Nadine's Stuck.

SEVEN

[TRIGGER WARNING: MENTION OF ANOREXIA, PURGING/EATING DISORDER(S) + SKINNY SHAMING]

Nadine's POV:

Akiko stares at me, her expression unreadable, and her eyebrows slightly scrunched. I look down at my empty plate. Had I done something wrong? Chewed too loud? Chewed with my mouth open? Ate it weird? Do I have something on my face?

"I thought you were anorexic."

These are the first words she says to me since the introductions. I don't think Akiko likes me.

She thought I was anorexic.

I blink a few times and look down at my body. Sure, I'm small, but that's not my fault. I can't change my body.

Elana hits her on the arm. "Oh my god, Akiko, you can't say that!"

She rolls her eyes and averts her gaze from me, looking at Elana. "Why? Look at her. She looks like a gust of wind would break her in two." She looks back at me, a slight smirk playing on her lips. "You're not gonna purge, are you, little one?"

I look up from my body and shake my head. Should I order more just to prove something?

Cade must have seen the insecurity on my face as he wraps his arms around my shoulder. "Akiko, do ever stop being bitchy?"

"Do you?"

Cade rolls his eyes. "Noah, tell your little freshman to shut up."

Noah barley glances up from his phone, clearly uninterested in what's happening. "Shut up, Akiko." His voice is blank and unenthusiastic.

Akiko groans, but shuts up.

Cade grabs my hand and stands up. "We're leaving."

I glance up at him and stand up too. I hadn't even felt my eyes get glossy. Maybe I'm so used to crying now, I don't even realize when I'm doing it.

"It was joke." Akiko is annoyed. I don't think it was a joke. I think she actually does think I'm anorexic and does think I'm going to purge. I'm sure everyone at the table was wondering the same thing, she was just the most vocal about it.

"It wasn't funny." Kai jumps in.

"Whatever." Akiko picks at her half eaten plate. She'd gotten here before me and still hasn't finished. Maybe she's the anorexic one.

Cade reaches into his hoodie pocket and throws a twenty dollar pill on the table. "For me and Rosewood's food. Call me if it's not enough, I'll pay you back tomorrow."

He leads me out of the diner. When we're outside, that's when the real tears begin. The ones I can feel.

"You okay?" He sounds genuinely concerned.

I'm obviously not fucking okay.

I nod.

"No your not." He pulls me closer, into a hug. My face presses into his lower chest and I can feel his shirt get wet with my tears.

"It's okay...we can talk about it at the dorm, hm? And your bunny...what was her name again?" He strokes my hair.

"Zara..." I mumble, "Zara."

"Right. Both me and Zara will be there. And you'll be safe and cozy with a blankie and paci. How does that sound, huh?"

"Good..." but at the same time it feels bad. Bad that Cade is going to see me regressed.

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Check out the first chapter of my new book 'In His Eyes' on my second account KeepingKeroppi!
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Word count: 532!