Hey! It's been awhile, hasn't it? It took me awhile to decide what I wanted to do for the letter 'A'. I thought of this, but brushed it back because I thought it too undeveloped. I considered "Alliance" for a Capture-the-Flag moment pre-HoO, but changed my mind. Hey, who knows? I might actually do that eventually if I get enough reviews (hint, hint)
ANYWAY. Thanks to Guest, TheWordCreatorOriginator, rjaporejpogr, and haley giggles for reviewing!
Warning: Contains Drill and slight OOCness. Don't like? Don't read. Also a sensitive subject for a few. I sincerely hope I do not offend.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson series, or there would be more kick-butt Asians and a more three-dimensional Drew.
Anorexia
Definition: A lack or loss of appetite for food (as a medical condition).
An emotional disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat.
She supposes that it began with her favorite pair of black Apollo skinny jeans. She had slid it on early in the morning, only to find that it didn't slide quite as easily on as it usually did. It also felt tight to her.
"This can't be right," she had mumbled to herself, trying to see if she had somehow put it on wrong.
But she hadn't. Simply put, she had grown too fat for it. And this scared Drew more than anything.
Will watches his girlfriend's figure disappear in the distance forlornly.
Drew had been awfully distant lately.
He didn't know whether it was anything that he had done, but Drew stopped having time for him. He was lucky enough to catch her for a brief half-minute during her jog.
She was on some crazy health hype or something, exercising constantly. Will kept from meddling in her business, but he hoped it wasn't what he thought it was…..
"Drew," Mitchell puts his hand on Drew's shoulder. His voice reeks of something that Drew hadn't ever had directed towards her from her half-siblings. Concern.
"What?!" she snaps peevishly. She's feeling awfully tired and sore after her jog. The only thing keeping her from going to sleep is the happy thought that Drew may have dropped a few pounds. But Drew also knows better than to bother approaching the scale.
"We're…." Mitchell pauses, clearly considering his words. "we're worried about you, Drew."
Indeed, it's a 'we', because as Drew looks around the cabin, everyone else is staring intently at her, with concerned expressions in their eyes.
"How touching," Drew can't help but say sarcastically.
Them? Worried about her?! More like sticking their nose in her business, where they most certainly do not belong.
He nods, "When's the last time you ate?"
"You saw me," Drew practically snarls at him. She has been nothing but semi-nice the past few weeks to them. Why couldn't they leave her alone?!
"I ate breakfast at the pavilion earlier," Drew continues.
"But you only ate a small bowl of strawberries!" Surprisingly, Lacey steps forward daringly.
"How sweet," Drew snorts, mockingly putting her hand to her heart. "You kept track of my breakfast."
"You need to eat more," Mitchell insists. "It's not healthy."
"You can't tell me what to do," Drew hisses. "Not even your precious Piper can."
"Besides," Drew defends herself. "Just because I'm not much of a breakfast person doesn't mean that I'm unhealthy."
"Oh really?" Valentina Del Cruz asks sarcastically. "So I guess that skipping lunch and dinner doesn't make you unhealthy either."
"Lay off," Drew's brown eyes narrow behind her thick lashes. "I don't have anorexia or bulimia or any other eating disorder."
The Asian girl stalked back to the cabin door and yanked it open roughly. "And I'd appreciate it if you didn't stick your noses into my business."
The door slammed roughly behind her.
"Okay, the confrontation backfired," Mitchell crosses his arms.
"I think I know who can help," Lacey volunteers, raising her hand meekly.
Valentina gives an exasperated sigh, "If it's who I think it is, Drew is going to kill all of us with her perfectly manicured nails for getting him involved."
Drew's plan was brilliant, really. She knew what eating disorders were, and she quickly managed to come up with a dieting plan for her that would not cause her to become anorexic.
She jogged constantly and trained. Many campers were surprised to see the Camp Half-Blood's resident diva finally participating in training, but if they thought anything of it, they didn't bring it up to her.
She didn't skimp on eating, contrary to what her half-sibs thought. She avoided a large intake of carbs, yes, but she ate fruits and vegetables so often that she was practically an herbivore. She slept well, finally being too tired to deal with her insomnia.
All in all, Drew was confident that she was healthier. Her half-sibs were just a bunch half-wits who were probably jealous of her and her new healthy eating habits. Those fools still ate the poisonous meat and consumed a bigger intake of carbs than she did.
So why was she feeling sleepier and more lethargic during the day?
"Drew," Will jogs up to her and grabs onto her shoulder before she could speed up.
