Melody

The first day back to school in January was fine at first. Everyone was thrilled to see each other after the two weeks that the break gave them. I could hear the girls squealing excitedly as they ran towards each other for over-zealous hugs. The guys seemed to be cheerful too, as they all fist bumped and yelled as their friends joined them. The bell rang sweeping everyone off to their first period classes. As Carson and I walked there, my phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see a text message from Alani.

Come to the caf at lunch!

I want to hear about the party.

Alani Reynolds; 9:05 am

Okay. See you then!

Melody Reese; 9:06 am

English class passed quickly, as people did oral presentations that they had prepared over the break about books we had been reading in class. While that part wasn't exciting, Carson and I were doodling in my sketchbook back and forth to pass the time. In history we had a quick lesson before we answered some questions in the textbook. Before I knew it, it was time for lunch.

I walked towards the cafeteria and froze in horror. It was me. A younger version of me. A fatter version of me. It was the me I still saw in the mirror, though the rational part of me knew it didn't exist. It was also the size of the cafeteria doors and one half of the picture was taped to each door. I rushed forward and started ripping it down.

How many people had seen this? How many people knew it was me?

As it came off easily in my hands, I heard laughter from behind me. I turned around to see Rose, Cora, Serena and Summer standing there. I glared at them not sure where to even begin.

"What's wrong Mel? Cat got your tongue?" Rose smirked.

"Wh-where did you even get this?" I asked. The paper felt heavy in my hands

"At your house," Rose said. "Cora did some digging... and wow! Another thing you kept from your friends. Mia is your stepsister."

"So?" I frowned. "What does that – I don't even underst–"

"Look, her holiday party landed me less than a hundred feet away from where we picked you up. It was not that hard to figure out that it's where you live. Especially when Mia forgot to put away one of the pictures of you," Cora said walking towards me. "So, I took some liberty to look around and found some very fattening – I mean flattering pictures of you in an album."

"She's like, basically Sherlock!" Serena giggled, making her friends roll their eyes in response.

"Needless to say, we know why you moved schools, Didi," Summer smirked, making her friends laugh. They pushed passed me and opened the cafeteria doors. Rose stopped part way and turned to face me.

"I wonder what else you're hiding," she hissed.

"You're a horrible person," I said quietly.

"Well, you know where the door is. If you can't take the heat... get out of the sauna," Rose said, flipping her hair.

I glanced into the cafeteria as Summer and Serena held the doors open for their evil queen, and princess Cora. The students in the room all stared curiously, wondering what happened out in the hallway. I frowned and glanced down at the crumpled-up papers in my hand and turned away. Hoping they didn't clue in and realize it was me.

I stormed down the hallway and found a garbage bin near the custodian closet to jam the posters into and the harder I pushed them in, the more I could feel my body shaking with all sorts of emotions. A hand touched my shoulder and I whirled around to see Carson standing there. I felt all my emotions rise to the surface my eyes met his.

"Not here," he said quietly, as he glanced up and down the hallway. Carson took my hand and pulled me into an empty classroom. He closed the door behind him.

"She knows. They know. Everyone knows!" I paced back and forth. I could feel tears threatening to spill over and I tried to hold them back.

"Knows what Mellie?" Carson asked grabbing my hands.

"Everything! I-I just took down an over-sized poster of me. The me that I try so hard to escape but... I-I–" and the damn broke. My carefully put away tears spilled over and flowed freely down my cheeks.

Carson pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly, preventing me from completely falling apart. He kissed my forehead and softly rubbed my back as my body shook with sobs. "It's okay," Carson soothed.

"Summer called me Didi," I whispered. "Everyone will see me that way again and I... I don't know if I can do it again."

Carson was quiet for a bit as he leaned against a desk, letting me drench his shirt in tears. He stroked my hair softly, before he whispered, "I look at you, and I see a funny, creative, smart, and beautiful person and that is never going to change. We'll find a way through everything else."

All I could do was hug Carson tighter, because I wasn't sure that I believed anything he said. The only thing I could see when I closed my eyes was that blown up picture of me. And all I could hear was 'chubby arms and big fat thighs, Didi should lay off the fries.'

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Author's Note: Nobody fight me! I know the chapter is short, but I haven't been feeling well these past couple of days (well months lol I need a fully body transplant! but especially these days) so I haven't been feeling very inspired... but I managed to get this out! YAY!

This chapter hurt to write because I felt so sorry for Mellie! But I guess now we can see what happens when her secrets unravel! What do you think might happen next?

I can't believe this book is at 185,000+ reads! You guys are all amazing and I'm sooo happy! So thank you soo much!

Special shoutouts this chapter go to: multiqts, Thalassophobia-E, kaviwrites, VelaSterling, jennysmile01, and to lost_by_wonderland  for voting and/or commenting! And again to everyone who's been reading! <3

Ps. Anyone who's bored and wants to  creep my life between chapter posts... follow me on Instagram! My username is brittany.p.w