Chapter 1

It was a new school year for Riley. She had a new body, and most of all, a new found confidence in herself. High school has always been a struggle for Riley, or should I say Rigantor. That was her nickname by everyone pretty much. There was also fat pants, which wasn't much better than Rigantor.

All she wanted to do was to get through high school with a scholarship and go off to college to become someone else than fat pants or rigantor.

This summer was the hardest, but most beneficial summer of her life. She worked and worked to lose the weight that has been her identifier her whole life. She wanted to be someone else than "that fat girl." She also wanted to catch the eye of her crush Ben Wheeler. She has been in love with that kid for so long she can't even remember when she didn't have a thing for him. Maybe this year he will actually see me, she thought.

Ben Wheeler and his brother Danny have always been Riley's best friends. Even since they were really young, they would spend time together every day after school in the boy's tree house. The boys just thought of Riley as one of the guys and never really took her out of that role.

"This is the year, this is the year everything is going to change." Riley said to herself in the mirror on the first day of school.

Riley woke up to a text from her best friend Danny. Somehow Danny has always been there for Riley. Cheering her up when she was made fun of, making her feel beautiful even when she felt ugly. He was a definition of a best friend.

The text said, "Goodmorning Riles! You ready for today?"

Riley wanted tell him the truth, that she is scared out of her mind but she settled for telling him that she is pumped to start the new year!

Riley hadn't told Danny that she had lost all the weight. She kept it a secret from everyone to make the surprise even better. She couldn't wait to show Danny, but she was even more excited to show Ben. It is gonna happen this year, she said in her head when she was putting some of her new, size small clothes from her new wardrobe.

Danny and Riley continued to text while they were both getting ready and then came to an agreement that the brothers were going to pick her up and the three best friends would start the new school year together.

When Riley heard the horn honk and she grabbed her backpack and ran out the door. She was so excited to see them she almost forgot to lock the door.

The Wheeler brother were sitting there waiting for Riley to come out, Danny looked over to Ben and asked if he was excited for the new year. "I am excited to meet the new ladies of the school; you know work my Wheeler charm." Ben answered. Danny shook his head. Ben has always been a ladies man and never focuses on one girl at a time.

Danny honked the horn and saw a skinny blonde girl coming out of the door. He was going over in his head if he is at the right house and if he texted the right person. He blinked some more and then saw that it was Riley. Immediately his mouth was open and couldn't take his eyes off of her.

"Is that Riley?!" Ben asked.

"I think so…. We are at her house right?" Danny questioned.

Danny couldn't believe it. His best friend is even more beautiful than she was before the summer. Danny has always had some sort of connection to Riley that he couldn't explain. He has always had a spot for her in his heart that no other girl could fill, and Danny has had his fair share of girls in his life. Danny is the star hockey player of their high school so the girls just follow him everywhere, but he never really wanted anything with them. Danny thought to himself, maybe this year is the year that he tells Riley how he really feels.

The sound of the door opening made Danny come out of his daydream. "Hey guys! How was your summer?" Riley asked both of the boys.

"How was our summer?" Ben asked sarcastically

Riley laughed and just smiled. She just blushed at Ben's reaction.

"Riley you look amazing! I am blown away." Danny exclaimed.

"Thanks Wheeler. I am pretty proud of myself." Riley answered.

The whole rest of the ride the boys were just asking Riley all about how she did it. They were just in shock at the transformation that had happen over the summer.

Riley couldn't walk two feet without someone saying, Riley is that you? She would be lying if she said that she didn't enjoy it. She was proud of herself so she was just enjoying her first day back. She wasn't Rigantor or fat pants anymore.

After school Riley met up with Danny at the rink to get a ride home. She walked in a saw Danny running the stairs of the bleacher. He was shirtless and you could see every ab that Danny had. Riley had seen Danny shirtless at the pool, but for some reason she was memorized. She had to snap out of the starring because Danny noticed she walked in a yelled her name.

"Riley! Come on in. I am almost done." Danny yelled.

Riley did exactly what she was told. She made her way over to Danny as he started running again. As she got closer she was even more impressed with his body.

Danny finished running his last set and made his way over to the girl that had a hold on his heart. "Hey Riles, how was your day?"

"Danny you will not believe how many times I was complimented on my new body. Today was one of the best days." She exclaimed.

Danny was so happy for his best friend. He has always thought she was beautiful, but never told her. "I am so happy for you.

"Thanks Danny. I just have so much confidence now. It's so crazy how losing this weight has changed the level of my confidence." Riley explained.

Danny was taken back by her new found confidence. He was so proud of her for all of her accomplishments and the new changes that she made in her life. He wished that he had that confidence to tell her how beautiful he thought she was now and even before she lost all the weight. Right as he was about to as her to get some food, he was stopped by the one thing Danny didn't want to hear.

"So Danny, I think this is the year that I am gonna tell Ben that I want to be more than friends." said Riley.

Danny didn't know how to react. He has always know that she had a little crush on Ben, but he didn't know that Riley wanted to make a move. Danny did his best to seem excited for her, but inside he was a little hurt.

"Riles that's awesome! What made you decide?" Danny questioned.

"I don't know, I just have this new body and I really think that Ben will look at me as more than Rigantor or fat pants." Riley answered.

Danny just wanted to scream at her and say that she didn't need Ben. I wanted to tell her that he as always thought she was the most beautiful girl in his life and that he would be the luckiest guy at school to be seen with her, but Danny just settled for a small smile. He had to let her do her own thing and wait until the right time to tell her how he felt. Just as he finished his thought Riley interrupted him.

"Lets go Wheeler. I already have some homework to do. Man senior year is gonna suck!"

The pair exited the rink and made their way over to Riley's house. The whole way Danny had Riley's words ringing in his head. He had never been this jealous of Ben ever. One day he thought.