Beryllium + Princess (Salttube)

dizziness

“You aren't like, hungry?”

Pepper is giving her big, worried eyes- the kind that makes Salt's skin tingle unpleasantly.

She can't ever decide whether she wants people to care, or if she wants them to just ignore her. Every time someone tries to comfort her, it just feels fake.

“No, Pepper,” she laughs without an ounce of actual humor. “I had a really big breakfast.”

Princess lets out a loud chirping at that, biting at the bars of the birdcage Salt is currently holding in her lap. She's been acting up a lot lately, ever since Salt started getting worse again.

“Shut up!” She whisper-yells at the beautiful green cockatiel, sticking a pale finger into the cage so Princess will start lightly nibbling at that instead.

The bird is way too smart for both her good and Salt's, and she's been trying to alert others in the hotel of Salt's current mental state.

So far, she's barely managed to avoid getting caught, but Pepper is easing a little too close to the truth.

“Are you sure? Not even a dumpling?”
Pepper frowns in a way that creases her forehead, eyes darting briefly to the bird currently nibbling on her owner's hand.
“You love these things. They're your favorite.”

She's holding up one of the said dumplings between her chopsticks, and the sight makes Salt want to cry. Because Pepper's totally right. She does love those things, those specific ones from the specific place Pepper ordered them from.

But she can't afford to eat anymore. She's already had to purge a few times today, and she feels so weak she could just pass out.

“I'm fine, Pepper.”

“Salt–”

“I have to go now,” she snaps in a hurry, standing up with the birdcage clutched to her chest. She storms off before Pepper can follow, trying hard not to think about the hurt look on her best friend’s face.

Trudging up the stairs makes her heart race way harder than is healthy, and by the time she reaches her room (the new one she requested in order to be alone, so Pepper couldn't see what was going on), she feels weak and light-headed.

Actually, yeah. She feels…way too light-headed. Like maybe she's gonna…

She helps herself onto the floor, head swimming painfully. Fuck. Shit. She’s never fully passed out from malnutrition before, and it's terrifying. Everything is way too fuzzy and painful, and the ground feels distant where it presses soft against her cheek.

The last thing she can really hear is Princess, her birdcage tipped over, chattering and making loud noises, calling for help.