Forgotten (AU) (completed but unedited)

[24] Nearly Paradise

After a few hours in the studio I had to go back to the hospital. I definitely didn't want to but I knew I had to. If I had a choice there is no doubt that I would go home to my family. To Chloe.

"Hey!" Julie beams as I walk down the hall thinking. "Hey," I smile back.

"Where've you been?" She asked curious, with a granola bar in her hand. "I was in the studio." I answer and she nods before looking around then placing her bar in the trash.

"Shouldn't you eat that?" I ask, I wouldn't but I can at least encourage her to eat it.

"Yeah." She smiled. I walked back over to it and noticed it wasn't far down and nothing else was in it. I pick it up and hand it to her then begin walking again.

She had to run to catch up to me and there was no sign of the granola bar. I raised an eyebrow at her and she smiled.

"Look, I ate while you were gone." She excused herself. "Sure you did." I say and accidentally smile. "Fuck, pretend I didn't do that." I say and she laughs.

"You should eat. You could get out of this place." I say and she looks down at her fingers.

"This place," She begins. "This place is nearly paradise." She finishes keeping her eyes on the floor.

"I would much rather, trust me, be here than be with my mom. But, you gotta hate being picked and poked at here at Nearly Paradise." I say and she nods.

"Why don't you like your mom?" She asked as we walked in my room. "You know how you Lovatics didn't know about me until not too long ago?" I ask and she nods.

"Well, she wished to know just as much as you Lovatics." I whisper and she looks down and keeps silent.

"Why's this place nearly paradise?" I ask. "My parents, they're way too strict, they don't want me to have a boyfriend, not out past four, friends have to meet them before I even stay after school with them." She explains.

"Much more, but this place. This place is just strict enough, I love this place." She talks.

"Come live with me." I lighten the mood.

"I wish." She laughs. "Can I hear your voice?" She asked changing the subject. "Yeah sure." I smile then begin to sing Misguided Ghosts by Paramore. After the second verse I stop and she smiles.

"You have a very pretty voice." She compliments. "Thank you." I smile

"It's time for dinner." A nurse says walking in. We both quietly sigh and stand up.

"I hate this." I whisper. I wasn't talking about the hospital, but just the food. I could be perfectly happy if I was just skinny.

In the past year of me being at Demi's. I have gained five pounds, and I can't help but to think I'm only going to keep gaining, and gaining, and gaining.

"Are you okay?" Julie asks and I simply nod. "You space off a lot." She says as we follow the nurse to the cafeteria.

"Gotta have at least one talent." I smile. She didn't find it very funny and stayed quiet.

We get food and sit down together both staring at our food blankly. I break the silence letting off a sigh.

I pick the fork up and play with the salad.

It was topped with tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, and something else I was not able to identify. Then, finally, ranch on top. I try my best to get all the ranch and toppings off before realizing was only mixing the salad.