Okay today's prompt comes from sukeevo who has fallen in love with angsty Wes. They wanted me to write a story where Wes has an eating disorder and ND notices it first.
For me there is no way the Warblers would've missed it but I tried my best to make them the "bad" guys. Please don't hate me.
Wes looked at the plate in front of him and swallowed the bile in his throat. He felt like he wanted to throw up just putting that stuff in his mouth. Said stuff was the lunch at school. It was fried fish, potatoes and a cool sauce. Everyone else was eating it happily. But Wes just couldn't make himself do it. He wasn't hungry.
He hadn't been eating properly for the last few weeks now and if he ate something he couldn't keep it down anyway. He didn't want to eat all this stuff… he didn't want to get fat. He was fat already according to some of the Warblers. It had started when Wes was lying on the couch reading instead of taking part in the various sports activities outside. Blaine had jumped onto his stomach and said it felt nice to sit on because Wes was so mushy. Jeff tried to urge him into joining the day's activities. When Wes said no Jeff said that he should or else he'd get fat. Kurt had corrected him and said fatter. Wes had countered with him not being fat because he worked out four days a week! Kurt had countered with it not mattering because Wes ate all that crap they served at school, snacks and other stuff… and drank way too much hot chocolate than what's good for him. Some of the Warblers had joined into the teasing by telling Wes to watch what he was eating or he'd soon be looking like a small round ball.
Wes didn't want that. He had been bullied enough in life thank you very much. It didn't help that he suddenly couldn't use any of his belts because they were too small. Shit he really had to be fat then. But he didn't feel like it. But since the majority of his pants all of a sudden were way too small and his belts were the same it had to be true. So Wes decided to train more and eat less.
He looked at his food and sighed, pushing the plate aside and just choosing a salad instead. He decided to make sure he was going to stick to a diet of not eating or just eating fruit or salad until he was fit enough to perform at regionals. He also worked out even more now. He practiced his martial arts six days a week, ran seven days a week and swam five days a week. But still his scale only showed his weight increasing or not dropping at all. Wes sighed.
"Oi what's with the heavy sighs Wes", David asked and nudged him. "Something wrong?"
"No, no", Wes said and pushed his salad around. "Nothing's wrong."
"Then why aren't you eating", Kurt asked. "I'm glad you've started a diet for normal people", here he glared at Blaine and Niff. "But you need to at least eat it."
"I'm really not hungry", Wes said. "I think I might be coming down with something."
"More weight", Kurt teased and Wes glared at him. "Sorry just kidding."
"Whatever", Wes said. Some of th Warblers kept joking about his weight, what was up with that? Wes heard the bell in the room chime and looked up. It was half past 12. He got up.
"Where are you going", Blaine asked through a mouthful of food.
"I'm going for a run", Wes said calmly. "Before the afternoon classes starts."
"Are you sure", Trent asked worriedly. "You have been working out a lot."
"Not more than usual though", Jeff said. "Maybe you should so that your belts don't get smaller. Ow!"
The last he exclaimed when Nick elbowed him. Wes just smiled weakly and left.
The weeks rolled by and Wes barley ate anything and worked out just as much as before. The Warblers didn't seem to notice that he was losing weight and was looking sick. He had dark rings around his eyes and pale skin, really pale. No one seemed to notice that he kept skipping meals and just eating an apple or something small instead. Wes didn't notice his problems either.
He didn't even realize he had one until the martial arts team were sent to McKinley to take part in a showcase of martial arts along McKinley's team. When Wes got there with the team he noticed the boys in New Directions in the locker room. They saw him too and nudged each other. Mike waved to him and Wes waved weakly back before taking off his blazer and shirt.
"Dude what the hell", he heard the guy name Puck ask and suddenly the ND boys were surrounding him.
"Huh", Wes asked.
"Dude", Puck said and poked Wes' ribs one by one… they were all visible. "What the fuck dude? Why the hell do you look like a skeleteon?"
"Uh", Wes said. "Um… I had this really bad stomach bug and I lost a lot of weight because of that…"
"Yeah but still", Artie said. "That's way too much weight lost yo."
"Yeah, yeah", Wes said and pulled a t-shirt over his head.
Mike bit his lip.
