70

My eating disorder was also treated at the rehabilitation center where I went. Despite this, I still find it extremely difficult to eat anything high in calories.

"Ding Dong," I heard the doorbell as I was about to return to my room.

I sighed and went to the door, signaling one of the many workers who were about to go there to leave it open for me. I went to the door after she had returned.

The first thing Frederick said when I opened the door was, "Hey Amanda." I was both surprised and unsurprised all at the same time. He was dressed casually today, and he looked great in it. Actually, this was the first time I'd seen him outside of his school uniform. Except for the time when our parents planned a dinner outing for us.

"What exactly do you want?" I asked in a hushed tone, opening the door wider for him to enter.

He spoke after entering and closing the door.

"Wow, someone is looking forward to seeing me," he teased. It was great to see him back to his sarcastic self.

"I wasn't expecting you and all," I shrugged.

He smirked at me, "I told you I'd see you today, didn't I?" He asked.

My face was creased with a frown "You did, indeed. But I assumed you simply forgot today was a weekend."

"Nope "I was well aware," he said with a grin, "now go get dressed." We're on our way somewhere "He finished his sentence with the same grin on his face.

"And why do you think I'd go anywhere with you?" I asked, giving him a funny look and placing both my hands on my waist.

He kept his grin, which grew into a full-on display smirk: "Because if you don't, I'll personally carry you and dress you."

You are playing a game of bluff. "

"Do you really believe that? Okay, then give me a shot and try me on this one." He crossed his arms as if to say, "Game on!" He appeared to be very determined, from what I could tell. I could tell he was faking the 'changing me' thing. But I didn't want to be alone at home on the weekend for once. So I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't lose anything by accepting his offer.

I exhaled a sigh. "You have won. I'll be done in about 10 minutes. You are welcome to wait in the living room "I quickly said this and went upstairs to change.

When I finally got downstairs, I saw Frederick watching SpongeBob in the parlor. This made me smile.

"So you like the yellow sponge as well?" Frederick turned towards me when he heard my voice.

As he stared at me, a dazed expression crossed his face before it vanished.

"Who doesn't?" he smirked.

"Great answer," I said with a smirk on my face.

He chuckled and asked if I was prepared. I replied positively, and we proceeded to his car. This time it was a different car; I believe it was a white Maserati. How many cars does this kid own?

I asked when we got in the car and started moving.

"How is your mother?" I asked.

Before responding, he gave me a heartfelt smile as he drove. "Mrs. Zikora is doing well. Thank you for your inquiry."

"Who is Mrs. Zikora?" I asked, frowning slightly.

"Wait, you're telling me you don't know my surname is Zikora?" he asked, perplexed. Oh, that was his given surname....

"No?" I said with a cheeky-nervous grin.

He burst out laughing at this. "Chai. Are you certain we attend the same school?" 

"Of course, na," I grumbled.

"Because my full name is probably known by the entire student body at school. And you, for some reason, don't." He was perplexed, but he smiled with wonder. He wasn't bragging or anything; he was simply stating the facts.

He did have a point, I mean, probably the entire Qatass academy knows his first, middle, and last name. But I honestly couldn't have cared less about such trivial matters in the past. I'm sure I've heard it before, but it could have slipped my mind.

Shrugging with a sly smile I said "I guess I'm just that special"

He easily agreed to what I said, with a smile of his own "You certainly are"

Still with a stupid giddy smile on my face I then asked, trying to change the conversation.

"By the way, where are we going?"

"You can't know until we reach there" I gave him the stink eye.

He spoke again after a few minutes with a nervous half smile.

"But just to warn you, you might not be too happy about where we are going"

"Frederick" I said in a low yet deadly tone.

"Yes?" The grinning idiot beside me responded.

"I'm soo going to kill you" I growled out in frustration.

He waved his hands dismissively smirking "Promises, promises"

"Oh trust me I plan to keep those 'promises' you speak of" I huffed out in annoyance.

"Aw come on. Don't be angry na" He said with a pout. And dare I say he actually looked hella cute doing that.

I clinched my teeth together, his words aggravating me the more "Don't be angry!?" I whisper yelled. "You took me to a friggin' park"

"Yeah I don't see anything wrong in what I did" he said.

I scoffed glaring at him "Of course there is nothing wrong. Only that you didn't bring it to my attention that we were meeting your friends also!" I looked to the direction where his friends were. The four of them were laughing among themselves. Each sitting down on their individual chairs under a small fancy open hut. They didn't see us though. As we were standing a little bit far from where they were.

"Well I did tell you that you won't be too happy about were I was taking you didn't I?. That at least has to count as something right?" A cheeky smile planted itself on his face. My glare intensified.

Yet again I sighed "You're insufferable this boy"

"Nonsense, I'm sure you love me"

I only responded to him with a glare "Ok, ok. Look I'm sorry I didn't tell you. But if I had told you, would you have come with me?" He tired to reason.

I looked the other way and muttered "No"

"Exactly. I had to get you out of your house, one way or the other. Staying in the confinement of your home isn't exactly what you'd call healthy" He spoke in a calm tone.

"But you of all people know I'm not great with people" I mumbled, but was seeing where he was coming from.

"Of course Amanda. But remember you said, you'll start trying?" Great using my own words against me. Freaking fantastic.

I groaned out "Fineeee"

"But just so you know, I don't want to stay for too long. 10 minutes tops" I said with finality.

"Thirty" He said.

"Fifteen" I frowned.

"Come on! Twenty five, at least" I wasn't going to bludge.

"Fifteen is all you get, bruh" I shrugged.

I then spotted a bemused smile on his face "Bruh? Really?"

I chuckled out a little "So fifteen minutes?"

""Fine, you win," he grumbled, "fifteen minutes." Can we go now? They are all eager to meet you "Frederick grabbed my hand and began walking, dragging me along with him, before I could ask him why they were so eager to meet me.

The first thing one of them said was, "Guy, how far?" What one of the boys said in particular. Frederick's friends are two boys and two girls, as you can see. In addition, Frederick makes it three boys.

(Pidgin English, How far- is like another word for 'Hey' or 'How are you')

"Yo" Frederick greeted all of them.

'Hi's' and 'Hey's' could be heard as a response from all of them.

"And would this be the girl that got drink poured all over her?" One of the girls said. The hostility in her eyes made me to easily believe she didn't like me one bit.

I saw Frederick frown from the corner of my eyes at the girl "Fav..." He started to speak but I cut him short. Even surprising myself by my actions.

When I spoke, I put on the biggest and most convincing fake smile I could muster. Every single one of them, with the exception of the one girl, responded with an amused smile on their face when they heard my words. "Yes, that would be me." After what I said, I could already picture Frederick's confused expression on his face.

The sudden assurance caught everyone off guard. Was I, the one who has always been quiet and reserved, making sarcastic comments directed at another person? I found that I was actually evolving.

Instantaneously, the hostile look that had been present in her eyes was replaced by a smirk. "I like her," She told Frederick. "I like her a lot."

It seemed like Frederick relaxed a little at her words.

Then he smirked also before saying "I knew you would"