It Only Gets Worse

By CorbinBleuFanatic1

Normal POV

Chad Danforth stayed over Taylor McKessie's house that night, afraid that Mike Benson would come back.

In the morning, Chad got up early and made eggs. But Taylor, as usual, was "too tired to eat".

"Come on," Chad urged one more time. "You have to eat something, Taylor." Chad sat down next to her and studied her features. "Are you okay, Tay?"

"No, Chad," Taylor answered, looking Chad in the eyes. "I was beat by my boyfriend, Chad. I was degraded by my boyfriend. Would you be okay after that?"

"That's not what I meant, Tay," Chad told her, holding her hands. "Have you been skipping meals?"

"Of course not…"

"You haven't eaten lunch in school and I don't know about home. I know last night you didn't eat…but you had an 'excuse' for that. You had a horrific ordeal yesterday. But you have to eat today. I don't want anything to happen to you." Chad looked in her eyes and his heart ache for her. "I care about you too much to let anything happen to you."

"I'm not anorexic, if that's what you're implying," Taylor said, standing up. But Chad and Taylor both knew that she had just lied.

"If you're not anorexic, why don't you eat?"

Chad handed the plate of eggs to Taylor and she reluctantly took it.

Taylor looked up at Chad and he said, "Go on. If you're not anorexic, you won't mind eating it."

Taylor slowly ate the eggs but after she was done, she raced to the bathroom. Chad hurried after her.

When he reached the bathroom, Taylor was hunched over the toilet. Chad held her hair and rubbed her back until she was okay to stand up.

"You're bulimic," Chad stated simply, helping Taylor out of the bathroom and onto the couch. "How long have you been doing this?" Chad asked after a while.

"Since Mike told me I was gaining weight."

For the fourth time in two days, Taylor refused to meet Chad's eyes.

"You may not want me to tell anyone, besides our friends, about the beatings from Mike…but we have to tell someone about your eating disorder."

"What eating disorder?" Taylor wondered. "I don't have one."

"Taylor, what do you think bulimia is?" Chad wondered, causing Taylor to look away from him.

"I guess it's just hard to admit when you have a problem, you know?" Taylor asked. "Its hard to say you need help."

"But you do need help! You're purging, Taylor," Chad told her. "You've been skipping meals and you almost fainted in class. Mike beat you and you ditched school. It may be hard to admit you have a problem, Taylor, but you have a major one. We have to tell people."

"Not until I lose a few more pounds," Taylor said. "I have to lose a few more pounds."

Chad came over to her and held her close. "No you don't, Taylor." He looked at her. "Don't you get it?" he asked. "You're perfect exactly the way you were before. You shouldn't change yourself for anyone. I thought you were better than that, Taylor. I thought you knew better than that."

"Now you're starting to sound like my mom."

"But it's true. You always told me that you would never change yourself for a guy. What happened?"

"He threatened you," she told him. "He threatened you. And the thought of having him hurt you clouded my judgment and made me turn into something I promised myself I would never be. I'm sorry, Chad, I really am." She pushed him toward the door. "I think you should leave. I'm okay now." As he was standing at the doorway, Taylor said, "Don't tell anyone about what I told you."

Chad shook his head. "I can't do that, Tay."

"What do you mean?" Taylor asked him. "You can't or you won't?"

"Both. I may have sat back while you told me about Mike's beatings but I can't…no, I won't…won't sit back and watch you suffer with this eating disorder."

Taylor started to protest but Chad interrupted and said, "Don't you see that what you're doing affects not only you but those around you as well? Taylor, you're our friend. If you're hurting, we all are. If you're in trouble, we'll try to help you. So let us help you now. We want to see you get better, Taylor…not worse…"

"I appreciate your sympathy, Chad, I really do but…you have to let me handle this on my own."

"So you can starve yourself to death? Uh-uh, no way." Chad paused, tears evident in his eyes. "Don't you get it, Taylor?" he asked once again. "I care about you too much to let anything bad ever happen to you.

Taylor held her stomach and sat down on the sofa, tears in her eyes too.

"I'm sorry, Chad," Taylor said again. "I've never needed help. I've always had to rely on my own. I guess it's easier for me to deal with things…when I'm by myself."

Chad sat down next to Taylor and put his hand in hers. Chad's heart cried out when she rested her head on his strong shoulder. "That's just it, Taylor. You're not on your own anymore, not when you have me and Gabby and Troy and everyone else who doesn't want to see you suffer any more than you want to. Please let us help you, Tay. We want to help you!"

"But how can you?" Taylor wondered. "Don't you see that from now on…it only gets worse?"

Did you like it? Too long? Too short? Too sappy? Not enough emotion/reaction? Plz R&R! I appreciate it! I had major writer's block while writing this so I hope it isn't too crappy!

CorbinBleuFanatic1