Pretty hurts

"I say I love myself, and they are like, 'oh my gosh' she's so brave. She is so political. For what? All I said is 'i love myself, bitch!"

-Lizzo.

"So the question is, which boulder are you going to choose to roll? 'The must lose weight boulder' or the 'fuck you I will boldly and defiantly accept the body I've got and live in it boulder?"

-Kate Harding.

"My weight? It is what it is. You could get hit by a bus tomorrow. It's about being content. And sometimes other priorities win."

-Melissa McCarthy.

"You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn't worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens."

-Louise Hay.

Well, hello, hello. Trust y'all are doing good.

I will be dedicating this chapter to Wattpad Diana_Simpson phaylen hottiesoftie IwaloyeOla mheemarhjay Iremiide Nozie08 RuthieBalo

The song suggestions for this chapter are confident by Demi Lovato and pretty hurts by Beyonce.

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"I still think the movie, house of cards is better than God of thrones," Ian argued with all vigour as he face depicted all ounce of seriousness.

"I strongly disagree." Mike butted in and shook his head in negativity. "Boardwalk empire is much more doper than the afro mentioned ones." He insisted pushing his way through the flock of students that flocked the hallway with us walking side by side.

"You guys suck at picking out good movies, gosh!" Eric groaned and facepalmed before resting his hand on my shoulder. "The last kingdom is one of the greatest movies of all time. But you both are too lame to acknowledge it. Or don't you think so tomboy?" He perused drawing my cheeks and waiting for me to prove them wrong.

The boys have been arguing to and fro claiming they know best how to suggest the best movie to anyone. And, as it is, no one is ready to lose or agree with the other person about how dope their choice is. So they let their ego take the best part of them and keep arguing like idiots. The weather is chilly today. And no, it isn't snowing. It just happens to be drizzling outside.

"Where did y'all keep money heist? I think money heist is better than all your choices joined together." Jess blurted out with a shrug and continue using her fingers to lay her edges well.

"Y'all have bad choices and can't pick good movies to safe a life." Ian blamed everyone while they hissed at him. "

"Anyways I prefer pretty woman to coming to America. What do you say to that tomboy?" Ian started again and ruffled my hair in the process.

"I say, how about you leave my hair the fuck alone," I scolded and head butt him while he fell on his butt with others chuckling.

"Nice say, Anna banana," Jess said amidst snickers and continued laughing out loud while the others joined her.

"Are you okay?" Mike asked and tried to pull him up.

He groaned. "Yeah, but my dignity isn't."

"That's been long gone, man. It no news," Eric whined and caused another ruckus of laughter.

"Ding!" Ian blurted out as tried to massage his ass.

"What was that for?" Jess queried with the raise of an eyebrow.

"That's my high bulb idea sound. I had no idea my dignity was far gone." He whimpered and began to shake his head dejectedly while I patted his back and shrugged my shoulders.

While we continued our arguments in the hallway. Everyone trying to say one thing or the other to get their point across when a loud thud stole our attention.

The chubbiest and plumpest kid that weigh over 300 pounds just tripped and fell on the floor. He is one of the most bullied kids in the school. His entire body is wet. Right from the crown of his head, to the sole of his feet. His blonde hair fell limply covering half of his face. His umbrella lay beside him on the floor and his raincoat seems not to be doing it job properly by protecting him from the rain or cold.

The student fell into laughter and began kicking his bags and umbrella. While some took photos of him, ready to post it with the most horrible hashtag on Twitter.

The boy struggled to get up and when he was halfway up, he collapsed on the floor again making the kids roar in laughter.

"Hey, fattie, why don't you stop eating that ice cream and go for a run." Nate teased with a fake smile and the others laughed.

"Hey, broomstick, why don't you mind your business and keep taking your salad and water." The boy taunted Nate with a smile while the others gasped in astonishment. Guess the kids ran out of laughter battery. But guess who did the honour of laughing on their behalf?

I said take a wild guess! Quit being a show spoiler.

It was me and the guys. We laughed and gradually, the whole school started laughing.

"How dare you!" Nate hollered angrily as her cheek became instantly red at the embarrassment. A whole drama queen given a public disgrace isn't something to witness daily.

Nate walked closer to the boy and pushed his head with her heels. Her shoe print designed his forehead as expected, but a pool of red blood soon covered the print.

