Even Top Students Fail

Failed Diet

Lilith's diet lasted half a day. At lunch the next day, she barely touched her food. Instead of her usual heaping plate of pasta, she ordered a small portion and spent most of the meal pushing it around.

William noticed her listless behavior and stroked her head. "What's wrong? Not feeling well?" He worried she might be catching a cold, given her tendency to fall ill in winter.

"I'm fine," Lilith mumbled, nibbling on a single strand of pasta.

Seeing no signs of fever, William ventured, "Is it that time of the month?" He didn't finish before Lilith stepped on his foot.

"Okay, I won't mention it," he backpedaled. "If you're not sick and it's not that, are you craving something? How about a nice dinner tonight?"

Lilith nearly burst into tears. She wasn't avoiding food - she was trying to savor every bite. The internet said eating slowly would make her feel fuller. Now William was tempting her with a fancy dinner, and she could barely keep from drooling.

There was an amazing Western restaurant near MIT that served authentic steaks, desserts, and soups. It was always packed. Just thinking about it made Lilith's mouth water.

But then she felt her slight belly and snapped back to reality. "I'm not eating dinner anymore, and I need to eat less at lunch too. I've gained ten pounds since last year! Look at my chubby cheeks and this little tummy."

"Let me see," William said, slipping his hand under her coat to feel her stomach. Lilith yelped and swatted his hand away.

"I'm being serious!" she pouted.

"Alright, let's be serious then," William said. "You're studying science - don't you know it's normal to gain weight in winter? It'll come off in summer. All your friends are heavier now too. Even I've put on some pounds. You have a boyfriend who loves you no matter what, so why t*****e yourself?"

Lilith's resolve was wavering. When William cut her a piece of steak, she couldn't resist. Her grand diet plan fizzled out after 12 hours. That evening, they enjoyed a lavish dinner followed by shopping. Lilith returned to her dorm with a fuller belly and some new yarn.

Alice shot her a judgmental look the moment she walked in, reeking of restaurant food. Lilith could practically hear her roommate's thoughts: "Weren't you just swearing to diet yesterday?"

"I knew Lilith wouldn't last," Amy chimed in. She was packing up, apparently serious about moving out. "But if William doesn't mind, why should you care, Alice?"

Lilith forced a smile. "Hey Alice, want to teach me how to knit with this new yarn? I was hoping we could go together, but I picked some up while I was out."

While some people were all brawn and no brains, Lilith was the opposite - book smart but hopelessly clumsy. She needed hands-on instruction for even the simplest crafts.

Alice patiently demonstrated the stitches over and over. After about 15 minutes, Lilith managed something vaguely resembling knitting, though the tension was wildly uneven.

Just then, Amy spoke up. "Since everyone's here, I wanted to let you know I'm moving out tomorrow. Would you mind helping me move? We can have Korean barbecue at my new place for lunch."

Amy's new apartment was close to campus. The next morning, the four girls easily carried her belongings over in a couple trips.

The one-bedroom unit was spacious and bright - much nicer than Jennifer and David's place. As Amy hung up her clothes, Lilith noticed men's shirts taking up half the closet.

"Henry wanted to treat everyone to a meal, but I thought homemade barbecue would be more fun," Amy said. "He's out buying ingredients now. Lilith, Emma - want to invite your boyfriends too?"

"William's busy with his roommate's birthday," Lilith explained.

"Mine has an exam," Emma added.

"That's too bad. Next time then," Amy said. Just then, Henry arrived laden with grocery bags.

As a senior computer science major already interning in the industry, Henry seemed far more mature than Amy's previous boyfriends. He greeted them warmly: "Sorry I couldn't help with the move, ladies. Amy insisted she didn't need me. I hope my cooking makes up for it!"

While Amy and Henry prepared the food, an awkward silence fell over the living room. Luckily, the couple's outgoing nature soon put everyone at ease. The meal was delicious, though Amy and Henry's constant lovey-dovey behavior was a bit much. Henry even brewed them fancy coffee afterwards. Amy was practically glowing with happiness.

The girls didn't linger long after eating. They felt out of place around Henry and were eager to get back to their own space. Lilith in particular was itching to work on her half-finished scarf. She'd bragged to William that she'd make him something beautiful.

"I think Amy's pretty serious this time," Alice remarked as they walked home. "Did you see how sweet they were together? Almost sickeningly so."

"When is she not serious?" Emma retorted, living up to her reputation as a mood-killer.

The three fell into silence for the rest of the trip back to their dorm.