Bags from Cartier, Gucci, and Topshop in hand, I carefully walked out into the dazzling winter sunlight.
"One month to Christmas!" The sales associate called before the door shut behind me.
One month to Christmas. That would make today six months since I broke up with Mike. Had it only been six months? It felt like much longer. I'd lost contact with most of my friends, even Vic. I hardly saw Austin anymore. My life was more of a mess than ever.
"Charley?" A painstakingly familiar voice called. "Charley Carlile?"
I froze, spinning around. "Hi, darling."
It was none other than Vic and Mike Fuentes. "Charley! Is it really you?"
I smiled gently. "In the flesh."
"Where the hell have you been?!" Vic cried, wrapping his arms around me.
"Busy." I shrugged.
He stood back and examined me. "Why are you so skinny?"
I fought the urge to hit the ground and let the darkness take me. "You think so?"
"You've lost a lot of weight." Mike said carefully.
"Do you care?" I asked softly, looking up at him from underneath my eyelashes. "What are you boys up to?"
"Christmas shopping, I guess. Speaking of Christmas, there's a party next weekend at our place. Everyone misses you, Charley. You've got to come." Vic begged.
I smiled dryly. "I don't think so."
"Come on, Charley, live a little!" Mike said.
"How's Charlotte?" I asked curiously.
He didn't flinch. "We don't speak all that much."
"I'm sorry to hear that." I said. "She was nice."
"Not to you."
"To you she was, and isn't that what mattered? It was nice seeing you boys. Hope you're well. Be good, alright?" I tucked my hair behidn my ear and waved as I walked away.
**
"Had anyone even heard from her?" Jack's voice asked.
"She's been AWOL since we got back from the cruise. . . In August." Jaime said.
"She looked like she was about to fall over any second. She's lost too much weight." Mike said. I was paused at the door, listening intently at the Christmas party no one knew I would be attending.
"It was bad. You could tell she was out of it and I thought she was going to pass out." Vic agreed.
"What are you saying? That she should go back to rehab?" Kellin asked. I shuddered at the thought. "Should we call Austin?"
"If I knew you all thought I should be locked up again then I wouldn't have shown up to this shindig." I said coolly, walking in and raising my eyebrows.
They gaped at me. "I didn't think you were coming!" Vic said.
"Clearly." I sat down beside Alex.
"So I guess it's no secret that we're worried about you." Alex said.
"I'm fine!" I said edgily. "Once you get rid of an eating disorder and you lose weight, you're all of a sudden relapsing?"
Vic stared at me with steely eyes. "Get on the scale then."
"What?" I demanded.
"Get on the scale. Let's see how much you really weigh." He said.
"No way." I crossed my twiglike arms.
"I'll call Austin." He sad.
"You wouldn't!"
"Try me." He said coldly.
"Stop yelling at me." I snapped, standing up. "Get the scale, asshole."
Five minutes later we waited on bated breath for the numbers on the scale to stop moving. "Ninety eight point six. That's not enough."
"I'm naturally skinny." I argued.
"You're not naturally underweight." Alex said.
"What kind of party is this?" I cried, exasperated.
"Why are you losing so much weight?" Vic demanded.
"Because I was fucking tired of not being good enough, dumbass!" I snapped. "He-" I pointed to Mike. "Brings around his skinny beautiful new girlfriend and how the hell am I supposed to compete with that? For fuck's sake, none of you would understand anyways! Call Austin and tell him about this, I dare you. He won't come asking me, oh no, he'll come straight here and beat your pretty little brother until he's unrecognizable. If I were you, I'd keep my fat mouth shut!" I yelled, slamming the door behind me.
I stormed out and got in my car and drove away before anyone could say I was too thin to drive.

Notes

I told you there would be drama. I warned you. Give me some nice comments and I'll update tomorrow. I accept suggestions as well. Thanks, you're all absolute angels. :)