Skinny • Book 1 In The Reality Series

Calum

“Do I really have to go in?”

“Yes.”

“You’re honestly going to make me go in there.”

“Cal come on.”

“Can’t we just like, go to the mall or something and tell Dad I went.”

“Calum.” Anna sighed, “Get out please.”

“I can’t!” I cried, “I can’t go in there! I’m not some psycho that needs group therapy!”

“Calum, you’re not a psycho you just… need a little help.”

“Because I’m fucked up?”

“Cal.”

“Anna.”

Drumming her fingertips on the steering wheel, Anna turned to look at me.

“Calum, just try it. If you hate it, you don’t have to come back.”

“Are you just saying that?”

“No.”

“You promise?”

“Yeah, if you hate it, you never have to come back.”

Sighing, I slowly unbuckled my seatbelt.

“I’ll be waiting for you right here when you get out.” Anna promised as if I were a small child being dropped off at school for the very first time.

“Are you leaving me here?” I questioned.

“No,” she sighed, holding up a magazine, “I’ll wait here for you, now go on before you’re late.”

Chewing my lower lip I tentatively opened the car door.

“Go on.” She coaxed.

Taking a deep breath I stepped out onto the warm pavement, rising slowly to my feet before gently closing the door behind me.

Looking through the window, Anna gave me a thumbs up. Frowning back at her I turned and shuffled towards the small brick building positioned in-between the Pizza King where I had celebrated my fifth birthday and the gas station where I’d had a part time job pumping gas over the summer.

Reaching the building I pulled the large, glass door open and stepped inside.

Immediately a pleasantly cool breeze hit my face causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand on end. Looking around I found several offices, and a jewelers before my eyes landed on, Dr. Toby Tomlinson’s Pediatric Therapy and Counseling.

Taking a shaky breath I walked over to the door and pulling it open stepped into a small waiting room. There were magazines on a rack on the wall, boring random books on a low coffee table and calming wave sounds coming from a boom box in the corner.

Shoving my hands in my pockets nervously I looked around the deserted waiting room before slowly sinking down into one of the empty chairs.

My leg bouncing nervously I pulled my phone out of my pocket however before I could start composing a text my eyes widening at the sight of a pair of bright red, patent leather pumps standing infront of me.

Startled I followed the shoes up to a pair of legs, then a black skirt and finally a black sweater. Glancing up at the woman’s face I found a friendly enough brunette with ruby red lipstick and a blatantly fake flight attendant smile.

“Hello!” she greeted.

“Um, hi.” I mumbled awkwardly.

“You must be Calum!” she gushed, extending a perfectly manicured hand in my direction.

“Yeah.” I muttered.

“I’m Toby!” she replied cheerfully, “You’re here for the group session right?”

“Uh, yeah, I think so, yeah.” I stammered awkwardly.

“Well come on back,” she laughed pleasantly.

Stuffing my phone into my pocket I rose to my feet.

“I like your shirt.” She said conversationally.

Glancing down at my Cobain shirt I smiled tentatively, mumbling my thanks as we stopped outside a door.

“After you.” She chirped.

Swallowing nervously I opened the door and stepped into a room where about seven kids were sat on the floor in a circle.

“Hello everyone!” Toby said excitedly, “We have a new friend with us today, Calum!”

Chewing my lower lip in embarrassment I looked around the room at the sea of unfamiliar faces, some belonging to bodies so round they looked like rolling would be easier then walking and others to people so thin it was borderline repulsive.

“Have a seat Cal.” Toby said.

Licking my lower lip nervously I sunk down onto an empty path of carpet in between a blue haired girl who had more rolls on her middle then there were people at my school and a girl who was so thin her spine poked out through her thick sweatshirt.

“Good!” Toby gushed, “Now, what do you say we all go around the circle and introduce ourselves and say what brought us here today, Carrie, you start.”

Inhaling sharply the blue haired girl next to me began fiddling with the carpet infront of her.

“Um, my name is C-Carrie.” She mumbled, “And uh, My Mom sent me there because I hide and sneak food.”

“Very good thank you Carrie.” Toby praised, “Who’s next?”

“I’m Amy.” The girl sat on Carrie’s other side sighed, “And my Dad made me come here because I eat glue, and play dough, and toilet paper.”

My eyes wide I watched in interest as the various people around the circle introduced herself.

I found out Mary, the girl on my left only ate apples and then it was my turn.

“Calum!” Toby said pleasantly, “Please introduce yourself.”

“Well um, I’m Calum.” I muttered, “And uh, my Dad is making me com here.”

“And why is that?” Toby pressed.

“I’m like, maybe anorexic I think.” I mumbled, “And sometimes I um, I make myself throw up.”

“Thank you Calum for sharing that with us.” Toby said kindly, “Thank all of you, now le….”

Suddenly Toby was cut short as the door to our room swung open and a doubled over elderly women shuffled in.

“Sorry to interrupt.” She said quickly, “But I have one more for you.”

“Oh, okay.” Tony replied, “Well, bring them in.”

“Come on in Dear.” The old woman muttered to someone behind her.

Immediately my eyes widened in surprise as a familiar figure appeared in the doorway. Katy.