***Please see Chapter 4 for Anorexia Warning***.
Author side note: Below you will find two excerpts from Elaine's recovery notebook. These are very intense and emotional dealing with her anorexia. If things like that frighten you, please do not read. Thank you.
I forgot to mention, of course these stories are fictional.
At the hospital, Micky and Elaine's friends waited in the lobby while the Emergency Room Department staff took a look at Elaine and ran all kinds of bloodwork. She was still unconscious, but they had her stabilized at least.
Naomi was beside herself for everything that had happened; Samantha was in a corner praying fervently in her private prayer language; Louise was near Sam on another couch praying fervently; and Micky had gone to the other side of the lobby and faced the wall. He didn't want anyone to see that he was crying. He did not want to lose one of his best friends, especially one he had just began a friendship with.
Two hours later, a doctor came out to the lobby and asked, "Who's here for Elaine?" Micky's head perked up and he wiped the tears from his eyes and walked over to the doctor along with the girls following behind. "We are, doctor." Samantha and Micky said in unison.
"Well, she's going to be fine. However, we will need to keep her here for a few days for observation and treatment. May I talk to one of you privately please?"
Micky looked at Sam and said, "You know her better than I do."
"Yes, doctor," Samantha said following him into an office and closing the door.
When they came out, the doctor went back into the ER and Samantha walked over to Micky. "She's going to be fine, Micky. Please don't worry." Sam said gently taking his hand and walking him back to the couch and sat down next to him.
"What did the doctor say?" Micky asked.
"He asked if she was anorexic and I told him she had been in the past and now relapsing into it again. They apparently have an excellent program here for Anorexia patients, and he wondered if I felt she could benefit from one of those programs. I told him yes." Samantha said.
"Maybe she does need to return back to Massachusetts with you four?" Micky asked.
"It would be the same there, Micky. She would have to undergo another program to help her get through this episode." Samantha said.
"But she would be close to all of you." Micky replied.
"She's here now, Micky, and from what we have heard about you, you're her best friend here. We are happy that she has someone close here." Samantha said.
"But I work teaching drum lessons and am not home much." Micky said.
"We all work too, Micky. The most important thing for you to remember is that she will need someone to attend these meetings with her and be supportive of her." Samantha said.
"But she'll require 24-hour care, won't she?" Micky asked confused.
"In the beginning, she will need someone to stay with her, but as she goes to therapy and treatment, she'll be okay by herself. And with you living so close to her, it won't be hard for you to stay over will it?" Sam asked.
"Not necessarily, but she might not want me there." Micky replied.
"She's going to fight you and push you away, but you stay strong for her and you don't let her do that to you." Sam replied. "I know it nearly killed us the last time she went through this. She was down to eighty pounds last time."
"Eighty pounds?" Micky asked.
"Yes, so she's not as bad as she was back then, but she just needs love and understanding and most importantly a good self-esteem again. Right now she's seeing herself as fat and ugly, when that is so not the truth. She's beautiful. She has overcame so much in her life and maybe one day you will be blessed by her stories of what she has went through just to see that she is remarkable." Samantha said giving him a hug and then walking away from him because she was in tears. Micky wiped the tears from his eyes as well that were forming.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two hours later, they were informed of Elaine being in a room. All four of them went into it very slowly and hesitantly, as they did not know how their friend would be. Naomi gasped when they saw their friend.
"I can't do this again. I just can't." she cried running out of the room.
"Me neither," Louise cried following behind Naomi. Micky pulled up a chair and sat down.
Samantha told Micky, "I need to check on the girls and I will be right back."
"Okay Sam," Micky said wiping the tears from his eyes. "I'm here baby," he said to Elaine stroking her long, beautiful hair that they had spread out on her pillow. "You're going to be just fine."
In the waiting room, Naomi and Louise were crying hysterically over their friend. "Come on you two," Samantha said pulling their arms gently and taking them into the bathroom until they calmed down.
In the bathroom, they all stood there in a hug for the longest time crying on each other's shoulder. They had been through so much as friends all these years, but dealing with this was the hardest on all of them; Naomi especially as she was also a recovering anorexic.
Back in the hospital room, Micky held Elaine's hand and prayed over her. He jumped up though when his cell phone rang. He quickly walked to the back of the room answering it softly, "Hello."
"Where are you man? We're waiting for you."
"Mike, oh wow. I totally forgot. I'm at the hospital. My friend you met has been admitted and I need to be here."
"Which one?" Mike asked.
"St. Charlotte's." Micky replied. "Room 204"
"We'll be right there, Micky." Mike said hanging up the phone. He told Peter, "His friend is in the hospital. We need to go up there."
"Okay Mike," Peter replied. Mike turned the car around and headed for the hospital. They needed to be there for Micky and his friend.
~~~~~~~~~~
At the hospital, Peter and Mike took the elevator to the second floor and walked up to the waiting room. Mike blinked a few times and asked, "Isn't that his friend there?"
"There's three of them." Peter said shocked. "I must be seeing triple."
"What are you staring at?" they heard as someone walked over to them.
"We're looking for Micky." Mike replied.
"He's in our friend's room. Who are you?" the voice asked him.
"We're his friends Mike and Peter. Who are you?" Mike asked.
"I'm Samantha, that is Naomi, and this is Louise. We're Elaine's friends from back home in Massachusetts."
"You all have a very familiar resemblance to each other." Mike said shaking her hand.
"We're best friends." Samantha said. "I'll go and tell Micky you both are here."
"Thanks," Mike said walking over to a chair and sitting down.
Samantha walked into the room and quietly whispered into Micky's ear. "I'll be right back, Elaine. I promise." Micky said as Samantha took his spot in the chair.
Micky walked out to the lobby and greeted his friends. "Thanks for coming guys." Micky said giving them both a hug.
"You're welcome. What happened?" Mike asked.
