anorexia//an anthony reeves fanfic

Chapter Two

Ashley's POV

As we walked into Target, I couldn't help but feel thankful that I am finally making new friends, as I wasn't exactly unhappy that I had to leave behind my "friends" back in Indiana. Anthony grabbed a shopping buggy (AN, where I live I call it a shopping cart but I know in the south it's called a buggy) and pushed it towards me.

"C'mon, hop in,"

"What? No," I laughed.

"Please, it'll be fun!" After he practically begged me I gave into the peer pressure and not so gracefully sat in the buggy facing him. "You won't regret this, I give the best buggy rides."

"Oh, I see how it is. So, you take a lot of girls on buggy rides? Is this your master plan to get me to fall in love with you or something?" Where this sudden confidence had come from, I had no idea. However, Anthony did laugh at my joke, so that's good I guess.

"No, I've never actually had a girlfriend before, nor have I given a girl a ride in a shopping buggy," Now this news, to say the least, was surprising; the girlfriend part I mean. I mean you can't really blame me for being surprised; he's almost 18, very good looking, and extremely popular on and most likely off social media.

"Seriously?!" I replied, shocked.

"What?"

"There's no way you've never had a girlfriend before,"

"Why is that so surprising?" He questioned me smugly.

"I mean come on, you're 18, popular, and not to mention very attractive. There's no way in Heaven or Hell you haven't dated before."

"Well, believe it. I mean I'm not completely inexperienced; I have had my first kiss before, but, not to get deep or anything, girls typically act interested, cause me to develop feelings and then, just..."

"Take their share of clout and leave before anything serious." I finished for him.

"Exactly," He stated with a sad smile plastered across his cutesy face.

Because of our talking, I hadn't even noticed him putting things in the cart , nor that we had already made it to the other end of the store. I looked down at my watch, 18:26. When I glanced back up I realized he had taken a photo of me.

"Hey!"

"what? You look cute in it,"

"Whatever. Hey, will you help me out? I need to use the bathroom." He grinned and nodded, wrapping his arms around my waist, which caught me off guard, and effortlessly lifting me onto the ground. "Wait right here, I will only be a minute."

As I was washing my hands, I looked up and frowned. I didn't like what I saw looking back at me. I saw a chubby, ugly, frumpy girl who needs to lose some weight.

You fat pig.

There's that voice again, always reminding me to never be too confident in myself.

Cut back on the food intake and maybe start actually working out, you'll benefit from it.

I quickly finished washing and drying my hands and went back out to Anthony.

"Woah, are you okay?" All I could do was look back at him, terrified that he'd judge me for no matter what I said. "You look like you saw a ghost..."

He set down was he was holding and gently placed his hands on my shoulders. I don't know what he was saying, because everything he said sounded muffled, and all I could hear was the voice yelling at me from the inside.

You stupid, fat whore. How could you believe he would ever want to be friends with you? Move on with your life, do something with yourself. You will never be pretty anyway so you might as well die now.

"Ashley!" I suddenly snapped back to reality only to see Anthony looking deeply at me. Worry clearly present in his eyes. "What happened to you? Are you okay?"

"Oh, oh yeah. No I'm totally fine. Don't worry about me. I am completely fine. Just a little tired I think." Anthony nodded cautiously in response, clearly still concerned.

He'd never care about you.

He paid for his few items through self checkout then offered to take me home.

I directed him to my house and before I knew it we were in my driveway.

"Thank you for everything today, I really mean it. I had a lot of fun and I hope maybe we can hang out again sometime," I wholeheartedly smiled at him and received one back.

Why would he ever want to hang out with you? Just look at yourself.

"Me too.... Are you sure you're okay?" He questioned yet again.

"I will be, I think I just need some rest," I reassured the sweet, caring boy sitting by me.

"Okay, but if you ever need anything, here's my number," I smirked as he handed me a slip of paper and then got out of the car, walking up to the door. When I got inside, I looked back out only to find him still parked in my driveway.

I watched as he got out and nearly jogged to my front door, knocking on it.

I opened it up and sarcastically rolled my eyes, "Hey, long time no see. Miss me already?"

"You're positive you're fine, you've seemed a bit... off since you came out of the bathroom. Also, are you home alone? I don't know why but I just have this feeling that' something's off or gonna happen I just need to know you're safe and-" I cut him off by wrapping my arms around him tightly. He snaked his arms around my waist and nestled his face in my neck, which felt oddly comforting I might add.

When we pulled apart, I casually grabbed his hand, pulled him inside closing the door beside him, and led him into my living room. Once we sat down on the love seat together, I opened my mouth to assure him I am fine but was suddenly startled by the sound of thunder. I jumped up and ran to the window, Anthony following closely behind.

I watched as lightning struck and the thunder rumbled again. Before we knew it it began down pouring. "There's no way you're driving home in that. It's way too dangerous. You can stay here, I mean, only if you want to," I offered.

"Are you sure? I don't want to upset your parents or anything,"

"My mom's working a double shift tonight so she won't be home and my dad..." What do I say? I don't want him to pull the pity card everyone else does where they all of a sudden start treating me like I'm fragile and could break at any given moment. "My dad is out of town. So it'll be fine."

"Okay, thank you," and then he smiled that precious, dimple bearing smile that melted my heart yet again today.