Nate brought out a permanent marker from her pants and began to draw a poo sticker all around his face. Small poo sticker soon multiplied around his face as other students began taking pictures excitedly while the boy looked ahead dejectedly. He didn't bother trying to fight back. This must have been one out of the many scenarios of bullying he must have faced. Even if he appears strong enough to swallow every form of physical abuse. Where exactly does the verbal abuse go then? How does he cope listening to people body-shaming him every day of his life?

Nate moved back. Took a picture of him. Smiled and threw a wink my way. I balled my fists in anger. Even an animal doesn't deserve this treatment.

"Look at him, everyone. His whole face is a joke," a random kid hollered and everyone began laughing again.

"It must feel good to make another person seem worthless and dejected when y'all hide your insecurities and mask it to appear flawless in the presence of everyone," I accused with a fake smile. My sneakers made tapping sound as I walked towards the middle of the crowd and stopped exactly in front of the body, and helped him up. He murmured thanks and I squeezed his hand in acknowledgement.

"And the heroine comes to the rescue," a minion blurted out and rolled her eyes while swirling her hand around some strands of her hair.

"Typical. Always trying to save the day." Another minion spouted and made loud bubbling sound with her gum for dramatic effect.

"As I was saying before I got rudely interrupted by some bimbos with brain disorder," I continued while the two minions stared unbelievably at themselves with eyes as wide as a saucepan.

"Don't you think you're comparing yourselves to unrealistic ideas of beauty enforcement by the eurocentric concept and mainstream media? Magazines and advertisements are photoshopped and life isn't." I said to everyone and looked them all in the face.

"I love the way you look because you are authentically and unapologetically you. And if you ever wanna shed weight someday, do it for yourself and your health and not because of what the society, school or even Nate thinks or says about you," I divulged to the boy and he nodded his head in affirmation.

"Excuse me, if you are going to be making some lame ass speech today. Do it without mentioning my name." Nate snorted and clicked her tongue in disgust.

"I will mention you because you are the one who started it all. I will include you because you have been body-shaming him for the longest period of his school years and have unintentionally or intentionally affected him in all aspect of his life." I sneered and gave her the stink eye before continuing my speech.

"The most damaging aspect is self-shaming. After being conditioned with body judgment, a person internalizes it, becoming their bully who silently taunts and berates themselves as fat, lazy, and ugly." I continued and a kid dropped her phone in her pocket and removed her jacket and offered the boy.

"Sadly, we have all become body haters now. We use Instagram and Snapchat filters fit into the popular stereotype and hide our insecurities. We take a dozen selfies to find the best one, pinch our thighs and started diets. We want to lose a few kilos for summer. We buy trashy magazines that belittle celebrities on the cover, then they sell us their dramatic weight loss secrets on page two. They brainwash you, making you think you have a problem then they sell the solution to you. Pretty smart of them isn't it?" I queried and look them all in the face.

"Body shaming inflicts physical, emotional and mental pain so it must stop. If the crowd is doing the wrong thing. Be the only sensible person and do the right thing. Let change start from here. From us, be the better set of people and gradually change the world." I concluded and someone began clapping. The bad boys clapped and made their huge appearance.

"Everyone has body issues. I do too, and even Nate who tries to appear flawless might be suffering from the greater body issues. When you come to the realization that everybody does, then you can start to live the way you are." Ralph added and everyone began clapping and wolf-whistling. The star boy has spoken.

"What do you have to say about it Jackson," Ralph perused the wet kid.

"My fatness is on my mind a lot. Sometimes it practical. It takes up more space than many people. When I go to a new restaurant, I don't always know if a booth will be big enough for me or if I need to get a table. When I need new clothes, I know that I'm not likely to find them at the mall. I probably have to go online."

"Most times, it is on my mind because the world won't stop reminding me that I'm fat and they hate me for it." He concluded with a bow and began walking away.

"What else are you, losers waiting for? The show is over." Nate hollered with a flick of her hand and walked away with her heels making click-clack sound. The crowd soon began to disperse leaving us to ourselves.

"I'm proud of you baby doll," Ralph disclosed and tapped my nose with his index finger.

"I'm certainly not proud of you breaking into my house late at night." I snapped and tucked some strands of hair behind my ear.