Micky took them far away from the girls to explain what had happened. He glanced out the corner of his eye and saw Naomi hyperventilating into a paper bag.
"Naomi?" Micky said walking over to her. "Calm down. She's going to be just fine."
Micky sat with her holding her in his arms until she relaxed. Louise moved over near Micky as well. "Will you hold us, Micky?"
Micky put his other arm around Louise and held them so tightly. Everyone was having a hard time dealing with what happened. Peter and Mike sat next to them and quietly prayed.
~~~~~~~~~
That following morning, Samantha woke up to Elaine squeezing her hand. "Where am I?" Elaine said. Sam's eyes widened as she gave her friend a huge hug and kiss. "You're in the hospital, but you're just fine sweetie." Samantha said.
Elaine yawned and then winced her throat hurt her. "How did I get here?" she asked.
"Micky found you on the bathroom floor and we brought you here." Samantha said.
"Micky? Where is he?" Elaine asked. "I want to see him."
"Let me go and get him. He's with Louise and Naomi in the lobby and his friends are here too." Samantha replied.
Sam walked out to the lobby and saw Micky holding Naomi and Louise in his arms. He was snoring loudly. Sam walked over to him and said, "Micky, Elaine's awake and asking for you. I'll take sleepyheads." Micky gently lifted the girls' heads up and moved out so that Sam could take his place.
Micky walked into the hospital room and Elaine held her arms up in the air and started to cry out to him, "Micky!"
"Hi baby," Micky said giving his friend a hug and kiss. "How are you feeling?"
"Throat hurts a little, but fine. What happened?" Elaine asked holding onto his arm for dear life.
"Don't know. Found you on the bathroom floor with blood running out of your mouth."
"Oh," Elaine said embarrassed. She put her head back on the pillow and gasped, "I was so distraught at what Naomi did to you making you hate me and not want to be my friend anymore that I just couldn't handle it."
"You did not need to do that, Elaine. I would never not want to be your friend. Please don't ever do that again." Micky said holding her in his arms and kissing her forehead. She started to cry while he was holding her. "We were fighting and I didn't know what else to do. I know that's not an excuse, but I am so sensitive." she cried out to him.
Meanwhile, in the lobby, Peter woke up and found Naomi lying against his shoulder. He looked at her and quietly asked Samantha who was yawning, "Which one is this?"
"Naomi. She's very gentle at times. Right now she's more fragile than anything. I can move her if she's bothering you."
"No, she's fine. I was just wondering which one she was." Peter said back to Sam. He wrapped his arm around Naomi and gently pulled her in closer to him. He could hear gentle breathing coming from her. "Does she have a cold?" Peter asked.
"No, she has bad sinuses. We're all somewhat cursed with them I'm afraid. But Elaine and Naomi are the worst." Sam replied softly.
"Here's some blankets everyone," the Nurse said quietly as she passed them out.
"Thank you so much," Samantha said to the Nurse. Peter covered him, Mike, and Naomi up with theirs while Sam covered her and Louise up with hers. When Naomi's arms and legs went out immediately it frightened Peter. Samantha yawned and said, "She's dreaming, Peter. It's okay."
He tried to be supportive of her moving around, but eventually he closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep. Samantha checked on Louise and she was dreaming as well. Naomi was halfway out of her seat on the floor.
"Naomi, wake up," Samantha said trying to pick her friend up and lay her down on the couch instead.
Naomi opened up her eyes and whined, "What?"
"You need to lay down on the couch or stay put. You're dreaming over there is causing you to fall on the floor." Sam said.
"Who is this?" Naomi asked looking at the guy next to her.
"That is Peter, Micky's friend." Samantha said. "You had put your head on his shoulder and he was holding you for a while."
"He what?" Naomi said getting irritated.
"He was trying to be nice and friendly, Naomi. Be quiet everyone is trying to sleep." Samantha said reassuring her friend.
Naomi took her blanket and walked to the other end of the waiting room and went to sleep down there. She didn't want any stranger touching her again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few days and several phone calls later, Micky was able to take Elaine home. She would be starting her new program in a week. She would go three times a week for an hour each night. Micky had worked his schedule around to meet her schedule.
Samantha had gotten ahold of Elaine's work explaining the situation to them and they were thankfully very understanding. Naomi and Louise were busy cleaning Elaine's apartment for her return along with the much disputed help of Mike and Peter that Sam insisted they help with the furniture moving.
Sam helped Micky get Elaine in the car and they drove back to the apartment. The gang was just finishing up when the car pulled into the parking lot. Samantha, Naomi, and Louise all managed to get extra time off at work as well. Samantha also arranged it so that they could change their departure dates for whenever they were returning back. Sam didn't want to leave until she knew Elaine would be okay.
When they opened the door and walked inside, the apartment had "Welcome home, Laney," banners all over the place. Elaine started to tear up when she saw that. Her heart melted knowing her friends were there.
First thing Micky did when he got Elaine situated on the couch was he called and ordered them pizzas to be delivered. One of the orders from the hospital was that Elaine was to eat whatever she could tolerate and as often as possible. Micky knew she loved pizza and that's what he wanted to do for her.
Naomi sat on the couch near Elaine and whispered, "What do you know of this guy?"
"Which one?" Elaine asked.
"The blond one," Naomi replied.
"His name is Peter. That's all I know." Elaine replied. "Oh and he's one of Micky's friends and they used to play in the band together."
"What band?" Naomi asked curiously. "Micky, baby, what was the name of your band again?" Elaine asked while he was in the kitchen getting their drinks.
"The Monkees." Micky replied.
"Thanks." Elaine said.
Samantha's jaw dropped as she looked at him. "Say what?" she asked. "You were in the Monkees? As in the TV Show the Monkees?"
"Yep, that's us. Well three of us anyway. Davy's in England." Micky replied.
