Please Be There (An Anorexic Girl Story)

Please Be There Ch. 3

***Still Brenda's POV****

Chapter Three

Chester drove me home without saying a word to me. I hugged myself tightly, and brought my feet up on the chair with me. "You were late," I finally murmured after a while of silence.

"So?" He pressed, keeping his eyes on the road.

"Like really late, Ches," I growled.

"You're still alive aren't you?" He asked. When I didn't answer he took that as a yes. "Raped?" He asked, "Beaten? If you've answered yes to any of these, I'm terribly sorry."

"Never mind," I whispered.

"That's what I thought," Chester grumbled, and we drove the rest of the way in silence.

When we got home, I got out, slammed the door, and stormed into the house. "Hey Brownie," Dunkin called from the couch.

"Hey D," I murmured. I plopped down on the couch next to him, and crossed my legs on the couch. "Whatcha lookin' at?"

"Pictures," He smiled. I leaned over his shoulder, and saw myself in between Dunkin and Chester. "You were such a chubby little kid," He laughed.

"I was not," I told him.

"She was a fat child," Daryl chimed from the kitchen. I blushed a little, and got up from the couch. I started to walk upstairs, when Daryl yelled, "Brownie, come eat."

I let out a deep sigh. I hated being called that. It was the nickname my Mama gave me, and every time I was called it, it reminded me of her. Sometimes it made me want to cry. "I'm not hungry," I told him, pausing on the stairs.

"Alright," He answered.

"Well at least come sit with us," Dunkin called. I sat on the stairs, and looked down at him. He didn't even turn around to see me. He just looked at my fat self pictures.

"So you can insult me more," I growled.

"Aw B," Dunkin groaned, "Don't take it so hard."

"Yeah," Daryl chuckled, "We'd think you'd be used to it by now!"

I rolled my eyes, and walked down the stairs. I sat at my normal seat at the table. My brothers sat around me, and quickly started eating. I just grabbed a roll, and picked it apart.

My brothers and I ate at 5 everyday. Well, they ate. It was the only time when we could all be together. Daryl made it the only rule in the house that we eat together at dinner, because it would be the only time we'd really see each other. Other than that, the only other rule in the house was that we had to be home before two in the morning.

Sometimes I wondered why my brothers still continued to live here. I asked them before, but never got a straight answer from any of them. So I just kind of gave up after awhile. "So how was your day, Brownie?" Daryl asked.

"I have to right a four page paper and I have a detention on Tuesday," I grumbled.

"Great going Brownie," Chester grumbled, and I shot him a glare.

"Brownie," Daryl warned, "How're you expecting to go to college if you screw up your first day?"

"Come on," I sighed, "We all know I'm not goin' to college."

"Yes you are," Daryl replied sternly.

I got out of my seat. "I have ta go to work," I grumbled, "See ya later."

No one really responded, so I took that as a good bye. I grabbed my bag, and jacket, and was out of the door quickly. I walked swiftly to the Applebee's. That's where I worked, and it was right down the street. If I didn't work there, I probably never have any money. I knew my brothers wouldn't give me any, and I couldn't take money from Keera. That was just unacceptable.

When I walked in, Sarah was waiting for me with my apron in her hand. "You're late," She told me, raising a red eyebrow. I rolled my eyes, and took it. I set my bag down behind the counter, and started clearing tables. "So I was with Nancy," Sarah started, "And she was going off about how I don't clean up my own messes."

"You don't," I reminded her.

"Yeah, well I don't need her to tell me that," She growled. I continued to listen to her as I put dirty plates and cups into a tub. When I was finished with one table, I went to the next, and then put all of the dirty dishes into the sink in the kitchen.

"Sarah," I reminded her, "Work."

"Oh right," She grumbled. I grabbed my notebook, and walked over to my first table.

"Hiya," I smiled, "My name is Brenda, and I'll be your server this evenin', can I start ya'll out with a drink?"

"Oh Dolly," The woman smiled, "Is that a southern accent? I just love those."

"Well my Mama had one," I explained, "And I just kinda picked up on it. Sometimes it's there, sometimes it's not."

The woman smiled brightly. "Well I love it," She smiled. "Alright, the two munchkins over there will have lemonade, and this pretty lady will have a coke." I smiled at the girl who was probably around 10. I scribbled the orders down quickly.

"And you?" I asked.

"Lemon water please," She said.

"I'll be right back," I told her. She nodded, and then started talking sweetly but sternly to the twin monsters next to her.

"Southern accent?" Sarah chuckled, raising an eyebrow.

"So what if I like to be different?" I shrugged, "It's not like I'm going to see these people again."

"What if they come back," Sarah suggested.

"Then my accent might mysteriously appear again," I smiled, and then went to get their drinks. After I delivered it to them, I continued the night completing orders. By closing time, I was still cleaning tables, and hadn't done a single thing of homework.

I sighed loudly, and sunk in a booth. My stomach growled loudly, but I just ignored it. "Tough day?" Sarah asked, cleaning the table next to me.

"You don't even know it," I sighed, running my hand through my hair.

"Lot of homework," She guessed.

"Four page paper," I muttered, "Stupid Mrs. Rose."

"Mrs. Rose?" Sarah smiled, "I had her. She was the best! After her class, I wanted to be a writer so bad, but my Dad didn't want that."

"Well she assigned me a four page paper, on why ain't isn't a word," I muttered, standing up and stretching.

"Aw, she means well," Sarah shrugged. She tossed me the keys. "Lock up when you're done."

I sat in the booth for ten more minutes, trying to convince myself that maybe Sarah was right. I just couldn't do it though.