"So you're here for the showcase", Sam asked and Wes nodded. "Cool, it's not for a few hours. Do ya wanna grab a bite and catch us up on Kurt's life?"
"No thanks", Wes said calmly. "Not hungry."
"Come on", Finn said. "It's lunch hour and you're a teenage boy. You're allowed to eat!"
"It's fine", Wes said. "I'm not hungry."
"Please", Mike said gently. Wes just smiled at him softly and shook his head.
"You guys go", he said. "Maybe we'll see each other later and I can get the ND up to speed with Kurt stories."
"I'll hold you to that", Finn said. "Kurt never tells me anything. Is he dating that Blaine kid?"
"I wish", Wes groaned. "They are both painfully oblivious."
The ND left Wes to change.
Out in the hallway they all turned to face each other. Artie spoke first.
"He's not okay yo", he said.
"Totally not", Puck said. "Even I know that a kid that thin isn't feeling well."
"But maybe he was sick", Finn said. "I mean… he can't be starving himself can he?"
"Some people in martial arts do to get to that certain weight class", Sam said.
"Not Wes", Mike said. "He's always had the perfect weight for his weight class… and did you see how sick he looked? His eyes had dark rings around them and had no glow. His skin is so pale a goth person could be called tan around him and he's so damned thin."
"Dude I've never heard you say so much before", Puck said and smirked. "But you're right."
"Let me text Kurt and see if they've noticed something", Finn said and did just that.
Hey Kurt what's up with that Wes guy? – F
What do you mean? – K
Is he sick or something? – F
No he's always like that, don't worry about him. – K
But Kurt he's looking really creepy. – F
According to the guys it's some pre-competition thing he always does. Don't worry Finn, Wes is just fine. – K
Okay, thanks for telling me. – F
Finn put his phone back into his pocket and all the others watched him.
"According to Kurt's nothing is wrong", he said. "Either that or he and the Warblers haven't noticed."
Artie had been quiet for a bit as the others talked.
"Isn't this Wes guy kind of the leader of the Warblers yo?" he asked.
"That's what Kurt told me", Finn said. "The way he described him one would think he's some kind of superhero or something."
"He kind of is", Mike agreed.
"Could that be why they haven't seemed to notice he's sick", Artie asked worriedly. "I mean if he's like the big brother Warbler wouldn't he be looking after everyone else?"
"Yes…"
"Could that mean that maybe they haven't noticed him being sick because… well they aren't used to looking for the signs?"
"It's possible", Mike said.
"Well let's keep an eye on the dude while he's here okay?" Finn suggested. "We can like… spy on him or something. What's that saying… we can be bugs on the windows."
"Fly on the wall", Puck corrected.
"That too."
The boys agreed.
They kept their eyes on Wes all day. They watched him practice and hold seminars with the freshmen and sophomores. He looked happy and calm and as if nothing was wrong. But the ND boys noticed that he didn't eat anything the whole day. He drank energy drinks but that was all. The girls in New Directions had also noticed that Wes was there and looked a lot sicker than last time they saw him. So before the final class of the day, which was also going to be a performance with Wes and the Dalton coach, the ND stopped the Warbler chairman before he could get to the gym.
"Hi", Wes said tiredly and Santana poked him in the side. Wes jumped slightly.
"Yeah I can totally feel those ribs", Santana said.
"What", Wes asked confused and then Tina took his hand.
"Wes we're worried about you", she said. Wes looked at her and then around at the opposing glee club.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because you haven't eaten all day yo", Artie said. "We've watched you. You haven't eaten a thing and you look sick yo."
"I'm fine", Wes mumbled.
"This", Tina said and poked his ribs again, they were even visible through his tight black t-shirt. "Isn't fine Wes."
"Why do you care", Wes asked and felt anger rise in his chest.
"Because", Rachel said calmly. "Even though we are opponents in the show choir competitions we are all member of glee clubs and we need to hold each other's backs."
"And by the look of things you need it dude", Puck said.
"I can handle it", Wes said and pulled his hand from Tina's grip.
"Dude we're not calling you weak or something", Finn said when he noticed the hostile air around the Warbler. "We just want to help."
"Well then go help someone that needs it!" Wes yelled and stalked past them.
"Wes come on", Mike called and ran after him. "We just wanna help!"
"I don't need help", Wes yelled and turned to him. "What I need is to lose some weight. That's what the Warblers and my too small clothes tell me!"
