The Academy hummed with laughter, shrieks, and excited clamor. Classes had just ended and everyone was starting to head home, aside from a couple that were hanging around for a number of reasons.
Sid Chang was in a hurry to leave, rushing through the seemingly endless corridors, passing countless lockers and the smell of chalk lingering in the air.
Her heart thrummed with anxiety as she listened to the rhythm of her footsteps, trying to tune out the background noise of the boisterous students who filled every nook and cranny of the towering Cesar Chavez Academy.
Her best friend Ronnie Anne was sick that day and she was in a hurry to get back to the apartment building and check on her. Especially after the brief fiasco that happened earlier in the changing room.
"Hey, Chang!"
As the voice reached her, Sid froze in her tracks.
"Oh no…" she muttered to herself.
She slowly turned around and gulped when she saw Becky, the resident bully, heading her way. Her blond hair was almost radiant under the Academy's harsh overhead lights, and she wore a sly grin as she approached Sid.
"Guess who I just heard some rumors about?" Becky asked as her grin grew larger. She knew she had caught Sid's attention. She could see it in her wide eyes as fear played across her face.
It was almost too easy to get a reaction from Sid. Becky took pleasure in playing with her prey before pouncing, and boy, was she hungry.
"Rumors?" Sid murmured, trying her best to play it cool. But even she could hear the quiver in her voice.
Becky let out a sly chuckle. "Yeah, you know, about that huge butt of yours slowing you down."
Sid glanced at the students still buzzing around them. She swallowed back the lump in her throat and reached back to cover her rear with both hands.
"W-W-What are you talking about?" she nervously asked, unable to stop the tremor in her voice.
Her gaze darted around, searching for any nearby teacher or staff member who might intervene. The last thing she wanted was to face Becky alone.
But of course, that didn't happen. Instead, Becky only chuckled and leaned closer, lowering her voice to a malicious whisper.
"Everyone's been talking about it, ever since what happened in the changing room" Becky claimed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "They say you've got a real peach back there."
Sid tense, pressing her hips forward in an attempt to shield her curves from view, though her petite frame hardly concealed them. Her heart raced, and her palms grew slick with sweat, leaving traces on the cold, hard surface of her locker.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," Sid stammered, doing her best to hold her ground despite feeling like she might faint.
Becky just laughed at her weak denial. "Right. You know, I heard it's so big you can barely fit in your gym shorts. Heck! You can barely fit it into the shorts you're wearing now!"
Sid felt a wave of tension as memories of the changing room flooded back, each recollection sharp and vivid, like a film reel playing in her mind. The fluorescent lights overhead had cast a harsh glare on the scene, illuminating the awkwardness that seemed to hang in the air. She could still feel the fabric of her gym shorts, cool and unforgiving, as she struggled to pull them on.
As she bent down to slide the shorts up her legs, they snagged at the bottom of her butt, right where it met her thighs. The fabric clung stubbornly, refusing to cooperate. Sid's heart raced as she glanced around, hoping no one was watching her struggle. She attempted to pull them up several times, bouncing on her toes with each effort, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Each bounce felt like a desperate plea for the shorts to relent, but they remained obstinately stuck.
After what felt like an eternity of futile attempts, she finally succeeded in getting them over her butt. A small victory, she thought, but it was short-lived. As she adjusted the waistband, a few girls nearby caught a glimpse of her struggle. Their laughter rang out, sharp and mocking, slicing through her moment of triumph. They teased her about the size of her butt, their words dripping with a mix of amusement and cruelty. Sid felt her face burn with humiliation, and she instinctively denied their jabs, insisting that it was just the fit of the shorts, that they were simply too small.
Throughout gym class, she tried to focus on the exercises, but the whispers and giggles followed her like a shadow. Every time she bent down to pick up a basketball or stretched her legs during warm-ups, she could feel their eyes on her, scrutinizing her every move. The teasing continued, a relentless barrage that chipped away at her confidence. She thought the ordeal was behind her, that she had managed to brush it off, but now it seemed her nightmare was just beginning.
"So, I've been thinking," Becky continued, her grin unwavering. "What better way to show 'em they're right than to see it for myself? Maybe I'll get a picture and post on the school website. Or better yet, put it in the school yearbook!" Becky cackled, clearly pleased with herself as she imagined the chaos her exposure would cause.
