Skinny
part one
It's something everyone wants to be, even I wanted to be skinny.
Me, the captain of the cheer squad, the track star, prom queen, straight A student with the biggest house in Westchester.
Even me, the girl that had it all.
It started as a joke between me and my friends, "Maybe we should just stop eating!" Kelsey said smiling.
"Are you nuts?" I asked laughing.
"Come on, Elle, we could do it!!" Jenny said laughing and taking a swig of her energy drink.
"Guys, that's just crazy! Crazy I tell you!" I say giggling and tickling Nikki who hadn't said a word on the subject of never eating, she didn't even flinch as I tickled her. 
"Whatev's guys, I have to get going!" I said grabbing my duffle bag and started off for home.
When does a joke become real? 
It becomes real when you give it too much thought, which is exactly what I did.

* * *
"Elle! Get up, you're not going to have time to eat breakfast!" my mom yelled from the kitchen down stairs.
"Coming!" I said looping my braided belt through my belt loops. 
I was taking extra time to avoid just that, eating breakfast.
I looked at the time and ran down the stairs, "I'm not going to have time to eat! Sorry mom, I'll ask Jenny to give me a bagel or something!" I yellled running out the door with my tote in my hand.
I had been doing this same thing for the past 3 months, avoiding any contact with food.
During lunch I would leave school and stay in my car until it was over, I would tell my parents I had already ate dinner somewhere else. 
Why am I doing this to myself, I sometimes ask myself.
But then I rememember, to be skinny. 
"Dang, you look hungry, do you want something to eat?" asked Jenny as she stepped onto her porch.
"No! I'm not hungry! I just ate a minute ago.." I lied. 
"Okay, fiesty! Soooo, Adam said he wants us to sit at his lunch table today and tomorrow and all this week!!" she squealed walking backwards in front of me.
"Jenny! You know that I go to my grandparents house for lunch," I lied again.
"Yeah but just this week!! Please! You-know-who is going to be there!" Jenny whispered.
"Fine, just once!" I said smiling.
Yay!!" she said smiling.

* * *
My classes went by slow, I was dreading going to lunch. 
They're going to notice, I thought walking into the cafertia. 
"I think it's hot when girls eat!" said Nick, my dream guy.
Today, I'll eat, for him.
I sat down between Nick and Jenny, "Hey!!" I said smiling from ear to ear.
"Hey, you want some cheese fries?" he asked putting the plate up to my nose. 
"Uh, no thanks! But um.." I said trying to think of something revolutionary to say, "I'm having a pool party, on Friday. Everyone is invited so tell everyone you know!" I said smiling as they started chattering.
"Hey, can we talk outside?" Nick whispered in my ear. 
"Sure!" I said.
He led me to the back of the school, and into the middle of the woods.
"I know what's going on, and you need to stop before it gets to serious!" he said grabbing my arm with lots of force.
"What are you talking about, Nick?" I asked trying to wiggle out of his grasp.
"You're not eating. At all. I know that you aren't. You're at least 10 pounds less than you were before!" Nick said quietly, his eyebrows knitted together in worrisome. 
"It's none of your business if I am or if I'm not!" I yelled.
"I want to make it my business, I really, really like you. I hate seeing you like this," he whispered kissing my cheek.
I got out of his grasp and made a run for it. 
Someone knew, not just someone.
Someone I was in love with.