You woke up several times that night. You just kept thinking about not being able to work out. At 3am you finally decided to get up and work out in your room. You were doing jumping jacks when Taylor woke up and heard a weird noise coming from your bedroom, she got up to check on you and opened the door just to find you jumping.
-"What are you doing, Lizzie? Why are you exercising this early? Weren't you sick?" Taylor said half asleep.
You froze. You couldn't come up with a good excuse to make.
-"I... I read about sweating off the virus. Since I went to sleep so early yesterday I woke up an hour ago and couldn't go back to sleep, I wanted to try the sweat away the virus thing. I'll tell you how it goes". You answered convinced that she was going to buy it.
-"You know Lizzie? I don't believe you. What are you really doing working out at 3am?"
You were going to answer but dizziness hit you again, you had to support yourself with the bed and as much as you tried Taylor to not notice, she did. She helped you sit on the bed and took both of your hands.
-"I think I've been where you are right now. Please talk to me. You almost fainted again". Taylor said with panic in her voice.
-"Taylor, I don't know what you are talking about. Yes, I almost fainted because i'm sick and..."
Taylor interrupted: "no, you almost fainted because you were working out at 3am on an empty stomach".
-"I'm fine. Why don't we just go to sleep? Can you sleep with me?"
Taylor frowned but knew it was nonsense to fight at 3am in the morning. So she decided to save the conversation for later and accepted to sleep with you. You knew that she would want to talk about this in the morning. But you also knew that right now you were feeling that burning thing in your chest again, you knew that if she didn't stay with you, you would probably were gonna keep working out and you felt so tired, you really wanted to sleep. She hugged you tightly and felt your heart racing inside your chest. You started crying, you felt so weak and so lost. Taylor noticed, but didn't say anything and just kept hugging you until you both fell asleep. She woke up at 7am when Tree was calling to reschedule the meeting she was having yesterday when she went running home to check if you were okay after your mom told her about you fainting at school. She quickly stood up and took her phone to her room, she didn't want to wake you up. She checked her messages and saw a text from your mom saying she went shopping with your aunt and wouldn't be home until noon. Austin was on a trip with his girlfriend and your dad was still in this business trip. It was just the two of you.
-"So, how is she? What happened?" Tree asked Taylor over the phone.
-"I don't know Tree. I think something's wrong. I think she might be struggling with food and body image" Taylor said with a broken voice.
-"Oh no... is she going to school today?" Tree asked.
-"No. She's staying home. But the nurse told my mom that Lizzie said she didn't eat anything yesterday because she had a stomachache. She said she was tired so she went to sleep without eating. However I found her secretly working out in her room at 3am. I've tried speaking to her but she just says she's fine..." Taylor finished the last sentence and was about to start crying, so she changed the subject. "Anyway, do you want to come home to reschedule my interviews agenda. We could have lunch".
-"Mmmm. I'm sorry about Lizzie, Taylor. Keep me updated, I know you too well, I know this is really hard for you. I'll be there in an hour to discuss the agenda thing". Tree wanted to support Taylor but knew it was not the time for her to keep asking questions.
Taylor showered and dressed, went to check up on you and you were still sleeping. She went downstairs and prepped breakfast for the two of you, she opted for one of her safe foods from when she was struggling herself: low fat greek yogurt with a green apple and a bit of granola. An hour later, as Tree said, Taylor heard her knocking on the front door. She let her in, offered her some coffee and sat down in the living room. They were finished discussing the interviews and started to talk about some recording sessions when you walked in, but before going downstairs you changed into workout clothes in case you could go running, you were not sure who was at home, you guessed probably you didn't have to deal with Taylor since she had to reschedule her meeting with Tree, so she probably was away. But you were so wrong.
Tree was shocked, the last time she saw you it was on Taylor birthday, that was more than 3 months ago. You looked pale, had big bags under your eyes, you went down in a sports bra (big mistake), so she was able to see your sunken belly and ribs sticking out.
-"Oh, Hi Tree. I didn't know you were going to be here. Hi Tay". You said.
Tree smiled to you. Tay turned around and saw Tree's face. She knew what she was thinking.
-"Hi baby. Are you feeling better?" Taylor asked to you.
-"Yeah! I need some breakfast, I'm so hungry". You really were hungry, but after what Taylor said you knew you had to be extremely careful around her.
-"Oh! I made you one of my favorites: greek yogurt with fruit and granola. Is your belly feeling better? Maybe the yogurt is too hard for your stomach, do you want that or another thing?" Taylor asked.