Sid's stomach lurched, and she felt her whole face heat up in a way that was probably as red as a ripe tomato. She felt utterly powerless, and the fear gripped her by the throat as she tried to imagine what the aftermath would be like.
She was the epitome of fearfulness at that moment. A muffled scream threatened to escape her lips, and her throat felt so tight she could barely utter any word to defend herself.
The thought of exposing her most private part in front of the entire school terrified her, a feeling more potent than any fortitude she had ever mustered.
Before she could utter even a feeble retaliation, Becky lunged forward, and tried to grab hold of Sid's shorts, but Sid quickly pulled away before he could.
"No!" Sid protested.
"Come on Chang, show me that butt!" Becky commanded.
"No way! Stay away from me!" Sid exclaimed.
"Don't make me rip 'em off of ya, Chang!" Becky warned her threateningly.
Sid slowly began to back away , trying to create distance between her and the bully. Panic surged through her veins, leaving her shaky and unsure of what to do next. Her mind raced, searching for ways to escape this situation. She felt cornered, desperate, and her only thoughts focused on how to avoid being stripped right there in the middle of her academy.
Eventually, she realized that she only had one course of action: run.
And run she did.
Sid bolted down the hallway, her small frame darting past her stunned peers who watched her in astonishment, their backpacks bouncing on their shoulders as they parted like the Red Sea to make way for the panicked student being chased by the mean little blonde with a unibrow.
"Get back here, Chang!" Becky shouted.
Sid sprinted, her legs pumping, her heart pounding in rhythm with the steps she took. Her breath grew ragged, but she couldn't afford to lose sight of her tormentor.
Just a few more steps, she repeated to herself as she flew down the emptying halls. The hum of children's voices drifted away, replaced by the pounding of her feet.
As Sid darted around a corner, she spotted the doors to the library.
She veered off course, making a beeline for the safe haven. Sid practically collided with the doors, throwing them open with a loud bang that echoed through the vast hall.
A startled librarian looked up from her desk as Sid zoomed by.
She gave a little shriek at the sight of a huffing, puffing young girl, who darted past her, ducking and diving behind the rows upon rows of towering bookshelves.
Desperately, Sid searched for a hiding place. She was not going to let Becky catch up and rip her shorts off. Not even in her wildest dreams would she allow that.
"Chang, you can't hide forever!" Becky's triumphant cry reverberated through the library, chilling Sid to the core.
The heavy thud of footsteps approached, growing louder and louder by the second as adrenaline coursed through Sid's body.
She bit her lip, glancing around frantically for a place to hide, ducking her head behind one bookshelf before peeking around it just long enough to see Becky charging down the center aisle.
Sid slipped back behind the shelves, her heart hammering as she frantically weighed her options. Becoming the laughing stock of the entire school was not what she wanted. She needed a clever escape plan—something to get out of this mess and leave the bully bewildered.
And then it struck her.
She remembered the emergency exit doors at the back of the library. She recalled how her History teacher once told her that they were always left unlocked for safety reasons. Maybe just maybe she could use them as an escape route to finally get away from Becky.
Silently, cautiously, she slinked away from her hiding spot and tiptoed along the quiet, abandoned rows on her toes.
She peered over her shoulder just in time to catch a glimpse of a shadowed figure hurtling past and her heart raced. She was still in danger. As she neared the exit, she heard Becky shout from somewhere in the library, voice echoing around the book-lined walls.
"Where did you go, Chang?! I can hear your butt cheeks bouncing!"
Sid pressed herself against the cool metal of the door with all her might. It didn't budge, but she somehow managed to find a latch along the side. With trembling hands, she fumbled to turn it, wincing as it gave out with an audible click that seemed to echo through the silent library.
Just as she prepared to leap outside, she heard the sound of footsteps drawing closer. Her breath caught in her throat as the shadowed figure appeared at the end of the aisle.
Sid had to think on her feet. In a spontaneous move, she pushed the heavy, metal door open, slipping out just enough to catch a quick glimpse of Becky's approaching form.
