Living The Life Of A Teen

Chapter 3

Chapter 3:

I stared up at a plain white ceiling. That's odd. I have a dark blue, almost black ceiling in the dark. And I could swear I heard crying from somewhere on my left. I slowly looked over there. I could see blurs. I blinked. No change. A groan escaped my mouth, which was followed by two gasps from the direction of the crying, and the first thing I saw was Linda and Gemma. Crying. Why were they crying?

"Stop crying. What's the reason for crying anyways?"

The pair stared at each other, none showing any signs of responding to my question. I was confused. It was just a question. I opened my mouth to repeat myself when my doctor jumped up in front of them.

"Hello Kate. My name is Dr Stevens. How are you feeling today? And why don't you eat something?"

I suddenly stared at the tray in front of me. A bacon and egg sandwich, a blueberry muffin and what looked like jacket potatoes absolutely drizzled with cheese. All that fat and grease - it looked sickening. I think it showed on my face, because he suddenly laughed. I glanced at the expectant look on Linda's face.

"Erm, sorry I can't eat this. I'm a vegetarian."

"But sweetie, they are very high in proteins and carbohydrates. And it looks very delicious. Come on, don't you want to have a healthy body?" as Linda said 'healthy', she looked at my stomach.

I looked down at my own stomach. I sighed. I had told her many times about my modelling career. And how size 4 was the boundary for getting into Haute Couture for teens. She seems to think it's just a phase. See, this is why we can never spend any time together. She just doesn't understand me. When I DO tell her stuff, she just laughs at 'the irrational way of thinking in young adults these days'. Talk about stereotypical.  

And what was with the fatty foods? Oh lord. Epiphany time. Was she trying to make me get fat?

"Alright guys, what's going on?" I turned to my best friend. "Gem? What...why are you trying to make me eat?" I waited a second, to see if they would respond. Again, nothing. "Well? WHY WON'T SOMEONE ANSWER ME?" Everyone winced. I seemed to be nearly shouting now, but I didn't care. I needed answers.

"Listen love, I think you need to calm down, and get some rest." Linda reached over to touch me on the shoulder, but I wasn't having any of it. I glared at her. She backed off.

"Can I talk to Gem please?" Nobody moved. "By myself."

"Yes, of course. Your mother and I need to discuss a few...issues," the doctor said as he turned around and walked out the room. Linda waited a few seconds, and whispered something in Gem's ear, before leaving.

I turned to Gem, and stared at her in the eye.  

"Gem? You'll tell me won't you? Why are you trying to make me eat?" I had calmed down by now.

Gemma just looked at me with pity. She sighed loudly before saying, "Katy, the doctor told us something...something that made us - your mum and I - heartbroken. He said..." She paused. I could tell this was hard for her. "He said you're anorexic Katy. You seem to be underweight and not eating anything."

I snapped at her completely. "I know what it means Gem. I'm not an idiot. I can be a model and have brains, you know. Or do you also think this is a phase?" She looked down. I was shocked. "You do, don't you? I can't believe this. And you actually believe what the doctor said? You actually believe that load of bull coming out of his mouth?" She continued staring at the floor. "OH MY GOD! I'm telling you that I AM eating. I might not be eating loads, but I am eating. I don't want to become obese."

"We're not telling you to become obese, just eat a bit more-"

"No Gem. I've had it. I've had it up to here," with here I pointed to my head, "with all the crap Linda has been trying to infest into my mouth. And now you? The person I trust the most in the world. The person who I KNOW would never let me down. Correction. The person I knew would never let me down. Past tense."

And then I jumped out of my bed, tearing off the tubes stuck onto my hand. It hurt, like tearing off a plaster, but I wasn't going to show it. I noticed my clothes on the chair next to me, slightly torn under the right knee, where I think I had hit my shin. I grabbed them and ran out, and out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Gem fall to her knees, and cry.