Two days later…
Penelope's POV
Ian called me. He asked me on a date and I accepted. We went out to dinner, my choice. He picked me up at my house.
Ian's POV
I ate my dinner faster than she did.
"I need to go to the bathroom," I lied.
"Okay," She said.
I ran to the bathroom and silently threw up in the stall. I flushed it down. Why am I doing this? I don't know. However, I also felt like complete worn out afterwards. I took a deep breath, rinsed my mouth out in the sink, and went back to our table.
"Ready to leave?" I asked.
"Yeah," She said.
"I'll pay," I said.
She nodded. I paid for dinner and drove her home. She kissed me after I dropped her off. I held my breath and hoped she didn't smell the vomit.
"Umm…I'll call you, Ian," She said.
I smiled.
"Bye," I said.
The next day…
Penelope called me while I was editing a 'Lunchtime With Smosh' episode with Anthony. I answered.
"Hey Ian," She said, "You busy?"
"Just editing," I said, "Um…what did you want?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to go on another date."
"Sure," I said, "I'm free this Saturday," I said.
"Okay."
"Three thirty?"
"Yeah," She said, "See you then. Bye Ian."
"Bye Penelope."
I hung up.
"So…" Anthony trailed.
"This Saturday," I said, "Three thirty."
"Nice," He said.
I continued editing.
"Are you still throwing up, Ian?" He asked.
"No," I said.
"You're lying," He said.
"You can just read me like a book, can't you?!"
"Yes," He said, "And I wish you would stop."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
I shook my head.
"I tried," I said, "I really did."
"Ian…when you were in the hospital, I felt like it was all my fault," He said.
"It wasn't," I said, "It really has nothing to do with you."
"Is it really JUST the internet comments?"
I shook my head.
"No," I told him, "It's a whole combination of things. When I broke up with my girlfriend, I felt like shit. You remember that."
He nodded.
Anthony's POV
"What I never told you was that I cried myself to sleep almost every night," He said, "You and Smosh were the only things keeping me going."
I put my arm around his shoulder
"Of course, the comments didn't help much, either," He continued, "I started comparing myself to you, and everyone else, and realized..."
I never realized Ian's breakup affected him so much. He never told me.
"So you decided to keep this from me because…?"
"Well Anthony, I honestly thought you wouldn't care," He said.
That hurt me.
"Why would you think that?" I asked.
"I don't know," He said, "I didn't think anyone cared."
"We've been friends since forever," I said, "You're…like a brother to me."
Saturday…
Penelope's POV
Ian came over to my house since I didn't feel good.
"Ian?" I asked.
He looked at me.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah," He said.
He grabbed my hand gently and held it. I noticed him staring at my arm, and I pulled my hand away.
Ian's POV
I noticed the marks on her arm before she pulled away. I sighed.
"Can you keep a secret?" I asked.
"Yeah," She whispered.
"I have an eating problem," I said, "I…throw up everything I eat."
She held out her arms and showed me the few cuts. I held her hands.
"Are those new?" I asked.
"Kind of," She said, "You're not alone, Ian."
"You know, that stuff's dangerous," I said.
"So is throwing up," She said lightly.
I hung my head. She hugged me.
"Ian, what's wrong?" She asked, "Why are you doing this?"
I told her what happened in the past few weeks.
"You think YOU'RE ugly?!" She said.
"You're beautiful," I said honestly.
She blushed. I kissed her.
"I'm glad I gave you my number," She said.
I smiled. She cuddled with me on the couch. She told me about her ex.
"I dated him for about two years," She said, "He was…kind of the reason I started cutting."
"He hurt you?"
"He beat me up," She said, "All the time."
"I'll never hurt you," I said.
Penelope's POV
I woke up in Ian's arms. He's so cute when he's sleeping. I decided not to wake him up, and slipped past him and went to the kitchen. I chopped up some strawberries and put them in a bowl. When I got back to the living room, Ian was awake. I handed him the bowl.
"I can't force you to eat," I said.
"Thanks," He said.
He took a piece of strawberry and ate it.
"I'll try to help you," I said.
"Penelope…will you…be my girlfriend?"
"I'd love to," I said.
He kissed my hand.
"I'll treat you better than that asshole," He said.
I smiled.