Hello! I'm so sorry for the delay in posting this chapter! I have not given up on this story, I was moving houses and didn't have time for writing/posting. But from now on, hopefully, the updates will be regular like before, one chapter every weekend.
And Mille, thank you so much for your review! I only saw it now because of the reasons I said above. I intend on to keep writing, and now that I'm back to regular routine, I hope I will keep the frequent updates! ^_^
Nothing too exciting had happened during the past weeks. It was another regular day, and Rachel and Monica were together, doing their homework in the library. When she finished writing one of the answers, Rachel glanced at the clock on the wall.
"I should be going; practice starts in 15 minutes," She said while starting to pack her things. Then, she looked over to Monica, who looked focused, trying to understand a line from the textbook.
"You're staying here?" Rachel asked.
Monica looked up from her book to answer Rachel's question.
"Yeah. I'll wait for you here while I finish homework," Monica answered.
At first, Rachel didn't think anything out of her friend's answer. After all, Monica usually stayed in the library waiting for her when she was in cheerleading practice. But after a moment, she had an idea for Monica not to be alone waiting for her.
"Hey, Mon," she started. "Why don't you join the club? You wouldn't have to be alone here waiting for me every week, and you would get to know the other girls!"
Monica looked confusedly at Rachel. Was she seriously asking her to join the cheerleading club? Monica loved to spend as much time as possible with Rachel, but she was sure she wouldn't fit in. After all, the cheerleading club was composed of popular girls, and Monica was not. Besides, she was well aware she was what people would describe as clumsy.
"I don't think so, Rach. I don't think I would fit in," Monica answered honestly.
"Please! It would be something we could do together! I'll talk to the girls and ask them what they think!"
And with that, Rachel was out of the library, leaving Monica to finish her homework.
About an hour later, Monica had already finished her homework. Since Rachel's practice should also be over soon, she decided to go wait for her best friend outside the gym. Monica reached the gym and sat near the door, as she usually did, waiting for Rachel. She was used to the familiar voices behind the door talking about the routines and new moves. However, this time, the conversation caught Monica's attention.
"Hey, Katie, hmm... I wanted to ask you something," Monica heard Rachel's voice.
"Sure, Rachel! What is it?" The other girl said.
"I was wondering if maybe my friend Monica could join the team?"
"Sure. You just need to remember me who your friend is because I'm not seeing it right now," Monica heard Katie answer.
"Oh, sure! Monica's always with me when I'm not with you guys. I'm sure you've seen us together."
"I've seen you with a fat girl before but can't remember anyone else."
There was a silent moment before Monica heard Rachel answer.
"That's Monica...," Rachel answered a little apprehensively.
"Wait? Are you seriously asking if that fat girl can join the team?! She wouldn't be able to make any move in our routines; she would make us look ridiculous! I don't even understand how you don't mind being seen with her; she looks like a loser."
Monica knew she wasn't the thinnest person and didn't have many friends because of her weight. But hearing so bluntly that people felt embarrassed to be seen with her because of it made her chest clench in an unfamiliar way. Suddenly, her vision was blurred with hot tears, and the conversation became only fuzzy background noise.
"Well, Katie, that "fat girl" is my best friend, and no, I'm not embarrassed to be seen with her!" Rachel yelled defensively at the team leader.
"You are so popular, Rachel; You have us as your friends; you don't need to hang out with a loser," Katie said.
"No, Katie. Monica's been my best friend since kindergarten. She is one of the most amazing people I know: She's got this incredible cheerful personality, and she's always there for me. I don't care if you don't want to see it, but don't ever insult her again," Rachel was furious by now. How could a girl that barely knew Monica insult her like that behind her back?
Without saying another word, she turned her back to Katie and stormed out of the gym.
However, as soon as she opened the door, Rachel came across Monica. She immediately knew something was wrong. She had a devastating expression, red eyes, and tears staining her cheeks.
"Oh, Mon! You heard it?" Rachel asked her friend, even though she knew the answer already.
Monica didn't answer. Instead, she threw herself at her and wrapped her arms in a hug.
