Vulnerable [Frollie]

Chapter 13

Apparently they’re really not okay, actually. They’re putting up a front; acting like they’re fine, except they’re not—and it all comes to a head one rainy Wednesday.

It happens in Dr White’s office. Frankie has her knees pulled up to her chest and Mollie has her head in her hands. They’re on opposite ends of the sofa.

“Have you been eating?” Dr White asks.

“Yep,” Frankie’s reply is chirpy, forced.

“No.” Mollie says at the same time, sighing heavily.

“I see,” Dr White says, nodding slowly, “why not?”

“I—” Frankie starts, and then closes her mouth, looking down. Mollie presses her eyes shut and shakes her head. Frankie throws a sidelong glance at her. “I haven’t been hungry?” she tries, shrugging.

“Jesus Christ, Frankie,” Mollie snaps, rubbing her temples. She looks up. “All three of us know you’re lying so just tell the truth.” she says, and drops her head again.

“I’m not—” Frankie squeaks and Mollie cuts her off.

“Frankie.”

Frankie sighs and worries a hole in the knee of her jeans. “Fine, I don’t know why.”

“She needs control.” Mollie says, leaning back against the pillows and crossing her arms over her chest. “Her episode made her feel like she’s lost control and she’s trying to get it back by not eating.”

Dr White—Vanessa—writes something down quickly. “How do you know that?” Frankie huffs, frowning.

“I know you.” Mollie says.

Frankie grumbles something unintelligible, and Vanessa catches her eye. “I want to talk about your hallucination, Frankie,” She says slowly, gauging her reaction. Frankie sighs dramatically and flings himself against the back of the couch.

“Can we talk about the fact that I haven’t gotten any in like, a week?” she pouts, shooting a glare at Mollie. Mollie doesn’t notice.

“No,” Vanessa laughs, also casting a glance at Mollie. “Hallucination first.”

Frankie groans and sits up again, pushing her hair out of her eyes. “Alright, what first?”

Vanessa laughs and shakes her head, regaining her composure. “Where did it come from?”

Frankie bites her lip. “I think I was—I kind of didn’t really give myself the chance to think about the fact that he was dead, and then I did, and then I just started thinking about all the things he did to me and—” Frankie can see Mollie suck in a breath and pinch the bridge of her nose out of the corner of her eye. “—and then I just couldn’t stop thinking about it, and then I just, I kind of, freaked out.”