Uncovered Secrets

Sent From Kevin Above

Chapter Four: Demi's POV

I walk back over to where Anna and I were sitting, and see that her stuff is gone. I yank out my phone and quickly dial her number.

"Hello?" She says cheerily on the other end.

"Where are you?" I ask, biting back a sob.

"I saw you talking to that guy and I didn't want to interrupt, so I just went shopping by myself! So who is he? He's cute! Does he like you? Does he go to your school?" I sigh and shake my head.

"I have no idea who he is. What store are you in?"

"I'll just come get you, kay?" She says. I hang up and wait.

***

I avoid the mall for a few weeks after that, but my mom forces me to go Christmas shopping with her on the 3rd so I finally say I'll go. Kevin's probably not working anyways. But just my luck, I spot him working at the subway. And he spots me. I look away and steer my mom towards the target which thankfully is at the opposite end of the mall.

"Wouldn't this be cute for Anna?" She asks me, holding up a reindeer sweater. "Just for the holidays?" She asks when I raise my eyebrows in disgust.

"Mom, let me shop for Anna." I say with a laugh. Mom's been homeschooling me for a while, and I've really gotten to know her. We've become pretty close. She sighs and walks on to the makeup section. After about an hour, she turns to me.

"Wanna go get something to eat?" Normally I would have said no, but she looked so hungry that I agreed.

"Okay." She smiled and we walked back to the food court. Unfortunately, Mom chose Subway. And unfortunately, Kevin was working.

"Hello, ma'am. Hey Demi." He smiles at me. Mom looks at me questioningly but then shrugs when I won't look her in they eyes. "What can I get you two?" He asks.

"Hmmm. I'll just go with roast beef and cheddar and lettuce if that's alright." She says. "What about you, Dem?"

"Nothing, I'm not really hungry." I'm not looking at Kevin, but I can see his eyes get dimmer when I say this.

"Your total is $3.17." He says to my mom. We go sit down and my mom asks me where I'd like to go next, but I'm too distracted. Seeing Kevin again was unnerving. My mom suddenly stopped talking and looked up. Kevin was walking towards us, holding something wrapped up. "Here." He says, setting it down in front of me. It's a sandwich. I look up at him, letting a little anger show through.

"I'm not hungry." I say firmly.

"Demi!" My mom whisper yells. "Don't be rude!" Then she grabs her purse. "How much did that sandwich cost?" She asks Kevin.

"Don't worry about it. It's a gift." Then he walks off, leaving me with the sandwich. I look up at Mom, and she grins at me.

"I think he likes you!" She said giddily. I shook my head and offered her the sandwich. "Okay. If you're sure you don't want it..." I nodded quickly and she took it. I glanced behind me to see Kevin watching with a sad expression.

***

Later that day, Mom had gone home for a while- leaving me here to shop for my own clothes. I was halfheartedly searching through the racks at American Eagle when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Kevin.

"Hey." He said quietly. I never noticed how blue his eyes were. He had brown hair about the same color as mine, and perfect blue eyes.

"Hi." I say. "Look, I'm sorry about the sandwich. I'll pay you back..." I start to dig through my purse but he holds his hand up.

"I don't care about that. I care that you're eating." I give him my best bitch stare, but it doesn't faze him.

"I am." I say, turning around and walking away, only to have him grab my arm.

"No. You're not. Look, Demi, you're beautiful. I've always thought so. And no matter what they say, I will always believe that. I just wish you did." Then he walked away, leaving me there, stunned.

"Kevin!" I call, and he turns around. I know what I need to say to him, but I can't say it here. I walk towards him and pull him out of the store. We end up at the food court, in a small corner. "Look... I'm broken. I want to be thin... But I want to get better more. I just... I don't know... There's something inside me that doesn't want to stop even though I know I should. But I don't know how. I don't know how to start eating without all the thoughts, or the urges to have it all out. I don't know how to eat without feeling disgusting." By now I was beginning to cry. "And I know I have to figure it out... But I'm not going to tell my Mom. I can't." I look at him and realize he's crying too. He grabs my hand.

"Why are you telling me this?" He asks. "I thought you wanted me to leave you alone. I thought you didn't... care." I look at him, and open my mouth.

"Maybe you could show me how to try?"