I was always the popular girl. I was captain of the cheerleading team and admired by all the other girls in my grade for being effortlessly skinny and beautiful. I left cheer practice one day to meet up for an interview with one of the new recruits. We had to see if she had what it took to be on the team. I sipped my weight loss shake and my blonde ponytail bonnes behind me as I walked happily to the coffee shop where I said I'd meet this new girl.
When I sat down across from her I could already tell she didn't have what it took to be a cheerleader. I could tell by the pudge oozing from her waistband.
"So what makes you think you'd be good on the team?" I ask and pretend like I'm about to take notes but all I really wanted to write was fat and move on.
"Well, I really like to dance and I..."
"Let me stop you right there, Sarah." I scoffed. "You don't dance. If you did you wouldn't be so..." I tilted my head up and laughed.
"What?" She responded in shock.
"Chubby." I lift an eyebrow and close my books. "You'd never fit into one of our tiny outfits and we look for people who show a dedication to fitness. I just don't see that in you." I stand up and collect my things. "Now if you'll excuse me I have to go work out." I got an odd feeling when I left as Sarah's eyes burned into me. I thought I heard her mutter something under her breathe but I shook it off.
When I got home I suddenly felt very tired. I just wanted to snack and curl up. Maybe I was on my period. I decided to trust my body and put down my shake and grabbed a bowl of low-fat chips. I could eat as many of these as I wanted and not gain weight they were a special... I checked the front of the bag. I was eating the extra cheddar sour cream and onion chips my brother ate. Ugh! I was so angry. I had eaten nearly the whole bag. I shoved it back in the cupboard and yelled at my brother when he got home before storming up to bed.
I slept in a little late and woke up past my snooze. I realized I didn't have time to do my normal morning routine so I just skipped most of the prep and showered quickly. I usually weighed myself but I didn't have time. I wiggled into my jeans and noticed how they pinched my sides in a little extra today. Mom must have shrunk them in the wash. I shrugged it off and pulled on a black top that showed off my curves. I didn't double check before heading out the door with one of my shakes in hand. I sipped it while sitting in class and once again as I neared the empty cup I started to notice the taste difference. It was one of my brothers weight gain protein shakes. Fuck! I yelled at myself internally. I almost threw the cup across the room but instead tucked it politely away and twiddled my pencil. No one would notice. At the most it would be two pounds. It was easy enough to lose at practice.
I showed up to practice and my uniform was far less flattering. The waist jutted into my hips and lower abdomen to make a little pooch visible. I sucked in and it was gone. Problem solved. I continued to keep my stomach nice and tight through the whole practice. When it was over I noticed a girl watching from the bleachers in a dark hoodie.
I paid no attention and went to shower in the locker room, waiting for everyone else to leave before I let out a long sigh and my weight gain revealed itself. The girl snuck up behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Tara. Looking a bit winded from practice I see." The girl poked my heaving abdomen.
"No! What... I..." I tried to suck back in but I was too out of breath and the poking of my gut didn't help.
"You're going to be the chubby one by the time I'm done with you." The girl laughed and I started to say something but she just turned and walked away. With a flick of her wrist i felt compelled not to follow and instead just grabbed my new flesh and wiggled it in my hand. I least I didn't jiggle. I could still lose the weight.