"Huh?" Drew stops and turns to him, though she continues to jog in place. "What's up, Will?"
Will hesitates, unsure of how to confront Drew on what her half-siblings had informed him of.
When he heard, he was immediately angry at himself for not noticing and giving Drew too much leeway on it. He was a son of Apollo, for Zeus's sake! He should have been able to diagnose Drew's new dieting for what it really was right away. But his self-anger was quickly replaced with worry for his girlfriend. She was in serious danger if she was slowly starving herself to death.
"Drew," Will starts again. "I need to talk to you about-"
"Oh god," Drew interrupts him, a panicked expression in her eyes. "I hope you're not about to say what I think you are…"
"What?" Will looks at her in confusion. "I just wanted to talk to you about your eating habits lately."
Drew's brown eyes show a flicker of relief before hardening. "My nosy cabin mates told you, didn't they? Do you honestly believe them over me?"
"No, no." Will shakes his head, protesting. "I mean, yeah, they told me, but I already suspected it."
Drew was beyond ticked. "I'm not anorexic or bulimic!" she hisses at him. "I can't believe that you'd even think that!"
His girlfriend angrily stalks away from him, giving him the chance to see her now slimmer profile. Her skin is also awfully pale.
"Drew," he reaches out for her and grabs her by the wrist.
"Let go of me!" she struggles weakly against his grip. "You're hurting me!"
Almost instantly, Will drops her wrist. He backs away, ashamed of himself for a few moments before realizing that normally his grip wouldn't even affect Drew. His girlfriend was certainly physically weaker.
"Drew," he says her name again, being extremely gentle with her wrist this time as he examines it. Her wrist is bony and fragile in slightly callused hand.
"Why can't everyone just leave me alone?!" Drew demands. "Is it a crime to eat healthier and exercise?!"
"Drew," Will finally snaps. His brain is overloaded with worry. "You're practically starving yourself to death."
She snorts, brushing his comment off, "And you say that I'm overdramatic at times."
"It's serious, Drew!" Will clenches his teeth and the fist at his side. How could Drew not see how dangerous this was?
"Do you want a fat and ugly girlfriend, Will?!" Drew screams, her voice beginning to crack. "Because that's what I'll be if I'm not careful!"
Will, though slightly stunned at the outburst from the normally confident Drew, pushes his point. "That's most certainly better than a stick of a girlfriend who dies from malnutrition!"
"Will," Drew shouts, "You and I both know that the only reason why you're even dating me in the first place is because I'm pretty."
"I'm not that shallow," Will crosses his arms skeptically.
"Exactly," Drew throws her arms in the air in exasperation. "You're not shallow. But I am. I have nothing of real substance."
"What-" Will begins to protest.
"I'm supposed to be pretty," Drew starts to actually cry as she stamps her foot. "That's all I actually have to do, and that's all that I am."
"But," Drew buries her face in her hands, "I can't even do that. I just had to get fatter. And now you're going to dump me because I'm just this ugly psycho chick, which really sucks because I think I'm falling in love with you!"
"I love you for who you are," Will growls, "Not for what you look like."
Drew opens her mouth to say something, but a look of exhaustion takes over her face. She begins to sway unsteadily, and a panicked Will immediately goes to her side.
A moment later, Drew Tanaka collapses from malnutrition.
When Drew's vision slowly comes into focus, she finds herself staring at the ceiling.
"What-?" Drew tries to speak, but her voice comes out as a low mumble. "Where-?"
Incoherent thoughts run through her mind before she's able to ponder why she's lying on a bed, nestled into the covers quite comfortably. Her fingers tremble slightly as she raises them to her forehead, feeling a slightly damp cloth.
Another person's fingers gently pull hers away from her forehead.
"Good," the person says in a rather low voice. "You're awake."
Drew attempts to turn her head towards the source, but the person carefully lifts her head and tilts a liquid down her throat.
Mmmhmm…. chocolate covered strawberries…
"How-" Drew starts when the person is done giving her the liquid. Her voice catches in her throat, and she coughs to clear it. "How long have I been out?"
"A whole day," the person replies gruffly.
Drew blinks. Once. Twice. Three times, before she's able to clearly see the worried face above hers.
Will.
Her face flushes as she recalls the rather embarrassing way she confessed her feelings for him the last time she was conscious.
She doesn't have to say anything to him. He fills in the void of silence with his own voice.
"What in the name of Hades gave you the idea that I only liked you for your beauty?" Will's voice is quiet, but there is any angry undertone beneath it. If Drew wasn't too busy being startled, she would've noticed that Will had been clenching both his teeth and his fists.
