She Asked the Star Athlete to Make Her Beautiful — But He Taught Her Something Better
Chapter 1
The first time Lily Parker heard the words “background girl,” she laughed.
She thought it was a joke.
At least, that was what she told herself.
It happened after school on a Thursday afternoon.
Lily had returned to the classroom because she had forgotten her notebook.
The hallway was nearly empty.
She was reaching for the classroom door when she heard voices from inside.
Madison was talking.
“So, obviously, I should wear the blue one.”
Chloe laughed.
“Definitely. It makes your eyes stand out.”
Then Madison said something that made Lily stop.
“We can’t all look amazing in the pictures. Someone has to be the background.”
There was a short silence.
Then Chloe laughed nervously.
“You mean Lily?”
Madison laughed.
“Who else?”
Lily stood completely still.
Her hand remained on the door handle.
She heard Chloe whisper:
“That’s kind of mean.”
“I’m not saying she’s ugly,” Madison replied. “She’s just… not exactly the one people notice.”
Another laugh.
“She makes us look better.”
Lily slowly released the door handle.
She walked away before they could see her.
Outside, the afternoon sun was bright.
Students were laughing.
Cars were leaving the parking lot.
Everything looked normal.
But Lily felt as though someone had reached inside her chest and pulled something apart.
She walked home alone.
Her house was next door to Ethan Brooks’s.
As children, they had climbed the same trees, ridden bikes together and spent countless afternoons doing homework.
Now Ethan was one of the school’s best athletes.
Everyone knew him.
Everyone noticed him.
Lily often wondered what it would feel like to walk into a room and have people look at her the way they looked at him.
That evening, she stood in front of her mirror.
She looked at her reflection.
Brown hair.
Hazel eyes.
A round face.
Nothing extraordinary.
She turned sideways.
Then back again.
For the first time, she wondered whether Madison had been right.
Maybe she really was just the background.
Her phone buzzed.
Ethan: You home?
She typed:
Yes.
A minute later, there was a knock on her bedroom window.
She opened it.
Ethan stood outside.
“You’re quiet today.”
“I’m tired.”
He studied her face.
“You’ve been crying.”
“No.”
“Lily.”
She looked away.
Finally, she whispered:
“Do you think I’m pretty?”
Ethan froze.
“What?”
“Just answer.”
He stared at her for several seconds.
“Yes.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You have to say that because you’re my friend.”
“No.”
“Then why don’t people notice me?”
Ethan’s expression changed.
“What happened?”
Lily told him.
He listened without interrupting.
When she finished, he said:
“If you really want to change, I’ll help you.”
She looked at him.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“What do I need to change?”
Ethan smiled slightly.
“That’s the problem.”
“What?”
“You’re asking me what you need to change.”
He leaned against the window frame.
“Maybe we should start with that.”
