Zero

Chapter 13: Elizabeth

~Liz's Point of View~

"Why do you already have headshots?" Thalia asks me, pulling into my driveway. "Well, I figured if I was going to take modeling seriously I needed headshots." I explain, getting out of the car. "When did you get them done?" She asks, taking her Prada purse out with her. "About 2 months ago." I say unlocking the front door. When I walk in, I see Mom, Dad, and Vanessa all sitting at the table. Vanessa and Mom's eyes are red and puffy. Like they've been crying. Dad just looks tired. Like usual. In my mind I'm thinking about how they find out so soon about Thalia's lie.

"What's going on?" I ask, trying to act casual. "Elizabeth honey." Dad says. This is bad. Dad has never called me honey, or sweetheart, or kiddo, or any other nickname. "We need to talk." Crap. They found out about the bet. Or maybe they found out about Vanessa's smoking incident. "What about Thalia?" I ask pointing at my friend standing awkwardly behind me. "Thalia, I think you should go home." Dad says. "But she just got here." I argue. "Please Elizabeth." He responds, rubbing his temples. "It's okay Eli, I'll go." She whispers to me. "Bu-." "It's okay." She says hugging me. "Stay strong." She whispers in my ear before walking out the door.

"What's going on?" I ask again, taking a seat next to Vanessa. "Sweetheart, you know that your Mother and I have been arguing a lot lately. We know that this isn't how a family should be. With all the yelling and screaming at each other. It's not healthy." He begins. I slowly nod my head, not really sure where this is going. "Your mother and I have decided to get a divorce." He bluntly says. I let out a little gasp. I knew this was coming, I was just hoping it would be after I left home. No person wants to go through their parents' divorce.

"When?" I ask. "The official paperwork will be signed in about a day or two." "So soon?" I ask. "It's better this way." He says, patting my hand. We're all silent for a moment. I guess we're all processing what this means. Different Christmases, different Thanksgivings. Vanessa and I visiting two different homes every time we come down. "I'm going to my room." I say, pushing away my chair. No one argues. They're all lost in thought.

When I get to my room, I dig through my drawers, trying to find my headshots. "Where are you, you little devils." I whisper, digging through another drawer. "There you are." I say, grabbing them and hugging them to my chest. "What'd you find." Vanessa sniffles behind me. I turn around, now ashamed that I still have a chance to be happy. "Umm..just my headshots." I say placing them on my night stand. "What are they for?" She asks, sitting on my bed and looking at them. I debate whether or not I should tell her. "Thalia's dad may have landed me a modeling job. All I have to do is send in a headshot." I explain, sitting next to her. "Liz! That's amazing!" She says putting down my headshots and getting up to hug me.

"It is isn't!" I squeal in her ear. "It's going to be amazing." I say pulling away from her. "New York, the models, the fancy restaurants, the guys, the-." I begin listing before she cuts me off. "You have to tell Mom and Dad." She says sternly. "Of course I will. I'll tell them if I get accepted." I tell her. "No. Not about that." She says. "Then what?" I ask getting frustrated. "About your anorexia." She says bluntly. You could here a pin drop, it's so quite in my room. I feel as though all the air has been sucked out I can barely breathe. "What?" I ask, my throat dry. "Don't play stupid Elizabeth. I'm not blind. I saw you as a freshman and no offense, but you are like an entirely different person." "I've been using really good diets." I say quietly. "Bullcrap. You never eat breakfast. You almost had a stroke when I asked if you wanted donuts. You pick at your supper every night. I'm not surprised Mom and Dad haven't noticed since they've been to busy arguing. You're anorexic." She says angrily. "I'm not anorexic!" I shout at her. And it's true. I'm not like those girls where you can see their bones through their clothes. "Elizabeth, I can see you knee caps through your jeans." She shouts back. "Take off your hoodie." She says. "Fine." I tell her, taking off my hoodie to show her I'm not anorexic.

After I take off my hoodie, and then my shirt I hear Vanessa gasp. "Oh Liz." She says quietly. Not understanding, I walk towards the mirror and let out a gasp to. You can see each individual bone in my ribs, you can see my collarbones, and even my joints. "You have to tell them." Vanessa says handing me back my shirt. "I'll tell them when you tell them you've been smoking." I counter, pulling the hoodie over my head. "You know?" She asks. "Yep." "How many months have you known?" She asks. Holy crap. Months? "Enough." I say. She seems to be having an eternal battle within herself. "I can't tell them Liz, it'll break them." "Then how am I supposed to tell them about this?" I ask, gesturing at my body.

"Fine, you don't have to tell them. Not yet at least." She says walking towards the door. "Just promise me you'll quit doing this to your body." She pleads "I promise." I say. She gives me a small smile and walks out my room. Once she leaves, I take off my pants and grab my measuring tape. It's been a couple of months since I've checked and then I was a 5. I haven't checked since then, so I've been saying I'm a 5 this whole time.

Wrapping the measuring tape around my thin hips, I let out a silent squeal and do a little happy dance. I've done it. I'm finally a zero. I could care less about my promise to Vanessa. It doesn't count anyway if you're fingers were crossed.