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her.
    “Well, I think I’m dry,” Patty said, moving away from the dryer. “Have fun.” She started for the door.
    Suddenly an idea occurred to me. A really good idea.
    “Patty, wait a sec,” I called to her.
    She turned around.
    I took a deep breath. “Look, I know that the things people say to you … well, I know it must really hurt your feelings.”
    She just stared at me.
    “I mean, I know we aren’t really friends,” I rushed on. “But … but we could be. You know Molly Sheridan? We’ve been best friends forever. Well, she kind of has a weight problem, too. So, we’re planning on exercising together. You know, on a regular basis? We have this home gym? And I was thinking that the three of us could work out together! You know. At my house. You have such a pretty face.”
    A muscle jumped in Patty’s fat cheek. “So, you’re going to save me, is that it?”
    “Well, no, I just meant—”
    Her face flushed with anger. “Where do you get off talking to me about personal things? You’ve never said more than two sentences to me before.”
    My cheeks burned with embarrassment. “We worked on the play,” I said defensively. “We talked.”
    “Right. Once you told me it was amazing that I could play an old lady so convincingly without using makeup.”
    “I meant that as a compliment, that you’re so talented—”
    “I’m fat, not stupid,” Patty spat at me.
    “Look, I didn’t mean to insult you—”
    “No? So what did you
mean
to do?”
    “I just want to help you—”
    “What in the world makes you think I want help from you?” she asked me.
    “Look, I know you’re just reacting this way because you’re embarrassed—”
    “God, you’re amazing!” Patty exclaimed. “Do you think I don’t know that you and your little band of oh-so-cool friends think I’m this fat, pathetic loser? Well, guess what, Lara Ardeche? I think
you’re
pathetic! If you get crowned queen, it’ll be the highlight of your pathetic little life!” She turned and stormed out of the bathroom.
    I just stood there, my mouth open, my hands shaking. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. There I was, being nice, trying to
help
her, and she acted like I had done something terrible!
    “Lara, what are you doing in here?” Amber demanded, running into the bathroom. “All the alums just came in and your parents are looking for you. They’re about to announce the court. Are you sick or something?”
    “No, I’m fine,” I told her as the two of us hurried down the hall toward the gym. “Do I look okay?”
    “Perfect,” she assured me.
    I saw my parents standing near the buffet table, waving to me. I waved back and started to make way over to them. About two hundred adults had been at the alumni party, and now the gym was so crowded it was hard to move.
    “Hey, Lara! Wow, you look great!”
    It was Sarah Lodge, a really nice, smart girl who sat next to me in precalculus. She wasn’t in the cool crowd, but I liked her a lot.
    “So do you,” I said as someone bumped into me from behind. “It’s a zoo in here!”
    “Primates in formal wear,” she said, laughing and moving off with her date. “I hope you win queen!”
    “Lara, honey, bless your heart, don’t you look lovely!” a friend of my parents’ said, kissing me as I went by. “We’re pulling for you, honey.”
    Chris Zeeman waved to me. “I hope you win,” he mouthed shyly.
    “Thanks,” I mouthed back.
    “It’s so crowded,” I said when I finally reached my parents. They looked perfect in their formal wear.
    “This is it, princess,” my father said, putting his arm around my shoulders.
    “Please, Daddy, I’m not going to win. I’m just a junior, and—”
    “Oh, there’s Danny!” my mom exclaimed as her eyes lit on him in the crowd. She waved. “He looks so handsome.”
    At that moment, to my horror, I started to feel that itchy feeling on my arms, just like when I had gotten the hives at the Miss Teen Pride of the