"You know them?" Elaine asked Sam.
"Know them? Know them? Uh, yeah, every warm-bodied American woman knows them or should know them." Samantha said fanning herself with the tissue box she found on the counter.
"I've never heard of them before." Elaine replied.
"Uh well you lived without TV, Elaine, and that's why. The rest of us know who they are."
Naomi looked at Louise and both their jaw dropped. They were in the same room with celebrities.
Mike sat in the kitchen and told Micky, "I wish they didn't know that."
"Well, too late now." Micky said.
"And if we get mobbed?" Mike asked.
"Then I'm going to love it so much," Micky replied smirking at Elaine.
"You're in love with her, aren't you?" Mike asked.
"Lower your voice, I don't want her hearing." Micky said nervously smiling at Elaine who was thankfully busy talking with Samantha and Naomi.
"You are, aren't you?" Mike asked.
"Maybe. But that is my business." Micky said closing the cabinet drawers.
"Wait a minute," Mike said opening up the cabinets again. "Who in their right mind labels their drawers?"
"Organized people, Mike. Something you could learn from her." Micky said closing the cabinets again after pulling out the paper plates and napkins.
"Elaine Grace, when on earth did you get this?" Louise said walking out of the spare room holding a laptop computer.
"That's not mine." Elaine said.
"It's mine," Micky said. "I keep it over here sometimes. But you can use it if you'd like."
"A laptop. Oh my." Louise said opening it up and smiling when she saw the picture on his desktop. "When was this picture taken?"
"What picture?" Elaine asked.
"About a month ago when she was sleeping. Isn't she adorable?" Micky asked.
Elaine looked at the picture and blushed saying, "At least my hair was done up nicely."
Naomi looked at Peter and blushed five shades of red. She recognized him now. "I feel so embarrassed," she said to everyone. "I yelled at a celebrity."
"It happens." Micky replied. "Just don't let it happen again, Patterson." He smirked at her and everyone laughed.
"You remember my name?" Naomi asked even more embarrassed than anything.
"Yep. You were a drill sergeant and wanted me to write down your note, remember? So I wrote your name down as well."
"Let me see that note, Micky. I want to see how harsh she really was with you." Elaine said.
"It's at the apartment, Elaine, and you don't need to see it. It's in the past." Micky said.
"What about your drum lessons?" Elaine asked.
"They are taken care of. Don't worry, Elaine." Micky replied.
Peter walked over to her and sat down next to her. "It's okay darlin, we forgive you." he said putting his arm around her and she squealed.
"Please don't get her started," Elaine said to Peter. "She'll squeal all night long if you keep embarrassing her."
"Sorry," Peter said smiling at Naomi.
Samantha looked at Mike and asked, "Which one were you?"
"Which one of what?" Mike asked.
"Of the guys in the group?" Samantha replied.
Micky looked at her and said, "He was the one with the hat."
Samantha started to giggle and said, "I remember now."
"I don't," Elaine said. "Only what Micky showed me on the tape, and I fell asleep during it as well."
Micky sat next to Elaine and held her in his arms. "That's okay darlin, we can watch some more another time."
"When will the pizza be here?" Sam asked. "I'm starving."
Naomi looked at Peter and smirked again. She lowered her head and he said to her, "Your head will get stuck like that if you don't lift it up once in a while."
Elaine heard that and started laughing, but stopped immediately when her ribs started to hurt her in pain. "Ouch," she cried out.
"What is it?" Sam asked.
"My chest is still sore from the other day," Elaine replied taking a deep breath and wincing.
Micky reassured Elaine that she was fine and she snapped, "I know I'm fine."
He took her arms off of him and walked to the apartment door and opened it. He heard the pizza delivery guy in the hallway.
"Don't yell at him, Elaine." Sam said. "He was just trying to help."
"I know," Elaine said moving her legs around so she could sit up on the couch instead of lie down. Micky paid for the pizzas and pop and then carried everything back to the kitchen. "Come and serve yourself everyone," Micky said as he left the kitchen and went into Elaine's bedroom and closed the door.
Elaine stood up and slowly walked towards her bedroom. Micky was lying down on the bed. "I'm sorry I snapped at you." she said laying down next to him.
"I know you are," Micky said. Elaine put her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her. "I do love you, Micky." Elaine said.
"I love you too, Elaine." Micky replied covering them up with a blanket. Elaine closed her eyes and fell asleep in the comfort of his stroking her hair.
When no one came out of the bedroom, Samantha asked, "Um does anyone know how close these two really are?"
"Nope," Mike answered.
Samantha walked to the bedroom door and opened it. She found the two asleep on the bed and smiled. She closed the door and told everyone, "They fell asleep in each other's arms."
The five friends sat in the livingroom eating pizza while the other two friends were sleeping. They laughed and got to know one another a little bit, and everyone eventually fell asleep in the livingroom.
~~~~~~~~~~~
That next morning, Naomi woke up screaming, "Ahhhh," Peter and Mike sat straight up and looked around. "What's wrong?" Mike asked.
Samantha opened her eyes and told them, "She's fine. Just having a nightmare."
"You all must have that horrible issue, huh?" Mike asked. "I remember Elaine having those as well."
Elaine opened up her bedroom door and looked at them, "Nightmare?" she asked.
"Yep," Sam replied. "Your pizza's in the fridge."
"We're sleeping." Elaine said closing the door and crawling back under the covers with Micky. "Just a nightmare, Micky. Everyone is fine." Elaine said giving him a gentle kiss on the forehead.
Sam made sure Naomi was okay and then fell back asleep. Louise was still sound asleep snoring away gently. Mike looked at Peter and then they both went back to sleep as well.
Elaine nestled her head in his shoulder and when she felt his arm around her, she looked at him and said, "Morning."
"Good morning to you too," Micky replied groggily at her. "I'm sorry I woke you." Elaine said.
