Internet Scales (Patrick/Pete)

5

Pete's POV

It was quarter past one and I was still awake. I would normally be asleep at this point but Patrick had messaged me. He was really sad. He told me that he hadn't eaten in two days. I had to convince him to eat something. I was really really concerned about his diet. Since he started grade 9 last year, he had started comfort eating. It hadn't been until we facetimed for the first time in a couple of months that I realized. He was eating toast since it was about nine in the morning for him. I hadn't really noticed at first, I was just so happy to hear his voice again. But he ate so much in that short time we were calling. Like too much. I had messaged him shortly after we ended the call.

Pete: Patrick, how come you we eating so much?

Patrick: I wasn't eating that much

Pete: You ate about eight packets of crisps and four slices of toast

Patrick: Really?

Pete: Yes Patrick, is something wrong?

Patrick: I'm just stressed and eating helps. I've got it under control, I'm fine

Pete: What happened to you wanting a jaw line so bad?

Patrick: I still have it

Pete: Patrick, you don't

At first, he didn't realize just how much he was stuffing himself with. Until he messaged me panicking one evening.

Patrick: Pete. You were right

Pete: What?

Patrick: How much did I used to weigh?

Pete: You told me about four months ago that you were nine stone, I think

Patrick: Oh. Help

Pete: Patrick... 

Pete: Patrick, what's happened?

Patrick: I'm sixteen stone. I'm fifteen and I'm sixteen stone. Pete help me. Pete please. I've fucked up

Pete: Patrick, calm okay? You're gonna be fine. Just try to refrain from snacking so much and maybe go for a walk in the evenings 

For a while, Patrick did stop snacking so much. But he didn't go for walks as I had advised. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to be, I couldn't be there for him all day and night. I lived in California and he lived in New York so there was no way I could be there. Fast forward to what was happening now. Patrick wanted to binge eat. Binge eating for him meant going to McDonalds and getting four cheese burgers and two large fries and two milkshakes, all to himself. Then he would go home and eat whatever was in the house. I was trying to stop him from doing this and I knew he would pile a load of weight back on. 

Pete: Patrick, think rationally

Patrick: I am going to do it

Pete: Patrick, it never ends well

Pete: Patrick, it's three in the morning, please go to sleep

Pete: If you still want to do it tomorrow, do it if you must but please just sleep

Pete: Or get some toast, something to help you not feel as hungry

Pete: Patrick

Pete: Patrick, come back

Pete: Patrick?