"Dude your clothes were hanging on you when we saw you come in this morning", Sam said.
"Oh yeah?" Wes asked and fished something out of his duffle bag. It was a belt. He pulled it around himself and they all saw it was too small.
"I got this belt from Mike and Tina", he said. "They made it at Asian Camp for me and when I got it I had to add some holes because it was too big. Now it's too small!" He threw the belt to Tina.
"Leave me alone", Wes yelled and stalked off. The ND turned to Tina who was looking at the belt in her hands. Her brow was furrowed.
"What is it T", Mike asked. She looked at him and looked angry.
"This isn't the belt we made", she said darkly. "It looks a lot like it but it's not it... the initials we carved in on that secret spot isn't there. This isn't Wes' belt."
"So are you saying that someone exchanged his belts and clothes to make him think he's fat", Santana asked and looked furious.
"I'm not saying anything", Tina said. "Yet."
Wes rubbed his face. He and their coach had gone through two rounds so far. Wes had won the first and the coach the second. Wes had been trying to keep it together. But it was getting harder. His vision was a bit blurry and he felt like there was no energy left in his muscles. Every movement was slow and hurt. He was sweating like crazy and panting. His coach jumped and kicked at his head. Wes fell to the ground. He could usually avoid those kind of kicks, but not today. He went down with a bang and felt his coach's hands on his shoulders.
"Wes are you okay", he asked and Wes got up slowly.
"I'm fine", he lied. He knew himself he wasn't fine. He rubbed at his eyes again and took his pose. He knew that the New Directions were watching him worriedly. Wes was not going to let them have right. He had to pull through. He could do it! His anger and determination gave him new energy and he managed to give the audience a show. His coach looked very happy with what was going on. Wes even managed to beat him. But… when the match was over and he was about to bow to his opponent everything started spinning.
"Wes", his coach asked as Wes started to stumble. "WES!?"
Wes fell to the floor. His coach ran up to him, shaking his shoulders. The ND were on their feet at once, as was everyone else in the gym. Schue hurried out to call for an ambulance because no matter how much the coach from Dalton and Coach Beiste tried… they couldn't wake Wes.
The ND were all at the hospital, waiting on news from the doctor about Wes. Finn had called Kurt and told him that Wes had collapsed. The Warblers were on their way. After waiting about an hour the doctor came back.
"How is he", Mike asked.
"Family", the doctor asked.
"He's my older brother", Tina hurriedly said. The doctor looked at her. She did look a lot like his patient. She must be telling the truth and there was no emergency contact in the young man's papers.
"Do you want to talk in private?" the doctor asked.
"No everyone here can hear", Tina said.
The doctor sighed and then told them that Wes fainted due to overworking himself and not having any energy left. It was clear that there was no fat reserve in his body, no protein reserve. Nothing. It was clear to everyone in the medical team that Wes had been starving himself. He was right now giving fluid and some nutrition through IV.
"A few days and he would've starved", the doctor said. "Why would he do something like this? Is your brother prone to self harm?"
"No", Tina yelled angrily. She took out the belt Wes had thrown her. "Someone has exchanged his belts and probably other clothes into smaller things to tell him that he's fat and need to lose weight!"
"That's what we figure anyway", Mike supplied.
"Wes lives at a boarding school", Tina said. "I only see him on weekends when he's allowed home and… and I have no idea who would do something so horrible to him!"
"It was just a joke", a timid voice said behind them. The New Directions turned and saw the Warblers stand there, Kurt in front. He was looking at his feet. A couple of the Warblers were looking guilty, some confused and some really worried.
"What was just a joke", Tina asked darkly.
"We didn't mean for it to get this far", Kurt said. "Honest! We just wanted to see if Wes would go on a healthier diet."
"What do you mean", Rachel asked.
"Wes never eats vegetables!" Kurt said. "He only eats fruit, meat, potatoes, pasta and so on. But never vegetables… we wanted him to eat that for a week… not for him to end up in hospital."
"You mean you wanted him to go on a crazy diet just to have a laugh", Tina asked darkly.
"Pretty much yes", Kurt mumbled.
"Were you all in on this?!"
