked like she was just trying to breathe through the moment.

I made my way into the kitchen, ready to calm things down, but then I saw him.

There he was.

Jalen.

Sitting casually at the counter, eating a sandwich like he wasn’t witnessing a verbal homicide. The sight of him took me aback, not just because he was there, but because he said absolutely nothing. Not a word. Not to her, not to me.

“Maid! You are so fucking incompetent!” Talia screamed again.

I froze.

Jalen didn’t flinch.

Was this the same guy I had been talking to almost every day for the past two weeks? The one who laughed at my jokes, remembered the little things, and made me think he might actually see me?

“Excuse me, Talia,” I said, trying to keep my voice even.

She whirled around, eyes blazing. “What, Plushy, do you want now?”

Nia’s head snapped toward her. “What the hell did you just call her?”

I instinctively grabbed Nia’s arm before she could pop off. “Don’t,” I whispered. “It’s not worth it.”

Then I turned and pointed to the refrigerator. “Tony left a note. There was a recall on the almond milk. He picked up an alternative, cashew milk.”

Talia stomped over to the fridge, snatched the note, read it, then rolled her eyes dramatically.

She turned to me, scanning me up and down. “So, Plushy, you’re trying a new look now? Cute. Too bad you’re still fat.”

My stomach tightened. I felt my confidence deflate in an instant like a balloon with a slow leak.

I glanced at Jalen again.

Still nothing.

No defense. No smile. No acknowledgment. Just... blank.

The silence cut more than her words did.

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my expression neutral. “ Talia, you need to calm down and leave Lucia alone. Come on, guys. Let’s go to my room.”

Without another word, we walked off, the weight of her insult and his silence heavier than anything I was wearing.