Chapter Twelve

'Unconsciousness'

Shelby looked down at the food in front of her, glad Daisy had picked it for her, knowing she would have walked out if she had to do it herself. She sighed as she bit her lip, almost forgetting how to pick up a fork, she hadn't done it in so long.

She could see Sophie and Peter on the other table, watching her, she could feel everyone's eyes on her as she looked down at the plate, her hand shaking as she thought of breaking the cycle she had made for herself.

For her it was not about being thin, it was not about control, it was not about fading into the background. No, for her it was about dying, killing herself the only way she couldn't fail. And now it was all going to come to an end, she would eat and she wouldn't be able to stop again, she would eat and then everything would come to an end. She would eat and she would feel like there were reasons to live again, she would eat and she would stop hating herself.

Daisy sat across from her best friend, taking a bite from her food but not taking her eyes off Shelby. She sighed when she thought about how long she had just been staring at the food in front of her, this wasn't right, this shouldn't be Shelby, this shouldn't be happening.

Scott looked at the girl he loved more than anything, the way she was refusing to eat, he couldn't believe this was happening. He knew things were bad at home, he, like Daisy, had read the letters. They both knew that something was going wrong there, and now look what had come back to them. Look at what one man had managed to make of the strong girl that he had met a year ago.

Shelby looked up at everyone, wondering what to do. Should she eat like she knew she should? Or should she carry on her suicide trail? She never had to go back to Walt, she would never have to see him again, Daisy said so. But if she was still ill, then Sophie or Peter would never let her go back home if she was told to again. She sighed, pushing the plate away and standing up with great difficulty.

Sophie was first at her side, she was the first one to catch her as she fell. Peter was the one who grabbed the now unconscious girl, lifting her up easily and taking her out of the cafeteria. Scott got up to follow, stopped by Auggie. Nobody stopped Daisy though, she ran out after the three, tears falling down her face.

"She will get better, won't she? I mean I eat now..." Juliette looked down at her cereal, shrugging her shoulders as she looked around the table.

"I hope so, I really hope so." Ezra mumbled, pushing away his own plate, none of them no longer felt like eating after seeing how the girl who had always seemed to be the strongest out of all of them, had crumbled.

"We should go get ready, there is no way we will be allowed off this hike." Auggie broke the silence after a while, standing up and nodding at the others.

~ .. ~

"What's wrong with her?" Daisy cried, her arms wrapped around herself as she saw Peter lay the ghostly white girl on the bed,

"Can you go get the doctor?" He asked Sophie, watching her as she ran out and then looking down at Shelby.

"Peter..." Daisy didn't bother to hide her tears in front of him, she couldn't stand seeing her friend like this, it hurt too much.

"I don't know, she hasn't eaten in so long... she is severely underweight... she is in danger of having a heart attack any day now." He muttered, while fussing over Shelby.

"Can I stay? Please Peter, I am not trying to get out of the hike, Shelby and I will go on one when she gets better, please, I am begging you. I can't leave her like this..." Peter nodded,

"Only you though." She nodded, kneeling by Shelby's side and grabbing her hand, silently praying for her.

A/N Drop me a review, telling me what you think. Should Shelby have a heart attack then? Up to you guys! :)