"Like you weren't happy to see a hot boy in your room by that time of the night." He said mockingly with a brow raised and a smirk took over his features.

I simply hissed and walked away. "Hold up! Where are you going?" He probed and half ran to me.

"I'm going upstairs," I replied and folded my arm to my chest and gave him my best indifference look.

"Why?" He inquired as his face depicted disbelief.

"I'm going to pretend I got a super important text and go somewhere that is not here, so bye."

"You can't leave me alone to me, we are supposed to be together Baby doll." He yelled from miles away while I hurriedly climbed the stairs trying to save my sanity.

"Go dissapoint the next bitch, I'm busy, bros." I hollered at the top of the stairs with a wink.

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No matter how many times I visit Jess' house, I can't help but feel awed about the extreme exquisiteness, elegantness and amazing luxury the mansion portrayed.

The house is one of those rich people buy when they get too paranoid about having too much money. It's like a fortress, tall gates with more security gadgets than a military compound or barrack. Perhaps, behind those huge brown walls, they feel safer and more secured from the dangerous harm the outside world has in stock.

Stepping into the compound without any difficulty since I'm well known by all security staffs in this place. I stare at the crystal-like large blue pool that seems to entice and attract everyone to soak up the moonlight with the mansion pool paradise. The pool is a summer spot perfect for throwing pool parties. And the Walkers never hesitate to utilize this opportunity.

The hallway is basked in golden light the bulb showers and paves way to the elegant wine room that has the finest wine collector's paradise. The living room has the softest red rug that is always displayed in red carpet shows. And a huge golden chandelier lay up, ready to shower nothing but softest glamour and brightest illumination to the living room.

In all, the house has twelve rooms for the occupants. Now, these twelve room is not added to the other rooms like gym, kitchen, nursery, music room, library, bar, home theatre, and lot more.

Jess' room is like a wonderland for comic driven recluses. The walls are a deep pink and purest white colour that pulsed in the light, sprinkled with numerous posters of her celebrity crush, and strange Japanese cartoon shows. Her comforter is pulled over her bed even though it hasn't been cleaned. A huge dressing mirror littered with various makeup products and hair extensions rested at the middle of the room. A huge desk sat in one corner, littered with wadded up pieces of papers and pens.

A huge flat-screen plasma TV rested on the upper part of the wall with a various collection of movies beside it.

The sound of the door opening broke my reverie. Jess came in with various chocolates, chocolate popcorn with sea salt, lemonades, hot pizza dip bites, chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavoured ice cream, paprika cheddar cheez, potato puffs, hotdog sticks, meatballs, and a whole lot of games.

The entire room smelt of Jess' perfumes and food. We argued on what movies to watch. Snake on the plane or vampires diary. And at the end of the day, we both settled to watch both.

Jess' phone kept ringing on and on with Brady's name popping up.

Brady is Ralph second in command. He is muscular, tall, and dark. Just exactly how Jess likes her guys.

"You never told me there was a connection between you both, you know?" I started and popped a meatball in my mouth before flushing it down with pink lemonade.

"I'm sorry. It just that, I like both Brady and Gabriel. And they are both on my neck." She disclosed and shrugged a shoulder.

"Wow, who is Gabriel again?" I probed and stole a glance at her pink silk pyjamas.

"The guy I met at Miami during the long summer break. He said he will be coming over to New york. And I like em both." Jess reiterated and munched on her paprika cheese as they made crunching sound.

"Damn! You are so whipped. You better sit your ass down. Give it a long ass thought and pick someone. And remember!" I advised poking her face with my finger.

"No matter whoever you pick, I will support you. And whoever tries to fuck with you. I will fuck em up with my fist." I added smiling at her while she chuckled.

"Thanks for getting my back always." She acknowledged with a wink and we continue binge-watching Netflix.

Luke

"What do u say to a nice and adventurous outing with your dearest around two pm tomorrow?"

Sat, 3:54 am.

"Is it a date? And where is the venue?

Sat, 4:02 am.

Luke

"It a surprise. Just say yes. Please."

Sat, 4:03 am.

"Hmm!😏 yes."

Sat, 4:10 am.

I dropped my phone on the nightstand. Stood up to switch off the television. I yawned tiredly, before finally collapsing on the bed, next to Jess.