The Girl Who Was Never Loved

One: Nelly

Nelly was a girl who was never loved. That doesn't mean no one loved her, per se; it just meant that no guy has ever liked her back. She had a loving family and a best friend who all loved her dearly. Nelly, however, was missing a different kind of love—a love that would rock her to her core, a love that would be tender and soft, a love that would let her know she was important and beautiful.

Nelly doesn't think she is beautiful. She is overweight and frumpy. This has been her entire life since childhood, and she has never had any romance. She feels isolated from the notion of romantic love.

Nelly just graduated high school and is now driving to a graduation party where she will ask her crush out on a date. Andrew. He was a baseball player and was friends with Heather, her best friend. Before Andrew became popular, Nelly, Andrew, and Heather had hung out at the mall together every Friday night. Nelly just found out that Andrew had been accepted to the same college that Nelly was going to. Now is her chance; she can have a summer romance and go to college with a boyfriend. It could be a dream come true, and she would finally be loved.

Nelly pulled up to the party, parking a few yards from the house on the grass. She was wearing a frumpy black dress, which wasn't particularly flattering. It fit her just fine but did not make her look good.

There were a few people drinking from red Solo cups outside on the porch. There weren't too many people there yet since Nelly arrived early. She was always early. Nelly was always extremely punctual and always followed the rules. She was, in other words, boring. Nothing exciting ever happened in her life. Nelly had a very uneventful youth.

Nelly sat on the couch, scrolling on her phone, until more people arrived, including Heather, around ten.

"Hey Heather, happy graduation! We did it, finally." Nelly said, hugging Heather.

Heather hugged her back, smiling.

"I know; I'm so glad to finish high school. I never want to look at a calculator again...well, until college."

"You'll do great at MIT, Heather. You're the smartest person I know."

"Ugh, thank you, Nells. Hey, but you got to Columbia. You should be proud of yourself too. You're going to do great in your writing program. I know you'll write the best screenplay, and I can't wait until you get your Oscar."

"Haha, I don't think that'll happen for a while, Heather...or ever. I'll be fine just writing for shows and television movies."

"Maybe, for now, Nells. Anyway, your crush is going to be here tonight. Andrew is coming with some other baseball bros. Now is your chance. I mean, how cool would it be if you two started as a couple in New York freaking City at Columbia University together."

"Well, I just don't know if I should ask him out on a date even..."

"Nelly, you need to do this. Now is your chance before he gets a new girlfriend at college because, I mean, look at him...he will find someone. Why can't someone be you?"

Nelly paused for a moment, deciding.

"You're right. I'll ask him out to the movies later tonight."

"Yes, Nells! You will be loved by a baseball player and future lawyer Andrew Mcfarley."

Nelly shook her head, grabbed Heather's arm, and they walked through the house and backyard together, having a good time at the party.

A few hours later, Nelly was drinking water out of a red Solo cup leaning against the kitchen door frame when Andrew walked through the front door. She froze.

Andrew came in laughing and talking with his baseball buddies. They even had some cheerleaders come in with them. Granted, they were no longer high school baseball players or high school cheerleaders. Nelly couldn't grasp the concept that they were, in fact, never going to be in high school again. This is it. It'll be over, and just then, Nelly knew she had to ask Andrew out because Heather was right...she may never have a chance again with him.

Nelly let Andrew settle into the party before making her move. About an hour into Andrew's stay, she noticed that he was alone at last. He was leaning on the kitchen island when Nelly walked up and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around in one swift moment. Nelly froze.

"Hi," Nelly said shyly.

"Hey, Nelly, it's been a while. How are you?" Andrew asked, smiling.

Nelly thought there might be a chance with that beautiful smile he showed her. He was still as nice as she remembered. Famous or not, Andrew was a good guy.

"I just...wanted to congratulate you for today."

"Well, you too, Nelly. Hey! I hear we got into Columbia together."

Nelly smiled.

"Yes, we did. Which is another thing I wanted to ask you."

"Yeah?"

"Well, since we will be in the same city and the same university and all...I was thinking that...I don't know."

"What?" Andrew said curiously.

"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to get a bite to eat sometime, or see a movie?"

"Yeah, Nells, let's all go together like the old times. I'd love to catch up with you and Heather," Andrew said, completely unaware that she was asking him to go alone on a date.

Nelly froze in embarrassment, but just then, his buddies and hot cheerleaders hustled into the kitchen, ignoring Nelly, patting Andrew's back and asking him to come out to the backyard with them.

Nelly's four years of crushing on this boy in hopes of falling in love were demolished in less than five minutes. Again.

Nelly left the party immediately and got in her car. She never even said goodbye to Heather. She drove back to her house, ran to her room, and burst into tears.

She cried as she took off her jacket and paced around her room. What does she do now? She hugged her fat body and angrily wailed.

Finally, she looked in the mirror and stopped crying. Tears rolling down her face.

"No one will love you if you don't love yourself." She said to herself.

She went to sit on her bed and opened her MacBook laptop. She deactivated Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. She would lose weight, get fit, and do this without anyone knowing. Maybe then, and only then, will someone love her back.