Here's chapter 2. enjoy. i don't own In A Heartbeat. =( lol on a more happy note, tomorrow is my
last day of school!!! YAY! Then i'll be in 8th. wish me luck on my math final.
Perfection
Chapter 2
Caitie must have resembled a crimial on their way to the gas chamber. Her steps were rigid and her
arms hung stiffly at her side. It was too horrible to imagine. Eating. How could her family do this
to her? To MAKE her eat. It was unthinkable. Caitie sniffed back tears as she slid into her chair
at the crowded table.
"Caitie? Is that you? Actually eating?" Her younger brother Robert joked. Caitie gave him a blank
stare. He returned his eyes back to his plate.
"Are you okay? You aren't looking so g-" Chris was interrupted with a sharp elbow in his rib. His
mother glared at him sternly. She pushed a plate of pink, juicey watermelon toward Caitie. With a
shakey hand, Caitie pulled it close to her.
There had to be a way that she wouldn't have to eat it. Something to get rid of it. Caitie's mind
recalled visiting the bathroom after lunch and hearing a girl throwing up in the stall next to her.
When the girl, Cynthia Wilson the head cheerleader appeared at the sink beside Caitie's she gave
her a weak smile and an explanation.
"I don't want to gain any weight. That chocolate I just had was too many calories." Cynthia flicked
her eyes to meet Caitie's for a moment.
"Oh." Caitie managed.
So maybe that was the way. To force herself to throw up. She'd seen it on T.V. It had to be a better
solution than having her family suspious.
Gingerly, she picked up a peice of fatty watermelon (hahaha Aricraze) and pushed it past her lips.
Choking back her gag reflexes, Caitie swollowed it quickly. The sugary taste lingered in her mouth and
she felt hungry for the first time. After eating enough to satisfy herself and her family, Caitie
excused herself and headed to the bathroom off of the room she shared with her sisters.
"It'll be easy." She whispered. Her voice was shaking. She didn't know what she was doing. Caitie
didn't know what she was getting herself into. But she'd eaten, and now she felt fat and heavy, like
she gained twenty pounds. The feeling had to stop.
With a shaky finger, Caitie reached into the back of her throat and immediately gagged. She ripped
her hand away and threw up into the toilet. It was disgusting and the revolting taste was in her
mouth. There had to be an easier way. She hated throwing up. It was gross and disgusted and made
her legs shake.
Caitie headed down the stairs to see her family dispatching in different directions. The destinations
floated up the steps to her ears. "Mall." "Friends. "Bed." "Shower." "Date." "Bathroom." "Walk."
So soon the living room was quiet. She was practically alone. With careful, yet determined steps,
she rounded her way through the dining room and into the kitchen. Caitie watched as if she was
in a slow motion movie. It was like she was watching someone else. Watching someone else ruin their
life.
The cabinet door squeaked quietly on its hinge. There, on the top shelf, partically (spelling) hidden
behind some aspirin was the laxatives. Caitie grasped the bottle and raced out of the room. There.
It was settled. No more throwing up.
Val smiled at Caitie across the table. Boy was she looking thin. 'Hmm.' Val thought. 'Maybe too
thin.' Jamie seemed to be noticing it too. He was studying her intently. But that wasn't unusual
since he was infatuated with Caitie. Val tried to convince herself that everything was okay with
her best friend. She was eating again, something she hadn't seen her do in weeks. Val saw Caitie
pull something out of her pocket and try to discretely slip it into her mouth. She swallowed before
Val could stop her.
"What was that?" Val said. Caitie snapped to attention and looked dazed.
"Huh?"
"What did you just swallow?" All eyes at the table turned to Caitie. she shrugged dismissively.
"A vitamin. Healthy, ya know." Caitie's eyes darted between Jamie and Val, who were both staring at
her with concerned expressions.
"Oh. Are you sure?" Val asked timidly.
"Yeah. I think I know what I'm putting in my mouth Val." Caitie's face was red and her eyesbrows
knitted together in the middle of her forehead. But then her face changed. "I need to use the
restroom." She rose from the table and was gone before anyone could ask what was wrong.
Two Weeks Later
Jamie smiled at Caitie. The two had gone to the park and were having a little picnic. And Caitie
was eating. She'd been doing that for a while now but she hadn't gained any weight. In fact, she
looked worse.
Caitie could feel eyes on her. She knew it was Jamie. She knew what he was thinking too. But it
didn't matter. Caitie knew she was looking better each day and soon she could stop. She could eat
again and not have to take laxatives to make sure she didn't gain any weight. Only there was a slight
problem. Caitie had ran out of laxatives. The box was empty. It had been for a week now. So unfortunately,
Caitie was back to the old finger down the throat. It was gross and unpleasant, but worth it. She
couldn't wait until her mother bought more. The pounds she could gain in that time was unthinkable.
So when her car got fixed and she able to find that ten dollar bill she had hidden away, Caitie
would buy another box. She would have to buy them herself. How do you explain to your mother you
used up all the laxatives?
