This was all unfamiliar territory for Nina; she wasn't one of those looks obsessed girls who scavenged fashion magazines for tips on how to lose weight. But with sudden realisation of her obesity, she had to start finding ways to achieve her required weight. There were moments where she'd feel energized and confident in herself where she'd wonder why she was doing what she was doing and that she didn't need to lose weight for Eddie to love her…but then she'd pass one of those awful girls from the bathroom in the corridor and her happy cloud would sail on past. It was the way their words were laced with such utter disgust, commenting on how revolting she was. She didn't want to be that girl. She didn't want to be the girlfriend Eddie was ashamed of, who he hated being seen in public with because she was an embarrassment. And she knew she was. No matter how sweet and compassionate Eddie acted by interlocking their hands in school or moving his chair a little closer than everyone else in lesson to show his support, it was killing her knowing that she was a burden for him. That he was ashamed of her.

The first few days were easy- miss a meal here, avoid dessert there and Nina was well on her way to her goal. But as days passed, she grew impatient. She realised that there would be no drastic change just because of a few day's diet, and she wouldn't suddenly become this desirable, sexy teenager overnight. But she soon started to worry that when her body did begin to change, it wouldn't be enough. So she decided to step it up a notch. And a few weeks later, she found herself making real progress. But progress came at a cost, she soon found out as a gradually building ache began to gnaw at her insides. She was starving.

Knock, knock.

"Come in" she surprised herself by the coating of weakness in her voice, but passed it off as just one of the things changing in her body that came with being a teenager.

"Hey Nins, dinners ready" Amber chirped in her usual Amber-esque way. After sending a fleeting smile to her roommate, she quickly flounced down the stairs leaving Nina behind in an awe of jealousy. Amber was so incredibly perfect, flawless in every single way and it made Nina ache with exhaustion to see how easily it came to her.

Figuring that it would only be a matter of time before someone else was sent up to collect Nina from her room, she made her way down the stairs and into the dining room. As suspected, everyone else was already seated with one empty seat right next to Eddie. As soon as he caught sight of Nina, Eddie's eyes brightened and a grin fought its way onto his face. But his peaceful features soon turned into a look of worry when Nina stumbled against the table, struggling to keep herself upright.

"Whoa there, are you okay Nins?" Eddie shot over to her side as a deep frown sank its way into his face. Nina struggled to regain composure as her eyes informed her that the room had stopped spinning, and allowed Eddie to guide her to her seat.

"Yeah, I guess I'm just a little tired" she shrugged her shoulders in way of response as everyone settled back into their individual conversations, now satisfied that Nina was okay.

Eddie however was still unsettled and his worried eyes frowned down at Nina before leaning into whisper to her.

"Are you sure everything is fine?" his soft voice drove a tingle dancing along Nina's spine as he swept a stray lock of hair behind one ear.

Attempting a smile, she gently reassured her boyfriend, "yes, of course I am. So you can stop worrying" she hoped her case was strong enough for him to leave it, but she doubted that very much. As everyone else delved into another one of Trudy's mouth-watering home cooked meals, Nina casually drove a few forkfuls into her yearning mouth before resigning herself to pushing the rest of it around her plate. Seeing her friends laughing and smiling, eating as much of the fat loaded food as they wanted, Nina's stomach twisted in agony. It longed to be filled for the first time in days, and it took every last ounce of her self-restraint to control her hands from obeying orders. The only thing she allowed herself to think about was the waist line she'd achieve for those hot summer months and the fat she would shed from her chubby thighs. Yes, that was all that mattered. Not the small yet continuous headache pounding its way into her skull, or the dizzy spells she kept experiencing, or the way her stomach screamed at her to feed it. No, that didn't matter at all.

"But I do worry, of course I do. I don't want you to end up in hospital again" Eddie continued, his hand now reaching to hold hers over the table. Didn't he get it? She was doing this for them, for him.

"Look at me; see? I'm fine" she smiled at him, and this time it was a genuine smile. She couldn't help herself admiring Eddie and his cute concerned manner he brought out just for Nina.

"You better be, I don't know what I'd do if I lost you" he began to nuzzle her neck, eliciting a giggle from Nina.

"Hello, still eating here people" Jerome commented from across the table on noticing Eddie and Nina's embrace.

Nina blushed and avoided everyone's eyes who were staring at the couple amused while Eddie simply shrugged and began attacking his plate still full with food.

Almost there Nina, she thought.

It was later on at night when all the housemates had gathered to sit in the living room for a bit of a social chat that Eddie really became worried. It was scarcely nine o'clock, but Eddie found himself sat on the sofa with Nina curled up in his lap already fast asleep.

"What's the matter with Nina?" Patricia directed her question at Eddie, suspicion clouding her face. At this comment, everyone turned to observe Nina who slept on soundly unaware of the attention she was drawing to herself.

"I have no idea, she just seems so exhausted" Eddie couldn't help the worry niggling away at his insides as he softly played with her hair.

"Maybe you should take her to bed" Fabian suggested, noting how protective Eddie had become over Nina.

"Yeah, you're probably right" Eddie ever so gently began to wrap his arms around Nina's petite waist and carried her up to her room, bridal style. He carefully placed her small, sleeping form under the sheets and stared down at her troubled features before bending down to plant a kiss on her forehead.

"I love you so much" he whispered although he knew there was very little chance of her hearing him, then made his way back down the stairs to join his friends.