Struggles ✔

Chapter 4.

Alexa's POV

Fat Ass

Gross

Ugly

Obese

Rat

Fatty.

People murmured more words at me as I walked down the hallway to the cafeteria. Each insult stuck with me and I took it to heart.

I bought only an apple and water, just like the past few weeks. I had relapsed and scrapped the diet my brother made me do. I was getting fatter and fatter. I couldn't take eating that much.

I sat down and ate my apple. I looked up at Cole to ask him the usual questions. I was confused though to see him looking at me with hard and cold eyes. It's been a long time since I've seen those eyes, and it wasn't a good experience seeing them.

"What?" I ask

He pushes his tray of food to me. It consisted of a slice of pizza, fries and a slice of cake. I look up at him with a questioning look.

"Eat." He says and I shake my head

"Nah it's fine. I ate a heavy breakfast." I lie. I didn't eat breakfast at all.

"I don't give a fuck. Eat the god damn food Brians." He says and I chuckle

"When are you ever going to call me by my first name?" I ask

He growls lowly at me and picks up the tray. He grabs my arm and drags me to the tables outside. He told all the people sitting there to scram and they did so right away. He then sat me down and layed the tray in front of me.

"I'm really full, Reynolds. I don't want to eat." I say pushing the try filled with disgusting fatty food away from me.

"Bullshit Brians. Don't do this to yourself." He says and I tense

"Do what?" I ask

"You think I don't notice? You haven't been eating. All you eat is a small apple and water. This has been going on for  a few days and it's not healthy." He says "Eat the god damn food Brians."

"Just a few weeks ago you kept calling me  fat." I scoff at him

"I know I know I'm stupid. But you have to eat. Fuck Brians what you're doing is not good. You're not fat at all, I was just stupid to tell you that shit." He huffs and ruffles his hair

"Stop fucking lying Reynolds. You and I both know that I'm a fat fuck. You saw me the first day of school. I was fat then and still am now. I need to lessen my food." I say and he glares at me

"Brians please shut up and eat. You and I are not going anywhere till you eat." He says

"Well then I guess you're stuck with me." I shrug and he groans

"Brians, please don't be difficult. Eat the damn food or I will shove them down your throat." He says

"I don't want it. Do you know how many calories these all are?! I'll just get fatter." I say

"You are such a hypocrite. Telling me to keep my health in check when you're not doing it yourself." He says and I look down

"I don't have my inhaler and this cold weather can trigger it, so you might wanna hurry up." He says and I glare at him

"Only because I don't want you to have another asthma attack. This cold and your anger, it might really fuck you up." I sigh in defeat

I take little bits of the pizza and try my best to get it down. I shudder in disgust, I can already feel myself getting fatter. I eat slowly and Cole watches me.

"Why?" He suddenly asks

"Well someone decided to snap at me on my first year here and then soon after practically the whole school started bullying me. Most took notice of how fat I am and used that against me." I say shrugging. That's 1/3 of the truth.

He looks down, knowing I was talking about him.

"But you don't seem to mind. You're always rolling your eyes or snapping at others." He says

"That's what you call acting." I chuckle

"Why did you help me? Why do you continue to help me? Why are you so kind to me?" He sighs ruffling his already messy hair. I smile lightly at him

"I'm a fucking asshole who caused you so much pain. I hurt you and it's my fault that you're like this and I don't-"

"Because Reynolds, you and I have a lot in common. We're very much alike." I cut him off and he looks lost

"I know you're pretending too, Reynolds. You're this cool rich soccer captain who has it all. But the day I witnessed you in your vulnerable state, I knew that you're not who you say you are. You're not all that happy, you're going through some hard struggles. And I'm determined to help you."

"Why?"

"Because going through some hard struggles by yourself fucking sucks."

Soon the bell rang and I had finished the pizza and the cake; Cole couldn't be prouder. Before we parted ways, he told me

"I'm determined to help you too. I'm gonna make it up to you."

When I asked him why, he said

"Because if we're alike and I'm going through a bunch of shit, that means you are too. And god these struggles are a pain in the ass that I'd hate for anyone to go through alone."

And with that, Cole Reynolds and I became friends.

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