"Social media and the expectations of society?" Drew attempts to suggest jokingly. Not that she thought it would work.
"No," Will says in a startlingly stern voice. "You were insecure."
"Okay," Drew shifts in discomfort, "Maybe I was."
"Drew," Will buries his face into his hands. "You had me so worried that I was going to lose you."
"You're probably the only one." The words come out of Drew's mouth before she could stop it. Why did she say that?!
Will's startled face peeks out from behind his fingers. "What makes you think that?"
Drew laughs, "I thought you were perfect."
Her answer doesn't explain anything to him; it only brings him further into confusion.
"I mean," she continues, "you're nice, strong, and handsome. I could go into a long tangent about all your good qualities but…. Somehow, you care for me. The most selfish and unlovable girl who's ever come into being. "
Will's blue eyes watch her with a startling intensity.
"That makes you more flawed than I am," Drew finishes.
Maybe she's delirious or something, because she keeps branching off from the subject.
"You know," Will says after a few moments of silence. "You think you're unlovable…but you're not."
He gestures to the door, which Drew can just barely make out.
"I think Lacey, Mitchell, and Valentina are out there right now," Will states in all seriousness, "waiting for you. The whole Aphrodite Cabin's been sending at least three people to check up on you and help me the whole time you've been unconscious."
"Have they gone mental?!" Drew bolts upright in shock. "They hate me! I'm the tyrannical monster of their worst nightmares!"
"But you're siblings by ichor," Will points out. "You're all family."
"They are being ridiculous," Drew begins throwing aside the sheets, attempting to get out of bed. "I'm going to give them a piece of my mind."
Will's hands manage to stop her, rapidly tucking in the sheets where she has carelessly peeled them off. "I think you should wait until you're feeling better."
"Fine." Drew crosses her arms and pouts. She glares at the door, daring her half-siblings to come through the door.
Staying in bed all day? Boring.
"Drew," Will calls her attention.
"Hmm?" She turns to look at him.
Oh, right. He didn't chew her out yet.
Will's fingers frustratedly run through his blonde hair. "You now understand that what you've been doing isn't healthy, right? You're going to stop this crazy dieting?"
"…" Drew fiddles with her fingers, unsure of what to say.
Yes? No? She honestly didn't know the answer herself. She wanted to drop the plan, she really did. But… could she deal with being an ugly daughter of Aphrodite? Her pride wouldn't be able to take the hit.
She took too long to think of an answer. Will angrily hits the nearby wall with his fist. Drew nearly jumps at his action.
"Look at me," Will's fingers go under her chin, and her gaze is immediately put onto his blue eyes. "What do you see?"
Drew blinks rapidly. His eyes…. They were a clear blue, and in the right lighting, she could see her reflection.
Her fingers haltingly reach up to touch her face. The Drew she can see in Will's eyes do the same action. Except she's pretty. Gorgeous, even.
"I'm…" Drew gasps.
"…beautiful," Will finishes, a soft smile. He leans in to whisper in her ear. "See? You don't need to diet or anything. You've always been beautiful in my eyes, and always will be."
Drew laughs, "Your eyes are the best mirror. I wish my compact was like that. Then I could see a pretty me all the time."
"My dad is the god of Light and Truth," Will's fingers wrap around her own. "so my eyes tell nothing but the truth. You're beautiful all the time."
"You sir," Drew pokes him teasingly in the chest, "are the sappiest boy I've ever met."
"But you're falling in love with me anyway," Will grins, pulling out the big guns.
"Wiiiiillll," Drew whines as she flushes a bright pink. "Why do you always have to use my words against me?"
"Hey," a rather bored Valentina suddenly snaps to attention. "Aren't those skinny jeans a little too big for you?"
Her sudden comment startles Lacey.
"Y-yes," Lacey's hands reach out to the white belt she had put on in order to hold the skinny jeans up. "They did seem bigger than usual when I put them on."
Mitchell examines the skinny jeans.
"Oh," he says cheerfully. "I know why. Those are Drew's."
He points the front pocket, which oddly had a small red ribbon sewed onto it. "Silena added that to Drew's black skinny jeans during her first year. I remember seeing it."
"What?!" Lacey squeaks in dismay. "You mean I-?"
"Wait," Valentina looks startled. "Doesn't that mean that-"
"Drew got mine by mistake!?" Lacey claps her hands over her mouth in horror.
"Oh sweet Hera," Mitchell realizes, "Drew must've tried on Lacey's skinny jeans and thought that she was too fat for it."
