Chubby Girls Cuddle Better (The Love Story of a Fat Girl)

Blondes Don't Have More Fun

We all waited anxiously for the councilor's dismissal to get dressed, as we were told all the rules and such about going to the Lake. I was so excited. It had been 5-ever since I'd actually been swimming. Then it hit me. Swim wear. The bathing suits I brought weren't exactly "sexy" on my body. I didn't look like a model for Speedo so much as I did for McDonald's. I slowed down while everyone ran to their cabins to get dressed. What if Eric saw my billboard (aka my boobs) and ran off with one of those city girls? So much for us hanging out afterwards. Nikki caught up with me and grabbed my arm.

"Let's go, slow-poke, I want to get dressed!" she said excitedly. I looked back at her slowly as my arms loosely crossed along my mid-section in a useless attempt to cover it. Her eyes followed my actions and she shook her head slowly in thought. She took my hand and led me off the trail.

"Nik, where are we going? The cabins are that way," I said stupidly. I had no idea where the hell she was taking me.

"I know."

We kept walking until no one could see either of us (well probably me, I stuck out like those wacky, inflatable, flailing-arm things at car dealerships). She stopped suddenly and turned to me.

"Who are you?" she stated. I was about to answer, but she cut me off. "You are Iris. And no one else is you. You are special. You are intelligent. You've got a great taste in music, which, these days, is miraculous. You are you, and nobody can change that about you. You think you weigh too much, don't you?" This time, she paused, and I knew she wanted an answer.

"You have eyes, Nikole, you see how fat I am," I replied quietly. I'd been lectured about my weight before, but I had no clue which angle she was coming from.

"No. I don't see fat skin, fat chest, or fat anything. The only big thing I see before me it that heart of yours. You have a good, strong, big heart, Iris. No amount of exercise or eating right is going to change that. You are Iris DuBois and you should be damn well proud of it. You think others determine who is "hot" and who're "not"? Who explained that to them? Ignorant people. People who are jealous. They don't understand how good life can be when you don't care what it says on the scales." Her voice was shaking now, and I could see the glimmer of tears in her eyes. Something else was the root of this emotional burst from her, and I had the feeling she was just waiting to tell me. I was right.

"Iris... I was anorexic. I was just like those girls... Until I almost died. I was starving myself for bikini season, but it was just after fasting for two weeks off anything with nutrients. I drank water and nibbled on a piece of lettuce when I thought I was hungry enough. One day, I was home alone... And the phone rang. My dad was calling to check up and ask if I wanted to spend the weekend with him at the beach. I had to go down the stairs but I was so tired... I could barely get up. After the first two steps, I couldn't stand anymore. When I landed on the ground, I could feel my head pounding. The blood on my hair was making it soggy. I stayed there for almost an hour before my neighbor, a girl our age, came over to ask if I wanted to go out for lunch. She called 911 for me and they lead me out. I thought I was dead, the moment I fell from the stairs in slow motion. I knew I was dead from the minute I stood up to answer the phone. Being skinny, it isn't worth it. Th-Those pills are for my head. So do not beat yourself up for weighing more than 100 pounds. Because the fact of the matter is, none of those girl's should weigh any less than you do. You have a right to be alive more than anyone else in this world does. You can do anything you want to. You are beautiful, Iris. And I will go to the ends of the earth to protect you from anybody who says or even thinks otherwise."

"Really?" was all I could muster out. We had both been crying, tears were covering our faces.

"Really."

**********

Once we were dressed, (Nikki had chosen my favorite "bikini" for me to wear. It was really just a tankini that covered up my belly. It made my hips actually look small) we went down to the Lake together. The guy she'd met earlier went along with us (His name was Todd) and we couldn't wait for relief from the hot sun. When we were finally released to the water, I actually raced Nikki and Todd into the water but Todd got there first and started splashing us. We were having a blast. We all started to dive under the water to see who could hold their breath the longest and I won! It was like we were kids again! I totally forgot all about my weight... Until I noticed Eric still on the sand with those city girls surrounding him. Hey, Cheerleaders, can you spell S-L-U-T-S? Their bikinis couldn't have been any more revealing. They really leave nothing to the imagination. I swear, they were wearing string bathing suits. It was disgusting, and even Eric looked highly awkward around that much skin. I looked away and returned to my friends. But when I turned, Eric called out my name. He'd gotten up and ran into the water beside me.

"Hello, again." Oh jeez. Marry me.

"Hi there, potato chip. You look like the sun was trying to cook you alive," I teased, using all the good energy I had to keep me from licking his beautifully sculpted, thin body.

"Yeah, I'm well baked. Want a taste?" he replied. Oh, sweet God, yes.

"Nah, you'd be too salty!" I laughed. Behind us, Todd was tossing Nikki into the water like she was nothing.

"And you, my dear, would be far too sweet." Oh, jeez. Oh, jeez. What's air again?

"Oh shut up, and have some fun!" I cried, splashing him with water.

**********

It was over. We were forced to go in, all of us groaning in disappointment (except the blondes in the noodle suits who'd left the minute it got cold). Nikki and I ran up to get showered and changed while Todd and Eric did the same. After a long, hot shower, I pulled on my favorite thermal pants that had little penguins on them and a t-shirt from my dad's biker gang "The Devil's Sons". We went down to the lounging area and we found Todd alone in the corner with his guitar in his lap. We were all belting I Love Rock 'N Roll by Joan Jett when Eric ran up to us and sang the last part like an angel.

"...Come on, take your time, and DANCE WITH ME!" he cried, making us all laugh at his air guitar solo, backed by Todd who was shredding like it was no one's business. When the song was over, we were all starving so we went to the kitchens and got some snacks. We went down into the rec room and Nikki and Todd continued their little band session.

"Hey, Eric, does your phone charge if you call home?" I asked him.

"No, why?" he replied confusedly.

"Because I'd hate for you to waste money on the call you'll be giving your mom after I kick your ass at foosball!" I said, running to the foosball table head of him. He laughed and shook his head.

"Well then... you better wake up, Iris, because y-you're dreaming," he retorted miserably. If this wasn't a dream I'd have fainted by now.

My heart was in my stomach as we continued to play the lame game all night. When we finally decided to head to the cabins, he opened the doors for me without a word.

When we made it to the cabins, he took my hand and turned me slowly.

"Iris? I-I had a lot a fun with you, all day. You're a very fun girl," he said, making me wonder what he was getting to. "Would you care to hang out again tomorrow?"

"I think so," I replied teasingly. I'd had a lot of fun too. And I was totally up for anything to do with a handsome British boy. But what was so fascinating about me that he wanted to hang out with?

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Finally, part 4! I made it extra long just for you guys! Thank you all so much for the votes and reads, remind your friends that you don't have to have an account to read or vote for a story. Thanks again for following Iris through all this and head's up, the drama cloud is on the horizon so keep reading! Read and vomment!

-Robin