Ethereal

Sixteen

Lauren laid in the bed with her head propped up on her hand and turned towards Camila. She thought Camila was absolutely beautiful, but it was something more then that. She was ethereal. Lauren gazed lovingly at Camila's sleeping body, memorizing the contours of the small girl's face with the light touch of her fingers. Lauren was careful not to wake Camila but also couldn't help but think Camila looked almost lifeless. The huge bed seemed as if it devoured her small frame. The moonlight from the window casted a dim light on Camila's face and Lauren could just make out her pale skin. The way Camila shivered in her sleep, even when Lauren had all the fans and air conditioning off made Camila seem so vulnerable.

The girl with the green eyes wish she would have realized her girlfriend had anorexia sooner. She hated that she was dealing with this all by herself for 5 years. Camila thought thin was good, thin was strong; this was safe.

Camila stirred under Lauren's touch and nuzzled her head in Lauren's chest and pressing her body against Lauren's and draping her arm around her girlfriends waist. The older girl cracked a smile. She pulled Camila closer and ran her hands up and down the small girl's arms in attempt to warm Camila up. The green eyed girl allowed sleep to take over her body she felt the safest in Camila's arms.

-

Camila stirred awake when she heard her name being called.

"Huh?" She responded sleepily while rubbing her eyes.

"I had to wake you up first, Lauren's a heavy sleeper,my mom made breakfast and she wants you guys both down there." Taylor explained.

"Thanks bub. We'll be down." Camila assured.
Taylor left the room and Camila groaned. She hated waking Lauren up.

"Lo. Get up." She pleaded while shaking her shoulders. Surprisingly, it didn't take any coaxing to get her out of bed.

The couple headed downstairs and into the kitchen. Camila immediately felt overwhelmed at the sight. Clara had really gone overboard with the food in her opinion.

"Are we feeding the whole neighborhood?" Lauren chuckled while grabbing a plate. Camila took a seat at the table beside Taylor, making sure there was an empty space beside her for Lauren.

"C'mon mila aren't you going to get anything?" Taylor questioned nudging the small girl. Camila didn't expect Taylor to understand her eating disorder, but then again her eating disorder started around when she was 14 and that's how old Taylor was.

Camila opened her mouth to talk but was cut off by Lauren.

"I'm making her a plate." Lauren stated while holding 2 plates.
Camila sighed and leaned back into her chair. Lauren set a plate in front of Camila and took a seat beside her.
The small girl picked up the fork and cut her food into little piece, as she always did. She wanted it to appear to Lauren that when they were finished, she ate more then she actually did.
Camila took a deep breathe and stabbed a piece of pancake of her fork. She studied it for a second, deciding what she was going to do with it. She was forever engaged in a silent battle in her head over whether or not to lift the fork to her mouth, and when she talked herself into doing so, She tasted only regret.

"Camz. You can do this. There's no pressure." Lauren encouraged.
It scared Lauren how little Camila actually ate.
Camila finally brought the fork to her lips and allowed the pancake past her lips. The taste immediately overwhelmed her tastebuds. Camila squeezed her eyes shut and tapped her foot but eventually managed to swallow it.

"Can I be excused please?" Camila begged with tears clouding her vision.

"You barely ate sweetie." Clara replied.
Clara was catching onto Camila's eating habits and it worried her. But Camila didn't care, it wasn't a secret anymore.
Camila groaned and stabbed another piece of pancake.