Chapter 18: Nate

Billie POV

It had been two days since the website application. Ann had insisted that I sign in right away, as it was the only option. I didn’t want to, but she assured me this would be different. I had tried similar things in the past, only to find they were all scams. Despite my reluctance, Ann's reassurances gave me some hope. I asked her if she knew anyone who had successfully used the site, but she replied no, claiming she just felt confident it would work.

“It’s going to work,” she said, and that was a bit overwhelming. She spent the entire day at my house, helping me take the pictures needed for the application. Most of her time was spent doing my hair and dressing me in clothes that felt awkward and out of place.

Balek walked in on us at one point and mocked my appearance when she saw me in the big gown.

That night, I barely slept as I kept checking the website. What made Ann feel so confident? I wondered as I browsed the site. All I saw were older men and women who looked like they weren't much different from me, but they had transformed their shapes and appearances in a month or two. It almost seemed real, but I reminded myself that advertising could be misleading. I had seen worse when I searched for other websites that promised change, all of which had been futile. None of my family or friends knew about my plans—not even my mom, dad, or Blake—because I knew they would just taunt me if they found out.

"Hey," I heard murmurs at the end of the main hallway as a group of girls gathered, looking down the other end. "Oh my God, isn't he beautiful?" they chorused, their excitement catching my attention. As I turned to see what they were talking about, I spotted Nate. He was as handsome as ever, walking with his hands in his pockets and his head down, ignoring the girls who reached out to him. Their reaction was curious; among them was Alisha, who turned and looked at me.

What was she looking at me for?

I thought Nate would stop and talk to me like he usually did, but he walked past without even glancing my way. What was wrong with him? This was unlike him. I wondered if it was because of the confrontation he had with John, but I wouldn’t have minded that; I didn't think it would affect our friendship. I wanted to reach out and talk to him, but the glares from the girls made me change my mind. Anyway, he wasn't someone dear to me—just an acquaintance and nothing more.

Ultimately, none of this was my concern.

I turned around and opened my locker, pulling out my economics textbook. Just as I was about to leave, Ann approached me with a smile.

“Billie, it’s accepted!” she exclaimed, wrapping me in a hug that caught the attention of all the girls nearby. “They accepted the applications and requested your presence,” she whispered when she noticed the eyes on us.

I pulled away slightly, intrigued. “Really?” I asked, half-amused. It was a bittersweet moment, but I had to roll with it.

“Yeah! Mrs. Addams, the owner, was very interested in your application. She asked a lot of questions about you and said you are exactly the kind of person she wants to help wholeheartedly. She demands your presence before Christmas, you know.”

“She demands my presence before Christmas? Isn’t that a bit soon? The last time I checked, the article said it would take a month or two to review and accept the applications. Why am I the only one getting accepted so quickly?”

Ann paused to consider my point. Although I was happy, I couldn’t shake my curiosity.

“Anyway, that’s not the real issue here. The real question is: are you going to go before Christmas or not?” she asked, switching topics.

“I don’t know. I’m not sure, and I don’t even know where it is. So, I’m not certain yet. Where is it?”

“Alabama,” Ann replied.

“Alabama? Oh my God, that’s where Grandma lives! So I’ll be going there for Christmas?”

“That’s great, Billie,” Ann said, smiling again. “Now I’m going to tell her about meeting you.” I took her arms in gratitude.

“Ann, thank you.”

“Silly, we still have a long way to go. You can thank me after this. And also...”

“Also?”

“Never mind,” she said, taking my arm. “Come on, we’ve got to get to class.”

I checked the time. “You’re right.”

Ann and I rushed to class. We had art next, which was a popular subject, so the classroom was packed. Our teacher, Miss Angelo, was waiting until the last minute. As soon as she saw us, she smiled.

“I thought you would never make it, Mrs. Jones and Andrew,” she said, gesturing toward our seats.

