CARINA

"Alright I'll see you guys later." I said as we parted ways to our lockers. Alex, Luca and I were still together since our lockers were side by side. Currently, Luca and Alex were arguing about who had more fun during the three day vacation.

"But did you guys accuse each other while playing monopoly?"

"No, but we did that during UNO."

"Well at least you didn't go to an arcade."

"We collected shells though."

This went on until we reached our lockers. I sighed, smiling at my siblings. 

"Okay you two, stop. I'm pretty sure we all enjoyed in our own ways." I tried to reason with them. 

Luca shrugged. I glanced to my sister as she opened her mouth. 

Alex said, "Whatever you say. I'll see you at lunch?"  

I nodded as she got her books headed towards her class. Luca and I got our books too and went our way together, because we both had Math.

I had gotten used to all that staring and whispering by now. It happened in every class. I went to my usual seat at the left corner. There I was greeted by my friends Carlos and Rosé. 

"Hey girl! Had a fun vacation?" Rosé asked and I nodded and started telling them about what we did.

I was halfway telling them about the road trip games we played, when our teacher came in and everyone instantly went silent. "Good morning class, now put all your books away, today you are all giving a surprise test." She said as she passed the papers to each student. A lot of students protested, including me. The first thing I don't want to do on a Monday morning is a surprise test, especially Math.

"Settle down everyone. Don't turn your papers until I tell you to. Write your name and today's date carefully at the top." I sighed and did what she told us to, knowing there was no way out of this one. Moments later we were instructed to turn our papers.

 Here we go.

---------

"That's it for today. Don't forget to turn in your assignments on time, class dismissed." 

Everyone hurried out. 

"Is it just me, or was that the longest Geography class we've had?" Rosé asked me as we put our books back in the locker and went towards the cafeteria, for lunch. 

"I agree. I mean, it probably wasn't, but it was pretty boring." 

"Yeah. Anyways, what were you telling us about your vacation?" 

So I started telling her from where I had left, while we waited for Carlos to show up. "That's so cool! I love astronomy too!" She exclaimed when Carlos showed up. 

"Sorry I'm late. Apparently the bell is there just for decoration." 

I chuckled slightly. 

Rosé looked up at him. "Please tell me you didn't actually say that." 

Carlos grinned. "I did. Got detention after school for it." He said as he sat down next to me.

I shook my head at him. "You're impossible." Rosé said as I nodded in agreement. 

Carlos shrugged. "Nothing is impossible. Well. Except for me." All three of us burst out laughing, sitting on our usual lunch table. 

"So you were telling me that you guys were star-gazing?" Rosé asked, signalling me to continue. 

"Oh yes, well it was pretty late so we-" 

"Hold up," Carlos interrupted, "You told her about your vacation without me?" 

I shrugged. "Not my fault you weren't here." He huffed. 

I laughed at him being childish. "You know what? Rosé can fill you in while I go grab us all food." 

He nodded while I got up to stand in the line. I saw a couple girls standing behind me and I waved to them. Alex quickly ran over to me and gave me a folder. 

"You left this in my room last night, I figured it was due today." 

I smiled at her. 

"Thanks sis." She shrugged before turning back and going to her friends again. That's when I heard the three girls behind me talking. 

'Look at her. She's so fat.'

'Yeah! Alexis looks so much prettier. How are they even related?'

'I bet she's just a couch potato. I mean, she looks like one.'

I clenched my fists, realizing that they were talking about me. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry. 

I realized that Alexis was prettier than me, but did I really look like a couch potato? I looked down at my stomach. Maybe I could go a few days without food. Surely it wouldn't do any harm. I'd be alright. 

So, I grabbed food for Rosé and Carlos. None for myself. I jogged back to them with the food in my hand and sat down. 

"You didn't bring yourself anything?" Rosé asked me. 

"Nah, I wasn't hungry. I had a big breakfast." Which I shouldn't have had. 

"Alrighty, so where were we?" I sighed. 

I can do this. I can lose some weight. No big deal if I don't eat for a couple weeks right? I'll be alright. 

----------

It had been a week since that day. I was really hungry, but I couldn't bring myself to eat. Those words kept echoing in my head. Tears fogged my vision every time I thought about that. I knew they were right. I had to keep this going for a couple more days to lose some weight.

I took a deep breath and blinked away my tears. I will not cry. I heard a knock on my door. 

"Carina! Are you coming down for dinner or not?" 

It was Alex. I started panicking. I didn't trust my voice. "Carina?" 

"Um...no. I'm not hungry." I shouted back from behind the closed doors, trying to keep my voice from cracking. 

"Are you sure? I didn't see you have lunch at school either. Is everything okay?" 

I could hear concern in her voice, and I almost told her the truth. Almost. 

