The Unseen

Confiding in a Friend

Ema chatted with Dylan and Sarah. It was Thursday, and her week of teaching Cody would soon be over.

Her telepathic abilities sensed Cody's awakening. And the fact that he was, as usual, admiring her posterior. Not that Ema was opposed to it. Cody was, as she put it, very cute.

Though she was helping Cody get accustomed to the school's environment, Ema was beginning to have problems of her own. Sitting around teaching a friend all day was not physically demanding, and she had done a great deal of snacking. Ema had already put on a noticeable amount of weight since the Three were put on the shelf. She kept having flashbacks to clothes not fitting, and her friends leaving her in the dust in games. Ema shuddered as her Dylan and Sarah left. She did not want to go back to that.

Cody noticed her discomfort, and sat beside her on the bed.

"What's wrong?" Cody asked Ema as she pulled the day's lessons from her bag.

"What?" she asked, trying to act normal, "Nothing's wrong. I'm just a little tired, that's all." Cody moved a little closer.

"Someone's gotta teach you to tell a decent lie, Ema," he smiled, "But seriously. What's bothering you?" She sighed, and patted her softened midsection.

"Your stomach?" Cody asked, "Something's not sitting well? You allergic to something?"

Ema laughed a little.

"I guess Cody didn't have to deal with figure issues in the lab," she thought to herself before speaking, "No Cody. I mean its size."

"What about it?" he asked again, "It's seemed like it's been that way the whole time I've been here."

"It has," Ema affirmed with a chuckle, "But that's the thing. I'm overweight."

"So you're heavier than average," he deduced, "So?"

"So," she continued, "I feel like it would let my team down."

"In what way?" Ema sighed, staring at her stomach.

"If we all aren't in physical condition to fight," Ema explained, "Then none of us do. It's just that... that I've never been able to get rid of this. No matter what size, it's always been there. I... I don't think I'll pass the physical exam next time." She choked on a sob, "I don't want to let my friends down, Cody. I don't want to let you down." Ema rested her head on his shoulder, and wrapped her arms around his torso. Cody, unsure of what to do, hugged her back. He thought hard, trying to think of a solution.

And then it hit him.

"You know..." he began, thinking hard, "The laboratory had an excersize program we would do everyday. They're pretty effective. I might be able to reduce the intensity of them. If you want." Ema looked into his eyes, her cheeks flushed and lips slightly ajar.

"You'd do that..." she stuttered, "You'd do that for me?" He nodded reassuringly.

"It'll take a few days for me to work something out, but yeah." Ema scooched herself onto his lap, and moved her face closer to his.

"I... I don't know what to say. Words can't really describe how grateful I am to you..."

"Oh, you don't need to tha-"

Cody was cut off as Ema's lips pressed against his, and her arms wrapped firmly around him.