Point Of View 2 [*Do not read until you've read the same chapter of ATW]

Chapter 25 Two-Headed Beast

"She's friggen bulimic now?? "

"I mean.... yes, but no. Yes, she's doing it on purpose, but no, not to lose weight, just to assure herself her addiction will get fed and she will feel numb."

Shit. Julia really does need to start her detox. The sooner, the better.

******

*Trisha*

I walk into the little French cafe and search the room. Usually, people come here either earlier in the day or after dinner for a cup of coffee, not at five thirty when it's dinnertime. My eyes lock with Noah's, who is sitting at a small table near the window, waiting. Waiting for me.

He's hot. We all know that. But there's something about him that makes my stomach flutter even more than just his attractiveness, and he's not even trying. He stands up to greet me wearing a pair of jeans and a Nate Hollan "Around the World" tour T-shirt with the concert dates on the back. He did it on purpose, making me laugh.

"Eh? Do you like it?" He holds out his t-shirt away from his body and looks down at it. "Sorry, I couldn't resist." Noah laughs. He has a great laugh. He has the perfect smile that makes him even that much more good-looking.

"Now, THAT'S funny." I laugh and roll my eyes as we sit down at the table. The waitress comes by, and we order our coffee and some pastries for the table. Nate can pay. He's the one who wanted this whole thing to happen in the first place.

"How is your sister and newborn nephew doing?" I ask, not really sure on what to talk about here.

"Both are doing great. Jeff, her husband, also took time out of work to help take care of them. I need to find my own place eventually, though. I think the baby is colicky."

I don't really know what that means. I don't have kids and rarely hold babies. I think Noah can tell.

"It's when the baby cries nonstop. Even in the middle of the night." He takes a sip of his coffee and then a deep breath.

"Oh my God, that sounds horrific!"

"You get used to it, and eventually, it goes away. Alex was a colicky baby." Right, he has children of his own. Five-year-old twins.

"What's it like having twins?" I really don't care to talk about children. It's not my thing, but he has kids, so it most definitely is a comfortable topic to talk about for Noah.

"At first, fucking hard as hell...sorry." He catches himself swearing and stops the conversation.

"Noah, I swear like a trucker. Doesn't faze me. You can be normal around me."

"Sorry. I'm a little nervous here. I haven't been on a date in... wait.. is this a date?"  He sudden looks embarrassed. It's cute. He's a little rusty. I like that.

"Yes, Noah. I'd say this is a date." I boldly reach over the table and hold his hand while I say that. Just for a few seconds before giving it a little squeeze and sitting back again.

"I'm a bit off my game. And you're beautiful and I just moved here and haven't dated since Mindy." Noah blurts out and I chuckle.

"I understand. And thank you. You're not so bad looking yourself Fireman Noah." He's fucking gorgeous.  I don't even think he realizes it, does he?

As the evening goes on Noah relaxes more and is the guy I met yesterday when we were around others. Flirty and funny and easy to talk to. I think we stayed in that cafe for two hours straight just chatting and getting to know each other.

I also find it cute he is taking things slow. He may flirt like Nate but he's not a player and when he walked me back to my hotel, he became very nervous.

"Thanks for tonight. And tell Nate thanks for the picking up the bill." Noah smirks. He fought me at first about paying. He's a true classic gentleman and wanted to pay but once I told him it's on Nate, he finally gave in.

"Tonight was nice, Noah." I watch as he nervously shoves his hands in his pockets and looks around a little while we stand outside the Ritz.

"Um... so..." God he really is rusty.

"Noah. Kiss me."

*****

*James*

I watch Julia like a hawk now. She eats just fine tonight. Nate wasn't kidding when he said he was going to order the whole damn menu either. He really did. But when Julia is finished eating, she stands up to head to the bathroom.

"Babe, sit down." I clumsily take her hand and yank her to sit back down at the table. Nate suddenly looks uneasy.

"I just gotta use the bathroom real quick." She gives me a funny look like I have two heads.

"Digest your food first." I say in a manner that makes Julia know we caught on.

"What? James. I need to use the bathroom." She tries to pretend I'm not aware of what she really wants to do. She tries to stand up, but I hold her hand and kiss it.  I shake my head at her, and Julia begins to cry. "Let go, James. I have to!"

"No you don't, babe. It's just making everything worse." I hold her trembling hand with both of mine now. Nate was right. How he figured it out, I'm not sure. But Julia has been throwing up to ensure the Ativan works.

"You don't understand!" Julia cries hard, but I can tell she is also embarrassed about this.

"Julia, look at me." I don't care that Nate is sitting across the table watching this all unfold. I take Julia's face in my hands and peck her lips. "I love you. I want to see you get healthy, ok? Forcing yourself to always have an empty stomach to make sure the Ativan works to its fullest potential is just opening a door you don't want to open. You're purposely adding a new diagnosis to your resume. And your resume is full, sweetie. Throwing up gets easier and easier to do and harder to stop the more you do it. Ask Kendall. She knows all about it."

Poor Kendall. My baby sister has struggled with eating disorders since she was twelve. She goes to therapy and gets the help she needs, but we still need to watch her to make sure she doesn't fall back into that hole she dug.

Julia's eyes widen hearing this.

"Just sit with me for a little while. Let your food settle." I beg, but it's no use. Julia pulls away mid-sentence.

"I have to." She books it to the bathroom, but it's like Nate knew she was gonna make a run for it. He is already out of his seat and stopping her.

"Nate! Stop!" She tries to wiggle out of his arms, but Nate is strong.  Maybe not as strong as me, but he bulked up a decent amount for that Heartbreak Hotel music video with Mila Giovanni.

"Jules. Don't do this. Not tonight, doll." Nate says calmly. Julia knows she can't break from his grip and gives up, turning to putty in his arms while crying. He slides down the wall while still holding her, and I watch him calm her down. He rocks her from side to side slightly, and she buries her head in his chest.

"Please, Nate." Julia whimpers, but Nate shakes his head.

"Not tonight, baby. You need to keep food down tonight." He continues to calm her down. "It's ok. You're ok. I've got ya." I hear Nate whisper, and Julia closes her eyes.

I watch Nate take care of Julia.