-"No, it's fine. I feel perfect, I can have the yogurt". You answered. Taylor said she needed to go upstairs and bring out some clothes for Tree to donate, so she left you with her in the kitchen. She texted Tree to please watch you eat breakfast.
-"So, how you've been, Lizzie?" Tree decided to look closely to your behavior durning the meal.
-"I'm fine Tree, what about you?" You said while doing your best to separate each ingredient in the bowl and took a small bite of an already cut piece of apple.
-"Everything's fine too. What about your outfit? Were you planning on working out?" Tree asked.
-"Yeah".
-"If you were sick, I think it's better if you skip today's workout. You need to let your body recover". Tree said watching you straight into your eyes.
You internally panicked. You started to pinch your collarbones and measure your wrists with your fingers. Tree noticed and gave you a concerned look, but you didn't even notice she was staring at you.
-"But I was planning on telling Taylor to go out on a run with me..." You said, trying to convince her.
Tree gently grabbed both of your hands and took them away from the body checking
-"Are you anxious, Lizzie?"
-"What? No. I'm never anxious. I have never felt anxiety" You said trying to break free from Tree's hands.
-"Honey, we all feel anxiety. Tell me what you're feeling".
-"Mmmm...I feel this burning thing in my chest right now" you answered feeling ashamed and looking away from her.
-"That's anxiety. What are you anxious about?" Tree asked.
-"Never mind". You said, while continuing to eat breakfast.
Meanwhile Taylor was upstairs when her phone rang, it was Blake.
-"Hey Tay! What's up? I told Betty I was coming over to your house and she's saying she really wants to give a big hug to aunt Taylor. Is it okay if I bring her?"
-"Fuck. I forgot about our lunch date today. I'm sorry. Lizzie is here, she fainted at school and was sick yesterday so she didn't go to school today. Tree is also here, because I left her in the middle of a meeting yesterday to come home to check up on Lizzie. I'm sorry. Do you mind if our little lunch turns out into this big gathering?"
-"Not at all. I haven't seen Lizzie in ages, I'll bring her some treats to make her feel better. Is she okay? She fainted?" Blake asked concerned
-"Yeah... I want to talk to you about that. But she's fine. Oh and please bring Betty, tell her auntie Tay also wants to give her a big hug. Besides you know that Lizzie loves kids. So Betty can play with her. Sorry about the full house thing".
-"No! It's perfect. I'll be there at 1?".
-"Great! See you then". Taylor said and hung up.
Taylor went downstairs and you were finishing your breakfast.
"So... I kinda forgot about telling you I was supposed to have lunch with Blake today. I told her that she can still come, she's bringing Betty. Is it okay with you two?" Taylor said watching you as you stood up to wash your plate.
Tree said it was okay with her, besides work was almost done. So she said could stay for lunch and then go. You happily agreed too, you haven't seen Blake in a while and loved so much hanging out with Betty too.
Taylor asked if you wanted to go shopping for some ingredients for lunch with her, you accepted so you said you were going to shower and get ready. While you were doing that, Tree decided to talk to Taylor about what she saw during breakfast
-"I think you're right. She might be struggling with an eating disorder". Tree said, she went straight forward, as she usually did.
-"Really? Why? What did you see?" Taylor's eyes filled with tears.
-"Well, first of all she's really thin. I mean, I haven't seen her since your birthday, that was almost 4 months ago Taylor and the difference it's obvious: she has lost a lot of weight" Tree said while grabbing Taylor's hands.
-"I noticed her legs being skinnier...but you're right, she looked so thin in that sports bra..." Taylor said.
-"Yeah but it's not just that. She looks tired. Her belly is also sunken in. She looks sick... Additionally, she seemed so anxious while eating. I asked her why she was wearing working out clothes and told me she was going to ask you to run with her. When I told her she should rest today to let her body recover because of the belly stuff she got really anxious and started to body check".
-"Wow. How did you notice that?" Taylor asked.
-"I know all the signs, Taylor. I was there when you went through this too... I think you should try to talk to her again about it, see if she opens up to you. You can also tell her I said I'm worried, it doesn't matter if she gets mad at me. I think you should get her help". Tree said.
-"How did I miss this?" Taylor said crying.
-"Hey, it's not your fault. You're here now and you can help her. Help her, Taylor". Tree replied.
You threw on some baggy jeans and a black cropped t-shirt with sleeves, along with your Stan smith's and a white cardigan. You came downstairs and jumped into the car with Taylor and Tree and went grocery shopping. It was pretty fast, Taylor was going to cook her special chicken pasta with homemade tomato sauce, along with some caprese salad. You were definitely anxious (as Tree told you what it meant) about the food. But you were also so excited to see Blake and her daughter.