Prologue



Tate’s Creek High School, Lexington, Kentucky

I stood at the vanity of the girls bathroom and casually brushed my dark hair. I tried to keep my focus in the mirror away from myself, I always hated the reflection I got. As one toilet flushed, I tensed, the door would soon open and someone would walk out and see me in the mess I was in. My hair was limp, my face was breaking out, I’d just eaten far too much and was bloated bigger than a pregnant women, I was short and frumpy and these jeans looked terrible on me.
The stall door opened, and a small blond appeared, pushing her glasses up the brim of her nose. Her eyes stayed downward as she walked passed me, only glimpsing up once. I all of a sudden felt sick, she was too horrified to look at me. I watched her leave, then checked that I was alone. I darted into one of the stalls and fell against the wall, tears streaming down my ugly face. My attention was pulled down to the toilet and all of a sudden I knew what I had to do. I flipped up the lid, held back my head and emptied my stomach in a choke and a splutter.

“She’s pretty isn’t she?” Alenna smiled as she walked out of the toilets with Jessica by her side.
"Piper Charmers is the most popular girl in school, she has perfect skin, shiny hair that could be in any commercial, and she has the perfect body” Jessica replied, pausing against the wall “but I bet she’d a stuck up bitch who knows how perfect she is” she snickered

I splashed my face with water and dried it with my jacket as I breathed deeply. I was shaking, but only a little. I shook most times, I don’t know why, it was about the only thing that made me feel normal in this world. I folded my arms around my stomach, hugging myself for comfort as I made the walk to the door. I contemplated staying in the toilet all day, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen. I took a deep breath as I pushed through the door and walked up the corridor, positive all eyes were on me. I made it back to the cafeteria and plunked myself down to Annabelle, my best friend since I could remember, who was busy chomping down a chocolate bar. I smiled at her, she could always do that, eat whatever she wanted but she’d never put on any weight.

"You okay Piper?” she questioned, offering me a bit
I shook my head slowly in response to the chocolate.
"I'm fine, just tired” I smiled, pushing away what was left of my lunch


~ Later That Afternoon ~

“Dinner’s ready Piper” Mom called out as I sat alone in my room, staring up at the picture of Kate Moss on my wall. I never understood how she could be so perfect, she had the most amazing figure, why couldn’t I? I was 5’5, which was shorter than most of my friends. My hair was a dark mess, which never seemed to look right. My eyes were a barely exciting green, my eyebrows were different shapes. My lips were too small and my ass was too big. I slammed the closet door, hiding away the full-length mirror then walked out of my room.
I looked at what mom had prepared for dinner and suddenly knew I didn’t want it. I wasn’t that I didn’t like, in fact she’d made my favorite – macaroni cheese, no sparing on the cheese, and that was the very reason why I couldn’t eat it – I would want too much.
"Actually Mom, I'm not hungry, I had a huge lunch” I smiled, patting my stomach
"Come on sweetheart, just have a little” she looked at me with weary eyes – I hated it when she did that.
"Alright fine” I shrugged as she loaded up my plate
“Do you mind if I eat in my room? I have a stack of homework”
She waved me off signaling it was okay, and I disappeared down the hall.
I opened the plastic bag and hurriedly emptied the diner into it, tied it up then dumped it into my rubbish bin, I would take it out in about an hour and put it in the bigger bin. It was a plan that had worked every time I’d used it, which was more times than I could possibly remember.


~ One Week On ~

“Mrs. Charmers?” Annabelle spoke quietly as she stood at the door
“Pipers not here dear” Leah Charmers replied
“I know, I need to talk to you, it’s about Piper”
Leah ushered her in and closed the front door behind her.
"What’s bothering you dear?”
“I think, I think Piper’s got a problem”
Leah’s face darkened.
“I think she might be Anorexic”
Leah fell softly onto the couch and placed her head into her hands.
“She doesn’t know I know, but I’ve seen her throw out her dinner, I was just hoping I was wrong” she cried, she knew something was wrong with her daughter, she just prayed it was only a week long thing, however it had been going on for far longer
“She’s really skinny, and she’s always really tired, and” Annabelle paused “I heard her in the toilet one night at my house, she was throwing up, the next morning I asked her if she got up last night, she swore she hadn’t and said I must have been dreaming, I'm not dreaming Mrs. Charmers, Piper has a problem”


~ Later That Night ~

I arrived home from the date with Carl, the football captain, around 10:30. I wasn’t exactly interested in him, he was nice enough and all, I was basically only seeing him because it was what I should be doing. I couldn’t understand why he was with me, I suppose the same reason, the head cheerleader and the football captain always date.

