15 months before Macey joined Gallagher Academy for Exceptionally Young women:
"I just need the masses to believe it please Brooke," Macey sighed over the phone on her fourth phone call.
She eased herself onto her bed as another wave of nausea settled in.
"Your the best Lily, thanks again for making this happen," She flipped the burner phone shut after her 7th call and looked down at her to do list.
To do:
- call Brain with Pines Academy private school
- Photo shoot with Mel
- Brooke at New York Times
- get María contact info from Alejandro
- The Washington post, talk to Hannah for the tabloids
- Henry, have him clear plenty of cash
- Finally escape this morbid unforgiving place (plane leaves Feb 10th)
Her head swam again and she laid herself all the way against the bed taking a deep breath. It was well after 11am and she hadn't eaten. She started her day at 7 with the calls.
I gotta get some food in my stomach...
The phones trill snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Did you get it all taken care of on your end?" She inquired not waiting for pleasantries.
"Yes Em. Plane is coordinated, I leave for 'early equestrian camp' Feb 10th at 4:30 in the morning."
"Your dad bought that?" Macey sounded incredulous.
She heard his grin behind the phone "my dad doesn't even know whats he's signing off on all these papers. He knows I'm leaving and will be back in late August."
"Your dad?" He asked after some silence. That is precisely where her mind had wondered off too.
"I told them I need to go to a mental health facility. That I'm not okay. I want the best of the best and I talked to Lily in Norway. She offered to cover for me." It was all a lie, Maceys whole life was drowning in lie after lie right now. The only person who knew the truth was on the other side of this phone.
Her head and stomach connected, acid lurching around and the butterflies returning before he could respond she interrupted, "I will see you Saturday I gotten find something to eat." She flipped the phone shut faintly hearing a love you on the other end.
She knew if she waited any longer she would be dry heaving, she rummaged in her nightstand and found a pack of crackers from almost three months ago. I thought the nausea was supposed to end, make it go away.
Six crackers in and some apple juice from the night before seemed to do the trick. Her tense body relaxed against the soft pillows finally and her breathing as well.
The butterflies were now prominent, her hand splayed under her shirt over the small bump beginning to form. "I am going to get you somewhere safe." She promised the little bump.