Page 55 of Built to Fall
Things have been a bit tense in the apartment since the girls found out about my hospital stay. And they were rightfully pissed.
It’s been over a week but less than two weeks. Twelve days exactly, as my brain has cataloged it.
I understand their frustrations. Really, I do.
At the same time, though, being in the hospital because of something I did to myself is not exactly something I wanted to advertise. It was bad enough that Grant was there to see my body give out on me. I don’t need three more people constantly worrying and walking on eggshells around me.
And they can’t even lie and say that theyhaven’tbeen treating me like some abused puppy they brought home from the shelter.
Kara’s been texting me articles from medical journals, talking about the dangers of sleep deprivation and vitamin deficiencies. And I know it’s her who’s been stashing her favorite protein bars in my backpack.
Meredith’s gone quiet about the whole situation, but one night late last week, she broke her silence and came into my room while I was pretending to be asleep, sat on the edge of my bed, and whispered,“You can pretend to be asleep all you want, but that doesn’t take away from how badly you scared us.Even me.”
And Eden—Eden has been the worst. Not only are her motherly instincts going haywire, but her caretaker nature has been overwhelming. She won’t even let me take the trash out without offering to come with me, as if I’m going to pass out in the stairwell.
Still, reconciling with the fact that I did this to myself has been my biggest struggle. For the first time since it happened, I’ve had to think about how the events of last year have been affecting my life.
So yes, I get that my friends are worried. But I’ve made it clear that I’m ready to get my life back to normal. Even if I’m still not sleeping.
This must be their ideal way of doing that—forcing me into a costume and dragging me to a Halloween party.
They even brought Owen and Jack with them as reinforcements, hoping they would be able to convince me to go with them.
I look down at my current outfit. Another raggedy basketball sweatshirt from high school coupled with my comfiest pair of boxer shorts. “I have nothing to wear to a Halloween party.”
Eden emerges from behind Meredith and Kara, holding up a bag like it’s a winning lottery ticket. “Don’t worry! We’ve already got that covered.”
I figured. The three of them are already dressed up.
Eden’s dressed as a redheaded version of Audrey Hepburn, wearing black for possibly the first time ever. Meredith is Tinkerbell, and Kara is a pirate.
“I don’t evenwantto knowwhat you could have picked out for me.” My expression is bleak as I look at her, then the bag, and then back at her.
“Well, then don’t!” She smiles, pushing through the entrance of my room and shoving the bag into my chest. “Just put it on, and we’ll be on our merry way.”
I let out a long breath before taking the bag and stepping into the bathroom. Once the door is shut behind me, I peek into the bag, and my eyes go wide. “There is very little fabric inside this bag!”
“It’s Halloween!” Eden argues quickly.
“And you’ve got a killer bod! Why let that go to waste on the one day a year you can dress like a whore?” Kara adds.
“Says thesupermodel!” I complain.
Yet, I can’t keep from laughing, shaking my head as I get undressed and pull the pieces of my costume out of the bag and onto my body.
When I open the door, Owen and Jack both look away, like it’s a reflex.
“Really?” I motion down my body. “You guys are having me wear what is practicallylingerieand calling it a costume?”
“Practically?” Jack gawks, making his eyepatch inch up on his face. He’s also a pirate—matching his girlfriend.
“There’s nothing else to say about it, Lina. That’s very clearly lingerie,” Owen adds.
With the guys' confirmation, I glare toward the girls.
“Oh, don’t be such a prude,” Meredith says.
“You have a robe over it!” Eden tries.