"You didn't. I was half-asleep." Micky replied. "I was worried about you and kept one eye open most the night even though I looked like I was fully asleep."
"Awww, please don't worry about me, I'm fine." Elaine said kissing his forehead gently. She whispered in his ear, "I heard your snoring, too, so I knew you were asleep."
"Maybe partially at times," Micky said. Elaine put her finger over his mouth to shush him. She looked into his eyes and asked, "What is happening between us?"
"We fight and make up. We fight and make up. We fight and make up." Micky said in reply to her.
"No, I mean what is really happening to us?" Elaine said brushing his hair out of his eyes and looking into them again.
"I don't know, Elaine." Micky said rolling over onto his side, not wanting to face her.
"I don't know either, Micky." Elaine replied getting off the bed and walking into her bathroom closing the door. Micky didn't know how he was feeling towards her at that moment. One minute they were best friends, and another they hated each other. Yes, he loved her so very much and he knew that she loved him too, however, they were both very standoffish with each other at times as well.
Micky stared at the bathroom door wondering what she was doing. Hoping that she wasn't making herself sick again. He didn't know how anyone could do that to themselves.
"What ya doing, Elaine?" Micky asked through the door.
"Just sitting here," Elaine replied. "Don't worry, I'm fine."
"I'm opening the door." Micky said turning the handle and pushing the door open. She was sitting on the edge of the bathtub staring at the floor.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked sitting down beside her.
"You don't want to hear about my problems, Micky." Elaine said wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Yes, I do. I want to be here for you." He said to her taking her hand.
"And do what? Hold my hand like a baby all the time?" Elaine asked standing up and walking away from him.
"I never said that, Elaine, and you know it." Micky said. "Don't try and push me away because I won't let you."
"You might not have a choice in the matter, Micky." Elaine said looking at him and then walking out into the bedroom.
"And what exactly does that mean, Elaine?" Micky asked lifting his voice at her.
"Nothing! I refuse to discuss this now." Elaine said grabbing her blanket and opening up the bedroom door.
"Well when then? When you're actually lying dead on the floor like we thought you were the other night. Only this time, you might die alone. Is that when you want to talk about it, Elaine? Because if that's the case, it will be too late." Micky said yelling at her.
"Whoa! What's going on you two?" Samantha asked opening her eyes quickly.
"Nothing!" Elaine said. "Mind your own business."
"Well, I'm waiting, Elaine. When is the time to discuss it?" Micky said walking to the kitchen and sitting down in the chair.
"Never!" Elaine screamed at him and ran into the spare room locking herself inside.
"Fine!" Micky said grabbing his things and walking towards the door.
"Where are you going, Micky?" Mike asked.
"I need some air." Micky said taking some puffs on his inhaler. "I can't breathe in here."
"You can't leave her like that, Micky." Samantha said. "You need to learn not to let her push you away and that's what she is trying to do. We discussed this."
"I said I can't breathe and need some air." Micky replied opening the door and walking out of the apartment. Mike and Peter followed after their friend while Naomi, Louise, and Samantha sat on the couch looking at each other.
"Now what?" Naomi asked.
"Now they're at checkmate." Samantha said getting up off the couch to get herself a Coca-Cola and pizza out of the fridge and eating the leftovers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two hours later, Mike and Peter returned to the apartment.
"How's Micky?" Sam asked opening the door to them.
"He's lying down at his apartment. He's still having trouble breathing, but it's not as bad as it was a while ago." Mike said. "It gets worse when he's under stress." "How is Elaine?"
"Hiding in her room like a baby," Louise said raising her voice.
"Stop it, Louise!" Samantha said looking at her friend.
Peter walked over to Naomi and sat down next to her. "Are you exhausted watching them fight?"
"Yes, you?" She asked.
"Very." Peter replied taking a deep breath and slowly letting it out.
"Some friendship those two really have. If I didn't know any better, I would think they were boyfriend and girlfriend." Louise said opening up her can of Coca-Cola and taking a sip.
"Maybe we are," Elaine said opening up the door and looking at her friends. "Maybe that's why we hate each other half the time. Maybe that's why I have these strong feelings inside my tummy that make me sick when I think about him. Maybe that's why I dream about him at night. Maybe that's why he's my only friend here. I don't know."
Elaine walked to the couch and sat down. "Maybe that's why I've been single all my life because I have been waiting for Mr. Right. Maybe that's why I can't stop thinking about him. Maybe that's why when we kiss, my body goes numb. I don't know. Maybe for the first time in my life, I have met the man God wants me to be with for the rest of my pathetic life. Maybe my telling him I love him is more than a friendship. I don't know."
Samantha asked, "Have you told him what you just told us?"
"No, I can't." Elaine replied covering up with a blanket.
"Why not?" Louise asked gently.
"Because maybe, just maybe, I'm afraid of losing my one and only friend here if things don't work out between us." Elaine said using her sleeve and wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Aww," Naomi said walking over to her friend and giving her a huge hug. "Our little sis is in love."
Elaine cried and cried. Mike and Peter were floored. They had no idea things were the way they were with Elaine and Micky.
"Well, Micky is very quiet when it comes to his relationships." Peter said and then received a punch in the arm from Mike.
"Relationships, Peter. Has he had many?" Elaine asked.
"You should really ask Micky," Mike said in his friend's defense.
"Micky changes the subject at the mention of other women." Elaine said wiping the tears from her eyes.
[Peter in his defense] "Did I say relationships as in pleural? I meant to say relationship."
"It's okay, Peter. You don't have to lie for him. He wouldn't be hiding it if he wanted me to know the complete truth." Elaine said.
"You need to talk to him, sis." Samantha said. "And you need to open up like you just did with us."