Thad, the freshmen, Trent, Joseph, James and Frank shook their heads, the only ones that hadn't been in on the joke. Wes didn't know but when he wasn't around it was this group that told the others to quit making fun of Wes. They were the ones that defended him behind his back and tried to get him to eat by subtle hints that he didn't get. Their hints were in form of fruit, sandwiches and snacks put close to Wes and forgotten. He never took the bait.
"Just you then", Tina questioned the guilty group and they all nodded. "Who's idea was it?"
Everyone looked at Kurt and he looked really guilty. Tina stalked up to him and slapped him across the face. After that she stalked into Wes' room, dragging Mike with her. Tina sat down by Wes' bedside and took his hand.
"We'll get through this", she told him gently, even though he was still out cold. "I promise."
A few days later Wes was back at Dalton, trying to get back to his normal weight. He never left his room. He was too weak to even stand now. He was starting to eat again, very slowly. The Warblers stayed with him during all meals and made sure he ate a little at last. The school nurse told them that Wes had to start small and then eat bigger portions as time passed.
Wes was sitting on the windowsill looking out at the Dalton grounds. He was thinking of the times he had with his older brothers. They would never do something like this to him, not even to prank him. This was serious. His little brothers could've killed him.
At least ten times a day the younger boys asked for forgiveness but Wes never said a word when they did. He really wanted, he just wasn't sure on how. He talked to his older brothers every day. They had made some schedule of who was calling when. He knew they were because it was always the same group that called each day.
The first day the ones he was closest too called. That was Jerry, Mark, the Everetts, Otthan, Justine, Lucas, Alvaro, Kim and Mitch.
The second day Austin, Joseph, Oliver, Collin, Charles, PP and PP called.
The third day Scott, Bastian, Fredric, Richard, Michael, Brad, Brad and Isaac called.
The fourth day Ethan, William, Roger, Matt, Reed, Malcolm, Tom, Julian, Eric and the Wilkins brothers called.
The fifth day Howard, Connor, Peter, Juan and Alexander called.
And on day six the first group called again and on the seventh day the second group called again. Wes was grateful. He didn't really talk much, he just listened and it was enough for him. He tried to listen to his younger brothers as well but that was much harder.
"Wes", Thad asked on the ninth day of Wes' rehab. "Are you okay?"
The Warblers were all gathered in Wes' room. He was sitting on the windowsill, as usual. He was looking out at the grounds. His food still untouched. It was bigger than yesterday so it would take longer for Wes to actually want to eat it. But the Warblers were patient. Wes had regained just a little weight and when he wasn't eating he was resting. They refused to let him train until he had gain a few pounds.
"I'm just thinking", Wes mumbled.
"Thinking of what", Thad said and sat on the floor by the window. Leaning back on Wes' legs. Wes' hand dropped to Thad's hair and he started to run his fingers through it.
"I don't know how to say it…" Wes mumbled.
"Can you sing it?" Thad asked and Wes sighed but then started singing:
Where do we go from here?
This isn't where we intended to be
We had it all, you believed in me
I believed in you
Certainties disappear
What do we do for our dream to survive?
How do we keep all our passions alive,
As we used to do?
Deep in my heart I'm concealing
Things that I'm longing to say
Scared to confess what I'm feeling
Frightened you'll slip away
You must love me
You must love me
Wes sighed and looked at Thad who was looking at him with big sad eyes. He then looked at the rest of the boys. Everyone had moved closer. Wes felt confused and looked at Thad as he sang:
Why are you at my side?
Thad flew up and flung his arms around Wes and hugged him tightly.
How can I be any use to you now?
"Wes don't say things like that", Thad said.
Give me a chance and I'll let you see how
Nothing has changed
"I shouldn't… we shouldn't have to give you as chance", Thad said into Wes' neck. "You should give us a chance to prove we are still the same boys you love."
Deep in my heart I'm concealing
Things that I'm longing to say
Scared to confess what I'm feeling
Frightened you'll slip away
You must love me
You must love me
"We do love you", Thad said and hugged Wes tighter. "We've always loved you. Please just give us a chance."
But Wes didn't know if he could. Because Wes for once… didn't know how.
Here you go, feel free to send me request by review or pm ;) And I'll see what I can do about it :D
wesandwarblers - Your prompt has been added to my very long list :S
Guest - I have added that prompt
Sarah - Happy you liked it
