Mythical Spirits: Season 2

All Stuffed Up

Trigger Warning: The following episode contains an excerpt about an eating disorder. Reader discretion is advised.

Xavier's POV:

   A long time ago, when I was just a chubby six year old, people always assumed that I ate junk food everyday, which was true. My family and my doctor were the ones that frequently told me to get some exercise and track down my blood levels, but the worst part about it was that even if I tried using these methods, I just wouldn't stop.
"Mom, can I have a popsicle?" I once asked at the time I went grocery shopping.
"No, honey. It's not healthy to eat a popsicle everyday." My mom's statement drove me insane, throwing tantrums over my junk food cravings and my excessive binging that'll satisfy me every day. Without a doubt, I didn't listen and continued anyway.
Many years later, I was still the "fat" friend to most people in middle school. The bullying just can't be resolved with such a "just ignore them" phrase, according to some of my good friends, including Alan.
Onto the story of my experience with Alan's adventures, I was going to present my history project with another friend of mine. Until my turn to speak, I ended up gagging, my head aching, and having to head straight to the clinic with my history partner.
   "Are you okay? Dude..." Florian looked at me for a second, then he returned to class.
   "I just wanna go home. I just had lunch and it's never enough." I responded, still feeling unwell. After a long examination from several doctors, I discovered that I had diabetes (type 2 to be exact) and a binge eating disorder.
   "We're sorry to tell you that even if you're struggling to crave a ton of food, especially junk food, we recommended your parents to take you to an eating disorder support group."
   "Taking away my food is like taking away my life."
   "It's the best we could do."
   Stuck at home on my bed a few hours later, Alan called me on the phone about my day.
"Hello, Xavier."
"Alan, what just happened?"
"My parents are fighting again over Meredith's phone."
   "Something worse than that happened to me."
   "I heard that you passed out and flunked your history presentation."
   "Just recently, I've been diagnosed with diabetes and an eating disorder. You know my habit of it, right? I don't even love my body."
   "It's always another issue I have to deal with from the start of my existence. But what type of diabetes was it?"
   "Type 2. But how will I survive without my food, now that they're all stuffed up and none of it's in the fridge?"
   "Aww, I'm sorry. I want to tell you another plan that'll make you feel better."
   "Really, dude?"
   "Someone will be at your house in no time."
   "Thanks, man. You're the best!"
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Taylie's POV:

I could remember that today in gym class, there was a pacer test we all had to do as a part of our agility, in which I could only achieve if I have Maira by my side.
"Okay, kids. Listen up. The FitnessGram™ Pacer Test is a multistage aerobic capacity test that progressively gets more difficult as it continues. The 20 meter pacer test will begin in 30 seconds. Line up at the start. The running speed starts slowly, but gets faster each minute after you hear this signal." My gym teacher Mr. Showman mimicked a beep sound, getting my classmates to burst out laughing. "A single lap should be completed each time you hear this sound." Then, he imitated a ding, again entertaining us. "Remember to run in a straight line, and run as long as possible. The second time you fail to complete a lap before the sound, your test is over. The test will begin on the word start. On your mark, get ready, start." Mr. Showman fired the gun after saying "start", letting me run against seven other people, imagining them as mythical creature villains. Twenty laps later, due to my body's heaviness, I wore out much quicker than the rest of my class, feeling my burnt legs, excessive sweat, and abdominal cramps.
"Good job, Taylie. You actually run better than I do." My classmate Amber high fived me, writing down how many laps I actually ran.
"Well thanks, I thought to be the slowest runner of my cross country team, because that's what I was." I gasped between breaths.
"Oh look who's here, it's that lazy slowpoke..." three immature voices of Melanya, Jacob, and Isaiah taunted my running skills.
"Okay, you all either run better than I do, or you skipped the pacer for something else? At least I work hard..." I snapped back at them angrily.
"Leave Taylie alone!" Joshua scolded at the three kids. "We know you skipped the test last year to hang out on camera..." Everybody was making a sound that belittled the kids.
"Enough with this nonsense. You boys, to the principal's office now!" The class went in silence as Mr. Showman took Isaiah and Jacob inside.
"Don't worry, Taylie." Amber patted my shoulder.
"Nah, it's fine. I knew these boys, they'd be annoying me every second. But not as much as the M.E.A.N. Girls..."
"I agree. Half the people fell for the girl group because of how rich Melanya's dad is, plus he's the president of Harverna!"
"Lots of kids come from rich families, like Charles and Deron for example." A jock named Joshua admitted again and again because I clearly knew both of these famous stars.
   "But not all of them act like meanies." Amber responded.
   "Amen, sister. I did a science experiment with Charles twice during the school year, yet he's a chill dude after all." I replied with a memory.
   "Wait up, I actually didn't know you're one of my best friend's twin sister."
   "I know that. It's because he's going strong with Charlie and y'all."
   "On the other hand, Deron is not that nice to me at all. When I had him for a math class team challenge, he refused to help us and would rather do his thing on his own, yet people still favored his looks."
   "He's also straight up enemies with Terry. They just fight each other for no reason, even when I tried to stop them."
   "I'm starting to think Melanya and Deron would be the best couple, after all."
   "Aw heck no. Not my thing." When the final bell rang, everyone collected their belongings and left the school. However, a hungry monster similar to Munchivore and Princess Intolerance crushed several buildings nearby on my way to the bus, so I was unable to take it home. Ignoring my painful legs from the pacer test, I sprinted as fast as possible to hide myself in a restaurant's bathroom.
   "No running in the restaurant, young child." A worker reminded me while serving a customer some roasted potatoes and glazed quail meat in a takeout bag.
   "Sorry, sir. You don't know that I got emergency issues. Look out for that monster."
"What the—" The employee shrieked harder than half of my class combined. Safely, I headed to the bathroom to get Maira out of my bag by taking my baton and my watch out.
"Maira, aren't there any quests today to complete?"
"No special quests today, Tay."
"Darn it, doing quests are better."
"Don't worry, whenever there's one today, I'll know to satisfy you."
"You got any potion for my burnt legs? I just ran the test and, phew, it's painful!"
"Have you improved from the last few months?"
"Eh, sort of."
"Listen, I'm still your best friend if you need me." I smiled and handed her a small carrot from my snack container. I then said, "That test's why I chose you, but yet again, it's illegal to use them in gym class." I frowned a bit, ruining the mood.
"Aww, sorry. Are there any problems at home?"
"Not much, but my bro's still beaten by Deron, but his fame just gives the innocent light to him. Plus, my parents just fought for work stuff that I don't understand."
"That's tough and normal. Even spirits will have to deal with fights like how most adults do when they get a job. I don't have the potions, but I'll give you something better."
"I heard that the monster crashed the restaurant. I'm not patient, but here we go. Mythical Spirits, begin the story!" I sprinted out of the restaurant as Jackalope.
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Deron's POV: