When My Bully Fell For Me

SAVANNAH

"You're too fat for that outfit, Savannah."

Those words still echo in my head as I stare at my reflection, tugging at the oversized black hoodie that swallows my frame. Alyssa calls it my security blanket. I call it survival gear. The baggy clothes hide everything I hate about myself—the rolls, the stretch marks, the fact that I take up too much space in a world that wants me to disappear.

But tonight, I don't want to be invisible anymore.

The bass from Melissa Carter's mansion thumps through my body as I stand at the edge of her manicured lawn. Light spills from every window, silhouettes moving like shadow puppets against the curtains. Beautiful people doing beautiful things. And for once, I've been invited.

Well, not exactly invited. Alyssa, my lab partner, mentioned it offhandedly while I helped her finish our chemistry project, the one she'd contributed exactly zero effort to. "Everyone's going to be there," she'd said with a shrug. "You could come too, I guess."

Not exactly a gilded invitation, but it was more than I usually got. I figured Alyssa wanted to be nice to me, finally.

The house is packed, bodies pressed together in a sweaty, perfumed mass. I navigate through the crowd, keeping my head down, mumbling "sorry" every time I bump into someone. Nobody notices. Nobody cares. I'm a ghost drifting through their party, just like I'm a ghost drifting through the hallways at school.

I find my way to the kitchen, hoping for water or maybe a soda. Something to hold in my hands so I look like I belong here.

"Well, well. Look who crawled out of her cave."

Madison Harper. Of course. Her voice has the same effect on me as nails on a chalkboard. I keep my eyes on the array of bottles on the counter, pretending I didn't hear her.

"I'm talking to you, Savannah Williams. What are you doing here? This party has a weight limit."

Her friends giggle on cue. I feel my cheeks burn, but I keep my eyes down.

"I was invited," I say, my voice barely audible over the music.

Madison lets out a theatrical gasp. "You were? By who? The catering company? Are you here to clean up after us?"

More giggles. More burning in my cheeks.

"Leave her alone, Madison," a male voice interrupts. I look up to see Tyler Chen, captain of the debate team and one of the few decent human beings at Westlake High. "Don't you have someone else to torment tonight?"

Madison rolls her eyes and saunters away, her friends trailing behind her like the tail of a poisonous comet.

Tyler gives me an apologetic smile, and I manage a weak smile. "Thanks."

"Yo, Tyler!" A guy from the debate team calls from the doorway. "Beer pong rematch! Rodriguez is talking trash again!"

Tyler looks at me apologetically before tottering away

I hover at the edge, nursing my Coke, trying to look like I'm waiting for someone rather than standing alone.

"Savannah Williams? Is that you hiding under all that fabric?"

I turn to see Alyssa, her eyes glassy from alcohol, her arm linked with Jennifer Kwan's. They both look me up and down with identical expressions of amused disbelief.

"Hi," I say lamely, with a smile, glad that Alyssa was finally here.

Jennifer tilts her head. "Why are you dressed like that?”

The words sting, but I've heard worse. Much worse.

“Do you even know what party it is that you’re dressed this way?” Before I could defend myself, she beat me to it again. "You know what? Tonight could be different. Tonight could be your transformation montage."

I frown. "What are you talking about?"

A dangerous gleam appears in Alyssa's eyes as she grabs my arm, dragging me toward the center of the room.

"Hey, everyone!" she shouts, her voice carrying over the music. "We have a situation here!"

To my horror, several people turn to look. The music doesn't stop, but it seems to fade as more and more eyes land on me. My heart pounds against my ribs like it's trying to escape.

"Our friend Savannah here has been hiding her light under a bushel—or should I say, under this hideous hoodie!" Alyssa announces, tugging at my sleeve.

I try to pull away, but Jennifer is behind me now, blocking my escape.

Alyssa's smile widens as she turns to me. “Take off that tent you call a top. Show everyone you're actually a person under there."

My blood runs cold. "What? No. I'm wearing a tank top underneath, but—"