Things didn't get much better during dinner. Cyril and Cedric were talking about one of Cyril's latest business ventures, so that gave Sophia a moment to hide the fact that she wasn't eating. She moved the food around on her plate, so it looked like she was eating it, but when Cedric wasn't looking, she'd take her fork and move it under the table, so Snag could eat it. Cyril didn't pay much attention, but Cedric noticed that Sophia was doing more playing with her food than eating it.

"Sophia, aren't you hungry?" he asked.

"Not really," Sophia said. She stood up from the table. "I think I'll get some more practice time in. See you later."

And with that, Sophia left. Cedric stared after her. He was starting to get worried about her.

The next day, Cedric went to the Evergreen Standard and talked to Melissa and Schafer about Sophia.

"All she ever does is practice," he said. "And she's not eating much, either. She says she needs to go on a diet."

"Sophia on a diet?" Schafer asked. "She doesn't need to lose weight."

"I keep telling her that, but she won't believe me," Cedric said. "I don't know what to do."

"She's working too hard to win this competition," Melissa said. "She should take a break."

"And she should go off this diet of hers," Schafer replied. "Especially if she's not eating."

"Don't worry, Cedric. We'll help you out."

"Thanks, guys," Cedric said, gratefully.

Melissa and Schafer went directly to Evergreen Lake. Sophia was working on her routine, skating up a storm. Schafer noticed right away that she looked thinner.

"Sophia!" he called. "Can you come here for a minute?"

"What is it?" Sophia asked, skating over. "I really need to practice my swan glides."

"You've been working too hard for this competition," Melissa said. "You need to take a break."

"I'm fine," Sophia said. "I'm not working too hard! I'm just practicing! I need something that will set me apart from all the other contestants!"

"We're just afraid you might be overdoing it," Schafer said.

"Well, I am not overdoing it!" Sophia snapped. "What would you know anyway? You're just a dog, Schafer!"

Schafer was a little stunned. Sophia had never snapped at anyone before! Melissa was a little surprised herself.

"Sophia!" she shouted.

"I'm sorry," Sophia apologized. "I've been a little stressed over this contest. But you guys shouldn't worry about me. I'm fine."

"Then come on and take a break with us," Melissa said.

Sophia gave in, and took off her skates. Then she, Melissa, and Schafer went into town for some burgers and fries. At least that's what Schafer and Melissa had ordered. Sophia just got some fries and a diet soda. Melissa didn't really pay it much attention, but Schafer did.

"Why are you so intent on winning this contest, Sophia?" Schafer asked. "You can't possibly want to win the million dollar movie contract. That's not like you."

"I know," Sophia said. "But I don't want to win for myself. Mr. Sneer really wants me to win it. I know he's just interested in the million dollar part, but maybe, just maybe if I win the contest, he may start to actually like me."

"I doubt it," Melissa said. "I don't think Cyril Sneer is ever going to like you, Sophia. He doesn't think you're good enough for Cedric. He just thinks you're nothing but a social climber."

Sophia shrugged, and picked up a french fry. She broke it in half, and just sort of held it there. Melissa didn't notice. Schafer did, but he didn't say anything. Sophia was hiding the fact that she wasn't eating by simply playing around with her food.

After that, Sophia went back to the lake to practice. Schafer went to Sneer mansion to tell Cedric what he had seen.

"You were right, Cedric," he said. "Sophia is definitely not eating."

"I was afraid of this," Cedric said with a sigh. "What should we do about it?"

"I think the best thing to do is to come right out and tell her that we know what she's doing."

Cedric agreed. He and Schafer knew exactly where to find Sophia at that time of day: at the lake practicing her routine. Sure enough, there she was, working on her routine.

"Sophia, hold it a minute," Cedric said. "We have to talk to you."

"What's the matter?" Sophia asked, skating over to Cedric and Schafer.

"It's this diet of yours, Sophia," Schafer said. "And all this practicing you're doing."

"What about it?" Sophia asked.

"You don't need to put yourself through this," Cedric said. "We know you're not eating, and you're just pretending to. You've got to stop this diet of yours. You don't need to go on one, anyway, and the way it's going . . . . . well, this diet you're on can only lead to anorexia."

"Are you implying that I'm anorexic?!" Sophia shouted.

"Well, not yet," Cedric said. "But you're heading there."

"Cedric, how could you!" Sophia shouted, and she gave Cedric a good, hard slap in the face.

"Ow!" Cedric shouted. He had no idea Sophia could hit so hard! And it was so unlike her, too.

"Cedric's just worried about you, Sophia," Schafer said. "I am, too. You're working yourself too hard. You've got to stop. You've got to drop out of this competition."

"If I drop out, Mr. Sneer will be furious," Sophia said. "And Carrie Anne Snodgress will think I'm chickening out. No. I have to go through with it. I have to win this contest!"

"Winning a contest is not worth throwing your health away, Sophia!" Cedric shouted. "You've got to get some help. You've got a problem, and this diet will go out of control of you don't get off it now."

"I don't have a problem!" Sophia protested. "Lots of people go on diets when they need to lose weight or get in shape for something! And that's just what I'm doing!"

"No you're not," Schafer said. "This is turning into a problem, Sophia. Please, try and get some help."

"Why don't the two of you just mind your own business?!" Sophia snapped. She turned, and then skated away from Cedric and Schafer. She had nothing more to say to them.

Schafer and Cedric were a bit speechless, themselves. They looked at each other, not really knowing what to do or say.

That night during dinner, both Cedric and Sophia were picking at their meals. Sophia was sort of rearranging her food on her plate, so it looked like she was eating, and Cedric was too worried about her to even think of eating himself. That, and Sophia wasn't speaking to Cedric. She was still angry with him.

"The contest is in a couple of weeks," Lloyd said.

"A couple of weeks until we meet Dorothy Ham," Boyd sighed, dreamily.

"Is that act of yours coming together, Sofa Girl?" Cyril asked. "I want to really impress the judges with it."

"It's coming along," Sophia said, with a nod. "I think I'm ready for it."

"Good," Cyril said. "Just be sure you win it!"

"Pop, how can you tell her that?" Cedric asked. "Winning isn't everything, you know. I think you're working Sophia too hard."

"Winning is everything when a million dollar contract is on the line, Cedric!" Cyril shouted. "And you've got to work them hard when you want them to win!"

Cedric sighed. He didn't like where this conversation was going, so he kept quiet about it. After dinner, Sophia went out to Evergreen Lake to continue practicing her routine. Cedric had to put Forest to bed, like he had been doing since he heard about the contest. Forest whimpered a little when Cedric put him in his crib.

"What's the matter, Forest?" Cedric asked, stroking Forest's ears, like Sophia did when Forest was upset. "Do you miss Mommy? Yeah, I miss her, too."

Cedric pulled Forest out of the crib, sat down in the rocking chair, and began rocking the baby back and forth. He sighed, and ran his fingers along Forest's ears.

"I'll be glad when this skating contest is over," he said, holding Forest close. "Then maybe things will go back to normal around here."

Forest began to cry. He didn't understand much of what was happening lately, but he didn't like it. He never saw his mommy anymore, and he could sense that his daddy was worried about something, and he didn't like it. Cedric knew what was making Forest upset, but unfortunately, he couldn't do much about it. So he just sat in the rocking chair with him, and just rocked Forest back and forth.

"It'll be okay, Forest," he said. "I'm sure of it."

But deep down, Cedric really wasn't all that sure that everything would be okay, at all.