Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Sadly I do not own Red Band Society, if I did Leo and Emma would be back together by now, this is just a fanfic.

AN: I am writing this from mobile so bare with me if there are any mistakes. And I just want to thank all of you for the reviews! I didn't expect to get so many on one chapter. Each one melted my heart. :) It meant so much as long as you keep giving me feedback I'll keep writing for as long as possible.

When Emma enters class the next morning she feels invincible, and not just because she managed to lie her way through breakfast yet again. She's pleasantly surprised when Jordi sits down next to her, but in the back of her mind she knows Leo is only a desk or two away.

"You looks good today Emma." Jordi freezes up after realizing what he just said and coughed slightly. "I mean, you know healthier, stronger."

"I finished half my breakfast today." She stated proudly. It was beyond easy to lie to Jordi. He didn't see right through her, he didn't know her tricks to get out of eating. Part of her felt guilty of another part of her liked the attention he was giving her, he wouldn't judge her like Leo or Kara.

"That's great Emma." Not another sentence is spoken, only a short nod and half-a-smile from Emma, as the lesson begins for the day.

It's over some short story they were meant to be reading that week, half the class was zoned out or trying to divert their attention elsewhere. Emma would once again be one of the only people bothering to keep up with what the teacher was saying. Better safe than in trouble.

As class was over and everyone was packing up to leave, Jordi turned towards Emma once more. "Hey, do you possibly want to hang out tonight?"

He says it so casual, Emma isn't sure if she heard right. But there was also a nervous hint to his voice, he was serious after all.

"Um, sure." She really had no reason to say no. What were her exciting plans for the day not involving therapy? It didn't get much more exciting than that. She smiled slightly to herself as she pretended not to notice Leo's eyes on her as he wheeled past them. That was also a benefit. It served him right, he was the one who dumped her.

Therapy isn't much help. Emma sits quietly in the chair, the prison seat. She's surprised there isn't mental arm cuffs to keep her from running out of the room. That would be something.

Doctor Samuel glanced down at the pile of papers on the desk, waiting for Emma to clearly speak first. The first week of therapy was filled with cliche "how are you feeling today" and "do you need to talk about anything? I'm here for you, it's my job." Now her therapist has learned that Emma won't directly speak unless she feels she has to. And most of the time, she doesn't have to.

They get a few short spoken conversations in, progress is being made in the slightest form. Once the timer beeps, her urge to fly off the chair and out the door is stronger than ever.

"That's all for today. Your hour is up."

Emma quickly thanked her before she began her walk out, shutting the door behind her as she went.

Stripping down from head to toe, the brunette steps into her shower, the warm water running down the walls like a waterfall of some sort. She figured if she was going to hang out with Jordi, she at least needed to look her best for their date. Was it even a date? Her mind raked for answered to the desperate question. Her mind said yes, yet her mind was filled with so many thoughts and voices she didn't know what to trust up there. But her heart told her of course it wasn't a date. She wasn't even remotely interested in Jordi that way. She went with the best option and told her heart to shut up, falling into the traps of her own mind once more.

All she wanted to do was turn the water up to the hottest temperature, go deeply under the shower head and wait until the hot beats of liquid burned her skin off, peeling it into a big pile of ash and fat. Because really her skin was to blame as well, it was flabby and all over her body, wrapped around like a choking blanket.

But she doesn't do that. She doesn't do any of that. She simple washed her hair and body, scrubbing roughly at her hair that was already beginning to fall out somewhat, hoping to rid herself of the fat, the thoughts that clouded her mind, the feel of Leo's hand on her own. She wanted all of that down the drain, never to see the light of day.

Putting on a white cardigan over her black long sleeve shirt, she tied up her sneakers and adjusted the belt on her jeans as she made her way out of her room, making her way down to Jordi's room.

Bumping into Leo in the hallway was almost inevitable. She initially wanted to hit something but then she remembers that they are roommates and of course he would be around on the floor he was assigned to.

"Hi."

"Hey."

Their exchanges are watered-down versions of what they really mean to say to each other. But it's already awkward, a simply greeting will do for now.

"You look nice." Leo is the first one to speak as he glanced up at her from his wheelchair.

"Thanks." Her response is quick and mumbled under her breath.

"What are you doing over here? Here to see Jordi?"

"Actually yes." She blurts out, too late to take it back.

"Oh. I see."

"So are you guys like hanging out now?" He says it in a way that they both recognize as if he was saying 'Are you suddenly dating him'.

"I guess." At that moment she hates him. She hates that he asks such questions. She hates that she has to see the look on his face underneath the nonchalant nod and glance to the floor. The crushing expression only she caused. She hates it all and she most importantly she hates that she still cares what his reaction is over her and Jordi.

She can't stand to stand there another second so instead she turns on her heels. "Just tell him to meet me on the roof." She called before speeding down the hall and nearing the corner towards the elevator where finally she would be alone. As she pushed the door to the roof open she let out a sigh she was holding in.

She hates that she doesn't hate Leo Roth, not even close.