Chapter 3

Colored lights spun across the ceiling. The coffee table was covered with bottles, snacks, and fruit plates.

I looked around for Caleb.

On the left side of the couch sat several people.

At the end, a boy in a black hoodie leaned alone against the armrest, holding a cup. He wasn’t talking to anyone.

He seemed to be looking at me.

I instinctively looked down at myself.

He was probably staring because I was too fat.

I pressed my lips together, looked away, and continued searching for Caleb.

Before I found him, Caleb’s friend Evan Carter spotted me first.

“Well, well. Isn’t this Caleb’s little high school junior?”

His voice was not quiet.

Everyone turned to look at me.

In an instant, I became the center of the room.

The good news was that following their gaze, I finally saw Caleb.

Scattered voices reached my ears.

“Who is that? She’s huge.”

“She has to be over two hundred pounds.”

“More than that, probably.”

“She came to a party dressed like that? Doesn’t she know she’s embarrassing Caleb?”

“Can anyone just walk into this party? And look at that gift. It looks cheap.”

“Does she think Caleb invited her because he likes her?”

“Probably. Look at her face. She can’t take her eyes off him.”

Hearing those words, I stopped.

But today was Caleb’s birthday, so I gathered my courage and walked up to him.

I lifted the box and handed it over.

My hands trembled slightly, and the lower edge of the box tapped against the table.

I quickly steadied it.

“Caleb, happy birthday. I hope you’re happy every day.”

Caleb glanced at the gift box in my hands.

His gaze paused on it for a second, then moved away.

He did not take it.

He lifted a hand and pointed toward a corner.

“Thanks. Just put the gift over there.”

I followed the direction of his finger.

That corner was full of birthday presents.

Velvet boxes, gold-stamped bags, silk ribbons. Every gift looked delicate and expensive.

They did look much better than mine.

I pulled the box back into my arms.

“Okay.”

A little disappointed, I walked toward the corner.

Behind me, I could still hear quiet comments.

“What is that? I can’t even tell what brand it is.”

“Brand? You’re kidding. That’s either from some discount store or wrapped by herself.”

“No way. She dared give Caleb something like that? Is she trying to insult him?”

“Caleb’s gifts are all designer. That’s so embarrassing.”