Alchemy •Dan Smith•

twenty two

After that night with Dan, we grew closer and closer. I could honestly say he was the best friend I needed years ago but never had.

We didn't talk about how we both felt much, seeing as we both found that personal and in my opinion I didn't want him to deal with my issues atop of his own. The bullying didn't stop though, and it was slowly getting to Dan more and more.

He didn't mention it, but when I saw him late at night having a smoke or going back to his room, he would be battered and his hair even messier than usual.

I wish I wasn't so scared to say anything about it.

.•*.•*.•**•.*•.*•.

"Jade, what's your favorite color?" Dan asked, after blowing a stream of smoke from his lips.

We had been sitting on the park bench we had met probably for about an hour now. The weather was warmer than usual so there was no point in going inside if we were unable to sleep.

"Mmm.. Probably green. But not like that grassy green, like more of a pastel color, I don't know how to explain it." I replied, "What about you?"

"Black is a pretty nice color."

"Black isn't a color you idiot." I laughed, nudging him slightly.

"Yes it is, see your wearing it right now." He said, before pulling a peice of my right jeans from my thigh before it snapped back.

"It's the void of color."

"Well if you want to get all sciency then yeah I guess your right." He chuckled.

"If you were an animal what do you think you would be?" I asked, taking a drag from my almost gone cigarette.

"Something weak, like a squirrel or something."

"Why something weak? If anything your a porcupine because of your insane hair." I mused, reaching for a few strands of the dark fluff.

.
We sat there until two in the morning, asking bizarre questions. It felt nice to have someone to escape from my mind with.

But once I retreated into my own apartment it was a different story.
.•*.•*.•**•.*•.*•.

135

I gained weight. That's not supposed to happen. Stepping off the scale, I cursed under my breath. I needed to be more strict about what I did with the food I took in, if I took in any at all.

I walked into the kitchen, pulling open my cupboard, finding dietary pills I pulled out quickly. I didn't read the labels or anything as I poured some in my hand. Six would be okay right? Probably.

I ate them dry, gagging at the taste and feeling in my mouth. These need to help me out, but maybe they aren't enough.

Just as I was about to grab some laxatives and such, my phone rang.

I paced over to it, answering on the third ring, "Hello?"

"Hey it's me, Chris."

Why would my brother call me?

"Hi Chris, how are you?" I asked, scared of what the conversation would hold.

"Oh I'm doing alright, just wanted to call my sister and tell her how much she means to me."

"Your just saying that because Tes is gone." I replied, feeling an abundance of emotions begin to form. She was his favorite, I was just that middle child who go in the way. The pathetic nobody who didn't get their jokes.

"What? Jade, you can't seriously believe that?" His voice asked from the other side, raising slightly.

"Either that or mom put you up to calling me."

The line was silent for a second, and I knew I caught him.

"Why did she have you call Chris?"

"She's scared to talk to you, so she put me up to do it. She says dad and her want you to visit next weekend. We all want to see you, " he replied, causing me to be confused. They hadn't talked to me since the funeral, and now they wanted me over?

"I, um, yeah I can do that. Is it just us or is it another banquet or some shit?" I asked, sighing.

"It's a banquet, they are trying to get back to normal life, ya know? So if you want to bring a friend or two that's cool." He proceeded to talk to me about details before the call ended.

I leant against the counter, both overwhelmed by the fact my family was wanting to see me and the fact I was growing bigger and bigger for them to see.

My stomach did a flip, and a wave of nausea hit me.

Was it the pills or am I just over reacting?

I leant against the counter until I grew sicker and sicker, running to the toilet to vomit everything up.

I don't really know where I was going with this chapter so bear with me, sorry it sucks xx