As the doors swung inward, the fresh air outside hit her in the face like a splash of cool water. The sun was shining brightly, casting long, lazy shadows on the pavement outside, like stretched hands ready to grab hold of anyone unlucky enough to be caught in them.
Sid swallowed back her panic, closing the door silently behind her.
She waited a beat, making sure she was in the clear, and then made a break for it. She had to put some serious distance between herself and that dreadful bully.
The courtyard ahead was bustling with students, parents, and a few teachers. Dread filled her stomach as she thought of the humiliation she'd face if Becky exposed her out there. The academy had no clue that one of its students was capable of such monstrous behavior, and Sid didn't intend to shame herself before the eyes of everyone who looked up to Cesar Chavez.
She was determined to keep her dignity intact, no matter what.
As she dashed across the courtyard, she heard the door she'd just slipped through burst open behind her. Becky's voice pierced the air, shrill and angry. "Chang! Get back here!"
Sid didn't dare look back. She could feel the blood pumping in her ears, her heart pounding like a drum, urging her to keep moving. She weaved between clusters of students, apologizing as she jostled a few, her eyes fixed on the main gate that led to the bustling city streets outside.
The afternoon sun painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, casting long, dancing shadows that seemed to taunt her desperate flight. Each step felt like a lifeline, pulling her further away from the impending disaster that was Becky.
"Stop her!" Becky's voice rang out, shrill and commanding. Sid's heart leapt into her throat as she glanced back and saw Becky pointing at her, her face contorted with rage. A few students turned to look, their expressions curious and confused. Sid didn't have time to explain; she just kept running, her lungs burning with the effort.
She could hear the echo of footsteps behind her, and she knew Becky wasn't far behind. She pushed herself harder, her legs aching as she sprinted.
As she walked, her shoe struck a rock, causing her to nearly stumble and lose her balance. Fortunately, she quickly regained her footing and stayed upright.
She took a deep breath and sighed with relief. Though she quickly regretted staying still upon feeling a hand grabbing the back of her black shorts.
Sid gasped and turned to see that the hand belonged to an evilly grinning Becky.
The blonde girl snickered. "Gotcha." Becky's voice dripped with satisfaction. Sid's heart sank as she felt the fabric of her shorts starting to strain as Becky pulled on them. She was out of breath, her lungs burning from the chase, and now she was at Becky's mercy.
"Let me go!" Sid pleaded, trying to yank herself free from Becky's grip. But Becky held on tight, her fingers digging into the fabric, pulling it even harder.
"Not until I get what I came for," Becky hissed, her eyes gleaming with malice.
"No!" Sid cried.
Becky gave the shorts a sharp tug, and Sid felt the elastic waistband of her shorts stretch tight, then snap.
The fabric gave way, and before Sid could even register what was happening, she was falling over onto her face just as her shorts were ripped off, exposing the large, jiggling posterior she was so self-conscious about.
Becky held up the tattered remains of Sid's shorts with a smug smirk on her face."Well, well, well... look what we have here."
Sid's gasped in shock and embarrassment as she realized what had just happened. She couldn't believe this was happening. She felt like she was in a nightmare, and she couldn't wake up.
Around them, a crowd formed, students and teachers alike gawking at the scene unfolding before them.
Sid's face burned with humiliation as she lay there, half-naked, her most intimate parts on full display. She wanted to curl up and disappear, but all she could do was push herself up onto her hands and knees, frozen in shock and embarrassment.
Becky, however, reveled in the attention. She held up Sid's torn shorts like a trophy, waving them around for everyone to see. "Look at this, everyone!" she crowed. "Chang's got a huge booty! No wonder she couldn't fit into her gym shorts!"
Laughter erupted from the crowd, stinging Sid's ears and piercing her heart.
She felt a wave of nausea wash over her as she realized the extent of her humiliation.
Becky, sensing her victory, leaned down, her face inches away from Sid's. "You should've just shown me what I wanted to see, Chang. Serves you right."
Sid's body trembled with embarrassment and fear. She couldn't believe how quickly her life had spiraled out of control. One moment she was rushing to check on her sick friend, and the next, she was on the ground, her big freckled butt on full display to the entire school. The laughter of her peers echoed in her ears, each chuckle a stab to her already wounded pride.
