Chapter 25

Caitlin was sitting in the waiting room of the ER, watching Mr. and Mrs. Cohen talk to the doctor that came out. They were too far away for her to hear what they were saying. She knew one thing though, she couldn't keep Elena's secret. No matter how mad she may get, she couldn't keep this to herself. She stood up from her soft cushioned seat, and ventured towards Sandy, Kirsten and the doctor.

She approached just as the doctor was about to turn away, but she caught him just in time. "Um, excuse me? Doctor?" She spoke up softly. The young doctor, maybe in about is early 30's turned back around with a welcoming smile.

The smile was her cue to start speaking. "I'm not sure if you know exactly why Elena passed out, but I think I do."

Kirsten and Sandy along with the doctor were intrigued with what the little girl had to say.

Caitlin took a deep breath before she continued. "At the restaurant...when I went to the bathroom after Elena; I caught her throwing up. She hasn't really been eating and when she does I noticed she'd go to the bathroom."

Kirsten and Sandy's hearts shattered. Their poor little girl.

The doctor gave Caitlin a small smile of appreciation. "Thank you for telling me. That was very important to know." He turned to Kirsten and Sandy. "I will check on Elena in a bit." He gave a friendly smile as he turned and walked away.

Kirsten sniffled as she wiped her tears. "Wh-do you know why she would do something like this?"

Caitlin looked down at her feet. "I-I think it's because Jenny Ward has been bullying her at school, and whenever we see here in public." She sniffled and looked up at them. "Is she going to hate me because I told you?"

"Oh honey," Kirsten exhaled softly and wrapped her in a hug. 'Of course not." She kissed the top of her head. "She is lucky to have you as a best friend sweetie."

Caitlin wrapped her arms around Kirsten, just feeling so sad. "Thank you Mrs. Cohen."

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Trey was beside himself. His baby sister has an eating disorder. She just turned ten years old that day. He hated that he wasn't there to protect her, or help her. That's when the anger sunk in. He stood up and stalked towards Ryan.

"Hey man-" Ryan said; looking as exhausted as he possibly could.

"Where were you Ryan?" He spat out as he towered over his little brother.

"What? What do you-" Trey cut him off immediately.

"You were supposed to protect her from things like this! Where were you?!" Trey felt tears stinging behind his eyes. He didn't really blame Ryan, it's just where his anger was taking him. He didn't blame anyone but the girl who made Elena feel like she had to do that to herself.

Ryan shot up from his seat next to Taylor. "Excuse me? Are you seriously blaming this on me? You know I would give my life to protect that little girl!" Ryan and Trey were now standing about an inch apart from each other's faces. Seth was trying to pull the boys away from each other; but the boys weren't budging.

That's before Sandy spotted the confrontation and decided to take it upon himself to put a stop to it.

"Boys, you need to calm down and take a breather." He said firmly but gently. "Trey you know, that no one could have predicted this would have happened. If we did, we would have done everything to get her help. But now that we know what's going on, we will get her that help. And arguing in the middle of the hospital will not help the situation. Do I make myself clear?"

Ryan's eyes wandered to the floor, away from his brother but nodded his head. "Yes, yes dad." He responded softly.

Trey nodded his head quickly, feeling the tears threaten to spill over. "Yeah uh-I'm sorry Ry...I just...I need a minute." He wiped his eyes and turned around, heading out the door of the hospital.

Ryan was about to go after him, but he felt Sandy's hand on his shoulder. "He just needs some time to think son. He didn't mean what he said."

"Yeah...I know. It's just, he's right. How come I didn't catch this sooner?" Ryan was broken. His little sister was hurting, sure they suspected something a couple days ago, but they were waiting to say something...why?

Before Sandy was able to answer him, Kirsten came over to them with a relieved smile on her face. "Elena is awake. Two people can go in at a time." She smiled looking between the two men.

"You go in with mom Ry," Sandy suggested but Ryan just shook his head. "No um, I want to go find Trey. Make sure he's not going to do anything stupid. Please tell Elena I will be back and see her as soon as possible. And please don't tell her Trey left. She will think he is mad at her."

Kirsten nodded with a concerned look on her face. "Give us a call if you can't find him sweetheart okay?"

"Of course. Love you guys." He gave them a hug and he went to Taylor to let her know what he was doing. Taylor had decided to go with him so the two left together.

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Kirsten and Sand walked to Elena's room, giving a light knock on the door they walked in. Elena just looked so small in the bed.

"Hi baby girl." Sandy said as they walked to her bedside.

Elena couldn't even find the words; tears just poured from her eyes. "I'm so sorry!" She cried.

"Oh baby girl." Kirsten whispered sitting on the edge of the bed. All she wanted to do was pick her up and cradle her in her arms. "Why would you do something like that to yourself? You're beautiful just the way you are." She took her hand in hers.

"Yes sweetheart, if someone was bullying you; you should have told someone." Sandy took a seat on the other side of the bed. "We could have helped you." He wiped her tears away with the pad of his thumb.

"I-I didn't want to make it worse! She-she is just so mean!" Elena just continued to sob. Her breaths beginning to be hard to control.

'Baby, baby girl, breath. Just breath." Kirsten tried to sooth. A nurse had walked in to check on her.

Her vitals were starting to rise rapidly as she was starting to hyperventilate. The nurse pulled out a sedative and inserted it into her IV. "What is that?" Sandy questioned in a rushed voice.

"It's a sedative; we don't want her to get all worked up. She just needs to rest." The nurse explained with a gently look on her face. "We will be keeping her for a couple days, so we are going to be moving her to a room when there is one available."

Kirsten whose tears just couldn't be stopped just nodded and held onto Sandy.

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Ryan and Taylor have been driving around for at least a twenty minutes, trying to find Trey, but nothing. Ryan had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach and he turned around and headed to the nearest bar. Once there he parked the car and got out. "Stay here Taylor, please." Taylor just nodded.

Ryan walked in and before he was able to walk any further, an employee stopped him. "Can I see some ID?"

"Um, I'm looking for my brother." Trey then caught his eyes; he was sitting at the bar across the room, with his head in his hands. "He's right there. Please just let me get him." Ryan looked at the employee with his piercing blue eyes and made her cave. "Okay you get your brother then get out, you here? I could lose my job for letting a minor in here."

"Thank you."He said and sped over to Trey.

Trey was sitting there, staring intentily at the full shot glass in front of him. "Trey...don't do it." Drinking never agreed with Trey and being sober for so long; Ryan didn't want him to fall back in his old ways. They just got him back.

"We just got you back Trey. The real you. Please. Elena needs you. I…I need you Trey." Ryan fought back the tears he has been fighting off for so long.

Trey just turned his head to look at Ryan; his blue eyes also full of tears. You saw how much he was struggling. He wanted to take a drink so bad. He wanted the pain of Elena being in the hospital to go away. But he knew he couldn't do it. He stood up and placed a five dollar bill on the bar for the drink he didn't consume. Without any words he turned to Ryan and the two of the headed out of the bar.

A/N: Okay I know it has been FOREVER since I had updated! I have health issues that are ongoing so sometimes it is hard to get the time to write a chapter! OR as in with this chapter I had serious writer's block! It may take me awhile to update this story but I am NOT giving up on it! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I'd like to see at least 5 reviews for it! ^_^ please! Thank you!