Page 56 of Ravenous

If anything, he had to try. He’d started this diet by making slow changes that eventually snowballed. Maybe he could stop it the same way. He had to. Because if he didn’t, he’d lose much more than his hair.

Holding onto the sink, Ollie carefully rose to his feet, and this time the dizziness hung around for a while, his emotions spinning it up. When he could finally walk, he tottered back to his room and installed a food delivery app. Once he set up the account, he added a coffee and a few small calorie-dense items to the cart. It scared the hell out of him to order that much but the way his body was freaking out scared him even more.

Once the food was on its way, he sprayed his curls down with water and used the most expensive hair-repair mask he had, hoping to prevent the worst. Wrapping his head in plastic wrap, he slumped in his desk chair, studying his silk pillowcase again. He’d wiped it clean but he inspected it anyway, looking for more strands. Thankfully, he came up empty, so he spent the next few minutes researching if his weight loss and hair loss were linked, and they certainly were, but he didn’t like any of the facts he was presented with, especially the ones about eating disorders.

His phone vibrated, shuffling across the desk. Pursing his lips, Ollie picked it up and found four texts from Biz, each one more threatening than the last, and a tiny smile surfaced on Ollie’s face. Biz’s anger was something familiar and comforting in his ever-changing world, and he decided to call her back. Researching while waiting for his breakfast was raising his anxiety; he needed a distraction.

She picked up on the second ring. “Oliver Clark, I was about to drive out there and storm your house.”

“Why?” Ollie tried to play innocent. “We texted last week.”

“But I haven’ttalkedto you orseenyou in months. Not since Christmas!” Ollie could hear her typing in the background.

“Are you writing?” He attempted to change the subject.

“All the time.” Her multitasking skills were unnatural. “Anyway, I’m calling because I heard throughTommythat you have a boyfriend now.”

“How does Tommy know?”

“So, youdohave a boyfriend?”

“Yeah.” At the thought of Finn, a small spark of calm stirred Ollie’s heart, like a port in a ferocious storm, and Ollie clung to it.

“I can’t fucking believe that Tommy found out before me.” Ollie could tell that underneath her aggression, she was hurt. He’d pulled away from his family and they were feeling it. The calm dissipated, replaced by guilt, which spread through Ollie’s chest, making it difficult to breathe.

“I’m sorry, Biz. I was trying to be lowkey about it because I didn’t want to jinx anything. It’s still pretty new.”

There were a few seconds of silence and he heard her sigh. “It’s fine. Tommy only knows because he saw your Live.”

“He looks at my social media?” Ollie was glad he’d been careful lately, only showing himself from the shoulders up. Between his family possibly judging him and the increasing flood of comments about his body, he’d decided to focus on makeup for the time being. Besides, most of his wardrobe didn’t fit him anymore.

“Sometimes,” she let out a short laugh, “but I’m too busy shipping anime men with each other to venture into your internet town.”

“That’s right.” Ollie could breathe a little more as the subject finally changed. “Howisthat going?”

“I just hit one thousand kudos on my last fic, it has humiliation kink and tentacles. Three people did fanart for it!” Her voice was all devilish glee.

“Congratulations?”

“Yes. Thank you. Oh!” Her tone changed and Ollie sat up straighter in his chair, adjusting the plastic around his head. “When was the last time you talked to Rain?”

“When he sent me a gay porn Christmas meme, soooo months ago?” It was teetering into spring now as the breezes warmed up and daffodils lined the streets.

“Wait, you don’t know? His mom broke up with her latest boyfriend so they had to move. And they’re living with hernewboyfriend inyourtown.”

“Really?” Ollie blinked. “Tommy must be upset.”

“He is but the gas prices are what’s making him cry. Let’s backtrack for a minute though, tell me about this boyfriend. Is he the real deal?” Biz had been there for Ollie’s last two mistakes and clearly did not want him to make a third.

“He’s the real deal, Bizmark.” Ollie would delve into that with her once he’d solved his current crisis. “And he treats me well.”

“It’s about fucking time,” she declared, and Ollie heard her punch the desk. “You should bring him over and let me size him up, see if he’s marriage material.”

“Yeah, no.” Ollie shook his head even if she couldn’t see him, the plastic wrap crinkling. “It hasn’t even been three months, let’s not scar him for life just yet.”

“You’re no fun.” She blew a raspberry through the phone right as the doorbell rang.

“Oh, my food’s here,” Ollie said absently. His plan worked; Biz had been an amazing distraction.

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