New Family

Chapter 2

The Marlow clock ticks past 1 p.m signalling Its lunchtime. Bethany's stomach rumbles violently as she drags her self to the kitchen plopping her self onto the high bar stool seat. She lays her head down on the cool marble table while watching the Marlow clock tick away second by second. Eventually, Fiona walks out of her bedroom dressed in a bright white sundress that reaches to just above her knees. Bethany's mother has always been a looker, It doesn't surprise her that the moment her mother was single guys weir all over her. Is it possible that she felt a tad envious of her own mother? It just wasn't fair that Bethany didn't get her mother's dashingly good looks.

Bethany had a next-door neighbour look. She wasn't really a looker nor an eyesore. Sometimes she'd think that boys had a crush on her at school but they'd only stare never approach, she often thought Is it because I'm average looking?... With her big round dark brown eyes big nose and long face she wasn't the best looking. Along with that, she was introverted. This caused her to have 0 to no friends. But it didn't bother Bethany she had her books. The good thing about books is that they'll never stab you in the back or leave you for something better, plus she had her mother who was her best friend what more was there to ask for.

"Alright time for lunch everyone," Fiona states before ushering everyone out onto the patio. Everyone pulls up a chair at the round oak table while Fiona sets up the sun umbrella, Bethany brings the food onto the deck and carefully sets the large platter onto the table.

Bethany's stomach grumbles viciously as she gets a whiff of the delicious vegetable lasagna in front of her. There are assorted fruits and a veggie platter along with a salad.

"Wow this looks so delicious doesn't it Bastien?" Fred turns to his son and searches his face for approval but Bastien merely fakes a smile.

"Sure does Dad".  Fred awkwardly pats his sun hard on the back and Bethany watches silently.

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The new family is halfway into lunch when Fiona notices Fred hesitantly picking at his food. He struggles to take another bite of his half-eaten lasagna. Fiona looks worried so she asks to have a word with Fred.

Once the two leave Bethany tensely sits they're constantly tweaking and changing her position. She can barely eat properly without feeling a glare on her. She looks up from her food and sees Bastein boring holes into her head. Shifting uncomfortably Bethany pours some lemonade from the glass pitcher and shakily brings the glass to her lips. Bastien puts down his fork and knife and slides his seat next to her. The mood changes from awkward to heavily uncomfortable for Bethany. Beads of sweat begin prickle on the back of Bethany's neck causing her to uncomfortably itch. 

"You don't know do you?" Bastien leans in closer with his interrogating gaze.

 " Know w-what?" Bethany forces her self to meet Bastien's eye. His facial expression is stone cold but somehow he still looks dashingly handsome.

"That my dad has an eating disorder hence the reason why he struggles to finish his food." Bethany's eye bug out and her lips part slightly in shock. All she can get out is a mere "oh."

Bethay began to think about all the times she'd go out to lunch or dinner with her mother and Fred, she'd notice whenever he'd use the restroom he'd come back with his eyes all glossy and his breath would smell of bile, but Bethany never thought too much into Fred's eating habits. Thinking more deeply into his disorder it now makes sense to Bethany why Fred looks the way he does. With his gaunt face, hollowed out stomach along with his chicken legs and thinning hair she could not believe that her mother fell in love with someone of his mien.