"Everything is fine Alex, I might've lost my appetite after that biology class." I quickly said. 

Maybe too quickly. I heard Alex sigh from the other side. "Alright well, come downstairs if you gain your appetite back." 

"I will." I certainly won't. I then heard footsteps fading away. I let out a breath of relief. I had started to think Alex was suspecting something, which made me feel guilty. I didn't like lying to her. But I had to. 

I put my back against the wall and slid down into a fetal position. Before I knew it, the tears I had been trying to stop came streaming down. A sob escaped my throat. 

"Carina?" I heard Alex call from the other side. Frick. 

"Carina open up!" I couldn't bring myself to even move.

I sobbed harder. I hated everything. Alex started banging at the door harder. "Carina open the fucking door or I'll break it down!" I heard the lock being fumbled with for a moment, then the door flew open. Alex was by my side in no time. Instead of asking me what happened, she first tried to calm me down and told me to breathe.

It was not easy when I was having a breakdown. A couple minutes later, I was calm enough to talk, tears still falling from my eyes. Alex held me as we sat on the floor. "Now tell me what happened." I was silent for a while. "You know you can tell me anything right?" I sighed and started telling the whole story.

My voice broke at the end. I didn't want to cry again. I looked at Alex. She looked furious. "Tell me who said that." 

She said. I was taken aback by her sudden question. "What?" 

"Give me their fucking names, I'll show them what they did wrong." I stammered and told her about the girls. Alex nodded and stood up. I did too. 

"Don't listen to any of their bullshit. You are beautiful. And if they don't see that, they need a new pair of eyes." She said as she gave me another hug.

She walked to the door. Before leaving, she turned around and said, "Oh and, be in the cafeteria on time tomorrow. Shit will go down." Then she stormed off. Well heck.

------

LUCAS

I shut my car door in front of the diner. Thea should be here today. After that day in my house, the diner had shut for two weeks for Thea to legally claim ownership over it and also arrange her father's funeral. I looked around the familiar scenery before entering the diner. 

The diner was empty except for a group of girls who looked up when I entered and Thea. She looked as beautiful as ever with her chestnut brown hair and dark green eyes. But she didn't like me. I was just a friend to her. For now. 

I sat down at my usual table. She looked my way and smiled at me. My heart fluttered. I smiled at her. She walked over with my usual order of a milkshake and fries in her hands. I got up to greet her with a hug, only to trip her over and successfully manage to spill all the milkshake over myself. Well, fuck. 

"Ohmygosh Lucas-" I stopped her before she started apologizing. 

"It's cool, it's my fault." 

She frowned. "Well, at least let me take the stain out for you." 

"Alright, here." I said taking my shirt off and handing it to her. Her mouth hung open as she took my shirt in her hands. "Like what you see?" I asked her, smirking. 

"No asshole, I was just wondering where you got your transplants from." 

I dramatically gasped. "Transplants? Baby these are all real." I told her, flexing my muscles. She rolled her eyes and went towards the back. 

The girls in the back came over and started giggling like they were high. "Hi? How may I help you?" I asked in the nicest way possible. 

They giggled again. "You can use those very real muscles to work. On me." One said, tracing her filthy hands over my precious muscles. Back off lady. 

"Yeah. No thanks." I told her bluntly, stepping back into my personal space. 

"Oh c'mon handsome. Let me show you a good time." She stepped near myself as I backed up into a wall. 

"Yeah. You're kinda' making me uncomfortable, please step back. I don't want to hurt you." 

She was about to say something when someone ripped her from me. Thea. "Excuse me. You're making my customer uncomfortable. I'm going to have to ask you to leave for violating our health codes." The other girl snarled. 

"What Missy? What is wrong with you? I'm not violating any health codes, I'm just talking to the guy. Now go get me a milkshake." She made a shooing motion with her hand. Thea growled at her. Damn, turn on. 

"Listen here you little bitch. He told you to back the fuck off and you obviously didn't listen. Plus I'm pretty sure your hair is fake and filled with chemicals which can be harmful to food. And it's getting everywhere, therefore violating our health code. So get out." Thea's eyes burned with fire inside her.

"Listen girl. You're just a lowly waitress, so better learn to stay in your lane." I was ready to punch the bitch in the face when Thea spoke again. 

"Excuse me? Working so I can be independent and not having to rely upon anyone for money isn't lowly. Every job is as important as the next. So here's some advice. Shut the fuck up and spend daddy's money elsewhere." Thea pushed her out of the door and turned to me. 

"What are you looking at? Put a fucking shirt on, I have to work." I rolled my eyes and quickly reached over the counter to hug her. "I'm here if you ever need anything." I told her, smiling and putting my shirt back on. 

"I knew I had good taste in friends." 

There's that word again. Friends my ass.