The acid churning in my stomach threatened to revolt. Today was the day. My first day as a junior at Oceanview High. The school year had already started, about two months ago, making me the ultimate latecomer, the new kid everyone would stare at. Yay, me, I sighed, the thought dripping with sarcasm.I stood in front of the full-length mirror on my closet door, scrutinizing my reflection with a critical eye. I’d opted for a flowy, floral-print dress that I hoped would camouflage my curves, a soft pink and cream pattern that seemed innocent enough. But all it seemed to do was drape over my body in a way that, to me, just emphasized them, drawing attention to the fullness of my chest and hips I so desperately wanted to hide. It was a losing battle. I smoothed down the fabric, my fingers tracing the unfamiliar pattern, a last-ditch effort to feel presentable."Aria, are you ready? We need to go," my mother called from downstairs, her voice laced with an optimism I couldn't seem to share.
Read more