Chapter 2
1610 Words
She opened her eyes to see Bianca and a bunch of others including Lucas, laughing at her, her lips still puckered out expecting a kiss.
You really thought Lucas was going to kiss a pig like you?” Bianca mocked.
“We made a bet if he could get Betty the fatso to admit she liked him and it was just too easy!”
“I want… I want you to kiss me?” Bianca mimicked her in a mocking voice.
Bethant looked over at Lucas, and there was a wicked smile on his face because he had won the bet. She felt like sinking into the ground.
Her face stung with embarrassment and she tried to run away out the back of the house. She lost her footing and slipped on the muddy floor falling face down into the mud.
The students quickly gathered, taking photos and videos as they laughed at her. She felt completely humiliated.
“Wow. You really look like a pig in all that mud.” Bianca said as she came closer to take a photo of her.
“I think it's time you have a bath.”
Bianca picked up the garden hose and hosed her down with cold water causing her to squirm as the onlookers continued videoing her.
Lucas watched, a bit uncomfortable with how things had progressed.
Her face was completely messed up, her make up all over the place, and mud in her hair.
She stood up and ran away, tears running down her face.
“Do you need a ride?” A voice said as he slowed his car down.
She had seen him before. He was Zayn Alistair. He was a member of her class and was also on the basketball team.
He was at the party and followed her after witnessing what had happened.
“No. Thank you.” She shrugged off his offer.
“I'm sure you don't want to walk all the way home looking like that. I'll drop you off.”
“Why do you care? Aren't you friends with Lucas?”
“We're teammates, not friends. C'mon, get in.”
She definitely didn’t want to walk all the way home looking the way she did, so she reluctantly accepted his offer and got in.
They drove quietly for the next five minutes before Zayn finally broke the silence.
“I can imagine how you feel”
“Really? You're a fit player on the basketball team. I'm sure girls are lining up for you. I don't think you know how I feel.”
“It might suprise you but I used to be the fat kid too, but I decided to do something about it. You can too.”
Bethany found that hard to believe, a stud like him used to be a fat-kid too?
“This was me before I decided to take my fitness seriously” Zayn showed her a photo of himself on his phone.
She couldn't believe they were the same person.
(**5 years Later ****)
Bethany stood at the entrance of the class reunion venue, her pulse racing. She wasn’t the same girl who had been humiliated five years ago.
Tonight, she was going to prove it.
As soon as she walked in, the energy in the room changed.
Heads turned. Whispers spread. She could feel their eyes on her, but she kept her gaze forward, ignoring them. She took a seat at the bar and ordered a drink.
Lucas Grey stood near the bar, laughing with his friends. His laughter faded as he noticed people’s attention had drifted elsewhere.
Curious, he turned and saw her. He froze, amazed at how beautiful she was. He didn’t recognize her.
Lucas blinked, his mind trying to figure out where he’d seen this woman before.
It was a class reunion, so he should have seen her at least once when they were in college, and with how hot she was, there was no way he wouldn’t have noticed her then.
However, something did seem oddly familiar about her.
Without thinking, he handed his drink to his friend Ryan and walked towards her.
Bethany saw him coming, her heart pounding in her chest. This was it.
The moment she had replayed in her mind for years. She braced herself, keeping her face neutral.
“Hey,” Lucas said, his signature smile in place.
“I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Lucas.” He extended his hand, his eyes trying to piece together her identity.
Bethany shook his hand lightly, holding his gaze. “Beth,” she said.
Lucas tilted his head, his smile faltering slightly. “Beth? You look familiar… Were you in our year? I feel like I should remember you.”
Bethany let out a soft, humorless laugh. “We did go to school together. But no, you don’t remember.”
Lucas frowned. He hated feeling off balance, especially with someone as striking as this. “I’m sure I would’ve noticed you,” he said, trying to recover. “You’re hard to forget.”
Bethany raised an eyebrow, amused. “You forgot.” Lucas opened his mouth to respond but paused, sensing there was more behind her words.
“Wait… you’re not—” he started, eyes narrowing as he searched her face more intently.
She smirked. “Bethany Sinclair.” The name threw him off guard
His face paled as the memory resurfaced—the overweight girl he’d barely glanced at in university.
The one he and his friends had humiliated as part of a bet. The one who had run out of his party years ago, drenched and devastated.
His throat tightened. “No way...”
“Yes way,” she said, her voice cool.
“Surprised?” Lucas swallowed hard.
“Bethany, I—” “You what? Didn’t recognize me? Or didn’t expect me to show up here looking like this?”
Bethany’s voice was steady, but the pain and anger simmered beneath the surface.
Lucas looked around, suddenly uncomfortable. “That was a long time ago. We were stupid kids. I—”
“We were the same age, Lucas,” she cut him off.
“You weren’t a kid. You knew exactly what you were doing.”
He shifted on his feet, trying to regain control of the situation.
“Look, I’m sorry, alright? I didn’t mean for things to go that far.”
Bethany stared at him, unimpressed. “That’s the best you’ve got? After all these years?” Lucas ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.
“Bethany, I’ve changed, okay? I’m not that guy anymore.”
“Really?” Bethany asked, crossing her arms.
“You think a few words are going to fix everything?” Lucas faltered.
He hadn’t expected this. The confident, stunning woman in front of him was nothing like the quiet, insecure girl from years ago. He didn’t know how to handle her.
“I… I don’t know what else to say.” Bethany took a step closer, her eyes locked on his.
“You don’t need to say anything, Lucas. I’m not here for an apology.”
“Then why are you here?” he asked, his voice lowering.
A slow smile spread across her face. “To show you how little you matter to me now.” Lucas flinched at the words.
For once, he was speechless. Bethany turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Lucas standing there, stunned.
Every eye in the room was on him now, watching as the king of their social circle was knocked off his pedestal by the very girl he had once disregarded.
Bethany walked away from Lucas, her heart pounding but her expression calm. She could still feel his eyes on her, but she didn’t care. Not anymore. She had waited years for this moment, to face him and make him realize what he had lost.
But it wasn’t just Lucas. The whole room had noticed her now, and she could feel their whispers following her. She moved to more quiet part of the room, finding a quiet corner to catch her breath.
That brief interaction had stirred up more than she expected.
As she leaned against the wall, a voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Impressive,” Zayn said, appearing at her side with a smirk.
Bethany turned to see him, and for the first time tonight, her composure faltered just a little.
Zayn Allistair. He looked even more handsome than the last time she saw him.
He had been her only source of comfort during her humiliation five years ago. The only one who hadn’t laughed.
“Zayn,” she said, surprised but trying not to show it. “You’re here?”
“I wouldn’t miss a chance to see how far we’ve all come,” he replied, his eyes sweeping over her with approval.
“And you? Seems like you’ve come a long way.” Bethany allowed herself a small smile.
“I have.”
Zayn raised an eyebrow. “I saw what happened with Lucas. Not bad. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him speechless before.”
Bethany shrugged, her smile fading slightly. “It’s not about revenge. I just wanted him to see me for who I am now.”
Zayn studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable.
“You’ve always been more than they could see. Lucas just didn’t know it.” Bethany felt a strange warmth at his words.
A sudden commotion from across the room interrupted their conversation.
Lucas was having an argument with Bianca, who looked very furious.
Even from a distance, Bianca’s loud voice could be heard.
- Writer
