The First Steps (A Hunter Hayes Fanfiction, Book 1 of the Hardships Saga)

Chapter Two

❝society (pronounced səˈsʌɪɪt or suh-sahy-i-tee), noun
A group of people who believe an unachievable level of perfection is beauty, even though most people find beauty in other things.❞

Over the next few years, Hunter and Lilly grew very close, and Lynette and Leo wholly approved of Lilly and her soft manner. Slowly, though, Hunter helped her blossom into a much more social young girl, and her British accent disappeared as she grew closer to him. Lynette often looked after the girl when she would come, announcing that her mother was being horrible to her once more, and Hunter would hug her.

"You can always come to my family," he'd say. "I'll never let you be alone."

The thing was, Hunter left her alone quite frequently. When they were seven, he was whisked off to perform for the President. When he was slightly older than that, he was on a TV show. Then another movie. A gig. It never seemed to end, and Hunter loved it.

Well, at least Lilly figured he did. He had this way of staying optimistic, no matter how upset he really was. He was always smiling. How did he do that?

She stared at herself in the mirror, at the somewhat chubby fifteen year old girl with red hair and grey eyes. She hated how she looked. Her eyes and hair were nice, but she knew she needed to lose some weight. Her freckles bothered her too. They were so random, splayed out on her nose and cheeks. Hunter said they made her look younger than she was, but she wasn't convinced. Hunter told her she wasn't fat, either, but of course, she never believed him.

Her younger sister, who had been born approximately a year after Hunter and Lilly became friends, walked into the room. "Lilly, have you seen my brush?"

"It was near the TV, Rose," she says.

"Rosemary?" called their mother, and Rose groaned.

"I hate that name," she muttered. The nine year old walked back out of the room, and Lilly went back to looking at herself. She was way too fat, she told herself. Way too fat to be liked by anyone.

Why did she do this to herself, though? Why did she beat herself up?

"Lilliana, I'm going to have to tell Chef to put you on a diet. Honestly, it's just not lady-like to have that much of a stomach," said her mother blandly as she walked into the dining room.

Oh yeah, thought Lilly to herself. That's why I beat myself up.

"She's not that fat, Marcella," said her father, a little kindly.

"If she keeps going like this, then she'll become overweight!"

"Mother, Lilly isn't fat," said Rose, defending her older sister.

"Your sister should take after you more, Rosemary," said Marcella, looking at Rose's skinny frame.

Rose looked down. "I'm sorry, Lilly," she whispered.

Lilly stayed silent, eating her fried potatoes and sausages with tears in her eyes. What gave them the right to say things like that? Thank God for a sister like Rose. She could've easily gotten a snobby little crap instead, but she got a kindhearted little girl. But it wasn't enough, she knew that. What kind of parents actually told their teenage daughter that she was fat? And if they really did think she was fat, why did they constantly feed her gourmet dishes with about five thousand calories in every bite? What was their deal, anyway?

"Lilliana, why do you wear pants to school?" asked her father.

Lilly blinked. "Because everyone else does."

"Not today," said her mother. "You're wearing a dress, like a proper lady."

"Mother, come on!" she said, but her mother just stood.