CHAPTER 34- Hunger

Izzy's POV  

        "So you just left?" Dallas asked, once I'd finished explaining the situation to her. 

I nodded, "I didn't know what else to do." 

My aunt nodded, "When did this all happen?" 

I squinted in one eyes in thought, but stopped once I realized how much I looked like my mother when I did that, "Like fourish." 

Dallas nodded, "Well you've got to be starving. What do you want to eat?" 

"I'm not hungry." 

Dallas froze, her eyes wide as she turned back around to look at me. 

"Izzy." My heart started pounding at her reaction. 

"What?" 

Dallas sat down, burying her head in her hands. 

"Shit shit shit. No it's impossible. Demi would notice." 

My anxiety rose to new heights at her muttering. 

"Dallas what are you talking about?" 

She looked me dead in the eyes, "When is the last time you ate Izzy." 

My blood felt like ice, "I-I don't know... lunch?" 

She stood in front of me and crouched down to eye level. 

"Isabella Noel Valderama-Lovato. Do not lie to me." 

My eyes broke contact with her. 

"I don't know." 

It wasn't a lie, I couldn't remember the last time I'd eaten. 

"When's the last time you threw up food you ate?" 

My heart lowered, but decided to be honest. 

"Last night." 

Dallas's gasp was audible as she ran a hand through her hair. 

"I'm guessing your mom doesn't know?" 

My heart started beating faster and I grabbed Dallas's hand. 

"You can't tell her. Please don't tell her. I'm trying to stop I really am." 

That was a lie, but she doesn't have to know what. 

"Izzy this is serious. It ruined your mom's life. I had to watch helplessly as she nearly killed herself. I don't think I can do that." 

I shook my head, "Dallas I'm working on it. It's hard but I'm trying. Please promise me you won't tell anyone. I need to do this on my own."

Her expression was sad, "Baby you can't do this on your own. It's a disease of the mind." '

I nodded, "I know that, but I can try right? I'm doing good and last night was just a slip up I promise." I could see in her expression that her resolve was caving. "Please Dallas?" 

She let out an exasperated sigh, "Fine. But if she finds out I'm literally dead. She'll hate me." 

I got up and hugged her tightly.

"Thank you Dallas. Thank you." 

~*~

Demi's POV 

        I woke wrapped in Wilmer's arms. Last night, Dallas had put my worried aside temporarily when she texted me saying that Izzy was at her house and safe. But now, my anxiety was started up again. I looked down at my still flat stomach and couldn't help but smile. Sure I was scared shitless, but excited at the same time. I'm having a baby. This will fix everything. Wilmer and I will be back on the same page and me and Izzy will be stronger than ever. I just have to keep my shit together. I checked the time on my phone, 9 am. Izzy should be up by now. Wilmer and I agreed last night that I should be the one to pick her up, that way no matter how mad she is she'll be forced to talk to me. A familiar jolt went through me, wrenching me out of bed and over the toilet. I felt Wilmer's warm hands holding my hair back and rubbing my back firmly. This was a familiar scene with my first two pregnancies. He was so gentle and loving, a little overprotective at times, but I wouldn't want the opposite. Finally, it passed and I brushed my teeth. Wilmer's expression was blissful as I turned and curled into his chest, hugging him good morning. 

"Are you okay? Ready to pick her up?" 

"I'm fine. And no, but I will be." I half-smiled and kissed his cheek, then put on a sweatshirt and grabbed my keys. "Wish me luck." 

~*~

        It was silent as Izzy climbed into the car, her hair was wet from a shower at Dallas's house. I drove off in the opposite direction of our house. Izzy glanced at me with a confused expression but otherwise didn't react. After about twenty minutes of driving, I pulled into a tourist's spot overlooking the hollywood sign. I got out of the car and sat on the hood, waiting for her to come after me. It took a couple of minutes, but eventually she opened the door and sat next to me. We looked out at the view in silence for a few minutes, until it got the best of me. 

"Talk to me baby." 

Izzy's POV 

I shrugged and looked down, "There's nothing to say." 

My mom raised an eyebrow, "I think there is... Why'd you run away?" 

I barked a laugh, "I'm not dumb. You're pregnant." 

She nodded, "How do you feel about that?" 

I looked up at me, "Why do you care? It's not like you can just un-do it." 

My mom chuckled, "No, but I'd like to know how you're feeling either way." 

I lowered my voice, "I don't want it to be like last time." 

"What?" 

"I don't want it to be like last time. I don't want you to forget about me again." 

She inhaled sharply and grabbed my hand. 

"Isabella... don't ever think that babygirl! I'm never going to forget about you." 

I sighed, blinking back tears, "But it already did happen mom, you've forgotten me in the  past under less intense circumstances. The baby will take up your life, and you won't have time for work, or me. You can't even deny it." 

My mom pulled me into a hug and as much as I wanted to deny her comfort- I needed it, so I allowed my body to relax. 

"Isabella, I've changed a lot. My perspective has shifted and I'm cutting back my work hours and hiring people who I know can do the job instead of me. I love you so much baby and it kills me that you would think that way. I never want you to feel like you can't tell me anything, I don't want you to have to run away to Maddie or Dallas for comfort, I want you to come to me. As your mother it's my job to be there for you and I intend on doing that. 

Liar. 

She's barely going to look at you when that baby is born. 

Nod your head, she can't help you. 

We're the only ones who can help you. 

Maybe if you were skinnier she'd mean that. 

Who would want a daughter like you? 

         My breath caught and my mom looked at me with a concerned expression. 

"Are you okay Iz?" 

I nodded, but the urge to tell her everything was once again almost overwhelming. 

"Fine." 

The demons in my head roared in approval and my phone suddenly dinged. 

Jakeeee; Goodmorning beautiful(: 

A blush tainted my face and my mom looked over my shoulder, "Who's Jake?" 

I locked my phone immediately, blushing deeper. 

"Uhm... A friend?" 

My mom smiled, "Do you like him?" 

I nodded a little, and her smile grew huge. 

"It's the boy you were with yesterday right? I'm sorry for freaking out." She touched my red cheek, "I don't want my baby to grow up. Boys suck." 

I smiled, "It's nothing like that yet... I'm not even sure if he likes me." 

Of course he doesn't like you, you stupid girl. 

Have you seen him? You two would never work out, the ratio is too one-sided. 

He'll break your heart. 

Listen to us. 

My mom hugged me again, "He'll be an idiot to let a girl like you go." 

Liar.

My stomach twisted in hunger and let out a growl but I forced it away. 

Don't tell mom. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Comment and Vote! 

Tweet me what you thought! @Lovatic_Chica

-Rachel