Chapter Text
There will always, always be a warning sign. Waking up before sunrise to “eat breakfast” and go on runs before Grace woke up to “avoid her fussiness”. Waiting until the moment they were done eating to purge it up, hoping and praying that the weight would stay off.
Once routine sex became a gift for special occasions only. The jacket never, ever, came off. They preferred to be as clothed as humanely possible for a number of reasons. Reasons that were going to stay hidden, never see the light, and forgotten about. Dirty, disgusting secrets.
The media made it impossible to even think. Who gained weight? Who lost weight? Who looked old? Who was “letting themself go?” Every single newspaper article was a new reason for Poison to shoot the shit.
October 31st, 2019.
The shop was brightly lit with baby pink painted walls. There was a mint green sign with a poodle chipping off, the lights inside flickering wildly. The tables were beat up but useable and their matching chairs had a plaid patterned cushion.
“Are you gonna get something?” Fun Ghoul asked, leaning on his left foot. “I think I just wanna get vanilla. It’s simple.”
“I mean, I dunno. There’s a lot to pick from…” Party mumbled. They reached up to pick at their chapped lip, to which Ghoul slapped their hand away.
“You should get chocolate.” He straightened his back to look at Poison. “You always like chocolate.”
Fun Ghoul was nearly bouncing off of the walls, way too excited to think much of Poison’s avoidance. He was back to staring at the menu that never changed. It was his favorite ice cream parlor. With Grace and the influx of dracs it wasn’t exactly easy to find time for an ice cream date.
“I just feel sick, y’know?”
The line inched closer to the register and they took a step forward.
“What, sick-sick,” Ghoul asked as he turned his head towards the other. “Or head-sick?”
“Nausea,” Poison lied through their teeth.
The line was dreadfully long, and god, Party felt like they were gaining weight just by breathing in so much sugar. After Fun’s ice cream finally came out, he was dragged outside to a picnic table. Poison sat close to Ghoul, their head resting on his right shoulder.
“Are you sure you don’t want anything. You should still eat. Or- at least have a bite of mine. For my birthday?” He poked Poison in the cheek after the birthday comment.
They flushed, embarrassed, “babe.”
“What?” He laughed. “I look like a fatass eating alone! Let me feed my boyfriend.”
Poison’s stomach dropped the second Ghoul held an ice cream filled spoon out to them. It was just ice cream. Everyone ate ice cream. If it was hot or you were celebrating or you just wanted it—you ate ice cream. Everyone did it. It was harmless and normal, yet an ugly, unforgettable feeling swirled in Poison’s chest.
“It’ll make me vomit,” they said quietly. They knew there was nothing to throw up. “Maybe next time we’re here.”
Fun Ghoul frowned, setting the spoon back into the small styrofoam bowl. The sun was about to set and the temperature was starting to drop. Nights in the Zones became awfully cold in the fall.
They went to the car for a more comfortable place to sit. It was painfully quiet as Party stared through the windshield and Ghoul’s spoon scraped against the ice cream bowl.
Kids were running around, ice cream cones in hand, while their parents sat and monitored from the picnic tables. The children screeched and laughed, nearly bumping into their Trans Am. Ghoul was startled and snapped out of autopilot.
“You’re being weird today. You keep getting all sick when we’re around food.” Ghoul finally said.
“I’m not like that. I’m fine, you know I am,” they reached over the center console to kiss Fun’s cheek, lowering their voice. “Eat your treat, silly.”
As Party pulled away, Ghoul caught their wrist. “You’re not fine,” he gently pulled them closer, his thumb digging into the spot that made them wince. “Your hand is shaking! And, might I add, you’re cold. You’re never cold. When’s the last time you ate something? Like, a real meal.” He was speaking quickly, frantically searching their face for answers.
Poison yanked their arm back. “I told you, I’m fucking fine. Why are you trying to press me for information that I don’t fucking have?”
The outburst caught Ghoul off guard. He lowered his voice. “I’m just worried—you’re dropping weight like crazy.”
Party’s face shut down and they shifted uncomfortably. The passenger seat creaked beneath them, their boots digging into the plastic mat.
“Would you shut the fuck up and eat your ice cream?” They yelled angrily.
“What the hell is wrong?!” Ghoul shot back. “I’m just trying to make sure-“
“SHUT THE FUCK UP!”
The shout was like a gunshot. They were silent and unmoving, unable to process what had just happened. Party jerked the car door open, sprinting off towards the diner. It was a twenty minute run and they knew that by heart. They knew it as well as they knew they were about to get caught.