The Starving Art

Chapter Two

Sam still did what he had said he would do and asked his father for increased training. John Winchester, being the manly marine he was, was more than happy to increase the physical exercise, and even praised his youngest son for it.

Sam, always being the one to complain about the training and insist they do normal family things with their weekends was finally in his father's good spirits for "taking physical fitness seriously".

'Watch your calories,' a note from Ruby, conveniently placed in the bread cabinet, reminded him as he scribbled how many calories he was eating in his new food journal – a gift from Ruby. She had put him on a strict 500 calorie diet, which meant he really nibbled on toast for most of the day.

No butter, of course.

"Hey, Sammy, wanna go to the movies or something?" Dean asked as he walked into the kitchen. Dean was renting the house next door, being twenty-one years old, and visited whenever he wasn't working. He not living there made dieting easier. Dean always noticed changes in eating habits – especially when it had something to do with his little brother. "I'm buying," Dean tempted.

"I can't, Dean," Sam said, nibbling on his toast. "College essays."

"You still haven't finished those?" Dean asked. "They're due soon."

"I know," Sam said. "Ruby's not much help, so I'm gonna figure it out by myself. You should take Tish to the movies. I know she'll want to go." Sam made little kissy faces after saying this.

"Jeez, Sam, Tish and I are just friends! She's dating Brandon, the guy on the football scholarship."

"He's gay and you know it," Sam said.

"Yeah, I know," Dean said. He turned to walk away. "Last offer, you in or out?"

"Out."

In all honesty, it wasn't even that going to the movies was bad. It was the snacks. Dean always got kettle corn – Sam's favorite – and he just couldn't afford to be tempted.

RedGem: You go over your calorie limit?

Ruby's IM username popped up on Sam's computer screen and he couldn't help but smile a bit. It was good to know someone was looking out for him. Sam typed back.

SaMiAm: No.

They went on talking for a while; Sam didn't even bother with his college essays.

RedGem: What did you eat today?

SaMiAm: Three slices of toast; 60 calories each.

RedGem: Good. We need to keep pushing.

SaMiAm: What do you mean?

RedGem: Go weigh yourself.

Sam did as she said, going into his bathroom where they kept a scale. Dean used it when he was on the wrestling team in high school to make sure he would make weight for the team. It was barely touched now. Sam stepped on it.

145. For 6'2", he was at a fairly normal weight.

SaMiAm: 145.

RedGem: Subtract thirty. That's our goal.

SaMiAm: I only wanted to lose five pounds.

RedGem: But if you can lose five pounds, you can lose thirty.

SaMiAm: Alright. CW: 145 GW: 115.