We took our seats in front of the classroom. Most students love to sit at the back, but I don't understand why they prefer it. Blake and her friends were also in the class, including John and Nate. John sat at the back beside Blake, while Nate sat in the row behind me. He wasn’t saying anything, his eyes fixed on the teacher, though I could sense his eyes stealing a glance at me before he looked back.

Ann noticed and shook me when we finally settled in. “Hey, what's wrong with Mr. Handsome today? I see he isn't talking to you or even smiling like he used to. Did something happen? Did you guys fight?”

“No,” I replied honestly. I also didn't know why he was acting this way, and something was pestering me to ask him, but I couldn't. It felt like I would be throwing myself at him, which would earn me another label from the other students, possibly a bad one this time. So, I restrained myself. I wasn't going to ask him.

Mrs. Angelo cleared her throat to get the students' attention. Once we were all facing her, we began our lesson on drawing and sketching. It was our first subject, so Mrs. Angelo asked us to draw and sketch whatever we wanted. The students went to work right away. While some were working on a group sketch, a few students were sketching on their own, including me, Ann, and Nate. We all drew by ourselves, even though a few girls tried to join Nate. He declined and told them not to disturb him, which made them stop.

Anyway, I was lost in my world, sketching what seemed to be my vision of the future. I don't know why I sketched it, but it was a girl like me: slim and curvy, with all the right shapes. She was beautiful, and I imagined I would someday look like her if only I could.

Blake and John walked up to me. “Oh my God, look at what Billie drew!” Blake gasped. “It's beautiful!”

John smiled. “I guess she is good at something after all—not just getting fat.”

“Yeah,” Alisha laughed. “So, who is it?” She asked, shooting me a curious look. “I hope you didn't mean it to be you, right?”

“Of course not! How could she be like this? She can never be like that, right Billie?” Blake said.

“Okay, girl, it's okay. Good work, everyone!” She walked up to me as Blake and her friends moved on. “Great art, Billie. A young, beautiful girl with freedom—that's what you have drawn. You are quite good at art.”

I smiled. “Yes, ma'am.”

“Keep it up; you are going somewhere with that,” she encouraged.

“Thank you, ma'am,” I replied. Ann also came over to compliment me. I had never drawn anything this beautiful in my life, but I guess it was because of how badly I wanted it to be. I wished that one day the girl in my drawing would be me: beautiful, elegant, and able to stand up to my bullies.

After art, we had economics and mathematics, then we went to lunch.

“Why is Nate acting so weird?” Ann asked.

“I don't know, maybe he's just grumpy,” I said.

“Well, I am not,” Nate's voice sounded behind us. I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him. His expression was dull, and his normally striking blue eyes seemed tarnished, replaced with lifeless ones.

“Nate,” I tried to say, but before I could finish, he grabbed my arm and led me toward the locker room behind us. Ann wanted to follow, but she stopped. I didn’t know why, but I guess she understood that Nate wouldn’t hurt me, so she just gave me a warm smile and headed to the cafeteria.

What was going on?

Nate gently closed the door behind us and leaned me against the wall.

“Nate, what happened?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Nothing, Billie. You said I was just grumpy, but I’m not. I’m just sad—sad for you, Billie. I can’t stand how they treat you like trash. It’s not right, and whenever I try to stand up for you, they always find a way to punish you. I don’t want that for you, Billie. I don’t want them to hurt you, and I don’t know what I should do.”

He shook his head again, lost in thought.

Sad for me? That was a new feeling. But why would he be? I didn’t understand, but I sensed his need to help. Yet, I also knew that any action he took could lead to more trouble for me.

“It’s okay, Nate. I understand. You can just pretend not to care,” I said softly.

“No, I can’t, Billie. I can’t do that. You’re a precious person to me,” he replied earnestly.

“What do you mean, Nate?”

“Billie, I’m sorry for what I’m about to do… I—”

Suddenly, the door opened, and John stepped in with Blake by his side, staring at us as if they had the right to be there. Blake smiled mischievously. “So, what are you going to say, Nate?”

I looked over at Nate's.

I knew what he was going to say would determine my friendship with him. I just hope he doesn't say something…..