"And I said I can't," Elaine said getting up off the couch and walking into her bedroom closing the door behind her. "We should probably go and check on Micky." Mike said. "Nice meeting you ladies again."
"You too, Mike." Samantha said walking them to the door. "Stop over again if you wish."
"Thanks," Mike said. Him and Peter left the apartment in shock. Micky hadn't said a word to them other than the fact that she was his friend.
Back at Micky's, he was lying on the bed still taking deep breaths. "Is it any better?" Mike said letting himself into his friend's apartment.
"A little," Micky gasped. "How is Elaine?"
"She's in love with you," Peter said outright and received a hit from Mike.
"She's what?" Micky asked sitting up.
"Nice one, Peter!" Mike said hitting his friend's arm again.
"Uh, I didn't say that." Peter said. "I was wrong. I meant to say, she's fine."
"Did she come out of the room?" Micky asked.
"Yes," Mike said. "She sat on the couch and talked with us for a while."
"And she just openly admitted to everyone that she's in love with me?" Micky asked irritated.
"Not in so many words, Micky." Mike said sitting down on the chair in his friend's room while Peter stayed on the couch in the livingroom. "But we do suggest you talk to her."
"I have nothing to say," Micky said. "She's my friend and that's that."
"Well word of advice little buddy, you're treading on shallow waters with her at this moment, and her emotions are in overdrive. If you are not sharing those same emotions, I suggest you nip it now before it goes any farther." Mike said.
"Nah, she's only my best friend." Micky said. "You all are crazy."
"We might be crazy, Micky, but we were there and heard everything come out of her mouth. She's fallen for you hard." Mike said.
"I don't believe it." Micky said. "She can't be."
"Well, she is. And you need to figure out if you feel the same way about her and fast." Mike said. "We don't like the fact of telling you, but now that it's out, you need to figure out what to do."
Micky sat there in total disbelief. The house remained quiet the rest of the afternoon.
~~~~~~~~
Back at Elaine's, Elaine finally came out and finished off her half of the leftover pizza. She sat there with the girls and asked, "Did I do something wrong?"
"No, you spoke from your heart, Elaine, and that was a huge step for you." Samantha said giving her friend a hug.
"I bet they're over there telling Micky right now." Elaine said.
"I wouldn't doubt it," Samantha said. "Peter seems to blurt things out unintentionaly."
"Oh but isn't he just a hottie?" Naomi asked smiling at them.
"A what?" Samantha asked looking at Naomi who was turning five shades of red. "Don't tell me you like Peter."
"Very much." Naomi replied smiling. "He's so gentle and loving. I can feel his spirit inside me now."
"Naomi Patterson," Louise said. "You're like a smitten teenager."
"I am." Naomi said. "I really am." She smiled at her friends and gave herself a huge hug. "I have fallen head-over-heels for Peter."
"You only just met him." Elaine said.
"Love at first sight there, Elaine. It does happen." Naomi replied smiling back at her friends. "What is Micky's phone number again? I want to call Peter."
"No way, you don't call his number again." Elaine said. "You leave that poor man alone."
Samantha pulled out her phone and called Micky's.
At Micky's, Micky said, "Get my phone please, Mike."
Mike reached for the phone, but Peter picked it up instead. "Micky's place."
"Peter, is that you?" Sam asked.
"Yes, who is this?" Peter replied.
"Samantha, next door. There's someone that wants to talk to you."
"Uh, okay." Peter said surprised. Samantha handed the phone to Naomi and Naomi cleared her throat and laid back on the couch. "Peter, this is Naomi Patterson, Elaine's friend."
"Hello, Naomi. Did you want Micky?" Peter asked.
"No, actually I want to talk to you please." Naomi said twirling her hair like a teenager.
"Really? What about?" Peter asked.
"Can you pick me up and take me to your favorite restaurant for something to eat?" Naomi asked.
"When, now?" Peter asked.
"I want to shower first, Peter. But in say about an hour?" Naomi asked.
"Fine, one hour. That will be great, Naomi. See you then." Peter said.
"Great. See you then." Naomi replied hanging up the phone and sighing. "I have a date."
Peter hung up the phone and walked into Micky's room. "I've got a date in one hour." he said to his friends.
"With who?" Micky asked. "Naomi. She wants me to take her to dinner in one hour." Peter said wiping the sweat from his face. "I don't know how to behave with her."
"You did just fine at the house with her, Peter." Mike said. "She's taken a fancy to you."
"I need to go home and get the other car." Peter said.
"We should let Micky rest." Mike said.
"I want to hear all about you and Naomi," Micky said.
"A true gentleman never reveals such things, Micky." Peter said walking to the door and opening it. "Come on Michael."
Mike told Micky, "Think about what I said. See you later."
"Okay," Micky replied. "Thanks for everything."
"Not a problem. Thank you for calling us." Mike replied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An hour later, Naomi was sitting on the couch putting up her long hair. "What do you think?" she asked.
"I think you're crazy." Elaine replied.
"Just because I'm not afraid to admit my feelings like you are, Elaine, does not make me a bad person." Naomi replied.
"You're shy too," Elaine said.
"Not as bad as you are." Naomi replied. "Don't wait up youngsters."
When Peter knocked on the door, Naomi opened it and said, "I'm ready, Peter."
"Wow! What's the occasion for your being dressed up?" Peter asked.
"You'll see." Naomi replied walking out with her arm in his. Elaine looked at her friends, sighed, and said to herself, "she is crazy."
"She's in love, just like you are with Micky." Samantha replied.
"She's only just met him." Elaine said. "I've known Micky for almost a year or more now."
"Well, some people know things immediately and others need more time to figure things out." Samantha said.
"Oh shut up!" Elaine said walking to the fridge and eating more pizza.
Louise looked at Sam and they both laughed to themselves.
~~~~~~~
At the restaurant, Peter's nervousness quickly disappeared when Naomi sat beside him in the booth and gave him a gentle kiss. "I'm sorry I was mean to you at the hospital." she said.
