sat in the front row of class, taken my notes, and been everything I thought my parents and teachers wanted from me.”
“But a month ago, things changed. I came to school after the worst diagnosis of my life. I was told I have PCOS, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which comes with a whole host of fun symptoms like infertility and weight gain. And then, when I sat in health class, I was told by Merritt Alexander and her friends, that because of my size, finding a guy with a good heart along with a good body would be impossible. No one disagreed.”
I scanned the crowd, waiting for the verbal cupcakes to fall, but none came. I took a breath and continued. “You know what happened next. I bet Merritt I could get Beckett Langley to fall for a girl like me, and in the process of proving that I was worthy, someone I’d harbored a crush on for years got hurt. I’ll never be able to make up for that or the fact that four of the most wonderful girls got hurt in the process.
“These girls wanted to help me. As they taught me to reach my full potential with makeup and clothes that didn’t fit like a tent to hide my curves, I began to learn how incredible they were. I learned that they were brilliant, funny, kind, and amazing friends and motivators, regardless of their waistline or bra size. They. Were. Incredible.”
Zara stared at me hard from the crowd, but the other girls failed to make eye contact. I stared right back at her. “The numbers that come up when they step on a scale have nothing to do with that. And if that’s true, then it means my weight or the size of clothes I wear have no say in how worthy I am of love.”
I met my brother’s eyes where he sat in the third row, and he gave me an encouraging nod.
“Last week, Merritt was announced homecoming queen, and while she deserves the crown, I don’t think she deserves the last word. If you want to see me as the fat girl covered in cupcakes for the rest of your life, I have a food truck outside with enough cupcakes for everyone. You can throw them at me if you want, but if you’re tired of other people deciding that you matter, if you’re tired of counting calories and feeling like you’re not enough, come with me and have one as friends.
“If this whole experience has taught me anything, it’s that you should enjoy the damn cupcake. Life’s too short to skip dessert or pass on telling someone you like them until you’re the right weight or dressed in the right clothes or wearing the right makeup.”
I met Beckett’s eyes and held his stare. “Odds are, they’ll see past all of that and look into your heart like Beckett did for me.”
He shifted his gaze toward the floor, and even with an aching chest, I turned back to the crowd, back to the four girls who’d become my best friends. “This is for you and every other girl who’s never felt good enough. I love you, and you should too.”
I reached into my bag, which still hung around my shoulder, and pulled out a box with the Seaton Bakery logo on it. All the shaking in my hands was gone as I opened it and took a bite of cupcake. I lifted it in the air and walked down the auditorium aisle.
Then the most amazing thing happened.
Someone started clapping.
My cheeks warmed as the smattering turned into a roar.
Arms wrapped around my shoulders and stopped me mid-march. Callie.
She’d stood from her aisle seat, ran to me, and held me tight. “You’re amazing.”
Three more pairs of arms joined me, wrapping me in a hug.
“I’m so sorry,” I said to them, but especially to Jordan. “I should have been there for you.”
“We should have too,” Jordan said.
I squeezed them and started back. “What now?”
Zara lifted her fist in the air. “We march.” Then she yelled to everyone in the audience. “WELCOME TO THE CUPCAKE PRIDE PARADE.”
And people actually joined. We led the march, all the way to the parking lot where everyone got a cupcake of their own from the stand Gayle had set up with Seaton Bakery cupcakes.
Aiden cleared his throat behind me, and when I turned to face him, he wrapped me in a hug. “I’m so proud of you, sis.”
More arms surrounded us. My parents.
Mom beamed