Pretending Jamie wasn't staring, Caitie stuffed another piece of her sandwich into her mouth, defiantly.
Ha, she thought, so much for your suspisions about me not eating. Jamie looked away. He focused on
a man walking his dog, or more correct, a dog walking his man. Caitie rolled off the blanket.
"I need to use the ladie's room." She rose and stalked away in the presumed direction of the facilities.
Jamie nodded. It was one of those I'm not really listening to you nods. Caitie watched him over her
shoulder before disappearing around a group of trees a little off the path. Lunch was sitting heavy
in her stomache. She had to get rid of it.
Jamie dissmissively nodded. He had half heard Caitie's annoucment (spelling). What he found so
enthralling about the young couple arguing over the last piece of chicken was beyond him. But it
was something to watch, something to do. Caitie had been a little different lately. Alot different.
And he had no idea how to help. If there was anything to be helpful about. His brain strained to
convince him that nothing was wrong. But a quiet, desperate voice insisted there was.
Caitie's statement suddenly clicked in his brain. Bathrooms. He had seen a sign about them. On the
way in. Something about repairs and construction. It had said to use the restrooms at the opposite
end of the park. Caitie would probably be pissed when she had to walk all the way back here to find
out she had to walk across the park again. Not wanting to risk the complaints and heated comments
about the park, he jogged off in her direction.
And Caitie didn't hear him coming.
Where is she? Jamie thought. He should have seen her by now. But maybe he'd missed her. Which was
unlikely but something was telling him to turn back. Following instincts had been a tradition for
Jamie. He walked back the way he'd come, eyes searching the trees for that familiar ivory face
and silky black hair. The warm breeze caressed his skin. The shade was perfect for the hot day. It
was a perfect summer day. Nothing could ruin it. Or so he thought.
Caitie jammed her finger into her throat. It wasn't something she enjoyed doing. But the extra weight
had to be avoided. At all costs. No matter what. Her stomache cramped and the taste of bile filled
her mouth. Caitie didn't even flinch as her lunch spilled out in a oddly colored liquid form by
her feet.
It was the unmistakeable sound. The sound you recognize no matter what or when. Jamie ran faster.
Then he saw her. Or more like a glimpse of her. Her leopard print purple shirt peeked through some
over heated bushes. Jamie, in a blind rush, clawed his way through the brush until he was next to
her. Caitie was brushing her hair away from her face when Jamie appeared next to her. Panic and
terror filled her eyes for a moment. But tears quickly replaced it. Jamie was staring at her. Gawking
really.
"Caitie, what are you doing?"
last day of school!!! YAY! Then i'll be in 8th. wish me luck on my math final.
Perfection
Chapter 2
Caitie must have resembled a crimial on their way to the gas chamber. Her steps were rigid and her
arms hung stiffly at her side. It was too horrible to imagine. Eating. How could her family do this
to her? To MAKE her eat. It was unthinkable. Caitie sniffed back tears as she slid into her chair
at the crowded table.
"Caitie? Is that you? Actually eating?" Her younger brother Robert joked. Caitie gave him a blank
stare. He returned his eyes back to his plate.
"Are you okay? You aren't looking so g-" Chris was interrupted with a sharp elbow in his rib. His
mother glared at him sternly. She pushed a plate of pink, juicey watermelon toward Caitie. With a
shakey hand, Caitie pulled it close to her.
There had to be a way that she wouldn't have to eat it. Something to get rid of it. Caitie's mind
recalled visiting the bathroom after lunch and hearing a girl throwing up in the stall next to her.
When the girl, Cynthia Wilson the head cheerleader appeared at the sink beside Caitie's she gave
her a weak smile and an explanation.
"I don't want to gain any weight. That chocolate I just had was too many calories." Cynthia flicked
her eyes to meet Caitie's for a moment.
"Oh." Caitie managed.
So maybe that was the way. To force herself to throw up. She'd seen it on T.V. It had to be a better
solution than having her family suspious.
Gingerly, she picked up a peice of fatty watermelon (hahaha Aricraze) and pushed it past her lips.
Choking back her gag reflexes, Caitie swollowed it quickly. The sugary taste lingered in her mouth and
she felt hungry for the first time. After eating enough to satisfy herself and her family, Caitie
excused herself and headed to the bathroom off of the room she shared with her sisters.
"It'll be easy." She whispered. Her voice was shaking. She didn't know what she was doing. Caitie
didn't know what she was getting herself into. But she'd eaten, and now she felt fat and heavy, like
she gained twenty pounds. The feeling had to stop.
With a shaky finger, Caitie reached into the back of her throat and immediately gagged. She ripped
her hand away and threw up into the toilet. It was disgusting and the revolting taste was in her
mouth. There had to be an easier way. She hated throwing up. It was gross and disgusted and made
her legs shake.
Caitie headed down the stairs to see her family dispatching in different directions. The destinations
floated up the steps to her ears. "Mall." "Friends. "Bed." "Shower." "Date." "Bathroom." "Walk."
