Chapter 1

During our high school ski trip, my weight caused me to take a nasty fall. Everyone laughed at how fat and pathetic I looked, and not a single person offered to help me up.

Only Farrah walked over, pulled me to my feet, and said, "You're not fat or ugly at all. You look handsome even when you wipe out. My heart's honestly skipping a beat."

I foolishly believed she meant every word.

It was not until her birthday party, when I finally gathered the courage to confess my feelings, that the truth came out.

She stared at me with pure disgust. "Has anyone ever told you that you look like a pig?"

1.

The lights in the private karaoke lounge went dark as everyone sang the birthday song for Farrah.

I clutched the small velvet necklace box in my sweaty palm. The second the lights flickered back on, I looked Farrah in the eye.

"Farrah, I really like you," I said, my voice shaking. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

Instantly, the entire room fell dead silent. Dozens of burning gazes locked onto me.

My heart raced violently as I stared at Farrah's pretty face. She was the undisputed queen bee of our school, and half the boys in our grade were obsessed with her.

Suddenly, someone snorted with laughter. "Carson, are you seriously for real?"

I failed to read the cruel atmosphere and gave a shy, nervous nod.

"Pfft!"

Another guy sprayed his soda across the table.

"Dude, where do you get the nerve?"

"You weigh over two hundred pounds! My grandma's prize hog doesn't even weigh that much."

"Farrah is our school goddess. What made you think she'd ever look at you?"

The guy turned toward Farrah, whose face was already dark with rage.

"Hey Farrah, you invited this fatass tonight. Don't tell me you actually like him?"

Farrah's expression grew colder by the second, radiating pure venom.

After a long silence, she looked up at me with icy, contemptuous eyes.

"Carson."

"Has anyone ever told you that you look like a pig?"

In that single instant, it felt as if I had been dumped into a freezing lake.

I stared at her in shock, unable to believe those words came from her mouth.

"I..."

Before I could finish, she shoved me backward with all her might.

My heavy body lost balance, crashing hard against the banquet table.

I scrambled to catch myself, only to plant my hand directly into the frosted birthday cake, smashing the velvet box into the cream.

Panic surged through me as I tried to stammer an apology. But Farrah grabbed a glass of red wine and splashed it right into my face.

It was the dead of winter, and the icy liquid trickled down my collar, soaking into my chest.

"You're fat, ugly, and disgusting. Why would you ever think I'd like you?"

"Did you seriously think you stood a chance with someone like me?"

"Wake up and stop dreaming!"

Her words triggered a roar of mocking laughter. Several kids pulled out their phones and started recording.

"Get this on camera! Post it everywhere so everyone can see what a delusional creep he is!"

"How dare a loser like him even look at our school queen!"

Their mocking shouts and Farrah's disgusted glare stripped away my dignity, leaving me completely humiliated.

I was suffocating under overwhelming shame and despair.

People had made fun of my weight before, but it had never gone this far. No one had ever recorded me like a freak show.

I instinctively brought my hands up to shield my face, but a boy rushed forward and yanked my arms down.

They howled with laughter while Farrah watched with cold satisfaction.

Finally, she snarled at me, "Get the hell out! This is my birthday party, and you're not welcome here!"