Fighting Myself

Chapter 1

Mia Cantalone stepped off the school bus with a shaky step. It was the first day of her junior year at Birchwood High School. The sight around her was normal for the first day of school, overly excited greetings and overly joyus hugs. Mia though wasn't at all excited, for she did not spend the summer at the beach or running around with friends at the mall. No, Mia spent the summmer at Sunset Valley Mental Health Center.

Nobody knew about her stay though. Those who asked were informed that Mia stayed the summer at her aunt's. Mia though wasn't all that thrilled with the idea of returning to school. Two months at the facility had prevented her from purging and her closely watched diet had made her gain ten whole pounds. Mia, who was now clothed in baggy jeans, and a tied bag T-shirt, was not particularly thrilled for gym class and the promise it held of shorts. Mia now could only slightly see her ribs and could no longer wrap her hands around her waist with her fingers touching.

As Mia sat down in her new homeroom she deeply wished she was still at Sunset Valley. She felt better and less nervous there. The doctors their "strongly recommended" that she extend her stay, but her rich, image-obsessed parents thought it would be ghastly for her to miss school. So now Mia goes to therapy twice a week two towns over so nobody would recognize her. She explains her abscences as "piano classes" on her parents orders. Mia thought that their excuse was obviously see-through since Mia could not even play chopsticks.

"Mia Cantalone," the revoltingly perky teacher chimed out.

"Here," Mia all but whispered.

"Ahh, here you go sweetheart, it looks like you got fourth period with me!"

Mia looked at her schedule, she had first period Health with Mr. Smith. Mia pondered on whether or not her friend Alice would be in that particular class. Mia had not seen many of her friends today and only recieved a few absent-minded hellos. She was dreading the thought. Nobody knew that she had not only not seen her aunt in years but also about her stay at Sunset Valley. There was one person in particular that Mia was not looking forward to seeing and that was Jack Carver, the town nutcase, who after his incident mid-way through last year was thrown in a mental institution. Though after he was percieved not to be "harmful to himself or others" and was released from the facility his parents put him in Sunset Valley Mental Health Center. He got out about a week before me and is the town nutcase.

Mia stumbled into class a little late and after throwing out a small apology surveyed the class. There was your usual mixture of the popular back corner, the nerdy front row, and the mixture of kids scattered around talking to all their friends for the first time after break. In the back corner though was a face Mia did not want to see and that face belonged to Jack Carver.

Jack was in the back corner and looked almost younger in a way. His dirty blonde hair was neatly combed and he was in a nice polo shirt, and clean cut jeans. His shoes looked brand new with that almost too white brim, that trailed the bottom of his sneakers. Jack was somewhat of a prep before he was shipped off to the mental hospital. He liked to party. He really did. Mia remembers a few parties she went to and Jack was always there. He also always got the girls. He never left that night, but always woke up with a different girl in in morning. Though he could never keep them. At one point in time he even went out with Mia's friend Alice. They dated for a while, but according to Alice he was "obssessive, paranoid, and drank way too much."

"Miss Cantalone?"

"Huh?" Mia responded as she snapped out of her daze.

"Um, could you take a seat please so we can begin class?" said Mr. Smith as Mia finally recalled the voice. There were a few giggles.

"Oh, um yes, sorry sir."

Mia's eyes met Alice's who was patting the desk in front of her, which Mia quickly ran to meet.

"So how was your summer at your aunts?" Alice wispered so the teacher wouldn't notice.

Not knowing what to say Mia nodded, "Umm good boring really," getting a bit antsy as that the teacher would notice their talking.

There was was a tap on her shoulder and Mia was handed a note reading, "Talk to me later, we need to catch up!!!"

Mia pocketed the note Alice was always a bit too perky and excited. Her light blonde hair was the opposite of Mia's dark brown hair. Alice dressed nice, nobody would ever expect such a girl to hold such a dark secret. Only Mia knew it. Alice confided in her during a fragile time. This secret scared Mia. It was a secret she should tell, but it was a secret like Mia's bulimia, harmful. Though this secret seemed much different on many levels.

Mia looked to her left to see Nickolace Smith. His sight made her cringe. He had on a black, old, dirty hoodie and dirty, torn jeans that were freyed on the end. His sneakers bared holes and he smelled horriable. Mia fought the urge to pull her shirt over her nose to block out the body odor. Besides his obvious lack of personal hygiene not much else was known about Nickolace Smith, he was somewhat of a wallflower and kept to himself. As Alice began to play with Mia's hair, a habit most girls grew out of by their junior year, Mia stiffened.

"Okay class, we are going to start off the new year by talking about eating disorders," Mr. Smith announced.

Mia did not want to learn about eating disorders. She was trying her best not to run to the bathroom now to throw up as it wad. This would trigger her, and she did not want to mark the first day of school this way. To her left Nickolace dropped his paper, but the skinny boy was wide-eyed and did not even acknowledge his pencil.

Please comment and vote. I would love to here all of you alls opinions and suggestions. My next chapter will give

a bit more insight on Alice and her mysterious secret. Please add to your library.