So soon the living room was quiet. She was practically alone. With careful, yet determined steps,
she rounded her way through the dining room and into the kitchen. Caitie watched as if she was
in a slow motion movie. It was like she was watching someone else. Watching someone else ruin their
life.
The cabinet door squeaked quietly on its hinge. There, on the top shelf, partically (spelling) hidden
behind some aspirin was the laxatives. Caitie grasped the bottle and raced out of the room. There.
It was settled. No more throwing up.
Val smiled at Caitie across the table. Boy was she looking thin. 'Hmm.' Val thought. 'Maybe too
thin.' Jamie seemed to be noticing it too. He was studying her intently. But that wasn't unusual
since he was infatuated with Caitie. Val tried to convince herself that everything was okay with
her best friend. She was eating again, something she hadn't seen her do in weeks. Val saw Caitie
pull something out of her pocket and try to discretely slip it into her mouth. She swallowed before
Val could stop her.
"What was that?" Val said. Caitie snapped to attention and looked dazed.
"Huh?"
"What did you just swallow?" All eyes at the table turned to Caitie. she shrugged dismissively.
"A vitamin. Healthy, ya know." Caitie's eyes darted between Jamie and Val, who were both staring at
her with concerned expressions.
"Oh. Are you sure?" Val asked timidly.
"Yeah. I think I know what I'm putting in my mouth Val." Caitie's face was red and her eyesbrows
knitted together in the middle of her forehead. But then her face changed. "I need to use the
restroom." She rose from the table and was gone before anyone could ask what was wrong.
Two Weeks Later
Jamie smiled at Caitie. The two had gone to the park and were having a little picnic. And Caitie
was eating. She'd been doing that for a while now but she hadn't gained any weight. In fact, she
looked worse.
Caitie could feel eyes on her. She knew it was Jamie. She knew what he was thinking too. But it
didn't matter. Caitie knew she was looking better each day and soon she could stop. She could eat
again and not have to take laxatives to make sure she didn't gain any weight. Only there was a slight
problem. Caitie had ran out of laxatives. The box was empty. It had been for a week now. So unfortunately,
Caitie was back to the old finger down the throat. It was gross and unpleasant, but worth it. She
couldn't wait until her mother bought more. The pounds she could gain in that time was unthinkable.
So when her car got fixed and she able to find that ten dollar bill she had hidden away, Caitie
would buy another box. She would have to buy them herself. How do you explain to your mother you
used up all the laxatives?
Pretending Jamie wasn't staring, Caitie stuffed another piece of her sandwich into her mouth, defiantly.
Ha, she thought, so much for your suspisions about me not eating. Jamie looked away. He focused on
a man walking his dog, or more correct, a dog walking his man. Caitie rolled off the blanket.
"I need to use the ladie's room." She rose and stalked away in the presumed direction of the facilities.
Jamie nodded. It was one of those I'm not really listening to you nods. Caitie watched him over her
shoulder before disappearing around a group of trees a little off the path. Lunch was sitting heavy
in her stomache. She had to get rid of it.
Jamie dissmissively nodded. He had half heard Caitie's annoucment (spelling). What he found so
enthralling about the young couple arguing over the last piece of chicken was beyond him. But it
was something to watch, something to do. Caitie had been a little different lately. Alot different.
And he had no idea how to help. If there was anything to be helpful about. His brain strained to
convince him that nothing was wrong. But a quiet, desperate voice insisted there was.
Caitie's statement suddenly clicked in his brain. Bathrooms. He had seen a sign about them. On the
way in. Something about repairs and construction. It had said to use the restrooms at the opposite
end of the park. Caitie would probably be pissed when she had to walk all the way back here to find
out she had to walk across the park again. Not wanting to risk the complaints and heated comments
about the park, he jogged off in her direction.
And Caitie didn't hear him coming.
Where is she? Jamie thought. He should have seen her by now. But maybe he'd missed her. Which was
unlikely but something was telling him to turn back. Following instincts had been a tradition for
Jamie. He walked back the way he'd come, eyes searching the trees for that familiar ivory face
and silky black hair. The warm breeze caressed his skin. The shade was perfect for the hot day. It
was a perfect summer day. Nothing could ruin it. Or so he thought.
Caitie jammed her finger into her throat. It wasn't something she enjoyed doing. But the extra weight
had to be avoided. At all costs. No matter what. Her stomache cramped and the taste of bile filled
her mouth. Caitie didn't even flinch as her lunch spilled out in a oddly colored liquid form by
her feet.
It was the unmistakeable sound. The sound you recognize no matter what or when. Jamie ran faster.
Then he saw her. Or more like a glimpse of her. Her leopard print purple shirt peeked through some
over heated bushes. Jamie, in a blind rush, clawed his way through the brush until he was next to
her. Caitie was brushing her hair away from her face when Jamie appeared next to her. Panic and
terror filled her eyes for a moment. But tears quickly replaced it. Jamie was staring at her. Gawking
really.
"Caitie, what are you doing?"