Page 77 of TJ Powar Has Something to Prove

She flips a page, and there’s theno makeuprepresentative, a close-up of a tenth grader with curly hair blown into her face—by a fan, TJ recalls from the photo shoot. Her hair strategically hides the zit on her forehead. Her freckles are on full display, blue eyes wide and makeup free. She looks wild and delicate, a spirit from the wood.

It almost makes TJ smile to think about how the girl had been at the actual shoot, irritably pushing her hair out of her face between photos, sprawling in her chair and picking a poppy seed out of her teeth during her break. And the plus-size model: TJ had seen her breathe a sigh of relief after her shoot was done and she could take off tight shapewear.

The photos are gorgeous. But they’re not very real.

TJ looks up at Amy, who’s beaming, as if waiting for praise.

TJ hesitates. It doesn’t feel right, sending this out to other schools. “Before we distribute these through the district, what if we revamped it? Made it even better?”

Amy’s smile falters. “Oh? In what way?”

“Well”—TJ nods at the photos—“wouldn’t these be more impactful if they showed the less pretty parts of ourselves? Because honestly they don’t even really look like the people I saw at the photo shoot.”

Amy looks down at it. “I’m a little lost, TJ. We weretryingto make everyone look pretty. That’s the point of the campaign. ‘Every body is beautiful.’ ”

TJ closes the pamphlet. “I told you I wanted inner beauty to be emphasized if I was going to take part.”

Amy shifts on her feet. “TJ, the project is over. I really do appreciate you being part of it, but I have to go to class. See you around, okay?” TJ opens her mouth to argue, but Amy’s already walking away.

TJ throws the pamphlet back into the stack. Well, that went about as expected.

Rajan’s still on the bench when she heads back, eyes closed and looking so relaxed she almost thinks he’s asleep. At least until he says, “Maybe you should askAmyto volunteer at your debate. Bet she’ll do it if she can put it on her résumé.”

TJ stops. He couldn’t have heard that conversation; they were on the other side of the busy front foyer. “How do you know about that?”

“Simran auntie.”

Of course. “Simran auntiedoes a lot of gossiping in your tutoring sessions, huh? What else did she say?” She’s dying to know what Simran thinks of the campaign.

Rajan’s eyes open. “Why don’t you ask her yourself?” At TJ’s hesitation, he nods. “Because you don’t talk to her. Right.”

She doesn’t like his tone. The assumption there, which maybe hits a little too close to home. “Iwouldask her,” she snaps. “But... she’s mad at me right now.”

“She said that?”

“Well, kind of.” TJ crosses her arms. “She basically said I was a self-serving ass two months ago—”

“Damn, she just went right out and said it.”

“—and we haven’t really talked since,” TJ finishes, choosing to ignore his comment. “Because every time I try, she runs off.”

“Then give her a reason not to.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

The warning bell rings. Rajan winks at her and then closes his eyes. Clearly he’s got no intention of going to class. Or of answering her question. Grinding her teeth, TJ spins on her heel and heads down the hall. What’s he trying to say, anyway? That Simran’s scared of her or something? That’s ridiculous.

Except... TJdidblow up at her the last time they spoke, so maybe not.

She sighs. Rajan sure knows how to mess with her head.

∗

Her dad picks her up that afternoon. “How was school?” He’s just finished his shift, still in his wrinkled uniform and sporting a greying five-o’clock shadow.

“Okay.” TJ climbs into the passenger seat. “Can we go to the mall?”

“Why, what do you want to buy?”