Free Skinny by Laura L Smith Page B

the moves while sipping his steaming espresso.
    “And turn, turn, turn, turn, jump, and snap.”
    Melissa turned and turned, hands up, hands down, now to the side. She saw a rainbow as the colors in the gym blurred together. White ovals rimmed in pink and blue blurred her vision.
    SMACK!
    Her head hit hard against the gym floor. She felt the cold wood, but her forehead, nose, and chin felt hot, like they were melting into the floor.
    “Melissa, are you okay?” Stacey rushed to her side.
    Her face felt like it had been hit with a meat cleaver.
    “Everyone stop!” Todd called. He ran to Melissa and rolled her onto her back. Bright lights flashed in her darkness. She scrunched her closed eyes tighter in pain.
    “She forgot to spot,” Jill jeered.
    Melissa felt like a loser, falling flat on her face—literally. She might as well quit. She felt like she was eight years old. She just wanted to run to her mom’s lap and bury her face in Mom’s shoulder.
    “Melissa?”
    She opened her eyes to slits, and Todd wove into focus.
    “I’m okay. Just clumsy,” she mumbled.
    He cradled her head in his surprisingly rough hands and helped her stand. She wobbled, then steadied.
    “Sugar, did you eat anything this morning?” Todd asked sweetly.
    She wanted to say yes. She couldn’t let anybody know about her secret diet. Keeping it to herself was part of how she controlled it. No one could make her change what she ate if they didn’t know how she was eating. But could she lie to Todd?
    “A little,” she mumbled.
    “I was afraid y’all would do that. Ladies, gather around.”
    The team had already formed a group around Melissa.
    “I know we’re meeting early, but you need to eat a real breakfast before you come.” Todd still steadied Melissa with one warm hand on her back and another on her bare arm. “I’m working you hard, and your bodies are tired. They need fuel. A car can’t drive without gas, and y’all can’t dance without food. Everyone got it?”
    Everyone nodded and mumbled yeses.
    “Okay, now who has something in her bag that Melissa can eat?”
    “I do,” said Katie. She bounded to her gym bag and back. “It’s a granola bar. It’s been in there awhile, so it may be a little mushed.” She handed it to Melissa.
    “Thanks.” Melissa smiled.
    “Now go sit on the bleachers and eat, girl. After the room quits spinning, you can join us.” Todd nodded toward the bleachers. “J. T., give her a hand.”
    J. T. wrapped her freckled arm around Melissa’s back. “Come on,” she whispered. “You’ll be okay.”
    As the music boomed and her teammates swirled and kicked in front of her, Melissa faced the granola bar. She knew she had to eat it. Todd was watching. She peeled the silver wrapper back to reveal the coagulated mass of oats and chocolate chips. It had more fat and calories than a plain blueberry bagel but less than a donut. She pulled a corner off and popped it in her mouth. It felt mealy. She struggled to chew. Around and around the gym went her friends and rivals. Around and around in her mouth went the same bite of granola bar.
    When the bite finally dissolved, Melissa tried another bite, but that’s all she could do. She still felt nauseous from last night. She stood up. Feeling more stable, she walked slowly toward the drinking fountain, testing her strength and stability. The cold water felt sharp and lively in her mouth.
    Dear God, please help me do this. I have to be able to do this. I promise I’ll do my best. I know I was stupid. I’m sorry I threw up. From now on I’ll eat the right things in the first place. If I had just avoided all that junk food, it never would have happened. I know You have reasons for things. You must have a reason for Beau. I just don’t know what it is. Please help me through this. I promise to be good. Amen.
    Melissa found her place on the floor, thrust her arms upward, and leaned left. She made it through practice, but barely. Her moves were correct