Chapter 18

Nick POV

"I can't believe we did that," Sophie spoke breathlessly, jumping out of the car with a new found energy. Nothing like what she was like in the hospital.

"You're so different now that we're not in the hospital," I smile locking the car as everyone got out.

"I know, I haven't left that darn hospital in weeks" she bounced up and down spinning enthusiastically, taking deep breaths of air. We all laughed walking over to the restaurants.

"So, where shall we eat?" Adien asked looking from side to side as if asking the hardest question ever.

"I'm too hungry to care! Whatever you guys want I guess" I replied stuffing the keys in my pocket, my stomach rumbling furiously. "It's up to you Sophie"

"I want to go to Messy Burger! If that's okay with you guys" Sophie grins clasping her hands together in the cutest way.

"Great!" we choir walking over, I can feel my body weakening with hunger. We reach the door and a waiter comes forward.

"Would you like a table?" the waiter asked politely.

"No, the floor for 3 please," I say sarcastically making everyone including the waiter laugh.

"Right this way," he leads us to a table. "A waiter will be here any moment to ask for your orders, meanwhile here is the menu have a good look through"

We thank him and look at the menu indecisively, everything looks and sound delicious.

"That's it, I'm going to have to get everything" I huff frustrated at my own indecisiveness. My stomach groans again just as a waiter walks past.

"What the hell was that?" she asked looking directly at me, confused.

"It seems to be emanating from his stomach" Adien answered laughing with Sophie.

"I think I'll have to serve you now before that horrifying noise gets any louder" She laughed flipping her dyed grey-blue hair. Giving me a seductive grin. At the corner of my eyes, I see Adien notice and frown.

"So, what do you guys want?"

She looked directly at me taking no notice of Adien or Sophie. She flipped her silky hair grinning down at me with big brown eyes. I smile back nervously feeling uncomfortable under her constant glaze.

I look at Adien for help, seeing my distress only pleasures him. He smiles wickedly watching me with an undeniable satisfaction.

"I'll have a...burger with barbeque chicken, medium fries and a large Fanta please" Adien voiced happily enjoying seeing me shrivel.

"I'll have the same as Adien" Sophie whispered hiding behind her curtain of ginger hair.

"And you...?" The waiter asked, resting her arm gingerly on my shoulder as if we were friends. I shrink further into my seat

"I'll also have the same but with large fries and a large Coke. Also chicken and waffles too!"

"So 3 barbecue fried chicken burgers, 2 medium and 1 large bag of fries, 2 medium Fanta and 1 large Coke and Chicken and waffles. Is that all?" she asked smiling. We all nod willing her to leave with our meals. "I'm Chelsea, by the way"

As soon as she leaves Adien and Sophie burst into fits of laughter. Leaving me scowling at them.

"Shut up," I spit half jokingly half serious. After what seems like forever but was actually 30 seconds they stop laughing. "I hate you guys so much!"

"We know" Adien giggled sliding further into his seat, looking relaxed. "Sophie, are you okay?" I switch my attention to Sophie, not knowing that I was staring intensely at Adien. Sophie looks at her hands shaking slightly she starts shivering but it's surely over 30 degrees.

Adien slips his arm around Sophie hugging her, a pang of jealously soars through me.

"I'm so scared, I haven't eaten anything but fruit and vegetables in months. What if I gain weight? Eating that much is going too fast for me, I've only just come off tube feeding a few weeks ago!" she muttered rapidly a few stray tears leaking from her big blue eyes.

"I know exactly what you mean, I had an eating disorder once" Adien desperately tries to soothe her, I stare at him trying to hide my shock. He never told me... "Just remember you don't have to punish yourself for gaining weight. You'll realise that weight is just a number, it doesn't define you. Take you’re time even a mouthful is a victory”

We sit in silence for a while Adien wrapping his arms protectively around Sophie as if she was a child he was defending from the horrors of the world.

We talk and laugh, glazing expectantly at every plate that goes past us, only to be disappointed as it goes to the tables around out.

Chelsea comes back holding our food about 20 minutes later. I lick my lips greedily getting a giggle from Sophie and Chelsea, Adien only shaking his head with disapproval.

