Remi kept her promise to drive Greta to school, and within a few days she watched Greta recover her spirits and start to become her enthusiastic friend once again.
Now, each morning, the two girls ran side by side around the track, and both had increased their time and the number of laps. In her sloppy gym clothes, more suitable for a soccer star than a girl, Greta’s changes were difficult to assess but they were there.
Remi noticed those same garments now hung on Greta’s frame, whereas at the beginning they were definitely snug. Mostly, the changes showed up in the teen’s face; she no longer had puffy cheeks and bloated features. Healthy, with sun, good food and exercise doing their part, her friend was coming into her own.
No longer lank and unwashed, her shorter hair took on a life of its own. Clean and shiny, layered to frame her face just like the photo that Remi had pointed out at the salon she’d taken her to, a person could see the effort Greta had made to look cool. In fact, she’d applied bright spray-on red and blue streaks which the hairdresser had shown her how to do, and had even learned how to braid tiny beads and feathers into the sides to add more fun.
Today, for the first time, she’d worn the new jeans they’d bought last weekend and they were kind of big. Not sloppy but roomy. Goodness. The weight was falling off the teen at a ridiculously fast rate.
A thought slammed into Remi with the force of an insult. And after worrying about it all night, she followed through with her inquiries the next morning at the track.
While they were warming up for their run, she faced Greta with the question that had been haunting her. “Greta, are you eating?”
Eyes open wide, about as innocent as a habitual kleptomaniac with stolen goods in her pocket, Greta nodded. “Sure, Remi. When I’m hungry, I eat.”
Remi heard her words and knew instinctively they were lies. “You’re not eating!”
Fear filled Greta’s eyes at the tone of dismay Remi hadn’t tried to hide. “Of course I do. Remi, don’t look at me like that. Please. Don’t be cross. I’m just not as hungry anymore.”
Remi pulled the girl over to the stand and made her sit. Then she planted her hands on her hips and took up a stance in front of her. “When did this foolishness start? And don’t even try to lie to me again.”
Sullen now, Greta refused to answer. She hung her head but there was still attitude, and Remi saw it immediately. “Okay, the deal was we would start a new health plan, right? Health plan. Not by being bulimic or anorexic, but by setting goals and achieving them in a smart way. To stop eating isn’t smart. It’s stupid, dangerous and unhealthy. You want to play those games, you do it alone. I won’t have any part of you making irresponsible choices like those.”
Greta flinched and then returned fire. “You don’t own me, Remi. I just wanted the weight to come off faster. I need to show that Cassie Edwards she’s not the only person who can wear a size eight.” Screaming, her words full of bitterness, Greta wasn’t the same sad, uncared for person from the beginning of their journey. This girl, so full of righteous anger and venom, scared Remi, and made her wonder where she had gone wrong.
“So by harming yourself, and don’t think you aren’t doing damage to your body with this asinine decision, you think you’re showing her? All you’re doing is starting down a road that’s not one I’m willing to share with you. If you don’t promise me right now that you will behave, not only will I stop seeing you, but I will go to your parents and let them know what you’ve begun doing. I’m not playing with you, Greta. I mean what I say.”
“Oh, you’re so perfect, aren’t you? You know everything. Well, you don’t see the smirks or have to suffer the pushes and pinches she likes to give me when no one is looking. Or the insults she shares in her loud, stupid voice so everyone laughs. I’m the one she takes stuff from and throws in the rubbish. And—”
“And you’re the one who lets her do all of those things, aren’t you? When you could have made a complaint, you refused. Never once have I heard about how you put a stop to her nonsense. Only how poor-little-me has to suffer. Well, wake up, kiddo, welcome to the real world. You don’t have to take it! And you certainly don’t have to make yourself sick over the bitch.”
Greta surged to her feet, fury and tears fighting for prominence in her glowing eyes and red face. “It’s so easy for you to give advice. So damn easy! Try living it in today’s world!” Hands fisted at her sides, Greta stomped her feet, broke into a run and was gone.
Knowing she couldn’t follow her or back down from the stance she’d taken, Remi made her own way back to the building. Heavy with guilt and fear, her mind darted from one thought to another, trying to find an answer.