So here's a fact. I've never really been that visually appealing.

I mean, I'm not saying I'm ugly and stuff but neither am I as hot as Ashley. And as much as I hate to admit it, yeah she is hot. She gives complexities to more than half the girls in our batch. And it's really sad cause some girls try to be like her or at least pretend to.

My research or let's say observations over the past few years led me to this conclusion: girls are hot either because they've been blessed since birth to have that perfect bikini body (thanks to high metabolism who am I kidding) or because they spend hours sweating themselves away in the gym.

And let's just say Ashley is one of them. One of those who spend hours and hours after school in the gym perfecting her squats and whatnot. It's no surprise boys stare at her ass when she walks down the corridors. Some people would be embarrassed, but Ashley? Ashley just loves the attention. And maybe that's the secret to her gym motivation.

Me on the other hand? I like how I am. I'm not thin and neither am I fat. I'm probably in between, being a little heavy on my bottoms. Well yeah, I mean, I'd love to be perfectly figured and have all my fat in the right places, but growing up I've realized that if people have to like me, they should like me for who I am. I don't need to change myself for anyone right? Not that going to the gym is bad for my health or anything, quite the opposite really, but I don't find the desperate desire to. And people should learn to accept that.

But not Ashley. Never Ashley. She loves to pick on people she thinks are publicly or socially 'unappealing' and that, unfortunately, happens to include me.

However, if there was one thing in this world that gave me a complete one-up against Ashley, it was academics.

Where I constantly sailed through class with As, she on the other hand fell rock bottom with Bs and Cs. I could see the jealousy in her because this was the one thing keeping her from being Ms. Perfect.

What I enjoyed the most was watching her squirm every time I was announced as the topper of the class.
It worked in my favour simply because I had ample time to focus on my academics and help out people who were in actual need of tutoring, where else she had time for everything other than her studies.

I sometimes sit and wonder if I'd ever trade my life with hers if given the chance. Maybe I would. I mean, who wouldn't like getting attention from all the cute guys or all those envious girls waiting to join your squad?

But no matter how much the popularity, I would never sacrifice my education. It would just break my parent's hearts because I know how much they trust me to make a bright future for myself.

For Ashley on the other hand, I don't think it matters. She's the typical rich, spoilt kid who'll swim in her pool of inheritance once she turns 18 and if that's not enough, then immediately land a job in her father's company just because she's his child. So I guess it's a win-win for her either way.

To be honest, I've made peace with myself. I've made peace with who I am and how I am. And no one, not even Ashley can change that, no matter how much she picks on me.

I wish other girls had the same tolerance level I had for Ashley, or that Ashley would simply leave everyone alone, but no. Picking on people was her favourite sport and I doubt there's anything that'd ever make her stop.

A few days before the school closed for winter break, I saw Lea, one of my classmates, crying in the locker room.

I was alarmed for the simple reason that I've not known Lea to be the kind of girl that breaks down. She somehow always managed to put up a strong front no matter what.

I rushed to her side. "Lea, what happened? Why are you crying?", I asked, offering her a tissue.

"I can't take it anymore", she said sobbing.

"Can't take what anymore sweetheart?" I waited for her to continue.

"I've always known about my weight. And I've been okay with it. I knew when the time comes, I'd do something about it. But I didn't want to be reminded about it constantly."

"Lea, there's nothing wrong with your weight. You're perfect the way you are. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"No, I'm not. I will never be perfect. Not until Ashley tells me so."

Now, I couldn't hold my surprise. "Ashley? What does Ashley have to do with this?"

And then it hit me. Before she could answer, I had already understood. Ashley was responsible for making her feel this way. That scumbag.

"She told me I'm fat and that no one will ever like me as long as I'm fat and that I'm a disgrace to all the girls here."

I didn't even know what to say anymore. Ashley had broken this girl's morale to a whole new level. Nothing I'd say could make her feel better. She had made her believe that she needed Ashley's approval to be termed 'perfect' and not to be a 'disgrace' to all the other girls.

I was infuriated. But there was nothing I could do to put her down. For the simple reason, that I was one of her picks too.

Lea was in no angle fat. She was just a little chubby and needed a little toning down as and when she desired. Yes, she didn't have a bikini body, so what! That didn't make her any less perfect. That had no connection to her being termed as a disgrace. Boys liking you or not liking you should never be made a level or standard that girls are required to reach.

Once we were back from winter break, I saw Lea. And what I saw shook me. She had already lost a few pounds, just in the span of a few weeks. She seemed more confident and as much as I was happy for her, I was sad too. No one should ever be forced to change themselves this way; to drop a few pounds, to be deemed acceptable by a fake society created by a nobody. A nobody like Ashley Corville.