Rose Alliger entered the gymnasium, beaming with a newfound sense of pride. For the first time in her life, she was sexy. Jacopine Mogg had said so.
"Damn, girl. Look at those muscles," Jacopine had said, watching Rose heft the two three-gallon coolers of Gatorade. "Those workouts are paying off. Y'all getting strong and sexy."
Jacopine was the only open lesbian at Oil City Baptist College. She'd had her way with all the prettiest closeted Christian girls, so her pronouncement had an air of authority.
Rose wasn't gay. Nonetheless, she blushed.
All her life, Rose had been the chubby girl, the mousy girl, the "little porker," as Chad Spackler had called her—not to her face, but to a friend. She'd overheard.
That very evening, she'd started tracking calories and working out. She'd kept at it—four months now.
Jacopine was the first to compliment her progress. Being noticed felt good.
Usually, Rose wheeled the Gatorade on a cart. But, tonight, a wheel was broken, so she had to carry the coolers by hand. They were heavy, but she was strong.