Treatment// l.h

Chapter 1: Piper

Three Years Later

Piper sighed as she sat on the curb outside of Jenkin's. She had just been released and of course, her mum was late to pick her up.

She was angry at herself for even having a sliver of hope that after three years, her mum would be happy to see her. All she ever wanted was her mother's approval, as does any other young girl.

Finally, she spotted the familiar car speed into the parking lot. Her mother jumped out and ran to Piper. She helped her up and instead of hugging her like Piper had expected, her mum looked her up and down. As if she were checking for a disease, or to see if she was acceptable to bring home.

The girl scoffed and stepped away from her mum, walking to the car. She just wanted to get home.

After signing some paper work, Andrea finally joined Piper in the shiny car and started it up.

Piper felt a wave of relief wash over her as she rolled down her window and flipped off the building she never wanted to see again.

But the earth had different plans.

"Piper! Piper, sweetie, come back!" The young nurse flailed her arms wildly as she called for Piper.

Her mom instantly turned the car off and Piper groaned as she stepped out of the car and shot the nurse a death glare.

"Please Piper, we need you for a moment." The nurse begged. Piper might have been negative, but she wasn't heartless. She could clearly tell this women needed help so she sighed and walked back into hell, her mother stayed in the waiting room.

"What?" Piper squeaked, she hadn't talked all day and her voice was slightly raspy.

"It's one of our patients, we've tried everything and no offense, but she's even more hopeless than you were." The nurse answered and padded down the long corridor with Piper on her tail, "Her name is Addison and she's fifteen, we figured you were about her age, maybe a bit younger, when you were sent here and maybe you could help her out. Nothing huge, just speak to her."

Piper nodded as they reached the last door on the left. The nurse left without giving Piper any more information. She took a huge breath and opened the door, revealing a very sad looking girl with blonde hair and dull blue eyes.

Piper closed the door and sat in the chair across from where the girl was perched on the bed. They sat in silence for a few minutes because honestly, Piper had no clue what the hell she was supposed to say.

After a few more moments Piper finally broke the silence, "It fucking sucks."

Addison lost it. She broke down into uncontrollable sobs and Piper quickly ran to sit next to her on the bed.

Piper held her hand and rubbed her back, letting her cry because Piper knew what it was like to bottle up emotions.

"Look, I know how it feels. I'm not going to tell you that you need this and that you are too skinny because that's what people told me and I still don't really like who I am." Piper explained to the sniffling girl.

"But, you wouldn't--"

"No I do understand. Every time you try to eat something and get healthier, this voice in your head tells you it will make you fat. It's like a record that just replays all of your insecurities and you don't know how to stop it." Piper sighed and looked at the young girl.

Instead of answering, Addison just nodded and started crying again. Piper hugged her and even though she didn't know Addison, Piper had a feeling she would be coming here more often.

"By the way, my name's Piper." Addison pulled away and smiled a bit.

The girls ended up hanging out for awhile, talking about their stories. Piper learned that Addie (which was a new nickname she had for her) had an extremely loving family and that's why she was so distraught. She missed them and felt like she was a disappointment.

After Addie told Piper about her family, Piper has assured her that she was in fact not a disappointment and if anybody was one it was herself.

Eventually, a nurse came in and handed Addison a plate of food. Piper could see Addie gulp and blink slowly.

"Piper it's time for you to go." The nurse smiled softly and Piper nodded.

Before she left Piper promised she would be back and hugged the young girl. She walked passed the nurse without glancing at her and started down the corridor, staring at her worn out boots as she walked.

She thought about Addie and if she was going to eat something today. She expected she wouldn't but she was still very hopeful.

What Piper didn't expect was to bump into a tall boy with nice hair.