"It's okay," Peter replied.
"No, it's not okay. I shouldn't have made the fuss over your arm being around me. I know you have a gentle heart and were trying to comfort me." Naomi said.
"Well, it was not a problem at all." Peter said smiling at her.
"Are you religious, Peter?" Naomi asked.
"Religious as in how exactly?" Peter replied.
"Do you believe in God." Naomi asked taking a sip of her tea.
"Yes, I believe in God," Peter replied. "I also believe in all religions and philosophies as well."
"To each their own, in other words. I agree with that theory too." Naomi replied. "We are not to judge anyone. That is what God states clearly in his Word."
"Yes he does," Peter replied.
"Do you have a church, Peter?" Naomi asked.
"No, I am not a minister, Naomi, so I do not have a church." Peter replied.
Naomi smirked at him and then said, "No, that's not what I meant. I meant do you have a church home, Peter?"
"Oh," Peter said embarrassed. "Not really."
Naomi looked at him and asked, "Are you tired of chatter?"
"Are you?" Peter asked.
"Yes," Naomi replied looking at him and then leaning in to give him a kiss on the cheek.
Peter's mind was racing, "She doesn't waste any time. Ooh she smells so beautiful."
~~~~~~~~~~~
That following morning, Naomi and Peter arrived at his apartment. Mike was waiting up. "You two were sure gone long time."
"Goodnight, Michael." Peter said pulling Naomi into the livingroom and collapsing on the couch with her. She was giggling hysterically.
Mike sighed and went to his room. He could hear giggling and whispering from his room. "Lovesick puppies." Mike said quietly to himself. "Ahhh I remember those days."
At 10 am, Mike's phone rang and he picked it up, "Hello."
"Mike, this is Micky. Does Peter have Naomi there?"
"Yes, she stayed on the couch." Mike replied.
"Well, the girls have called here six times looking for her. I'm giving them your number." Micky said.
"Okay, fine." Mike replied.
Micky hung up the phone and called them back. Samantha took the phone number and called the house. "Hello," Mike said picking up the phone.
"Naomi please, this is Samantha."
"Ugh! Just a moment." Mike said crawling out of his warm bed and walking into the livingroom picking up the phone and handing it to Naomi. "It's for you."
"For me?" Naomi asked lifting herself up off of Peter's shoulder. "Hello?"
"You told us not to wait up, but we did anyway. Elaine's freaking out that something happened to you and Louise is not happy you didn't at least have the courtesy to call and tell us you were okay. When are you coming home?"
"Um, not for a while. I'm still sleeping with Peter." Naomi replied.
"You're what?" Samantha asked shocked.
"No wait, that came out wrong. I'm sleeping on the couch next to Peter." Naomi said.
"Well, you will explain this to Laney when you arrive back here. She's been up all night pacing the floors."
"Give her a sleeping pill and have her go to sleep. I'm fine." Naomi said.
"She's already had two of them and it's not working." Samantha said. "Louise just took her blood pressure and it was skyrocketing."
"Let me talk to her then, Sam." Naomi said.
Sam handed the phone to Elaine and Elaine said, "I want you home this instant."
"I am a grown woman and I will be back there when I want. I am fine here with Peter." Naomi replied.
"You are only a visitor here, and you stay in my home as a guest. If I say I want you home, I want you home." Elaine replied. "You scared us to death last night."
"You knew I was out with Peter." Naomi replied. "He's your friend."
"I barely know him, myself, Naomi, so I would hardly classify that as 'my' friend." Elaine replied. "I want you home by 3pm or I will throw your things in the parking lot."
"Go to sleep and just relax, Elaine." Naomi said.
Elaine hung up the phone and went into her bedroom yelling, "GRRRRRRRRR."
Naomi looked at Peter who was still asleep and then put her head back down on his shoulder going back to sleep herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At 5pm that evening, Peter dropped Naomi off in the parking lot asking, "You sure you don't want me to explain to them?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I'm a grown woman and they can deal with it. We did nothing wrong." Naomi said getting out of the car and looking around for her things. "Thank you for a wonderful date last night, Peter."
"You're welcome and thank you as well." Peter said blushing at her.
"Call me later if you wish." Naomi said.
"I will." Peter replied parking the car and making sure she got into the apartment okay.
She waved at him as he pulled away. She walked into the apartment and looked at the girls. They were asleep on the couch in the livingroom. She checked on Elaine and she, too, was sound asleep snoring away in her bedroom.
She quietly made her way to the other couch and curled up on it. She was glad they were all still asleep. She, too, was tired and went back to sleep as well.
On his way back to the apartment, Peter thought of their date the night before. They had a wonderful time with dinner, dancing, and a latenight movie. Plus, Peter got to show her part of the town. Peter was a hopeless romantic when he wanted to be. However, when he pulled into the driveway, Micky was sitting on his car waiting for him.
"Hey Micky!" Peter said smiling at his friend.
"Hey nothing. What on earth did you and Naomi do all night long?" Micky asked. "Elaine called me absolutely frantic thinking something might have happened to her friend."
"We went to dinner, dancing, and a latenight movie. Plus I showed her some of the town." Peter replied. "Other than that, that is none of your business."
"When Elaine is hyperventilating on the phone with me at 2am, I make it my business, Peter." Micky said. "She was hysterical for over an hour. Then they called me five times after that begging me to please get ahold of everyone."
"Naomi is home safely, Micky. We had a wonderful time together. She's a very sweet lady." Peter said walking up to the doorway.
"They are not your average women, Peter, in case you haven't figured that out." Micky said.
"Micky, I said she's home safe and soundly. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to sleep." Peter said closing the door on his friend's face.