"Hey, everyone! Get a picture of this!" Becky encouraged the crowd, prompting them all to take out their phones and aim them at Sid's rump. "Ready… aim…"
Before she could shout "fire," a sudden commotion at the edge of the crowd caught their attention.
A certain ponytailed Latina girl in a purple hoodie and riding a skateboard.
Sid gasped when she saw her. "Ronnie Anne!" Sid managed to say, her eyes widening in relief at the sight of her best friend, who was riding towards her on her board despite looking a little green around the gills.
Her palms were slick with sweat, her body still trembling, and she felt sick to her stomach. Yet somehow, seeing Ronnie Anne gave Sid the strength to stand up, her legs shaky but stubbornly holding her weight.
Ronnie Anne wasted no time zooming through the throng of students gathered around the spectacle.
She held out her hand and Sid did the same.
Upon reaching her and taking hold of her shaky hand, Ronnie Anne yanked her best friend off her feet and pulled her away as they rode away from the crowd and the school.
As they fled, Becky shouted at them. "Hey! Get back here!"
Ronnie Anne pulled Sid onto her board and while trying to cover her rear, she used her other hand to hold onto Ronnie Anne's shoulder.
"Ronnie Anne! You're here! But how? Aren't you sick? How did you know about…?" Sid began to ask.
"Let's discuss that later, ok?" Ronnie Anne deftly wove the skateboard through the throngs of startled and blushing civilians, maneuvering it around slow walkers and daydreamers. "We have to get out of sight first."
Sid nodded fervently, still trying to wrap her mind around the spectacle she had just narrowly escaped. A moment of silence passed between them as they rode down the sidewalk.
The weight of Sid's embarrassment hung heavy in the air, and Ronnie Anne was careful to offer no words of comfort, knowing that Sid might be too depressed and ashamed to talk about it:
Instead, Ronnie Anne discreetly observed the curious beings they passed on their journey—the giggling kids who pointed snickering fingers at them, the parents who hurried their children away from the spectacle, and the elderly who fainted at the shock of a child's partial nudity.
Ronnie Anne could feel Sid trembling behind her. She was just a passenger, but held on tightly to Ronnie Anne's shoulders, her bare bottom exposed to the world. It felt both weird and cruel to not address her friend's predicament, but something told Ronnie Anne that for now, Sid needed the silence more than she needed her words.
After several minutes, they ducked into an alley and hopped off the board.
Sid pulled down the front and back of her shirt as much as she could to cover up her bare crotch and butt, even hunching their shoulders in an attempt to become smaller, less noticeable.
"Thank you for saving me, Ronnie," Sid expresses gratefully to her best friend.
Ronnie Anne merely nodded. "Any time, buddy," she said before sneezing. "Ugh. I can't believe I still have this cold."
Sid looked at her friend with a tinge of worry. "You ok?"
"Yeah… Barely… Honestly, I shouldn't really be out of bed… But when Nikki texted me about Becky chasing you I had to come!" Ronnie Anne claimed. "Took forever to convince my Mom and Abuela to let me leave though…" She coughed quietly, trying to smother the remnants of her cold as she spoke.
Sid looked at her best friend with concern. Even when her world had crumbled around her, she feared for Ronnie Anne's well-being. She knew that Ronnie Anne wasn't one to back down from a fight, especially when it came to helping a friend.
"You really shouldn't have left your sickbed," Sid chided gently.
Ronnie Anne shrugged. "You know me, Sid.
I'll always have your back. Besides, I was just dealing with a little runny nose and cough. Nothing that couldn't be solved with some tissues and hot soup," Ronnie Anne insisted, her determination not to be deterred easily evident in her words.
Sid couldn't help but smile at her friend's stubbornness. She knew it was one of the things she loved the most about Ronnie Anne—it was comforting to know that, no matter what happened, she would always have a fierce ally by her side.
"Well, thank you, Ronnie Anne. I hate to think of what would've happened if you weren't there," Sid said gratefully, her friend's stubbornness was one of the many aspects she truly appreciated about her.
"Then luckily for you, I was" Ronnie Anne replied, trying to sound upbeat in spite of her physical condition.
