Chapter 7: "Not Him, Not Now, Now Ever"

Lily woke up to a dull ache in her stomach. Not hunger—at least, that's what she told herself. Just…emptiness.

She liked emptiness.

She ran her hands over her stomach, pressing down slightly, just like she had yesterday. Did it feel smaller? Lighter? She couldn't tell.

She turned her head toward her phone, still lying next to her on the pillow. The screen was dark, but she didn't need to check. She knew what would be there.

Search results. Fasting plans. Calorie-burning tricks.

Her chest tightened.

She needed to do better today.

A sharp knock on the door made her flinch.

"Lily! Get up!"

Matt's voice.

She groaned, pulling the blanket over her head. "Go away."

He ignored her, of course. The door creaked open. "Mom said you have to take Ava to school."

Lily squeezed her eyes shut. She had forgotten.

"Why can't you do it?" she mumbled.

"Because I'm already late," Matt said, like it was obvious. "Hurry up, she's waiting."

Lily sighed and forced herself to sit up. The dizziness hit her immediately. She blinked hard, gripping the edge of the bed.

Too fast.

She took a slow breath, waiting for it to pass.

Matt was still standing in the doorway, scrolling on his phone. "Mom also said you should eat something before you leave."

Lily tensed. "I'm fine."

"She said you'd say that." He smirked, barely looking up. "She told me to make sure you actually do it."

Of course she did.

Lily swung her legs over the side of the bed. "I'll eat later."

Matt rolled his eyes. "Yeah, okay." He turned to leave. "Just don't pass out or something. That'd be embarrassing."

Lily clenched her jaw. She wouldn't. She was fine.

She grabbed her hoodie from the chair and pulled it over her head before heading downstairs.

Ava was waiting by the door, swinging her backpack from side to side. "Finally!"

Lily forced a smile. "Let's go."

The walk to Ava and Matt's school was short, but Lily felt every step. The cold morning air should have woken her up, but it only made her feel more drained. She kept her head down, focusing on the sidewalk.

Ava, of course, had endless energy. "Guess what?"

Lily hummed.

"My teacher said we're having a class party on Friday! With cupcakes and everything!"

Lily nodded absently. "Sounds fun."

Ava frowned up at her. "You don't even like cupcakes, do you?"

Lily hesitated. She used to.

Before.

Ava kept staring at her. "You never eat sweets anymore."

"I just don't feel like it," Lily said, hoping that would be enough.

Ava huffed. "You don't feel like eating anything."

Lily's chest tightened. "That's not true."

Ava didn't argue, but she didn't look convinced either.

Lily tightened her grip on Ava's hand as they walked down the street, Matt trailing slightly behind, his eyes glued to his phone. The morning air was crisp, carrying the distant hum of traffic and the occasional chirp of birds.

Ava skipped beside her, humming some song she'd probably learned from a cartoon. "Lily, are you listening?"

"Hm?" Lily blinked, realizing she hadn't been paying attention.

"I said, when I finish all my work today, my teacher gives me a sticker! A shiny one!" Ava grinned up at her.

"That's great," Lily murmured.

Ava pouted. "You're not even excited."

"I am," Lily said, forcing a small smile. "A shiny sticker sounds amazing."

Ava seemed satisfied with that answer and went back to skipping.

Matt, walking a few steps behind, finally looked up. "Can you walk faster? I don't wanna be late."

"You're not gonna be late," Lily sighed.

"You don't know that," he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets.

The walk to their schools was routine—first, they dropped Matt off at his, then walked Ava to hers. Lily watched as Ava ran toward the entrance, her tiny backpack bouncing with each step.

"Bye, Lily!" Ava called out, waving.

Lily waved back before turning around.

Now, she just had to go home.

But halfway back, an idea formed in her mind.

Maybe she could buy something—just something small, nothing heavy. Just enough to keep her mother off her back.

There was a convenience store a few blocks away. She could stop by, grab some crackers—the kind with low sugar and fat—just enough to have an excuse if her mom asked what she ate.

She made her way there, stepping inside and heading straight to the snack aisle. She scanned the shelves quickly, grabbing a small pack before heading toward the checkout.

And then—

"Lily?"

Her whole body went rigid.

She had already stepped too close. There was no way to turn back now.

Slowly, she lifted her gaze.

David.

Of all the people she never wanted to see again, he was at the top of the list.

He stood just a few feet away, holding a bottle of soda, looking almost exactly the same as he had years ago—except taller, older. But the same warm brown eyes, the same easygoing posture.

"I knew that was you." He grinned. "It's been 3 years."

Lily forced herself to swallow, her throat suddenly dry.

"You still look the same, Lily," David said with a chuckle, as if the years apart hadn't changed a thing.

Lily felt something sharp twist in her chest. She didn't know what to say. She felt frozen, caught between nervousness and something much stronger—anger.

She wanted to walk away.

She wanted to pretend she hadn't seen him.

But she couldn't move .

David's eyes softened. "You still look beautiful."

Lily's breath hitched.

Something inside her cracked open.

Before she even realized what was happening, tears spilled over her cheeks. Silent, unstoppable. She wasn't sobbing—there was no sound, just the steady stream of tears trailing down her face.

David's smile faded. "Lily?"

She couldn't do this.

"I gotta go," she choked out, turning on her heel and bolting toward the door.

"Wait—what? I thought you came to buy something!" David called after her, his voice laced with confusion.

She didn't stop.

"Lily, stop! I wanna talk to you!"

But she didn't.

She just kept running.