They Called Me a Submarine. On Bid Day, I Stunned Them All Chapter 10

They Called Me a Submarine. On Bid Day, I Stunned Them All Chapter 10

That night, I couldn’t sleep.

I tossed and turned, Finn’s words replaying in my head.

I really couldn’t remember.

But he’d held onto it for ten years.

My phone lit up. A message from Finn.

Home yet?

Yeah.

Don’t forget to put something on your wrist.

I stared at the screen.

Then I asked what I’d been wondering.

“So you recognized me from the very beginning?”

He was quiet for a moment.

“Yeah.”

“Even from that high school photo?”

“Yes.”

He answered without hesitation.

“You haven’t changed much.”

I looked down at the photo in the group chat –

the one where my face was almost swallowed by weight.

That was “not much”?

I seriously wondered if Finn’s eyes worked like a funhouse mirror.

“So you joined the game to help me?”

“No.”

I blinked.

Then another message came through.

“I joined because I wanted to see you.”

My heart skipped.

Before I could reply, he sent a photo. Old, slightly yellowed.

A chubby little girl with pigtails stood at the school gate, holding a melting popsicle.

In the corner, a thin boy was looking at her.

He really had remembered me all these years.

The next morning, the freshman chat was on fire.

That hand-holding photo had spread across multiple groups.

Someone put my high school picture next to my current one with a dramatic title:

Online Girlfriend Drops 100 Pounds-Clueless Ex Bets Her Away Before They Even Met

Justin became the biggest joke of UCLA overnight.

Someone asked if he regretted it.

He played tough: “She’s just one girl. Why would I regret anything?”

Within an hour, he’d sent me three friend requests from different accounts.

Each message got longer.

Allie, I was drunk last night. I didn’t mean it.

We were together eleven months. You can’t just walk away.

I already told Rachel it’s over. You’re the one I want.

I didn’t reply to a single one.

I blocked them all.

Rachel messaged me too.

Don’t think Justin’s chasing you because he actually likes you.

He’s just into your face.

I laughed.

Rarely did she say something true.

But then she added:

If you had any self-respect, you wouldn’t keep stringing him along.

I didn’t hold back.

Relax. I don’t pick up trash.

If you want him, the spot’s all yours.

I blocked her too.

Later, I heard Justin denied ever chasing me-just to save face.

That same night, he showed up at my building with flowers.

I didn’t go down.

He didn’t wait long.

The next day, Finn was already waiting at my door.

White tee, coffee in hand.

“For you.”

I took it, surprised. “How’d you know I drink this?”

“Guessed.”

He looked away. His ears were red again.

I didn’t call him out.

He’d probably combed through my entire Instagram.

On campus, Finn carried my luggage.

Eves followed us everywhere.

Near the gate, I spotted Justin.

Rachel was with him-standing far apart, not even looking at each other.

He saw me and started walking over.

“Allie-can we talk alone?”

Finn stopped.

Before he could say anything, I looped my arm through Finn’s.

“No.”

Justin’s eyes dropped to our linked arms.

His face went pale.

“You’re really with him?”

Neither of us answered.

He stood there as we walked past him.

This time, he didn’t follow.

The sun was warm.

Oak tree shadows stretched across the path in soft squares.

Finn walked on the sun side, shielding me without a word.

I slowed down without realizing it.

Walking beside him felt… easy.

I’d spent a year losing nearly a hundred pounds-for someone who wasn’t worth it.

But I finally understood.

The people who really care about you never use your appearance to measure your worth.

At two hundred pounds or one hundred, Finn still saw the same girl.

The one who stood in front of him with a Band-Aid.

As for what comes next between us?

I glanced at him.

He was focused, dragging my luggage, sunlight falling across his face.

I think I already knew the answer.