Page 10 of TJ Powar Has Something to Prove

Several things go through TJ’s mind right then:

1. Simran’s not Persian. She’s Punjabi, like TJ. But then again, racists aren’t exactly known for their accuracy.

2. Embarrassment for her cousin. There’s no way around it. This sucks.

3. But at least they think TJ’s hot?

4. Shame immediately following #3.

5. Rage.

All background noise fades as TJ clicks through the post’s many likes and comments. She recognizes some usernames as students at Northridge, and some she doesn’t—but it’s a public page, after all. One of the most-liked comments isSomeone start a GoFundMe to buy this girl razors.TJ sees red.

Sure, there are always insulting posts on the Confessions page, but she never imagined she’dbein one. It’s probably a good thing Simran doesn’t have a phone or Instagram, because she shouldn’t see this.

Then again, it’s only a matter of time until she hears about it. They need to talk.

∗

TJ doesn’t see Simran for the rest of the day, despite being on the lookout. They don’t share any classes apart from French.

So TJ fumes silently throughout the afternoon. Maybe she’s imagining it, but she swears people keep looking at her. No one actually says anything, though. It drives her up the wall.

After the last bell rings, she’s so busy scanning the hallway outside the AP Lit room for Simran that she jumps when someone puts their hand on her back.

“Sorry,” Liam says from behind her, and moves to her side. “Something on your mind?”

She huffs. “Don’t tell me you didn’t see that Northridge Confessions post.”

“Oh, yeah. It wasn’t funny.”

He’s not having enough of a reaction for TJ’s liking. “Some of the guys onyourteam were liking the post, you know.”

“They’re douchebags. I’ll talk to them.” He rubs her back. “Come on, it’ll die down soon anyway.”

TJ takes a deep breath, hoping that will calm her. It’s working, at least until Rajan walks out from the classroom behind them and says, “Doubt it.”

TJ glares at him as he passes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Rajan whirls on the spot and whips out his beat-up phone. “Don’t get all uptight about it if I show you, all right?”

She breaks away from Liam to grab Rajan’s phone. It’s a tweet. The same photo of Simran from the Confessions post, with a new caption.

When your man forgets to shave.It has several likes and retweets.

“See, I can see you getting homicidal right now, dude.” Rajan pulls his phone from TJ’s grasp. “Chill out.”

“How am I supposed to chill out?” she hisses. “My cousin is becoming ameme! Everyone’s laughing at her!”

“Since when do you care?” Rajan arches a brow. “It’s makingyoulook like the hottest girl at Northridge. Thought that’d be a win for you, to be honest.”

TJ’s jaw drops. “You little—”

Liam steps between them and shoves Rajan’s shoulder. “All right, thanksa lot,” he says pointedly. Rajan puts up his hands before backing away.

Once he’s gone, Liam turns to TJ. “Don’t let him get to you.” He wraps an arm around her shoulders. “But he’s right, you know. Youarethe hottest girl at Northridge.”

TJ’s irritation spikes. The problem is, Rajan’s comments hit a little too close to the truth—for a split second when she first saw it, shehadtaken the meme as a compliment. Wow. She really is a horrible person.