She Told Me Not to Worry (SEQUEL to He Told Me Not to Tell) COMPLETE

37

Demi's POV

We got to our favorite diner, but it was closed for reconstruction. "Well, now what?" I asked Kenzie. "Let's see if Nick wants to join us," I suggested. Kenzie's face brightened as she nodded. I called Nick, and he suggested a great place. We went by and picked him up, then went to the restaurant.

We were seated in a booth. Not too many people were there. Kenzie and I started looking through a menu when I heard something from a table close to us. I didn't want to be too nosy, but I couldn't help but listen in on the conversation. It wasn't too hard to hear since it wasn't very loud in the restaurant.

"But Mom, I'm not hungry," a girl a little older than Kenzie said.

"Allison, you're going to eat at least something," her mom replied. "You didn't eat dinner last night or breakfast this morning."

"I don't want to eat," she complained.

I kept my eyes on my menu, but I didn't stop listening.

"Eat a salad, I don't care. But you will eat something." The mom was getting irritated, and she didn't sound like she had much patience left. "And this is not a place to be arguing like this."

"Excuse me," the girl said with a shaky voice. She got up to go to the restroom.

I wanted to do something, but it wasn't any of my business. The urge never went away, though. I wanted to talk this girl. I put the menu down. "I'll be right back."

I left Kenzie and Nick to go the the restroom. I saw the girl standing in front of the mirror, just staring at herself.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked as I walked up next her.

She snapped her head up, and shock was written all over her face when she saw me. "Um, yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just finishing washing my hands."

"I heard your conversation with your mom out there," I admitted.

"Oh," she lowered her head and refuse to make eye contact with me.

"What's that about?"

"I just... Don't want to eat. That's all.

"Allison, right?" She nodded. "Do you know who I am?"

"Well, yeah. Of course."

"And do you trust me?" She nodded. "You've got to eat, honey."

"But I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because-" It took her a while to answer. "I'm not skinny enough," she whispered.

"Look in the mirror," I said as I turned her towards the mirror, but she wouldn't lift her eyes up. "Look." Her head slowly lifted so she was staring into her own eyes. "I want you to repeat after me, okay?" She nodded. "I am beautiful, no matter what."

"I am beautiful, no matter what."

"Good, now mean it this time."

Tears sprung into her eyes. "I can't," she whispered. I wasn't going to quit on her, though. She said the sentence again, better this time.

"Good. Now I want you to say that to yourself every morning when you wake up. Because it's true."

"It's not tr-"

"Would I lie to you?" I asked, cutting her off. "You told me you trusted me. Now I need to trust you. I need to know that you'll try to do better, okay? It's not going to happen over night, I know that. But you have to at least try. Will you try for me?"

She nodded and smiled. I smiled back and opened my arms. She hugged back tightly, and we left the restroom back to our own tables. By that time, her mom had ordered them both something to go, so they soon left. I sat back down across from Kenzie and Nick.

I looked at Kenzie, who was already waiting for an explination. "Don't ever do something like that to me, Kenzie. Please. I don't ever want you to be afraid to eat."

I hope this chapter was okay.

I don't know when I'll be able to update again. This weekend and next week will be busy. I'll try my best.