Chapter 6: "Caught".

Lily's fingers hovered over the lock.

Her mother never knocked twice. Not unless something was wrong.

"Lily." Her voice came again, lower now. More serious.

Lily swallowed and cracked the door open. "Yeah?"

Her mom's sharp gaze flickered over her face, then down to her body, like she was scanning for something. Lily shifted, gripping the edge of the door.

"You didn't eat breakfast," her mom said.

Lily forced a laugh. "I wasn't hungry."

"That's what you always say." Her mom folded her arms. "You've been skipping meals a lot lately."

Lily's pulse quickened. "No, I haven't." Her mom lifted a brow. She knew. Maybe not everything, but enough to be suspicious

Lily needed to fix this. Now.

"I ate before coming upstairs," she lied smoothly. "Just a little."

Her mom didn't blink. "Then what did you eat?"

Lily hesitated for a second—too long. The air between them tightened.

"Toast," she said quickly. "And tea."

Her mom exhaled, like she wanted to believe it but didn't.

"You know, I was your age once," she said after a moment. "I know what skipping meals looks like."

Lily's stomach twisted. "I'm fine, Mom."

Her mother's lips pressed together, but she finally nodded. "Alright." She stepped back, but something in her eyes told Lily this wasn't over.

Lily shut the door and exhaled sharply. That was too close.

Her phone buzzed.

She grabbed it quickly, half-expecting another article suggestion, but it wasn't.

A text from Nora.

> You coming today?

Lily stared at the message.

She had forgotten. The group was supposed to meet up at the mall after school.

She bit her lip. The idea of being around food, of sitting in a food court surrounded by people eating—it made her stomach knot.

But if she didn't go, her friends would notice.

Another text popped up.

> Please don't bail again. It's weird without you.

Lily exhaled.

She could go and pretend everything was normal.

Or she could stay home and risk her mom watching her even closer.

She opened her closet and pulled out a sweater, ignoring the small voice in her head whispering that she'd have to make up for this later.

---

The mall was louder than she expected.

Lily pulled her sleeves over her hands, following the sound of laughter toward the food court.

Nora spotted her first, waving dramatically.

"Finally! We thought you were ghosting us."

"I told them you'd show up," Ella added, sipping her iced coffee. "You're predictable."

Lily forced a smile and slid into an empty chair. "I had stuff to do."

No one questioned it. Good.

The table was already cluttered with trays—half-eaten fries, leftover burgers, empty soda cups. The smell was overwhelming.

"You want anything?" Nora asked, nodding toward the food stalls.

Lily shook her head. "Not hungry."

Nora gave her a look. "Not this again."

"What?"

"You literally never eat when we go out."

Lily shrugged. "I just don't feel like it."

Ella smirked. "Or maybe she's on some secret diet."

Lily stiffened. "I'm not."

Nora tilted her head. "You sure?

She grabbed the nearest soda cup, hoping no one would notice it wasn't hers. But as soon as she brought the straw to her lips, she recognized the sickly-sweet taste of melted ice and flat cola.

She set it back down.

Nora was still watching her.

Lily's stomach knotted. She needed to change the subject. Fast.

"So," she said, forcing her voice to sound light. "What's the plan for today?"

Ella leaned back in her chair. "I vote we hit the clothing stores."

Nora groaned. "You always want to go shopping."

"Yeah, because I actually like looking good." Ella smirked. "Unlike you, who wears the same hoodie every week."

Nora rolled her eyes, but Lily barely heard them. Shopping.

She gripped the hem of her sweater.

Trying on clothes meant standing in front of a mirror. Seeing every flaw under bright, unforgiving lights.

No. She couldn't.

"I can't stay long," she blurted out.

Ella frowned. "Why?"

"Homework."

Nora gave her a look. "Since when do you care about homework?"

Lily forced a laugh. "Since I don't want to fail."

It was a weak excuse, but it was enough.

Nora sighed. "Fine. But at least walk around with us for a bit."

Lily nodded, relief flooding through her.

At least this way, she could keep up the act.

For now.

---

They wandered through the mall, stopping at random stores while Ella tried on everything she could get her hands on.

Lily stayed near the racks, pretending to browse.

But every mirror caught her attention.

She saw herself reflected over and over—every angle, every inch.

The sweater didn't hide enough.

Her stomach wasn't flat.

Her thighs weren't small.

The voices in her head grew louder with each passing second.

"Lily?"

She snapped out of it.

Nora was staring at her again.

"You good?"

Lily forced a smile. "Yeah. Just tired."

Nora didn't look convinced, but she let it go.

For now.

---

By the time Lily got home, she felt drained.

She closed the door behind her, pressing her forehead against the wood.

She had barely spoken at the mall, barely done anything, yet she felt exhausted.

She needed control again.

She checked the time.

6:42 PM.

Dinner would be soon.

She wouldn't eat.

She couldn't.

A knock on her door made her tense.

Her mother again.

"Lily, come eat."

Lily's pulse quickened. "Not hungry."

A pause.

Then—

"I made your favorite."

Her stomach twisted.

Her mom knew. She was trying to get her to eat.

Lily squeezed her eyes shut.

She had to be careful. Too much resistance would make her suspicious.

So she opened the door, forced a tired smile, and said, "Maybe later."

Her mom studied her, but eventually, she nodded.

"Don't wait too long.

Lily just nodded.

She closed the door.

Then, slowly, she lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

Her stomach was empty.

And for the first time all day, she felt okay. But she knew the cycle would start all over again tomorrow.

And she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep pretending.