"Here you go my lovelies," Chelsea glowered placing our food on the table in front of us.

"Thank you!" we all choir. The foods heavenly smell waffles upwards. I don't think I can't resist the temptation anymore. Hospital food is terrible.

"You're all welcome," Chelsea spoke, I didn't even realize she was still standing there. She turns around sashaying her way out of the room.

"You can do it, Sophie. Just take a great big bite, like what Nick is doing except a little smaller because at his pace you might choke," Adien jokes making Sophie laugh. "We'll take it one step at a time together."

Sophie scopes the burger with her shaking hands. It's obvious that she is nervous, too big of a push might make her ill again.

She breathes out biting the burger with somewhat reluctance. Her eyes widen as she chews like she's found a profound light in the world that had not been there before.

"It's delicious" she mutters grinning maniacally. But she places the burger down, not quite ready to feast on it like I am mine.

"Well done, you did it!" Adien smiles, I look at him and watch him eat. He barely knows this girl and he's already helped her get over her worst fear, he's making her do things she thought she might never be able to go again. I look at him with the same affection I look at food. I don't want to eat him but...I don't know how I can live without him now. He has a heart made of gold, he deserves better. So much better.

We resume talking, telling each other stories and laughing maybe a bit too loud. The old man in the corner can't possibly glare at us any harder.

"Are you guys together?" Sophie asks casually, slowly eating her chips one by one. I choke on my drink. I splutter and cough viciously feeling someone behind me thump my back. If I hadn't been so shocked at the question I might have been embarrassed at the scene I just made. I should have taken performing arts.

"Thank you," I say after regaining my breath, I turn around to the concerned looking middle-aged man who had been hitting my back. He nods turning back his wife. I look at Sophie dumbfounded, I have no doubt coke was dripping from my mouth and I was beetroot red.

"Are you guys dating yes or no?" she asks impatiently, rolling her eyes as if it's the easiest question to answer. I immediately tense I can see Adien tensing up as well.

"No, we're not dating!" I whisper slightly harshly. Shocking both Adien and Sophie. I soften my voice before adding "We're just friends... Best friends,"

"Gay? bisexual? or anything in between?" she spoke nonchalantly. Stirring her sauce with a chip. Sometimes I forget we are part of the Millennial/Gen Z era where sexuality so so casually discussed.

"Well I don't know about Adien but I'm not Gay. I'm as straight as a ruler," I reply with a humorless laugh, going back to my burger which was almost finished.

"Adien?"

"No, I'm not gay" he whispered miserably. I can instantly tell something's wrong. I change the subject quickly and it doesn't take long before we are all back to our fun, upbeat conversation. But I'm suddenly not sure if either of us told the truth.

"I'm so full" Adien whines rubbing his barley lifted stomach. I roll my eyes and slid further into the seat. That chicken and waffles was lethally good.

"I don't want to move for a long while" I swing my arms behind my head resting.

"I don't think I have a choice, I can't physically move" Sophie sighs her eyes fluttering sleepily.

"Sophie you've only eaten 1/4 of your burger and a few chips," I groan wanting to eat it for her but my body resisted. Do you think if I ask for a doggy bag, Sophie will let me eat her burger later?

"Hey! This is great for me," she laughs throwing a stray chip at my face. I catch it in my mouth triumphant.

"I am victorious," I shout raising my arms in the air and flexing. Adien rolls his eyes.

"Shit! Guys our parent are going to be so pissed. We've been out here for almost 3 hours" Sophie exclaims ushering a waiter to get our bill. Unfortunately, it's Chelsea, paying the bill is a process which takes seconds but with Chelsea it takes minutes. And not the good kind.

"Thank you for coming. Please come again" Chelsea smiled, we bid our goodbyes as she grabs my arm turning me to face her. Before handing me a piece of paper and whispering 'Call me' into my ear.

Now if you've known me long enough you'd know I hate it when people whisper in my ear so that was a very unpleasant experience.

I walk...speed walk out as quickly as I can. As soon as we get out Adien and Sophie yet again burst out laughing, it takes them a disrespectful long time to to stop.

Eventually, when they do they're wiping tears from their faces.

I really do hate these sons a bitches.