"I'm dead!" Lacey practically sobs. "Drew's so going to kill me!"
"With her perfectly manicured nails," Mitchell adds. "Don't forget that."
"Mitch!" Valentina elbows him, "Not helping!"
"It's true, though!" Mitchell protests.
"I'm going to die by perfectly manicured nails!" Lacey wails.
"Drew doesn't have to know," Valentina suggests helpfully. She sends a warning glare to Mitchell. "No one here is going to tell her that part specifically."
"I don't have to know what now?" a new voice joins the conversation.
The three startled children of Aphrodite turn to see their former counselor standing in the doorway of the infirmary.
"Don't make me bust out the Shoes of Shame," Drew threatens, but it is easy for the three to tell the smile on her face.
"Nothing!" Mitchell immediately responds. Classic boy response.
"Just…." Valentina's eyes dart around, looking for something to call attention to. "um…how perfectly manicured your nails always are."
Drew snorts, "Nice try, hon. The pinky finger on my right hand has a chip in the coat."
"It does?" Valentina chuckles nervously.
"No," Drew rolls her eyes. "I was just messing with you. I'd never have a chipped nail."
"I'mthereasonwhyyouwentallanorexic,DrewandI'msososo rry!" Lacey blurts out.
"Say something, little mouse?" Drew raises an eyebrow at the petite blonde.
"I-" Lacey takes a deep breath, enjoying the air while it lasted. "I accidentally took your skinny jeans by mistake and caused you to go through all of this."
Lacey squinched her eyes shut, preparing herself for the onslaught of nails.
Drew laughs, "Your expression, hon, is downright hilarious right now. I wish you could see yourself."
"What?" Lacey opens her eyes, blinking. The Asian girl is not mad in the slightest.
"Man," Drew puts her hands to her stomach. "I am starved."
She puts a hand on Lacey's shoulder, "Well, thanks to you, I can go eat some pizza now and not worry about fitting into my jeans tomorrow."
Drew walks off in the direction of the Dining Pavilion, and her half-sibling watch in shock as the Asian girl saunters away.
"Oh," she calls, turning around. "Lacey, darling, I expect my jeans cleaned and folded tomorrow on my bed. If you're not careful, you'll be sorry."
"Well," Valentina manages to get out. "That was surprising."
Mitchell whistles, "Wow. Lacey, you were right. Will Solace is changing Drew."
"He's our savior!"
"Will Solace is the best person ever!"
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that causes people to obsess about their weight and the food they eat. People with anorexia nervosa attempt to maintain a weight that's far below normal for their age and height. To prevent weight gain or to continue losing weight, people with anorexia nervosa may starve themselves or exercise excessively.
Anorexia (an-oh-REK-see-uh) nervosa isn't really about food. It's an unhealthy way to try to cope with emotional problems. When you have anorexia nervosa, you often equate thinness with self-worth.
Anorexia nervosa can be difficult to overcome. But with treatment, you can gain a better sense of who you are, return to healthier eating habits and reverse some of anorexia's serious complications.
LOL at the last part. It was kinda random, but I figured the Aphrodite Cabin would adore him if he was the one who saved them from tyrannical Drew on a more permanent basis than Piper.
It occurred to me that, for some people, Drew would be the last person to fall victim to this disease. But, sadly, not even the most confident girls are safe. In my opinion, Drew would be one of the most susceptible to anorexia. She relies heavily on her charmspeak and good looks to have people like her. Take that away, and she's hardly a character of substance in Rick Riordan's world.
I like to think I made her more realistic and likeable, but meh. A couple things:
1) Black Apollo jeans do exist. Legit. I should know, because I have my own pair, and it's my favorite.
2) I know it seems like Drew wasn't quite anorexic, but the cases do vary. Logical girls who swear they'll never fall for the photo-shop media end up changing their dietary habits unconsciously as a response.
3)Realistically speaking, however, Drew wouldn't have been able to get over it so quickly. I guess the nurturing care of Will was enough for her I guess.
4) Valentina is an OCC. Lemme know if you don't want her coming into these shorts.
Anyway, I did this out of respect for all those people affected by this disease (yes, it really IS a disease, and a rather deadly one at that. It affects people mentally and physically). It's sad to think that a lot of girls can name several faults about themselves, but their guy can't even name one. (And yes, that's from the Dove campaign...which is also Aphrodite's symbol now that I think about it...)
Inspiration for the whole eye reflection thingy came from Nick Lachey's Beautiful. I personally like the song, and recommend you just give it a minute at least.
Please give me your comments, opinions, and suggestions!