Skinny Love

Chapter 22

Cole's POV

"I'm so proud of you."

As soon as I said it, I regret it. Hattie freezes underneath my grip, clearly as shocked at my words as I am. However, before she can say anything I turn and walk out the door. Why did I just do that? She's now going to think she's some sort of charity case to me when, in reality, she's the opposite.

I'm not paying attention as I walk out of the kitchen, heading straight to the living room so we can finally leave this nightmare house but before I can make it to the front door, I hear my name being called. As I turn around, I see Hannah approaching me.

"What do you want?" I ask, not caring how rude I sounded.

"I-I just wanted to know if... if Hattie was alright, you know, after what my mum said." she mutters almost inaudibly. I'm taken aback by the question. From what Hattie said, Hannah never cared about her and from what I've observed, I have to agree.

"Oh, uh, yeah. She's fine." I answer.

She just nods as a reply before heading up the stars, allowing me to leave but still wondering why she didn't just ask Hattie herself if she cared that much.

On my ride home, all I can think about is what I said to Hattie. The last thing I would ever want to do is upset or hurt Hattie but I didn't know if she would take my comment the wrong way and think that I as being patronising, like her mother. I don't want to be anything like that awful woman. The things she says to Hattie are ridiculous, making her feel guilty about eating and giving her body the nourishment it needs. The look on Hattie's face made something inside of me break as her mother poisoned her thoughts even more. How could you do that to your own daughter? Especially one as perfect as Hattie. I felt like standing up, walking away and taking Hattie with me, she doesn't need that. But I knew that was an unrealistic idea, so the best I could do was to tell her what to say to herself. It's what my mum used to say to Lola when she got bullied for being half Asian but thought it fit Hattie's situation perfectly. I wanted to help more though; tell her she didn't need to starve to be beautiful, only to be herself... but I couldn't. Not yet at least.

Before I know it, I'm home and walking up our spiral staircase into my room, ignoring my parent's laughter from down the hall. I open my door, ready to collapse on my bed when I'm met with Lola spinning in my desk chair.

"Get out. I'm not in the mood for you tonight." I demand, walking straight past her.

"Good to see you too, big bro." She says sarcastically, rolling her eyes at me.

I love Lola more than most but sometimes she can be the most annoying person on the planet.

"Look, before you have a go at me. I just wanted to speak to you."

"About?" I ask as I search through my drawers for something to change into so I can get out of this stupid suit.

"Hattie." she states simply.

I stop my search and turn towards her, intrigued by what she has to say.

"What about her?"

"Ummm... I don't really know how to say it, but her eating habits?" she makes her statement sound almost like a question, one I don't have an answer for.

"OK, what about her eating habits?" I question, acting ignorant towards any problems Lola may know.

"You know what I mean, Cole. I'm not gonna ask you to tell me all her secrets, any of them, actually.." she pauses, taking a second to stand up and walk towards me. "Just help her, please." she finishes as she walks out of my door, closing it gently behind her.