Soulmates

Chapter 66

TW FOR ABLESISM AND VERY SMALL MENTION OF ABUSE

I SHALL DO THIS WHEN THE SECTION COME UP

~~~~~~~

BE SAFE BABES

Shel was overwhelmed. It was too much, too fast, and too many people were relying on her, and she wanted to vomit, but when she stood over the toilet, she couldn't get it out, and everything was crushing her.

    She hadn't returned to the table; she'd stood in the bathroom, staring at the disgusting toilet in the gross stall.

    Just throw it up, she thought.

    It was a lie when she said she was improving for Alex. Shel just didn't wake up with enough time to eat breakfast; her stomach was nearly empty. But it still churned, stirring itself and taunting Shel with random lurches into her throat.

    Vomit. It. Up.

    Her body said no.

    Fuck it. It was fine.

    Shel didn't eat much at lunch: just the smallest serving of her already small serving of leftover lo mein from that cheap store across her street.

    Piper had noticed, and she'd texted Shel.

    She wished more people were like Piper. Even when Shel had fixed her puffy eyes and tear-stained face, she still noticed. But instead of asking point blank, "Hey Shel, you look like you are on the verge of a triggered panic attack and have spent the last ten minutes trying to either vomit so your body would leave you alone or praying your body would leave you alone. Are you okay?" Shel hated being put on the spot about her emotions but hated it even more when there was an audience.

    As Shel answered with a lmao no, she realized that Will, of everyone in the group, had also sent a text.

stock photo white guy: bestie you don't look as hot as usual

stock photo white guy: wanna play 8 ball and bother my dad

~gay~: bestie do you also have excessive mental health issues

stock photo white guy: i am a part of this friend group

~gay~: touche

~gay~: i would love to *assist* your dad by helping his theatre 1 middle schooler babies

stock photo white guy: MIDDLE SCHOOLERS

stock photo white guy: JOHN MULANEY WAS RIGHT ABOUT THOSE FUCKERS THEY ARE TERRIFYING

~gay~: i am sensing middle school bully had an effect on you

    There it was again. That stupid maternal instinct embedded in Shel, adding more to her already full load.

    It would be bad to retract that now. Especially since Shel was the one who invited the eventual trauma dump. Besides, it wasn't Will's fault, or Piper's fault, or Alex's fault, or Sadie's fault, or Leona's fault. They needed an outlet. Shel happened to be a good one.

stock photo white guy: nah i just don't want to deal with the "bUt YoU dOnT lOoK gAy YoU lOoK lIkE yOu BuRn GaYs"

~gay~: my hot topic wardrobe is my shield against those little demons

stock photo white guy: i used to wear knakis and then straight people stole it from me--

stock photo white guy: khakis*