Micky drove back to his apartment and went back to sleep himself since he got very little sleep dealing with Elaine's frantic self.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That week had gone by and Micky was very busy with his drum lessons. One night, as he was getting ready to go to his lesson, his phone rang. "Hello," he said picking it up.
"Um, I've been waiting at my session for over an hour and the session has came and gone, and my support person never showed up." he heard into the phone.
"Elaine?" Micky asked.
"Yes," Elaine replied. "I went to my first session alone and had to explain to everyone that something must have happened that was very important for my 'support partner' not to show up."
Micky grabbed his calendar and he had the days written in wrong. "OMGosh, Elaine, I am so sorry. I wrote in the days wrong. I thought it was tomorrow instead of tonight. I have drum lessons tonight. I just came home for a quick bite to eat and then I have to go back."
Micky heard a dial tone and said, "Darnit, Micky, you're an idiot." He walked to the balcony and looked out. He saw the shade down and lights turned off. He figured either she wasn't home yet or she was and was sitting in the dark. Her friends should have been there still.
At the park that following morning, Micky went for a run to help clear his mind. He felt terrible about ditching Elaine when she needed him the most. He noticed that she wasn't under the tree as well. He walked over by it and sat down. He stayed there waiting for almost half the day, and she never arrived.
He felt like such a heel. When he went back to his apartment, he found Louise at his doorstep. "Have a nice journey?" she asked.
"Yes, what's wrong?" Micky asked getting out of his car. "Peter has totally gone beserk over Naomi and now your friend Mike has called Samantha up taking her out on a date. That leaves me with a hysterical and frantic Elaine, because she does not know your friends well yet, and quite frankly I needed to get out of there before she drove me to lock her in her room."
"I'm sorry," Micky said. "I had no idea they would fall for one another."
"Why haven't you been around?" Louise asked.
"Been busy with drum lessons." Micky replied.
Louise said, "Um well news flash for you, Elaine has called the drum place and found out your schedule. She is madder than heaps at you right now for missing her first session."
"It was an accident," Micky said. "It won't happen again."
"You're right, it won't." Louise said. "She's changed all her therapy sessions to nights when you're working."
"Why?" Micky asked.
"She's got her friend Charlotte from church going with her now. She's a young girl with lots of time on her hands and loves Elaine to pieces and wants to see her well."
"So do I," Micky said.
"Well, just thought I would come and give you a heads-up. She is not happy with you or your friends." Louise said.
"Thanks for the heads-up, Louise." Micky said.
"You're welcome. I just felt you should know. Now I better get back before she has a nervous breakdown on me, which she's been so close to having since Mike started courting Samantha."
"When do you all go back to Massachusetts, Louise?" Micky asked.
"Not for another two weeks," Louise replied. "Which isn't soon enough for me, as I'm dealing with everything alone."
"I'm sorry," Micky said.
"Yeah well, things happen and then you die." Louise replied walking across the apartment way to Elaine's.
Micky blew out a breath of frustration as he entered his apartment. He sat in his chair and prayed to God, "What is happening here, Lord? Please tell me."
When Micky called Elaine's later that night to check on her, Louise answered the phone. "Hello."
"Hey, Louise, it's Micky. How is Elaine?"
"Um not good right now. She's having a panic attack in the bedroom. I have to let you go so I can take her a paper bag to breathe into."
"Why is she having a panic attack, Louise?" Micky asked.
"Your friend Mike has proposed to Samantha. They're engaged." Louise said. "I must go now."
"They're what?" Micky asked.
Micky hung up the phone and called Mike's apartment. "Hello," he heard.
"Mike, is that you?" Micky asked.
"Yes, hey cowboy, what's going on?" Mike asked.
"What is this I hear about you proposing to Samantha? You don't even know her." Micky asked.
"Slow down, Micky. It's only a promise ring. Not a proposal yet." Mike said.
"You don't even know her." Micky said annoyed.
"Well, we know how we feel about each other and that's that." Mike replied.
"You two are insane." Micky said. "First off, my best friends are not supposed to be dating my girlfriend's best friends."
"Why not? Is their some unwritten law we don't know about?" Mike asked.
"No, it's just not ethical." Micky replied.
"You are not to tell me what is ethical and not." Mike said. "I have to go now. I'm picking Samantha up tonight."
"You do realize they're leaving in two weeks, right? Then what? Long distance relationship?" Micky asked.
"I have two weeks, Micky. I'll worry about that when the day happens." Mike replied. "Goodnight my friend."
Micky hung up the phone and said, "This is so not right!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That night, Micky was looking at his calendar and he had the night off. However, it was not on the schedule before. He took a chance and went to the center where Elaine's meetings were taking place at. He saw her car in the parking lot. He went inside and found the room of Elaine's meeting.
He peeked inside the door and Elaine and Charlotte were the only ones in the room. Micky walked in and said, "Hello ladies, I'm here for your meeting."
"Hi Micky!" Charlotte said happily. "Glad you could come. Elaine's been wanting you here for a while now."
"Well, I'm here." Micky replied sitting down next to Elaine. She wouldn't look at him.
"She's doing so well in her meetings, Micky. She's almost completely back to her old self again, huh Elaine?" Charlotte asked.
"That's wonderful, Elaine. I am so happy for you!" Micky said wanting to give her a hug and she backed away from him. "Don't touch me," she said quietly.
"When do all the others get here?" Micky asked.
"Elaine has private sessions, Micky. The first class was filled with people and it made Elaine very nervous. She has private sessions now." Charlotte told him.
"Private sessions are good," Micky said.
The teacher walked into the room and said, "Well Ms. Nelson, how are you today?"
"I had six panic attacks today, made myself throw up four times, and I took one too many sleeping pills last night." Elaine said opening up her notebook and throwing it at Micky.
"And I don't need your sessions any longer. I quit!" Elaine said grabbing her purse and walking out of the room.
