Just The Way You Are (Jaime Preciado)

Chapter 2

"Alright, Amy," Tony said, setting lunch in front of me. "No more 'skipping' meals. I'm going to make sure you eat every meal for the next twenty million years."

I smiled as I looked over the peanut butter and jelly sandwhich, Lays chips, carrot sticks, and tall glass of icy water. He really was going to make sure I ate all of it. The thought made me sick.

As if reading my thoughts, Tony glared at me a little, "Eat. Now. All of it."

I shoved a carrot in my mouth, not pleased at all. I had woken up Monday which was three days ago. I hadn't eaten since iHop before I had passed out while Tony and I were grocery shopping. When I had waken the only people in the room were Jaime and Tony. I hadn't really seen the others since.

I was finally forced to eat the whole lunch. After that I stormed off into my room, screaming at Tony how much I hated him for doing this. I was seventeen. He couldn't baby me forever.

Tony knocked on the door and I shouted, "Fuck off!" But when the door opened it wasn't Tony. It was Vic.

"Nice way to greet a friend." He said, sarcastically.

I mumbled a sorry and sat on my bed, pulling the covers over my lap. Vic closed the door and sat down next to me, "Why are you doing this, Amy?" He asked.

"Why am I doing what?" I asked, innocently.

"The cutting, the skipping, everything." He answered.

I sat up, quite suddenly, "Cutting?"

"Jaime found the cuts. Tony doesn't know, but you need to stop." He whispered.

I stayed silent and after a while Vic added, "Jaime's worried, ya know."

"Why would he worry?" I asked, becoming defensive. "He doesn't know me."

Vic shook his head, "He knows enough about you."

"Listen, Amy," He said after I again became silent. "It's not a healthy habit. The not eating is fucked up. The cutting you can die quickly from. It would destroy Tony to lose you."

Vic walked out of my room leaving me sitting there with my thoughts.

My life was so messed up.

*****************************

"The guys are all over," Tony said, poking his head in. "Movie time! You coming?"

I looked up from my laptop, "Yeah. Give me a second." I shut the computer down and walked down stairs. The only person in the livingroom was Jaime and I decided to avoid him for now. He didn't have any right to be worried, he wouldn't even talk to me for gods sake.

I just walked into the kitchen looking for Tony but he wasn't in there. I came back into the livingroom. Jaime was hunched over his phone, but looked back up at me when I stood in front of him.

"Where's Tony?" I asked scanning the living room.

"He went to get a movie from Red Box," Jaime answered quietly.

I sat next to Jaime, turning on the TV and flipping through channels. It would take them hours to pick a movie.

"Amy?" Jaime asked rather timidly.

"Yeah?" I didn't look away from the TV. I was still mildly upset with everyone.

He didn't answer but I knew he was staring at me. I glanced over, "what?"

He shook his head, "Never mind."

"No way!" I said, laying back on the couch so I could face him. "Now you have to tell me."

He smiled, goofily, "Never mind."

I let it go for the moment because just then Tony came in, movie in hand shouting, "Party!"