Chapter 3 R.

Keenan POV

I can't believe that my Dad froze my account, making my life that already sucked in the first place get an upgrade. He always went on and on that, I needed to be more social, more nicer_like I wasn't already, that I needed to take interest in the business, but on the list of all of that was for me to get a steady girlfriend. I hated his guts for trying to dictate my life after what he did... I forced myself not to think in that direction. It was fucking insane, being antisocial meant I didn't want to talk to most of the shitty people that graced this fucked up planet, not that it would be here any longer at the rate things were going. I've gotten more respect for being moody, than when I tried to be friendly. Get too nice and there's someone out there that'll try to turn you into a puppet.

My thoughts shifted to the pale-looking girl who bumped into me. My fingers crawled through my hair in frustration. I'd been so angry that I blew it all in her face. I guess I was part of the shitty population, never said I was a saint tho. She didn't get angry or try to blame me for the accident which just messed me up more. I felt like she deserved my anger, so I did just that, throwing an insult that was guaranteed to make her feel more shitty than I do. I wasn't being fair, she didn't deserve it. I think hard, remembering her striking feature. She'd been too thin, almost sparking a protectiveness in me that I didn't know I possessed. Her eyes had been a sought of green-brown color, it was striking, considering they were the first thing I took notice of, then her pale thin arms. She'd been wearing a shirt a size too big.

I shook my head, trying to get her image out, but the way she'd stared at me was unnerving. No one has looked at me like that. It was like I was all she wanted to see.

Stop being such a sap Keenan, nobody wants you for you, I told myself, snapping out of the hazy trance.

I would apologize if I came across her again. I wasn't mad at her, I was angrier at myself. At my father, his wife, and my stepbrother. Our family was fucked up.

******

Scarlet stopped driving once she saw Arielle waiting for her at their usual spot. Arielle got in beaming, as she put on her seatbelt. She turned to face Scarlet once she was done.

"I made a new friend. Liam Hashubah" Arielle blurted, unable to contain her excitement.

Scarlet gasped, her eyes widening. " Shut the front door, that is a lie, that's like saying you won a lottery for one million dollars".

"Am serious Scarlet, we met today and he said he liked nerd, he asked us to be friends, then he stuck around me until lectures were over" she recounted, not quite believing it herself.

"Wow, so what now, are you going to dump me for your new hot best friend". Arielle laughed, hitting her knuckles against Scarlet's head, before scolding her. "Stop joking around scarlet. I'll never break up with you ok, you're like my number one person, most favorite". Scarlet smiled brightly as she awwed.

"Now that's more satisfying, I wouldn't want to go hunt and kill Liam for taking you away from me, but let's be realistic, today wasn't as shitty as we thought it would be."

Arielle nodded in agreement. "I guess I got lucky. Oh crap, I haven't eaten all day" she said as she remembered the untouched lunch pack.

"Don't sweat it, I know this crazy restaurant that just opened, and I've been dying to go there so we'll make a quick detour before going home ok".

"Sure".

"I'm going to order tons of food and you have to eat it, if not for me, at least do it for Liam," she said batting her eyelashes. Arielle shook her head, rolling her eyes. She relaxed against the window, the vibration from the car soothing her nerves. She wanted to be better too.

***** Scarlet dropped Arielle off at home after the restaurant trip. Arielle felt full as she stepped into the house. She had tried her best to finish a plate while scarlet just kept stuffing her mouth to no end. Arielle wished she was like Scarlet sometimes, she ate whatever, without putting on additional weight.

The scent of pies wafted to her nose making her nauseous, but she forced herself into the kitchen. It smelled wholesome, but it just made Arielle want to vomit.

"Hey mom, I'm back". Her mother jerked a little in surprise as she turned to face Arielle.

She smiled as she took off the muffins she wore. "How were your lectures? Did you eat lunch?"

"Yeah, scarlet took me to a nice restaurant" she replied, glad to avoid her interrogation about her eating pattern, it was harder with the dietitian, the woman knew everything, even when she lied. Her mom looked pleased with the information about her eating out.

"You should have invited her in for dinner. I'd have loved to see her again".

"You know Scarlet, she's a party freak, so she's never free at night".

"Just go change, and take a shower, this will soon be ready".

She nodded, walking to her room to avoid more questions. Everything was neat just as she left it. She liked everything in its place, going over to Scarlet's place always made her cranky. She left her stuff all over the place, it was so bad that Arielle had to clench her hand to avoid cleaning the place.

She took off her sweater, walking past the mirror, she'd almost succeeded with not checking, but just a glimpse at her reflection had her moving back. She stood in front of it, looking at her body. Was she putting on weight? She almost panicked but quickly fought the irrational urge. Everyone always commented on her weight making her feel self-conscious, even simple comments like 'wow you look better today' felt like they were telling her that she was becoming fatter. She checked to be sure, but it was pointless, all she did see was fat. She forced herself away from it, pulled off her pants, then stepped into the shower room. The warm water falling on her skin had her fears disappearing into the Air. She clenched her hand, deciding to try harder, like Scarlet had said once to her the last time they fought over her obsession with Keenan, she'd told her that Keenan would never like her even if she looked like a skeleton, Scarlet had a way to make her words hurt, but it was true. Her physical exam was just the next week, she hated it but she wanted the doctor's praise that she'd done a good job. She stepped out of the shower and pulled on the bathrobe. She'd just go with the flow and not overthink. One day at a time, one meal at a time, one boy at a time. She scoffed internally at herself. Yeah right.