The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend Read Free

from the sweltering parties, and tossed them into the hamper in the corner of my room. I could shower in the morning.
     I was too tired to deal with it tonight.
    Before crawling under my sheets, I took a glance at the full-length mirror across the room. I searched my reflection with
     new eyes, with new knowledge. Uncontrollable wavy auburn hair. A long nose. Big thighs. Small boobs. Yep. Definitely Duff
     material. How had I not known?
    I mean, I’d never considered myself particularly attractive and it wasn’t hard to see that Casey and Jessica, both thin and
     blond, were gorgeous, but still. The fact that I played the role of the ugly girl to their luscious duo hadn’t occurred to
     me. Thanks to Wesley Rush, I could see it now.
    Sometimes it’s better to be clueless.
    I pulled a blanket up to my chin, hiding my naked body from the scrutiny of the mirror. Wesley was living proof that beauty
     was only skin-deep, so why did his words bother me? I was intelligent.I was a good person. So who cared if I was the Duff? If I were attractive, I’d have to deal with guys like Wesley
hitting on
me. Ugh! So being the Duff had its benefits, right? Being unattractive didn’t have to suck.
    Damn Wesley Rush! I couldn’t believe he was making me worry about such stupid, pointless, shallow bullshit.
    I closed my eyes. I wouldn’t think about it in the morning. I wouldn’t think about Duffs
ever again
.
    Sunday was fantastic—nice, quiet, uninterrupted euphoria. Of course, things were usually pretty quiet when Mom was away. When
     she was home, the house always seemed loud. There was always music or laughter or something lively and chaotic. But she never
     seemed to be home for more than a couple of months, and in the time that she was gone, everything grew still. Like me, Dad
     wasn’t much for socializing. He was usually buried in his work or watching television. Which meant the Piper house was pretty
     much silent.
    And, on a morning after I’d been forced to withstand all the racket of clubs and parties, a quiet house was the equivalent
     of perfection.
    But Monday sucked.
    All Mondays suck, of course, but this Monday
really
fucked up everything. It all started first block when Jessica slumped into Spanish with tear-stained cheeks and running mascara.
    “Jessica, what’s wrong?” I asked. “Did something happen? Is everything okay?”
    I’ll admit it; I always got really freaked out on the rare occasions when Jessica came to class looking anything less than
     perky. I mean, she was constantly bouncing and giggling. So when she came in looking so depressed, it scared the shit out
     of me.
    Jessica shook her head miserably and collapsed into her seat. “Everything’s fine, but… I can’t go to Homecoming!” Fresh tears
     spewed from her wide chocolate eyes. “Mom won’t let me go!”
    That was it? She’d gotten me all freaked out over
Homecoming?
    “Why not?” I asked, still trying to be sympathetic.
    “I’m grounded,” Jessica sniffed. “She saw my report card in my room this morning, and she found out I’m failing chemistry,
     and she flipped out! It’s not effing fair! Basketball Homecoming is, like, my favorite dance of the year… after prom and Sadie
     Hawkins and Football Homecoming.”
    I tilted my chin down and looked at her teasingly. “Wow, how many favorites do you have?”
    She didn’t answer. Or laugh.
    “I’m sorry, Jessica. I know it must suck… but I’m not going either.” I didn’t mention that I considered the whole practice
     of school dances degrading or that they were just giant wastes of time and money. Jessica already knew my opinions on the
     matter, and I didn’t think reminding her would help the situation. But I was pretty happy I wouldn’t be the only girl skipping.
     “How about this: I’ll come over, and we’ll watch movies all night. Will your mom be cool with that?”
    Jessica nodded and wiped her eyes with the cuff of her sleeve. “Yeah,” she said. “Mom