Revenge & A Stream of Broken Hearts

The First Baby Step

        I never realized how much I love food. Well, not until yesterday, when I tried to start my diet...

FLASHBACK

I can do this. I am strong. I have to do this. I have to. It's lunch time, and I'm going to eat a salad. Oh, boy. This is going to be a disaster! I just know it...

"A salad? I'm surprised. Or does it have a turkey dinner on the side?" Cole alerted me with his cruel words.

As always, his best friend continued with the insults, "Cole, that's not for her! The turkey dinner is on its way. With the main course of a Chinese Buffet!"

Laughter left the mouth of every student in the cafeteria. Cole and Lee (his best friend) high-fived each other loudly, so that I could hear the humiliation as well as feel it.

        I ignored it. All of it. I walked right over to an abandoned table, sat down, and ate the unfilling salad. I ate through all the glares and put downs. But in the end, food wasn't here for me this time. It failed at supplying me with a good taste in my mouth after swallowing all the embarrassment. It left my stomach feeling cold and empty instead of warm and stuffed. I can't help it, I just love food. All through third period, my belly grumbled with unsatisfactory.

Cole came over to my side, "Not eating your daily feast is throwing your stomach way off schedule."

Lee noticed Cole's recent insult and headed towards us, "Never take away a fat girl's food. That's what I always say."

A frown appeared on my face.

END OF FLASHBACK

        Dieting isn't really helping me right now. Maybe it just hasn't gone into full effect yet? Annabeth, who are you kidding? You're just fat. And that's how things are always going to be. Accept it now. Before you allow yourself to believe that your going to be skinny ever again. That time is long behind us. Accept it. Accept it. Accept it. Is my conscience right? I probably should accept my fate of forever fatness... Wait, what about my revenge plan? I can't just give that up. It's one of the rules! My feet instantly come in contact to the floor. I run outside and run on the sidewalk. If I can diet and exercise I'll lose weight in no time!!! I smile at my newest discovery.

        I walk towards the, "Gym Fitness on Saret" doors. A flyer posted on the window informs me that there is an Open Gym every Saturday and Sunday. The best part is that it's free! The set times for the classes is 10am-10pm. I am soo excited for this. I have concluded that if I work out for the whole day each weekend for the rest of the month then I'll lose a lot of weight! Plus, I'll be on a diet during this. If this is correct then step 1 should go on without a glitch.

---

        "Vivian!!!!" I screech loudly that I think I made myself go deaf.

"Annabeth!!!" my best friend returns my scream.

"How was Japan?"

"It was awesome!!! I saw so many beautiful buildings and new cultures."

"That's good."

"You look different, Bethy. What's up?" I love when she calls me that.

"Yeah, I... um... lost a few pounds... I guess..." she didn't seem too surprised, but Viv is just too nice to go right out and say, 'You're not fat any more!'. Well, I'm still fat, but not as fat as the last time Vivian saw me. The gym has done an amazing job the past week. I'm looking thinner already!

"So, what's your secret?"

Did she already know about my revenge plan? How? I didn't tell anyone! Viv noticed my discomfort and worried expression, "How did you lose weight?" She assured me that she wasn't talking about what I thought.

"Oh, um... I went to the gym and I um... I am on a diet..." I spoke hesitantly.

"Cool! The food in Japan is making me have to go on one. Lol!"

"No way! You're the size of a pencil!" Which is true. Vivian is tinier than a twig.

"Not anymore," Viv smiled happily, "So how's life?"

"Good, I guess..."

"What are you not telling me, Bethy?" Vivian is always able to read me like a book off the shelf.

"Nothing... I just.... um, nothing...."

"Spill the beans. I know you're hiding something from me."

"I am not."

"Yes huh!"

"Nut uh!" we bickered back and forth like preschoolers until I finally cracked, "Okay... I'll tell you..."

"Yay!! I always win." She pumped her fist in the air.

"I... I-I... I kinda... sorta..."

"Tell me already!" Vivian is never patient.

"Just don't tell anyone, Promise?" I raise an eyebrow.

"I promise, now tell me!"

That's when I told her everything. I had to start the story back to when I first started thinking up this brilliant plan. I told her about the different steps. I told her about my revenge rules. I told her about my discouragement. I told her about the insults. I told her about the gym flyer. Everything I've been through since she left, slipped through my lips.

"Wow, how long have you been on step 1?" Vivian's curiosity bubbled over to my confessed mind.

"Just this past week." I admitted openly.

"So, November... 30th you'll be done with step 1?"

"Yes, I'm giving myself only a month to accomplish each step successfully."

"What if you don't complete a step in the given time frame?"

"Viv, it's like a school project. Every late assignment results to how many points deducted from your grade. Same with Operation Revenge... kinda. I'll lose time for other steps as well as points and be way behind in my plan."

"Look at you, Bethy! Soundin' all sophisticated and stuff." Vivian used a baby voice.

"Speaking of sophisticated, how much work did you and your classmates get done on that field trip?"

"Very little progress in our project, very little." We started bursting out laughing. It's times like these when I wish she went to my school... Or goes to high school at the very least. Yep, Vivian is in college. But she is a great friend. I love her to death. She never jokes around about my weight or Cole or even my dad. She minds her own business (usually, unless we're catching up on each other's lives) and stays out of mine. Sometimes though, I wish she did ask me about my problems. I wish she didn't stop asking if I was okay or what happened until she got a reasonable answer from me. But you got to work with what you got. So I usually just bottle up everything. Vivian never has very advantageous advice anyways. So, it's probably best if I don't ask her about what to do. She crumbles like dry bread under pressure and says the most outrageous things!

DAILY RATING:

Step 1- Lose weight

Starting weight= 195 lbs.

Current weight= 171 lbs.

My goal= 115 lbs.

*****

Hey!!! How is everybody? I know this is a short chapter. But I kinda got writer's block. And I didn't want you guys waiting soooo long, so I figured I'd just update. I know my story isn't perfect, but I honestly love it. Tell me what you think about this chapter. Comment any suggestions, ideas, or anything. Remember to screenshot your favorite part of the book and hashtag #faveactofrevenge on Instagram!!! Love you all. Bye! <3

           ~FreeStray