Page 69 of TJ Powar Has Something to Prove
It’s a testament to the weight of that question that Chandani doesn’t even react to the nacho steal. Her eyes become distant. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. It bothered me that you were choosing to be hairy, but it also bothered me when people made fun of you for it. And I couldn’t figure out why, at least until I overheard you talking to Piper. After the weekend you came back from your Provincials.”
TJ pauses in her chewing. She hadn’t known Chandani was even aware of her debate schedule. As for Piper... TJ glances towards the hot tub, but she and Jake are gone.
Chandani flutters her hands irritably. “Piper was all surprised by your leg hair. And it made me remember something that happened in grade seven. Before we were properly friends with her.”
TJ nods. “What happened?”
“Remember Gaya Kumar?”
“Yeah, of course.” TJ’s intrigued now. Chandani had been closer to Gaya, seeing as they knew each other from events at the Hindu cultural society. “She moved away before high school.”
“Right. But she was one of those girls that onlyeverwore pants. Never shorts or skirts or even capris. Anyway—you weren’t with us that day, you were at debate practice or something—me, Piper, and Gaya were hanging out at recess and somehow we started talking about shaving. And Gaya said she never shaves her legs or her pits because she never shows themanyway, so what’s the point? And Piper actuallyshriekedand said that was so gross.”
TJ’s mood sours slightly. She reaches for another nacho. Chandani steals it out of her hand and goes on. “Gaya didn’t say anything. I didn’t, either, because I hadn’t shaved in a few days myself. It was cold out, why would I? But Piper—look, I know she was joking around. I doubt she even remembers this. But I went home and shaved my legs anyway. And from then on, every single hair I let grow on my skin felt dirty. Even when I forgot that conversation. That feeling ofgross—it’s always there.”
Chandani’s words strike home in a way TJ would never be able to explain. Yes, it’s bitter to hear this story, but it’s also a relief—a reminder that she’s never been alone in this. Her best friend has always dealt with it, too, even when she acted like she didn’t. “That’s the thing, isn’t it?” TJ says softly. “Those little comments are the hardest to shake off. It just cycles through your head forever.”
“And you start believing it.” Chandani studies her manicure. “Next thing you know,you’rethe one making the comments. Making people feel like shit.”
TJ smiles, a little sad at how much time they’ve lost. Not just in their friendship, but in their lives; how much time they’ve spent eating up every horrible thing the world told them about themselves.
Chandani looks up again, and there’s almost a pleading look in her eye, which TJ doubts she realizes she’s doing. But if TJ says she forgives her, Chandani will deny having made anapology in the first place. So instead TJ grants her forgiveness another way. “Speaking of Provincials, you would not believe what went down that weekend.”
Chandani’s expression clears immediately, and she straightens up. Gossip: their eternal love language.
The nachos between them disappear as TJ catches her up on the drama that ensued with her breakup, at debate with the Turners, and after with Simran. Minus a crucial Saturday-night detail about Charlie that TJ can’t bring herself to talk about. Within the first few minutes, Chandani’s already called Jenna Turner the human personification of period cramps, Isaac a bhenchod, and Liam “an incel in another life.”
At the end of it, Chandani pushes the empty bowl of nachos to the side to focus her entire attention on TJ. “So, you’re missing our last soccer tournament for Nationals.”
TJ bites her lip. “Yeah.” She waits for Chandani to laugh.
Chandani doesn’t. “I read that article about you in the school newspaper, you know. Where you talk about debate.”
TJ swallows. The special-edition pamphlet with Amy’s campaign had come out right before Spring Break. TJ hadn’t taken a close look at it beyond what Yara had shown her. “And?”
“I didn’t learn anything new. We always knew you were a nerd.”
And that’s it—that’s all she says. Relief unfurls in TJ’s stomach. “Really?”
“Yeah. So stop pretending you’re not. Anyway, you’re debating with Charlie Rosencrantz?” TJ nods, and she sits back. “Oh my god. Jump him.”
TJ covers her face. Chandani misunderstands.
“What? You can’t tell me you’ve become a prude now. Dating white boys is a line you’ve already crossed.”
TJ uncovers her face. “And look how that went.”
“So youareinterested, just scared.”
TJ glares. “That’s not what I said.”
“Touchyyy,” Chandani drawls, but drops it. “Wanna go for a swim? No one will see your hairy bod underwater, so you can stop acting like a self-conscious little freak for a bit.”
TJ actually chuckles despite herself.
“Let’s go. And forget those assholes,” Chandani adds, nodding towards the top of the waterslide. “They’re nothing. They can’t touch you.”
A lump is growing in TJ’s throat. “I missed you, Chandani.”