As I walked in the front door I noticed the light in the lounge on. I was early compared to normal, so why was Mom still up?

“Piper, could you come in here?” Mom called
I dropped my bag by the door and strolled in. She looked up, tears streaming down her face.

“Who died?” was my first thought, but she didn’t hear the question, instead she stood and walked over to me and handed me a brochure. I took it with odd confusion and looked down at it.
Lexington Medical Clinic the title said, I knew exactly what it was.
“What’s this for?” I laughed handing it back to her, my whole body shaking
“You have a problem Piper, they can help, they can make you better”
“What are you talking about? I'm not sick Mom” I almost laughed
“I know about throwing away food Piper, I know about making yourself sick, please don’t make this any harder”
I backed away – she couldn’t know.
“You’re wrong” I announced stiffly
“Annabelle told me things, I’ve seen you throw out your food, your own brothers heard you making yourself sick, Piper you need help” she reached out to touch me but I jerked away
“I'm not a fucking mental I don’t have mental problems, I don’t belong there” I screamed, running up the stairs
Mom followed, but stopped half way up.
“We’re leaving tomorrow pack your things”
I spun around at the top of the stairs, as my younger brothers door opened behind me.
“You cant make me go”
“Piper it’s for the best”
“I’ll go live with Dad” I hissed, knowing that would hit a hard spot
“I’ve talked to your dad, under the circumstances he supports my decision”
“I’ll run away, you cant make me go”
“Then damnit I’ll sleep in your room. I am not going to sit back and watch my beautiful daughter fade away”
I cringed at her words, I wasn’t beautiful. I looked at her, anger plastered on my face as I ran to my room and slammed the door.

William appeared from behind his door and looked down the stairs at his crying Mom.
“Is Piper sick?” he questioned, his small eyes searching from truth
He was going on eight, and had on many occasions found Piper collapsed in the bathroom. She’d told him she was just tired, but not to tell Mom cause she would worry. But that night Mom had asked him, and he had to tell the truth.
“We’re going to help her get better” Leah cried, her body overcome with sadness.


~ 54 John Street, Lexington, Kentucky ~

“Mom” Hannah cried, her small body quivering under the huge jumper she wore
Elaine Littrell looked up at her 19 year old daughter.
“I need help” Hannah said quietly before she fainted


~ At The Same Time ~

I starred out the window at the posh looking clinic, especially for Anorexic or Bulimic Teens. The front gardens were a mixing array of pink, yellow, blue and purple flowers. The main building was brick with large glass doors and a tiled undercover entrance. My suitcase was in the back and Mom promised she would call the school. I hadn’t spoken a word to her, except to tell her she was wrong, which she was – I didn’t belong in this place, there was nothing wrong with me.

She opened the car door for me.
“I'm not a cripple I can open a door” I snapped
She ignored my comment and pulled up bags from the backseat. I leant against the car as I watched too girls, younger than me strolling around outside, linked arm and arm.
She walked in ahead of my, pulling me along, as I walked through the glass doors into the cream and peach foyer I knew I didn’t belong here.
“I'm not staying” I announced walking back out the way I came
“Piper, please don’t make me do it” Mom cried as she followed me out
“Do what?” I questioned my eyes narrowing
“Make you go here, if you don’t go on your own accord, I will physically make you go Piper, you are under my care and as god is my witness I will make you come here” she grabbed my arm, but I yanked it away
“You wouldn’t dare” I hissed
Mom was a lawyer as was my father, and I suppose, I knew she would.

“I already have, if you don’t walk through those doors by yourself, I will pick you up and carry you through, because I am not going to sit around and watch you kill yourself”
I starred at her face, she wasn’t bluffing.
I grabbed my backpack and flung it over my shoulders. “I will hate you for this for the rest of my life”
“Well at least you’ll be alive”




Chapter One
Contents

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