The orphanage has always been Emily's home. Besides the few times she's been in a foster home, she's been there since she was two years old.
But it becomes a whole new adventure when Calum Hood comes into her life and offers to foster her. But one...
"Hey, Emily!" Marissa chirps happily as she walks into the kitchen, as if we've been friends for years. My eyebrows furrow as I look towards her and Calum.
"Hi?" I say hesitantly, not sure if she's being real or not.
"Do you want some lunch?" Calum asks, pulling bread and lunch meat out of the fridge. My eyes widen slightly and I glance down to my pudgy stomach.
"No, thanks. I had a big breakfast." I lie. He nods in understanding as he pulls out more ingredients for a sandwich. My stomach decides to shout for food in the silence, not having been fed since yesterday, giving away my secret.
Calum's head snaps up with furrowed eyebrows. Out of the corner of my eye I see Marissa trying not to laugh.
"You sure?" He asks skeptically. I gulp nervously.
"I could eat, I guess." I sigh. "But, only a little bit. I'm not extremely hungry." I quickly add. Marissa smirks. He nods and makes two and a half sandwiches and sets them in front of us, giving me the half.
Calum leaves the room to grab something and Marissa takes this as a chance to talk to me on my own.
"So when's the actual last time you ate? Did you take my advice?" I nearly choke on my sandwich and quickly swallow the bite before I can die. She rolls her eyes.
"Really lady like." She scoffs sarcastically. "Well?"
"Umm... y-yesterday at lunch?" I hesitate.
"You can do better." Calum walks in and she backs up, smiling like nothing happened. I quickly set my sandwich down, feeling disgusted in myself.
"You know what, I'm really not hungry." I push my plate away and quickly stand up.
"Wha—" I rush passed him and up the stairs, into my bathroom.
TRIGGER WARNING
I let out a sob as I lock the door, sinking down to the ground. I pinch my arm and leg fat. I take a shaky breath and stand up, looking in the mirror.
Another sob slips from my lips as I stare at my reflection in the mirror, the pudgy fat spilling from my jeans.
I grab my tooth brush and sit in front of the toilet, working up the courage to force it down my throat. I take a deep breath and stick the tooth brush in my mouth until I start gagging.
________
"You're doing what!?" I gasp as Calum makes my way to the door. It's been 3 days since I first decided not to eat, and Marissa basically lives in our house.
"I'm just going to the grocery store while you stay here with Marissa. It's not that big of a deal." He reaches for the door and I grab his arm.
"Calum." I look around the room, making sure the coast is clear. "Marissa hates me."
"She doesn't hate you." He gently pries his arm out of my grip. "Just spend time together."
I silently watch as the door closes, leaving me to suffer. I sigh in defeat as sit on the couch, grabbing my phone. I open twitter and the first thing I see is a tweet about me.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I roll my eyes at the prying fans, my attention soon being drawn towards my stomach as it growls. I bite my lip and try to ignore the hunger pains. I stand up and decide to go for a swim in the backyard.
I run upstairs and grab a one-piece, floral swimsuit. I pull it on, but immediately feel self-conscious. I sigh and grab a baggy plain black t-shirt. I walk down the stairs and grab a towel, pulling my hair into a bun.
"Going for a swim?" Marissa asks, popping out of no where. I yelp in shock and turn around.
"Umm... Yeah." I say awkwardly.
Be nice. Try to gain her favor.
"D-Do you want to join me?" She smiles warmly at me and walks over to me.
"Sure. Just let me change." She reaches over and grabs the fat on my arm.
Why the fuck is this woman touching me?
"God knows you could use the exercise." She walks away, smirking.
"Yeah." I whisper, tears springing to my eyes.
I walk out after grabbing some sunscreen, and place the towel on a chair. I apply the sunscreen and prepare to get in, when Marissa comes out, looking stunning in a bikini.
I wish that I could look like that.
________
I grab a towel after 30 minutes of vigorous laps in the pool, drying myself off. I take off my shirt as it drips water everywhere. I place it on a chair, and before I could replace it with the towel to cover my body, Marissa speaks up.
"Ugh, gross, no wonder Calum doesn't want you." She claims, eyeing my body. I gulp down the tears and turn around, running straight into Calum.
"What? Marissa, why would you say that?" He says, disbelief written in his features. I attempt to hide my tears with the water from my body.
"Oh, hey baby!" She chirps nervously. "We were just joking around, right Em?" I take in a sharp breath, not answering.
"Emily?" Calum asks as confirmation, looking between us. I ignore him and brush passed him, heading inside and up the stairs.
