Chapter Seven.

"Let me guess. . . Toffee popcorn flavour, right?" Jedd grins down at me, pointing at the unusual flavoured ice cream through the glass.

"You got it." I respond, drooling as I stare at my most favourite ice cream flavour.

Close your mouth Bella before everyone witnesses you salivating like an English Bulldog.

The small ice cream shop is ran by an old friendly guy named John. He's been friends with Dad ever since I can remember which means extra ice cream privileges for Jedd and I. Since Dad is always busy, Jedd takes over the role of bringing me to my favourite ice cream shop whenever I'm upset.

Whoever said food is the key to someone's heart is 100% true. Give them an Oscar.

Ice cream is the ultimate pathway to my heart. . . Especially toffee popcorn flavoured ice cream.

"So how did school go?" Jedd asks me, handing me the tub of ice cream along with a spoon. I immediately wedge it in, taking a huge chunk of ice cream and shoving it into my mouth. I shrug, focusing on the amazing taste in my mouth instead of the Jedd's question.

"So-so." I answer, turning my back and heading for the door. I lazily turn around, waving goodbye at John before I leave.

"See you soon Bella. You too, Jedd."

"Bye Mr Andrews," I smile. The door opens causing the bell above to ring and I turn around, coming face to face with no other than Beatrice Walden. Plus seven of her 'friends'.

And they all stare straight at me.

I quickly swallow the ice cream in my mouth, suddenly feeling the toffee popcorn stirring in my stomach. I quickly glance at Jedd from the side, grateful that he hasn't noticed my uneasiness. He's having a conversation with Mr Andrews, both of them chatting away.

"Oh look, it's the mute," Beatrice says, scrunching her nose up in disgust at me. I snap my head back in her direction, feeling several eyes on me. My lungs instantly begin to tighten and I feel my breathing quicken up.

"Should you really be eating ice cream with that figure?" Someone else giggles quietly however I hear her words loud and clear.

"Leave me alone," I tell them firmly, my eyes filling up as I attempt to dodge out of her way and head for the doors. I have to get out of here before Jedd realises what's going on. Beatrice scoffs and took a step in my direction, blocking my path to the exit.

"Who do you think you're speaking to? You shouldn't speak to me or my friends like that!" She hisses at me, flipping her long hair behind her shoulders. Her eyes are narrowed dangerously as she stares me down.

"Bella, is everything okay?" Jedd asks from behind me and I close my eyes, wishing I could grow wings and fly straight out of this situation. I spin around on my shoes, plastering an awkward fake smile on my face.

"Yeah! Everything's fine, lets go." I reply, ushering him to hurry up. Jedd eyes up Beatrice and her friends uneasily, glancing back and forth between me and them.

"Is there a problem here?" Jedd asks Beatrice, his eyebrow raised suspiciously. I feel my throat tighten further, my airway's closing up.

This is not happening.

I watch in horror as Beatrice smirks at Jedd, her eyes scanning up and down his body. She looks like she wants to eat him alive.

"Yeah everything's fine. . . We were just talking to Bella." She drawls out, her voice smooth and flirtatious. Her fingers begin twirling around a strand of hair and she takes a step forward in Jedd's direction, batting her eyelashes at him.

"Who is this Bella?" Beatrice asks me, her voice as fake as silicone implants. I mentally roll my eyes —

"That's my brother." I answer quietly, my eyes focusing on the patterned tiled floor.

"Jedd, can we leave?" I mutter in his direction. He slowly nods and I exhale deeply before heading straight out of the doors. As soon as the fresh air hits me, my shoulders relax and I can feel my lungs begin to function again. I don't stop as I walk to Jedd's car as fast as my feet can take me.

"Steady on Bells! Is everything okay?" Jedd asks, unlocking his car. I nod automatically, pulling open the passenger door and getting in before Beatrice can dig her acrylic claws into me once again. I slam the door shut, placing my ice cream tub on Jedd's dashboard, losing my appetite.