Sid smiled weakly at her friend, but in her mind, she was overwhelmed with the sheer weight of what had just occurred. Her body trembled ever so slightly, and she suddenly felt very naked despite still trying to cover herself.
"We should probably get you some pants," Ronnie Anne said. "Can't have you walking around like that all day."
For a moment, Sid uncertainly looked down at her bare bottom, swallowed hard, and took a deep breath before nodding and trying to ignore the sharp pangs of embarrassment that still lingered.
"Yeah, that's a good idea," she agreed softly, avoiding Ronnie Anne's gaze.
Ronnie Anne, noticing her friend's discomfort, gently placed a comforting hand on Sid's shoulder. "Hey, look at me," she said softly. Sid hesitantly met her gaze. "What happened back there... it's not your fault, okay? Becky was dead wrong for doing that to you. And I promise, we'll figure out a way to make this right."
Sid felt a lump form in her throat. She hadn't realized how much she needed to hear those words until they were spoken. "Ok…" she whispered.
"But what if people see me again? Like this?" Sid asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ronnie Anne thought for a moment before snapping her fingers with a smile. She unzipped and took off her hoodie before wrapping it around Sid's waist, making it a sort of makeshift skirt.
"There, that should help. At least you won't be flashing anyone now," Ronnie Anne said, offering her friend a warm smile.
Sid looked down at the oversized hoodie and gave a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Ronnie. I owe you one."
Ronnie Anne just waved her hand dismissively. "Don't mention it. That's what best friends are for, right?"
Sid nodded in agreement.
"Now, let's get you home.
You need to rest, and I need to figure out how to handle Becky," Ronnie Anne said, her voice firm with determination.
Sid nodded, still trying to process the day's events. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."
Ronnie Anne helped Sid onto the skateboard, making sure she was comfortable before pushing off and weaving through the city streets. Sid held onto Ronnie Anne's shoulders, her mind racing with thoughts of what had happened and what was yet to come.
As they skated, Sid couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. "Ronnie, I'm sorry you had to see that. My stupid fat stark naked butt that is…" Sid said, blushing.
Ronnie Anne chuckled, "Don't worry about it, Sid. Your butt's nothing to be embarrassed about! We're both girls after all!" She reminded her. "We've changed in front of each other a million times!"
"Yeah, but now everyone's seen my butt and knows how big it is!" Sid despaired.
"Sid, listen to me," Ronnie Anne said firmly, "Becky's the one who should be embarrassed, not you. She's the one who went around exposing your private parts without your consent. That's a serious invasion of privacy, and so not cool."
Sid sighed. "You're right. I just feel so embarrassed. I don't think I can face anyone at school ever again."
Ronnie Anne shook her head. "You shouldn't have to face them because of something Becky did. We could call the principal or your Mom. She is not getting away with it this time!" Ronnie Anne declared, her voice resonating with determination. "And so what if people are gonna make fun of you for your butt? They're just jealous because of how cute it is." Ronnie Anne added, trying to lighten the mood.
Sid let out a small laugh, grateful for her friend's attempt at humor. "Only you could make me laugh at a time like this, Ronnie."
Ronnie shrugged, smiling proudly. "I try."
Sid realized something just then. "So… you think my big butt is… 'cute'?" she asked in surprise.
Ronnie Anne blushed. realizing what she had said. "Well, uh… y-you know what I mean. It's... it's just a part of you, Sid. And it's not like you can change it, r-right? So why be embarrassed about something that's natural?"
Sid looked over her shoulder and down at bum, covered by Ronnie Anne's hoodie. "I guess you're right. It's just... I've always been so self-conscious about it. And now, with everyone having seen it..."
"Listen, Sid. You're beautiful. Inside and out. Your butt doesn't define you, your kindness and your heart do. And anyone who can't see that isn't worth your time or energy, got it?" Ronnie Anne told her.
Sid smiled with rosy cheeks and eyes filled with tears of joy. "Got it," she whispered.
Sid let out a deep breath, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders and leaned against her friend's back as they continued to skate down the bustling city streets.
With each passing block, she felt a little more at ease, a little more at peace.
Ronnie Anne steered them expertly through the crowded sidewalks, weaving in and out of pedestrians with practiced ease. Sid watched the world go by, her mind still racing but her heart feeling a little lighter.
