Friendship Stories

Society

"Hey everyone! Ali's wearing boy's clothes!"

Everyone turned to stare at Ali. She squirmed under everyone's gazes, her stomach feeling queasy. Giggles rang through the yard, all the students started laughing at the girl. They didn't care what she felt, they just laughed and laughed. But there was one kid that cared. His name was Luke.

Luke walked forward, ignoring his friend's telling him not to get involved.

"Hey," he said loud enough for everyone to hear. "Stop it."

Jessica, the girl who made fun of Ali, was stunned. For a moment, at least. She covered up her shock with a smirk. 

"Make me."

Luke's hand clenched into a fist. He wasn't even aware of what he was doing. Ali saw the movement from the corner of her eye. She held onto Luke by the wrist with one quick movement.

"No. Don't waste your energy," she whispered quietly, but not quiet enough, because Jessica laughed what people considered a "cute" laugh.

"Yeah," she said, "listen to your girlfriend . . . your ugly girlfriend."

That was it. The word that made the tears come out. Ugly. That's what Ali was to everyone. Her lip quivered and she let out a sob. She turned around with her head bowed and tears running down her face. 

Ali ran. 

She didn't care where to, she just did. And no one helped. Except for Luke. 

"Wait!" he called before turning to Jessica, his face contorted in anger. "You're a jerk, you know that?" This time Jessica couldn't hide her shock. She stood, stunned as Luke ran after Ali.

"Ali!" Luke huffed as he bent down over his knees. Sweat beaded his forehead. They had run across the whole yard to the other side of the school that was off-limits to students. "Ali?"

Down on the ground, sitting with her arms on her head and her knees tucked in, sat Ali.

After a moment of listening to Ali's soft sniffles, Luke sat down beside her. 

"Hey, you're beautiful, Ali."

The young girl wanted to believe the compliment, but she couldn't. "No, I'm not."

Luke frowned, not because Ali didn't take his compliment, but because she denied it. She denied the fact that she was beautiful, when, in fact, she was.

"Yes, you are," Luke said in a determined voice. "Maybe you're not beautiful according to society, but to me? You're gorgeous. And not only that, but you're also cut and funny, and just such an amazing person. And I love your clothes. They're simple but they're also 'you'. It's your style. Who cares about labels? Just wear whatever you want. Just be you. Screw society, it's messed up. Screw all the haters, screw everyone who doesn't accept you for anything but you. You are unique, you are beautiful, you are amazing. Never, I repeat, never, forget that. Yes, you aren't perfect, but that's what makes you human."

Ali looked up with a sniff, her eyes were red from crying and her glasses were stained with tears on its lenses. She smiled faintly as her eyes connected with Luke's.

She whispered with happy tears coming out of her eyes now, "Thank you."