Page 2 of Ugly Duckling
Meaning, I’ll probably always be ugly, but some guy might see past the ugly face and eventually marry me for my personality.
I huffed a laugh. “I have to get to school. I love you.”
She kissed me on the cheek and held out my lunch to me.
I took it with barely a grimace and started walking toward the door.
Of course, the first person I ran into on my way into the school was Gunner Lewiston.
He smiled when he saw me. “Hey, Suttie.”
I grimaced. “Don’t call me that.”
He grinned. “How are your legs after that run this morning?”
“Sore,” I admitted. “It was a full effort run.”
“That’s why you smoked Rocky.” He laughed.
Rocky was my best friend. She was also second best at everything because of me.
I loved her dearly, and she loved me right back.
But there was no competition.
She was the beauty queen, and I was the ugly best friend.
“She’ll get there,” I lied.
He winked. “Not to where you’re at.”
No, not to where I’m at.
“Have a good day, Gunner,” I called out.
He knew better than wishing the same for me.
We both knew I’d have a shitty one.
SUTTON
Age sixteen
“Ewwww,” I heard said. “Why’d he ask her? God, can you imagine staring into that face all night?”
I stiffened.
Aleah.
But it was the way that Marx, my date for the prom, laughed that had my back going ramrod straight.
I pulled away, my frown ferocious, ready to run.
“I can’t believe you actually got her to go with you,” another boy said from my left side. “I guess you win the bet after all.”
My stomach all but sank to my knees.
“Now that she’s here, pay up, boys!”