"Are they your friends?" Jedd continues to ask questions, sounding unsure. He turns the key in the car and it springs to life, the engine spluttering.

"No, just some girls I know from school." I answer him quickly, desperately wanting to change the subject. Jedd nods slowly, pulling out of his parking space and heading home.

"Well are they nice?" He probes, trying to make conversation. I can hear the hope in his voice from the prospect of me actually having a group of friends.

"Some of them are okay I suppose." I lie, staring aimlessly out of the window.

"The one with the brown hair seems. . . nice." Jedd says uneasily and I sigh heavily, realising he's talking about Beatrice. Oh, how wrong he is about her.

"Can we just drop it?" I snap at him, instantly regretting my tone of voice. Jedd immediately quietens down, his jaw tensing up as he begins to drive in silence.

"Jedd, I'm sorry." I groan, pulling my knees into my chest and laying my head on them. I hug my knees tightly, not caring that the seatbelt begins digging in to me. Jedd doesn't reply and we spend the entire journey home in silence.

*****

I sniffle, reaching under my bed and grabbing another blanket to emerge myself in. I'm currently wrapped up in my duvet and two blankets but I still need more. Ever since the fight in his car, Jedd was ignoring me. My eyes were threatening to spill the whole way home however I managed to contain myself until I slammed my bedroom door shut.

It isn't fair the way I snapped at Jedd and I know that. I can't help it sometimes when I'm constantly frustrated and angry at myself for not being able to confront Beatrice.

I stand in front of my mirror, a tear running down my cheek as I scrutinise my reflection. I pull the baggy hoody over my head, throwing it onto a messy pile onto the floor. Next I unbutton my boring jeans, stepping out of them and throwing them into the same pile. I reach up, pulling my hair out of the ponytail and it immediately cascades down past my shoulders. My vision is now completely blurred due to the amount of silent tears streaming down my cheeks. I sniffle, standing in front of the mirror once again.

A pale boring girl stares back at me. Everything from the freckles on my face down to the size of my boobs is boring. I cry tears of frustration as I poke at my stomach, watching in horror as it shakes and wobbles.

Is Beatrice's friend right?

Maybe I do need to cut down on ice cream. Weight has never been an issue to me before and I've always ate whatever I wanted however maybe if I lost weight . . . they'd leave me alone? Maybe I'll finally be accepted.

I hastily wipe away the tears on my cheek and head for my wardrobe. I pull the door open, rummaging through the drawers until I finally find my old running gear. A few years ago, Jedd and I had taken part in a charity run and thankfully I kept the workout clothes. I sniff the clothes, feeling hopeful that they smell okay. I pull over the sports bra, shirt and workout leggings quickly, almost tripping over myself. Next is my trainers, I lace them up before scraping my long blonde hair back up into a ponytail.

Finally I stand in front of the mirror, ignoring the fact my shirt is a little too small, riding up to expose bare skin when I stretch.

This is it Bella, this is how you change your life.

I blow out a short puff of breath before pointing at my reflection in the mirror.

"You got this Bella," I whisper, nodding to myself as I feel the motivation grow inside of me. I grab my phone and a pair of headphones before opening my bedroom door open and sprinting down the stairs. I've never left the house alone in the past four years beside from going to school.

Here goes nothing Bella.

"Bella, your food is on the table!" I hear dad shout from the kitchen.

"I'm not hungry yet! I'll eat it later," I tell him truthfully. Just because I've decided to start exercising doesn't mean I'm giving up food. I know that fuelling my body for a workout is the most important step to a healthy lifestyle.

I head straight for the front door, pulling it open and stepping out into the frosty evening. Goosebumps immediately erupt over my bare arms from the icy air but I ignore it and walk briskly down the road in the direction of the local gym.

"You've got this Bella," I whisper repeatedly to myself as I head towards the unknown.

This will be the day my life changes.