Pierced

Chapter 3

“Annie… I'm sorry”, Julie trailed behind. “I didn't mean it that way”

She was really a fast runner, I’d not be that fast and definitely would be out of breath.

“Are you okay?” she asked, jerking my lion arm. 

“I am fine… It's nothing… Just sad about my food”. I didn't even touch them

She raised her hand, grinning as she shakes her tiny waist. She had them package the food for me?!

“I love you Julie…” was all I could say. I dragged her into a tight hug. My vision, blurry with tears. “I was so hungry… Why can't I eat what I want?... Why does my weight matter so much!” 

She just stood still, caressing my back. Listening to my ranting.

“Uhh… Annie, can you loosen up a little. I might be squashed from your hug”

I looked at her amused face, but then we burst out laughing. “You’re crazy...” 

Julie has been a favorite person, my only friend. 

Being bullied in school pulled us close. She was the only one who comes to console me eachday I get bullied. She was almost marked, but her family owns shares in the school.

Lucky her…

I was just a scholarship student, lucky enough to gain admission in Riversdale College. The most popular and hard school to get into.

Every familys dream, is to have a child who graduated from Riversdale College. If only they know…

“Annie, what are you wearing tomorrow night?”

“Huh..” 

Julie rolled her eyes “Tomorrow is the sixth year we graduated from College”

Oh the school get together…. I never attended any, so why is she asking me about that?.

“Okay so what about it?”

Julie spanked my ass “You promised to come for the sixth get-together bitch!”

Yeah, I had made that promise. But it is not the promise I will be able to keep.

“I can't make it Julie…”

“Its going to be fun. Everyone has moved on and probably forget about schooldays… You should too Annie… You are coming tomorrow night and that's final”...

They forgot, but I haven't. School days at Riversdale College were my worse days. 

Being a Scholarship student, with no father nor mother who would stand up for you. Or even buy school shares to protect me. Just an overweight smart kid.

The Sexy-Six girls didn't want anyone else smarter than they were.

School was not the best place for me. It was traumatizing. 

“The Rivers will be hosting this years get-together… You know what that means…” she asked, raising her eyebrows as she gives me a sly smile.

I smiled, my cheeks burning hot.

Hudson River… My crush…

The most popular and handsome guy in school. Rich, famous, intelligent, amazing body and very reserved… He is ruthless…

Well that's what I heard. I haven't encountered him before. 

“I won't make it Julie… I am sorry” I muttered before walking off from her.

 I don't want to bring back the memories of those days. Right now, I am focus on finding nothing else but my mother.

~<>~

The delicious aroma filled the air, directly into my big nostrils. My tummy tumbling to the desire to devour the king burger staring deliciously at me. But Ethan remained my hinderence.

It's past 6pm, way past my dinner time. Ethan's rules.

Thank God for the filling lunch I had at Julie's.

“Annie… What are you doing?”

It was Ethan who spoke. His thick brows were drawn together in a way that made me uneasy.

“Huh…”

“I’ve been calling…”

He was pissed…

“Ehrr…” my tummy grumpled loudly. Ethan looked from me to the burger plate…

“That's the problem I have with you… You want to order that?...” his voice rose like a trumpet, drawing attention to us.

“No.. I…” 

“You fucking love food a lot and I'm fed up…” His voice thundered before I could explain. He misunderstood me, again. 

“Have you seen your self?, you look bloated all over…”

I hear little chuckles from behind. I know how I must look in my overall shorts and loose t-shirt. 

Fat. Pathetic. Embarrassing.

He always make it clear.

“Even the slim beauties watch their intakes. But ugly duckling Annie, as fat as an elephant keeps pushing in all the junkies morning, afternoon, nights”

“Ethan…!” I breathed helplessly 

Ugly duckling Annie?...

His brows thickened. Ears red. Furious.

My head bowed. I can feel the thousand glare around us.

Men. Women. Babies.

 I pushed up my glasses, fighting the beaming tears, ready to fall.

“I'm sorry baby… I didn't…” 

“Don't dare call me that, Fat Annie”. He cut me off. Stepping back to avoid my touch. 

Fat Annie.

The bullies special name from school days.

“I'm sorry Ethan…”

I grabbed his arm. My heart was beating so fast I could hardly speak. I hadn't realise how many people were suddenly milling around the vestibule.

“I think am done with this Annie”, he pushed off my hand. “You're not my type after all”

His words sounded so final. I looked up at him quickly, my heart bursting to breaking point. 

I watch his back disappear from the room. 

How easy it was for him to always abandon me.

I squats down, supporting my shaky legs. 

My eyes burned. Blurry. Hot tears I could no longer contain were glistening in my eyes 

I let out the cry I held captive, ignoring the interested looks I feel we draged from all sides and their amused faces.

He's done?... Break up?

An arrow of pain shot through me, so sharp it almost lanced the breath from my airways. 

No

That's not true. He will come back. He always do. 

Ethan and I have been inseprable from school days. He had saved me from the school bullies.

He loves me despite my weight. He has to love me. 

Gathering the last honour, I cleaned my damped faces. Walking out amidst the scorning looks of passerby's.

Can my life get any better? Can thereever be a day I'd wake up to slim and sexy Annie? With men drooling over me?

Maybe with my Prince charming… Hudson?

No…

With Ethan. He is my prince charming..