Happier

Chapter Five

Evie awoke with a startle, in a cold sweat with her heart racing. She bolted upright in bed, expecting to find herself in her bedroom at home, surrounded by dancing posters and her stuffed animals. Instead, she was in a little tiny bedroom in New York City, her little sister asleep across the room. She'd had yet another nightmare. Ever since her fall at the competition it had replayed in her head constantly and haunted her sleep. If only she'd...she didn't know what, but it was all her fault. It was all her fault now that they were here and not at home.

Sighing with the weight of the world on her, Evie swung her legs over the unfamiliar bed and padded her way down the hallway to the bathroom. Luckily no one else was in the hallway. She loved her big sister but this didn't feel like home. She was a guest here, and was worried she was burdening Pippa and Lin.

At least yesterday afternoon Lin had helped her find a dance studio to go to in Washington Heights. She always felt better when she danced. Somehow, all the frustrations and suffocating emotions seemed to float away, or worked their way out through the movement of her muscles and limbs. Whatever it was it was like medicine for her soul.

After a quick shower she tried to dart back to her room unnoticed but her sister had seen her. Pippa was working on her laptop at the table, nursing a cup of tea, no doubt.

"Morning, bug," she called. Evie stopped in her tracks and closed her eyes. She knew her sister was probably doing to make her eat something. Lin and Pippa had insisted at lunch and dinner yesterday, and afterwards she'd felt awful. Too full.

"Morning," Evie called back, forcing herself to add happiness in her voice that wasn't really there.

"What do you want for breakfast?" Pippa asked, pushing herself out of her seat and looking at her younger sister. She could see her sister hesitate and knew what she wanted to say. "And don't say you're not hungry."

"But I'm not," she insisted as she followed behind, rubbing at her arm uncomfortably. Evie was being honest. Her body just didn't want food right now. The thought of it repulsed her sometimes.

"Probably because you haven't been eating well for so long," Pippa countered, going to the pantry. She pulled out several boxes of cereal and set them on the kitchen island. "We need to get your body used to eating more and regularly."

Evie suppressed an eye roll. She resigned herself to the fact that while she was here, however long that would be, Pippa and Lin were going to make her eat. At least a little bit. But if the past were any indication, it wouldn't be long. Soon she'd be back to her old life: school, dancing, eating the minimal amount, and fear.

After reluctantly picking the Cheerios box, Evie poured herself a small bowl and sat at the table with Pippa. She took a few bites to appease her sister, who kept stealing glances to make sure she was actually eating.

"Did you call me in absent again?" she asked, pushing the tiny oat circles around.

Pippa closed her laptop and crossed her arms. "Actually, I had a fairly long conversation with your principal," she began. "I explained the situation and told him we needed to work out an alternative arrangement."

Evie furrowed her brow. "Why? We'll probably be back next week. I can just do my work over Google Classroom."

Pippa let out a tiny sigh and closed her eyes for a moment. She wasn't sure her sister fully understood the situation they were in. She'd gotten a call from CPS that morning to say they were opening a full investigation. The girls were likely to be interviewed, along with her, and there may very well be criminal charges.

"Evie, this has gone on way too long," Pippa told her sister as gently as possible while looking her in the eye. "We both know that Mom and Dad's is no environment to be brought up in. They're way too critical and have completely unreasonable expectations. You're a wonderful dancer, a great student and a great kid. I can't stand by and watch them crush you. Or Stella."