"Thanks, Rach. I didn't catch it all, but I know you defended me," Monica sobbed into Rachel's shoulder.
"You know, Mon, all I said it's true. You're my best friend, and I would never let anyone say anything mean about you.
"But she's right. I am fat, and people feel embarrassed to be seen with a fat girl. That's why I don't have friends," Monica sobbed again, loosed from the embrace.
"Mon, that is not true! I love spending time with you, and I don't care what other people think! You're worth so much more than your weight."
"Thank you, Rach. You're my best friend too."
"Let's go home?"
Later that night, Monica was in her bedroom alone, silently crying. Katie's words were still vividly imprinted in her mind, and Monica doubted she would ever forget them. Monica put the book she was reading to distract herself on her nightstand, rose from her bed, and walked in front of the mirror.
She looked at her image in the mirror, wearing her pyjama. For the first time, she felt ashamed of her own body. Rachel's reassuring words replayed in her head, but somehow they weren't enough to make Monica regain her confidence. The other girl was right: she was fat.
The more she thought about it, Monica's sadness turned into anger toward that girl. Did she consider Monica embarrassing to be around just because she was fat? What if she lost all her extra weight just as revenge?
Her resolution was made. Confidently, Monica went to her bedside table, picked up her kit-kat stash, and threw them all in the small trash bin near her desk. Starting that day, she would eat right, exercise, and lose all the extra weight.
A few days later, Monica had lunch with Will. They both sat together on a bench, eating their sandwiches. Soon, Monica finished hers and went to put the paper bag in a nearby trashcan. When she sat back, Will was looking.
"Already finished? You forgot your second sandwich?" Will asked when he realized Monica wasn't unwrapping her usual second sandwich.
Monica looked at Will, eating his food, before answering. She never thought a simple PB&J could look so tasty, and she felt a little jealous of her friend for being the one eating it.
"I can give you a bite if you stop staring at my sandwich," Will interrupted.
The offering seemed tempting, but Monica knew it was better if she refused.
"No, thanks. I didn't forget my sandwich; I didn't bring it on purpose. I'm trying to lose weight, and I need to start eating less," She explained.
"Oh. Why did you decide to lose weight so suddenly?" Will asked.
"The other day, I was waiting for Rachel's cheerleading practice to end and heard her talk with one of the girls. Rachel asked the girl if I could join the team, and the girl called me fat. So, now I hate her and decided to lose all the weight as revenge. She will regret calling me fat," Monica explained.
Will looked at Monica with a confused expression.
"Wait! Did you go to see Rachel? Why?"
"She's my best friend; I always go pick her up!"
"But that girl calling you fat was Rachel's fault, right? Why are you friends with her? I truly hate her!"
Monica had never understood why Will hated Rachel so much. She never saw Rachel do anything that could justify Will's anger. So, curious, she asked Will why he decided to create the club.
"Okay; She makes my life miserable!" Will started. "She was already so popular when she came to the school, and most of the guys already knew who she was from middle school. And then, Rachel joined the cheerleading club, and almost every guy in the school became obsessed with her."
"And you hate Rachel because she's popular?" Monica asked, still not understanding Will's motive. If someone should hate Rachel because of it, it was Monica. It had been the cause of the slight misunderstanding between them a few months ago, Monica remembered.
"Yes. Because the other guys are always at the cheerleading events just to see her, and when we have group assignments in our class, I always do most of the work alone because the others don't have enough time. So, yeah, I hate Rachel," Will concluded.
Part of Monica wanted to laugh at Will's explanation. For anyone else, it might have seemed ridiculous. However, Monica understood Will's feelings. Whenever there were group projects, if Monica was lucky enough to be in a group, the others would take advantage of her, and she would do the work alone. And she knew how frustrating it was.
But still, she didn't understand why Will decided to hate Rachel for it. It wasn't her fault. Not directly, at least. Maybe it was better if she didn't try to understand. She hadn't told Rachel about the club. After all, she didn't want to see Rachel crying because someone hated her. And now that she knew why Will hated her best friend, Monica wouldn't definitely tell her about it. Some things are better to leave as they are.