Keeping It Stereotypical

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

How do I know that bad things would soon happen to me?

Well, good things don't happen to me, I don't deserve good things, I'm f*****g paying for sins I don't remember and it sucks butt.

"What are you thinking about?" My heart skipped a beat but when I realized who it was I calmed down.

"Nothing." I smiled.

"By the way, thanks. I don't know how you knew about Sophia but thanks." I smiled at Bryce.

"Let's just say I'm an observer." He smirks. I suddenly started feeling dizzy, my stomach hurting.

"Are you okay?" I heard him ask. I cleared my throat.

"I'm fine. You have done a lot for me, I don't even know how to repay you." I muttered thinking back at all the things he has done.

"Since you mentioned, I have been failing maths, I need a tutor." No s**t sherlock.

"Sure, get your failing ass in the library after this class." I teased before walking away.

"Yes mummy." I heard him say making me laugh.

~~~~~

I lazily looked at Bryce, I'm so hungry, I need to go home and sleep, it reduces the hunger. The fact that he's eating a chocolate bar is not helping.

Here's a bright side, I don't have to ride with Nate, I texted him that I had to help someone out, he didn't even get mad or order me to come meet him. Maybe he truly as changed.

Don't fall for it Mel.

"Done." He hands me the book that contains the solution to the math problems I gave him.

"Finally." I muttered. I focused on the book, I looked up at this asshole in shock. He succeeded in repeating the question for me.

I was waiting for nothing

"What's this?" I asked upset, what's annoying is that he's laughing.

"Do you even need help?" He was not even listening when I was tutoring him, he had a lot to say about everything.

"The truth is, I just wanted to spend time with you." My heart can not contain this sweetness, no one as ever wanted to spend time with me. My stomach growls again this time louder, I suddenly started feeling light headed, in time everything went black.

•••

I lazily opened my eyes to a blurry image of a car, I moved my eyes around in panic in a stupid attempt to see clearly.

My eyes finally settled on the driver, almost immediately my heart reduced the pace at which it was beating earlier when it came to my realization that it's Bryce.

He has that effect on me.

I tried to make words but nothing could come out, Bryce still too focused on the road to notice I'm awake. My head banging, my stomach hurts so much, my mouth dry.

"I-I'm- hun..hungry." It came out as a whisper hoping Bryce would realize I'm awake. I feel like throwing up but then again what am I gonna vomit out, I haven't eaten in like forever.

"Me-Mel, are okay, you got me worried, relax I'm gonna take you to the hospital." Hospital? No.

"I- I just need food." Another whisper.

"Food, did you just say food? I just passed Mc Dolands, I could go back." His words coming out fast.

"Yeah." I managed to say. Looking ahead admiring the city lights, hoping it would keep me sane before I'd get something to eat.

~~~

"Would you stop staring." I muttered before biting hard on the chicken. I have been eating for what feels like years.

It feels good.

"You almost killed yourself, why are you doing this, not eating? I mean I try to get why but it's not clear. You are beautiful." I slowly put the chicken wings down, knowing fully well I don't want to be having this conversation, no one understands. I don't even want to explain.

"Stop." My voice comes out low, its almost like a plea.

"Do you think not eating would make you more beautiful, you are perfect, don't let the body shamers get to you." He continues in regardless of my plea.

"Stop." Now this word was a plea, he's filing my head up with s**t, almost believing his word that am beautiful, but am not. No one sees what I see when I look into the mirror.

I see the true me.

That person is far from beautiful or amazing.

"I can't believe you..." I rudely interrupted.

"Stop." My voice coming out louder than intended. He looks at me I shock.

"Please Bryce, just stop." I cleared my throat after those words came out, Bryce nods.

"I'm sorry, I know it's not my business but.." Interrupting again.

"It's not, I'd like to keep it that way." I hate being rude to him, but it's better this way. I can't have him knowing things about me, he knows a lot already and its scary.

"I'm sorry I can't, you are my friend." I avoided his eyes, my heart tightens maybe its because I don't want to say what I'm about to.

"Maybe we shouldn't be anymore." Hoping not to cry, the past few weeks he's been with me helped me, but I'm only going to get hurt with this newly found feelings. I know I should be used to getting hurt but if its not physical, I can't handle it. I can't handle if I'm hurt emotionally.

"You don't mean that." I spotted his hands moving over the table, just then his hand on my chin, his middle finger lifting it up making me look up at him.

"You don't mean that." I looked into his mesmerising eyes.

"No matter what, I'm here princess, you can't get rid of me that easily." He let's go of my face, I lowered my face, as a smile creeps up. No one as ever wanted to stay before.

Except for Bryce.

"Not gonna eat?" I finally looked up to him.

"Yeah, right." I smiled sheepishly picking up my chicken wing. Silence filled the place making the atmosphere tense.

~~~~

"Thanks for the ride and the food." I laughed, while getting down.

"No probs, princess. Can you promise me something." He looked at me seriously.

"Look into the mirror closely, may you you'd start to appreciate what we all see, and may you you'd realize you don't need to starve yourself." He at the end of his words. I don't know what to say? This is really awkward for me.

"I'd try. Bye, Bryce." I smiled.

"Sleep well princess, think about me." I rolled my eyes at his words, closing the door. I waited for him to leave before walking towards my door.

I closed the door behind be, I looked around the house, not hearing anything made me happy. Guess mom's out with her f**k buddies.

Thank goodness.

I walked up stairs slowly, thinking about the events of today, mostly thinking about Bryce. I don't know why? I try to avoid thinking about him, but anytime I close my eyes, I see his image.

I threw my bag on my bed as I got to my room, taking in the darkness I have so much loved for a very long time now.

My safe place.

I sat on my bed, breathing in and out, surprisingly I walked over to the light switch, I haven't touched it for years and I did something I never thought I'd do.

I turned the lights on.

I flinched when it came on, but looking at the beauty of my room with the lights on got me to calm down.

It took minutes of looking around my room, I finally settled my eyes at the mirror, its covered, I walked over to the table, memories came rushing back, reminding me why I had my mirror closed.

~~~

Flash back.

"Why are you saying this." I tired looking at him through my watery eyes. I really want to make this work, make us work.

"If you want to be my girlfriend, you have to look less you." I don't even what to be his girlfriend, I was forced literarily but I'm trying to make it work.

"You are fat, you have zero sense of style." I tried to not let his words get to me but it his.

"Then don't stay with me." I yelled, suddenly, I felt a stinging pain on my check, my eyes danced around his features in shock.

He slapped me.

"Don't talk to me like that." He walked out, I have not known Nate to be this violent.

It sacred me.

I looked over only to catch my reflection on my mirror, tears dripping. I moved closer to see foreign girl, she's weak and ugly. I took a cloth covering it immediately, in a stupid attempt to get rid of the hideous image, even through I know fully well that, the ugly girl and no matter what I do still gonna be with me.

-end of flashback

~~~

It's not always closed though, mum comes around and open it up and then I have to close it up. When I do my make up at times too. Just then Bryce voice rings in my head.

Look in the mirror closely maybe you'd start to appreciate what we all see..

I round my self opening the mirror slowly and carefully with an open mind.

I stared at the mirror intensively when I let the cover off. I sighed in frustration, nope nothing.

I'm still the same old ugly Melanie.

I picked up the cover just then I noticed something, something that gave been missing for years now. I could no longer see dead eyes, they are not as bright as before but its-- its

Changing.

I'm changing, I don't know why but I know who is making this happen.

~~~~~