fourteen (south park fanfiction)

Calories

Cartman was no stranger to therapy. He was aware that he wasn't mentally stable, and that his mindset wasn't like other kids.

His last therapy appointment went okay, as it ever could. That was until the next day, he was apparently told that he was bipolar.

"What, so I have mood swings?" Cartman asks his mom, confused in the car, as they're on their way for a second appointment.

"It's more complex than that, Eric. You know, therapy is a good way to help you become better and stronger." Liane says, as they park outside.

"Sure." Cartman sarcastically responds, walking out of the car and into the office with his mom following.

"Hi, Eric!" His therapist says, as they walk in. "I promise this will be quick, I just wanna read the results on the conditions I tested you for, give you some info, and write you some prescriptions, and have your mom listen in as well, alright?"

Cartman sighed, as Liane and him walk in to take a seat, the therapist closing her door.

"So, let's get straight into it. First, I'd like to say that Eric is definitely showing signs of being bipolar, and I'd like to start him off with a prescription, and we can see how that goes. Now, being bipolar can be tricky. You may notice him have depressive episodes, which can lasts any amount of time. You also may notice a mania episode, where he gets a sudden burst of energy, or isn't completely himself. Mania episodes can easily come after a depressive one, but just because he seems happy in one won't mean he really is doing okay. It's best to monitor whether he's having an episode or not."

Liane nods. "Yes, I do believe my Eric may be in a depressive one, or at least was for a while recently."

The woman goes over another set of papers. "Next, I do wanna talk about Eric's anxiety, now he doesn't have your usual kind. I've noticed his form of stress is by holding it inside, and maybe lying in bed while he's upset or panicked in the mind. I think it'd be good to try to get him to talk more about his emotions, especially at his current age."

Liane nods as the woman also mentions, "I also do think his physical health can have some kind of effect on his mental health, so I would suggest maybe taking him in for a check up." She says and Liane nodded. "Oh, don't worry, I made him a doctor's appointment for today!"

Cartman rolls his eyes, staying silent to himself. He blanks out as his mom and therapist continue talking, as it's finally time to leave. He heads into the car with his mother as she turns it on and begins driving.

"Mom." Cartman says, as he buckles his seatbelt. "Why do I need to go to a doctor's appointment?"

"Well, Eric. You haven't gone in a while and I think it'd be good for you too." She says, as Cartman rolls his eyes, leaning his head back. "Is it because I'm fat?"

Liane's eyes widened as she responds, "No, Eric! And you aren't fat, you're just big boned, remember? I've never heard you call yourself fat, where are you getting this from?"

Cartman groaned. "I just asked a question. Wouldn't hurt for you to be honest about it instead of trying to pity me."

Liane frowns, as they pulled into the parking lot of the doctor's office, and walk inside while Eric sits in the waiting room. The room is mainly filled with parents, and kids playing with the toys that were on the tables, as he thinks to himself.

"I wish I was a kid again."

Liane walks in with a doctor and says, "Eric, your appointment." As Cartman gets up, following the doctor into the office.

"Okay, so you're gonna step on the scale, Eric. We'll measure your weight and height after." He says, as Cartman steps on the scale.

"Alright, 296 pounds."

Cartman's eyes widened. He was 240 pounds last year at his appointment. "And let's check your height, stand against the wall."

He stands as the doctor reads out, "5 feet and 2 inches. Huh, you haven't grown since you were 11. Let's head to the room and you can change into a gown and we can check you."

Cartman as left alone in the room, making sure the door was locked.

He sat in the room after putting on his gown, unlocked the door, as the doctor comes in. "Hey, Eric! Glad to see you, we're just gonna check your blood pressure real quick!" he says, as he puts the cuff around his arm, pumping, as he checks.

"Ooh, 145/90. That's stage 2 hypertension."

Cartman's eyes widened. "What does that mean?" He asked, as the doctor explained.

"Well, first we have low blood pressure, then normal, the high. High blood pressure carries from stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3. Usually, with somebody your age, is you had high blood pressure, it'd most likely be stage 1. Stage 2 is severe, Eric. You can be getting close for stage 3. I don't mean to be rude, Eric. But this is serious and I believe your weight and diet can be a part of it, what have you eaten today?"

Cartman thinks. "Uh, Chocolate milk, a coke. I had chocolate pancakes, bacon, and hash browns for breakfast."

The doctor nods. "Eric, I'll leave this choice to you, okay? But I really suggest making a better diet choice for yourself, you're only fourteen, and this isn't normal."

Cartman never told his mother what he heard at the doctor's office, he didn't want his mom to worry about him and his health. He went to his room when he came home and locked the door, thinking to himself.

That's when it hit him.

He couldn't stop thinking about the countless times he's been called "fat ass" are other countless names about his weight since elementary school. Of course, at the time, he was just a child. He didn't think much of it.

Now he's a teenager, and still gets called it. He looked in the mirror at his body and felt disgusted by it, frowning.

"I really am fat." He whispers to himself, ad he grabs a baggy hoodie and tosses it on. He went to his laptop, looking up ways to lose weight.

After a bit of scrolling, he found himself on Twitter, looking at a "#edtwt" hashtag, and started looking at a few posts under it.

He quickly noticed how many posts under the hashtag, and how they all included tips to lose weight and inspo.

"300 calories a day?" he said to himself, reading posts. He googled "How many calories should a male consume a day?".

"2,500? And I'm eating more than that?" He tells himself, his eyes widened. "So technically, If I eat way less than normal, I'll not only lose weight, but quicker too." He thinks, smiling at his idea as he shuts his laptop.

"Starting tomorrow is day one."