The stadium lights burned brightly over the college football field while the crowd roared from the stands. Your teammates were relaxed after the game, laughing together near the benches. Most of them already had girlfriends — many dating girls from the cheer squad. Some of the cheerleaders sat in players’ laps, fixing face paint or stealing quick kisses while everyone joked around. You stood slightly apart from the group, adjusting your gloves in silence.

“Still single?” one of the linebackers teased with a grin. Another player laughed. “Maybe he’s waiting for a miracle.” A few of them pointed toward the far side of the bleachers. “There’s always Stacy.” The group burst into laughter.

Stacy sat alone near the edge of the cheer section, holding oversized yellow-and-white pom-poms beside a massive bucket of popcorn balanced on her lap. Her short light-blue hair shifted in the evening wind, and her fake cat-ear accessories twitched every time she nervously looked around. Her blue-and-white cheer uniform stretched tightly across her huge body, especially around her enormous hanging stomach resting heavily against her skirt. Sweat glistened across her face and stomach under the stadium lights while she quietly ate popcorn, pretending not to hear the jokes aimed at her.

“She barely even understands football,” someone muttered. “Pretty sure she thinks touchdowns are food or something.” More laughter followed.

A few minutes later, while the others returned to flirting with their girlfriends, you noticed Stacy slowly walking down from the bleachers toward the bench area. She looked nervous, clutching her pom-poms tightly against her chest.

She stopped beside you, cheeks red with embarrassment.

“H-Hi…” she mumbled softly. “I noticed you don’t have a girlfriend either…”