"Elaine, wait! You were doing so good." the teacher said chasing her out into the hallway.
Micky gathered all Elaine's papers and walked out to the car. Charlotte walked over to Micky and said, "I am so sorry about that. She has been doing wonderfully, honestly, Micky. Today was just a bad day for her."
"Here's her notebook back, Charlotte." Micky said handing it to her.
"That's her recovery notebook that she wants you to read, Micky. Please take it home with you and read it. She gave one to me and all her friends as well. It's part of her therapy. It might help you to understand her better, Micky."
"Charlotte, either you get in this car or I will leave you." Elaine yelled out the window.
"I'm coming, Elaine." Charlotte said going back to Elaine's car and getting inside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That night, Micky grabbed a box of tissues and stayed very quietly in his bedroom. He read Elaine's recovery notebook from cover to cover. It was the hardest thing in the world he had ever read in his life. One excerpt that really drew his attention to read over and over again was the following:
I was 18 years old when I first found myself heaving into the toilet because I was so sick and tired of looking at my grossly overweight body at 280 pounds and wearing a size 24 jeans. My flabby skin was dangling all around me like jello jiggling in a cup. I hid everything from my friends, family, and loved ones. No one had a clue that I would clear my refrigerator in a night and then gorge it up; or, on the flipside, I would starve myself until I collapsed. I lived with this horror off and on for years. The night that finally ended it all, was when one of my girlfriend's who was sleeping over for a slumber party found me hidden in my bathroom tub, unconscious, and down to a mere 80 pounds. I had found laxatives by that point in time, to save my throat from all the damage.
Almost a mere 17 years later, I find myself in that circle again. Yes, I have relapsed twice during my recovery. However, I have maintained a size 10 for years. Up until recently that is. I was out shopping one day with Samantha while she's been visiting me here in California, and I put on my first pair of jeans since moving to California only to find myself at a size 6. When I saw that, that was my huge wakeup call. I was whittling down to nothing again and I most definitely did not want to go down that road again.
Yes, my life has been very hard, especially growing up listening to all the 'fat' jokes because I have heard them all. People may call it 'teasing,' but folks, there is no 'teasing' about it. It is mean, cruel, and just downright awful! That is what is classed as 'verbally abusive.'
Undergoing this therapy program again has been one of the most devastating experiences of my life. Because after all my years of struggling to have a respectable body, I have now achieved it and am finally a healthy, 150 pounds again and in a size 10 after my double portions of food that I have been eating, but in a sensible way. I do not want to go back to my old ways, and I pray every day that God will bless me with the ability to stand tall and face whatever comes my way in a correct and pleasing way to my body instead of devastating it the way that I have for all these years.
For all those people out there suffering like I have, there is help, hope, and understanding. You do not need to suffer alone. I love you all so much and may God bless you all. If you ever are down and lonely, please turn to God and talk to him. He always hears his children. He has helped me through this and he will help you as well.
Thank you for reading my recovery notebook. Elaine Grace Nelson, age 35.
Micky put the book down and cried for hours. He had no clue his best friend had been suffering as much as she had. He just wanted to hold his friend tightly in his arms for hours, but his friend was not talking to him. Micky was blurry-eyed when he picked up the book again and found another excerpt he had missed before. It read:
I also forgot to mention, due to all of my pitfalls in the yo-yo world of my anorexia, I had formed a huge shield over my heart to protect me from anyone that might damage it again. After years of being single, I have moved to California and fallen in love with the most sweetest man in the world. His name shall remain nameless, because he knows who he is. With only my brief time here in California, this man has made me feel so happy and complete with my life...that was, of course, before all the problems had started between us and my relapse occurred.
Now, I am still struggling to find a way to tell him that I do love him so much. See, folks, I have been very shy around him in admitting my 'true' feelings for him. Probably for fear that I would lose the best friendship I have ever had with him, if a relationship did not work out between us. I guess you can call me silly or whatever, but I am very shy and very guarded. Because folks, I do not want to break that barrier down and let someone inside my heart again if all they are going to do is berate me or belittle me because I am not your average woman. I wear my heart on my sleeve, and I live and breathe and have feelings just like the rest of you.
I am tender, sensitive, and emotional, but I am also very loving, caring, and a great friend. Ask my girlfriends from Massachusetts and they will tell you. I am their 'little sis' they love to call me. Even though we are all the same age, I am still their 'baby' and they are mother hens to me as well. I love my friends so much because they are my sisters.... not only in friendship, but also sisters in Christ. To this one man I am referencing here, I say this: "You know who you are. Even though I might push you away, if you give into my pushing, then that is the biggest mistake of your life. You need to fight for what you want and believe in."
Thank you again for reading my recovery notebook. Elaine Grace Nelson, age 35.
Micky read that, cleared his throat, and took a long hot shower. His emotions were on a rollercoaster at that moment in time. His heart had been touched in so many different ways that he did not know which way to turn. When he came out into his bedroom he blinked four times as he changed into his pajamas. Was he hallucinating? Not quite. Was he dreaming? Maybe. But he found himself lying on the bed under the covers staring at the ceiling. Pretty soon he found himself shivering as the cold air blew by him.
"What is it?" he asked God. Suddenly, his window flew open and the curtains started to blow in the breeze. He blinked several times and still saw nothing. However, the moment he closed his eyes, he felt his covers moving on the bed. He opened his eyes and saw her lying there next to him. Her reddish-brown hair flowing in the breeze. "But I?" he tried to get out of his lips.
She covered his mouth with her finger to shush him into silence.
"But?" he tried to speak again as she gently covered his eyes with her hand. She leaned over and kissed his lips and his body went numb and so did hers for that matter. When she moved away from his lips and looked into his eyes. He said, "I'm sorry."
"Me too." Elaine replied to him. She rested her head on his chest and they fell asleep together in the bed.
Chapter 4
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