Before He Met Her

Chapter Twenty Seven

  "It's time to get up boys!" A nurse said as she opens up our curtains. "I'm not moving out of this bed!" I said angrily as I pulled the pillow over my head along with the blankets. My roommate was already up in the bathroom getting himself ready for the day. "If you won't get up then, I'll have to inform your therapist." The nurse told me. "Fine call him, I don't give a fuck." I said as I continued to lay in my bed.

  "Dude, you know that he's probably gonna call in your parents right?" Chris asked me. "Fuck, I'm screwed!" I said as I quickly got myself out of my bed. "What was I thinking?!" I said with a voice of panic. "Well I mean you are going through a breakup." Chris reminded me. "Yeah I wish it was all just a terrible nightmare that I could wake up from... but unfortunately it's not." I explained.

  "So are you ready to go down to the dining room then or want me to wait?" Chris asked me. "Oh, uh yeah I'm ready now let's go." I said to him. In that moment I realized that I must have looked pretty bad because I didn't even bother to dress myself or brush my teeth yet. "Oh, Thomas I'm happy that you decided to join us for breakfast." The cook in charge of serving us said to me.

  I faked a smile and took my seat, I was surprised to see that Hilary wasn't across from me. "Do you know where Hilary is?" I asked her roommate. "She's still getting herself ready." The girl told me. "Okay, so we're missing Hilary." The Cook said as he set trays down in front of us all. "I'm right here." She said to the cook as she sat down across from me.

  "Hey, Good morning." She smiled at me. "Oh, right hey." I said as I nervously stared at my tray. "Let me guess you tried getting out of it too?" She whispered to me. I nodded my head which pretty much told her yes I did. Today was Friday which meant it was a fun day, which don't get me wrong they try to make it fun for us but it's just not fun here. Almost everything is a reminder to us that we have eating disorders.

  Fun Friday also meant that we each get at least one of our fear foods during each meal and snack time. Ask me how that's supposed to be fun. I honestly don't know, they say that it's to make us get used to eating what we're afraid of. Honestly it's terrifying to me that they consider that fun. "Can I have a water?" I asked. "No, you know the rule." The cook told me.

  Oh, shit maybe they know about the secret I've been keeping. So basically what they gave me for breakfast was a cup of whole milk that was supposed to go in my bowl of Cereal and a banana. So what am I so afraid of on this tray? That's an easy one to answer, the cereal and the full fat milk. I really wished that I didn't care about it so much. But I guess I do, and so does everyone else, that's why we're here.

  "Are you good dude?" Chris asked me. "I think I'll be okay, I'll do what I always do." I explained as I began to eat my breakfast. "Hilary I'd like to talk to you about something later." I told her. "I hope you're not leaving." She said to me. "No, not yet." I told her. "Good, I'd miss you if you did." She said as she gave me a smile. That was really nice to hear, it made me smile for some reason.

  **** Later on that same Day ****

  "So you said that you wanted to talk to me?" Hilary asked me as we sat on the lobby floor. "I don't know if you've heard but I got cheated on by my girlfriend with my best friend." I explained as I tried to fit my hand around my wrist. "I'm so sorry, I had absolutely no idea that happened to you." Hilary said to me. "It's okay, I just wanted you to know whatever I did have with her... doesn't matter anymore." I told her.

  "Are you sure because it's okay, I don't want to be your rebound." She smiled at me sweetly. "Yeah, I mean I'll be okay within time." I explained. "And just so you know I don't count you as my rebound Hilary." I told her. "Besides she's moving away anyways." I told her. "Oh, I see." She said to me. "This may sound awkward but, I'd like to give you a hug." Hilary told me.