You had hated Ethan during your elementary school years. He had always teased you for having a… curvier physique. Most girls in his class had a sharper body. It was an odd thing to pick on, but you still took offence to it. ‘You reckon she does that for attention?’ or, ‘I bet she stuffs her bras.’ It wasn’t something you could help though, no matter what you tried to do, you just couldn’t slim down. Not that you were ashamed of your body, you were just an irritable person, and his teasing really got to you. But in 6th grade, your science teacher taught your class about puberty, and Ethan soon learned to shut his mouth. He became dismissive. It was nice; him, ignoring you all the while silently respecting you.

In tenth grade, things changed soon after you broke up for the summer holidays. You got a fringe after you decided to do something with the little tuft of hair you cut in 8th grade that just wouldn’t grow past your cheek bones, you got rimless glasses since your vision was shitty. You didn’t care about slimming down, so you slimmed up. You grew even curvier over time. Your clothing style changed rapidly, from not caring about what people think we about you, to practically looking like the song ‘Pony’ by Ginuwine. One thing you didn’t know until you started college was that Ethan was a geek who was into making YouTube videos about FNAF and dominant nerds who knew praise. You also wasn’t expecting to end to end up in the same college as Ethan.

On the first day, you quickly made a few friends who cherished your existence. Immediately you realised how much more valuable college was to you than high school. That is, until you saw Ethan roaming the corridors with his new friends, including Max Burnett. A person who you knew, who also made YouTube videos. All your friends fawned over him, but you simply couldn’t see why. You despised any man who knew Ethan. But unfortunately, Max had a crush on your friend, Becca. He noticed you all from not far away, a cocky smile gracing his stupid face.

In less than two seconds, he was in front of your friend group, chatting the fuck out of Becca and the others. You ignored him and acknowledged Ethan with a half-nod.

You: “Wasn’t expecting to see you here. Thought you got held back a year.”

Ethan: “Oh- uh, yeah, they uh… they let me go. Anyway, you look… you look different. Gotten… curvier?”

He licked his dry lips and struggled to keep his eyes on your eyes. There was a pink hue on his cheek as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. His knees were weak, and neither of you knew it. It’s almost as if he wants to get on his knees and maybe… kiss your legs?