FOUND II [COMPLETED]

XIII

Isabella

One week later

"Here you go boo." My mom said as she handed me my medication and a glass of water. I quickly swallowed the pills and sighed.

"Thanks." I said while leaning back. We were sitting on the bed in her and my dad's room in the hotel suite. Apparently the police found nothing during their investigation so there isn't much they can do right now. My parents don't think it's safe for us to be at home so we're staying at a hotel until I'm cleared to fly back to LA. I don't really mind though, I'm just happy to be out of the hospital. It was so dull.

"How you feeling?" My mom asked. She's been asking me that every single day since they released me. I don't know why because I give her the exact same answer every time, but if she wants to keep asking that's on her.

"Fine. Just sore." I replied. She nodded and kept staring at me.

"Baby, can I ask you something?"

"You just did." I smiled.

My mom laughed and nodded. "Okay, yes. But I'm serious, Isabella. We need to talk."

Well it was nice while it lasted.

I sighed and slowly sat up. "Mommy, can't we just leave it–"

"No." She shook her head. I pouted. "Like I said, we need to talk. I've given you your space and time over the last couple of weeks but now I need you to talk to me."

"Fine." I mumbled.

My mom looked at me for a minute before opening her arms. "Come here."

"What?"

"Bella, come here."

I sighed and crawled over to her. She wrapped her arms around me and I laid my head on her shoulder.

"I know you're eighteen now, but you're still my baby girl." She said before kissing my cheek.

"Oh god, are you about to cry?" I asked while looking up at her. She mushed my head and laughed.

"Shut up." I laid my head back down and closed my eyes. My mom sighed. "Baby I just want to understand, or at least try to. Can you tell me why? Please?"

I let out a long sigh. "At first it was just a one-time thing, I didn't think it was anything serious. I was just worried about not fitting in my dress for the homecoming pageant. Someone made a smart comment at one of our practices and it made me paranoid I guess. It messed with my head more than I thought it would. Once I started doing it a few times, I couldn't stop. Even when I wanted to. Because I did at one point, you know. I didn't want to do it anymore." I felt my eyes start to water and sniffled. "It wasn't just homecoming though. I started thinking about the photoshoots I had coming up, there were so many. I had that spread I was supposed to do for Triangl's bikinis and I started freaking out because I didn't think my body was ready. It just gave me more excuses to keep going instead of stopping and getting help. I don't know, that's probably an excuse too. I wanted to tell you but I was scared you'd take me out of the pageant or make me take a break from modeling. I mean clearly I was right, but still, I'm sorry. For all of it. I know I've put you and daddy through it over the past two weeks. But I just wanted to say thank you, for everything. For being here and putting up with my moods, and making me eat when my nurses were close to giving up. Thank you mommy."