New York Debut (9 page)

“Good thinking,” said DJ. “Kriti’s smart. She respects facts.”

“Okay,” said Rhiannon. “We should do the same thing we did before our intervention with Casey.”

“What?” asked Casey.

“Pray.”

Casey frowned. “Do you expect me to believe Taylor prayed too?”

“She did her part,” said DJ.

“So can Casey,” added Rhiannon. Then she led them in a prayer for Kriti. They asked God to give them the right words, and they prayed that Kriti would be able hear what they were saying. “Mostly, dear God,” prayed Rhiannon finally, “help Kriti to know that we love her and care about her. Amen.”

“Ready?” asked DJ.

“All for one, and one for all?” Casey made a goofy face.

“Yeah, I guess that works.”

By now Kriti had returned to her room. She was sitting on her bed, but still breathing hard, and her cheeks were flushed from her ridiculous exercise regime.

“Hey,” said DJ as the three girls entered the room. “Can we talk to you?”

“Me?” Kriti looked up in surprise.

“Yeah,” said Rhiannon.

Kriti shrugged. “What’s going on?”

“Let’s all sit down,” DJ said. Then she and the others sat across from Kriti on the edge of DJ’s bed.

“Here’s the deal,” began DJ. “We’re worried about you.”

Kriti frowned. “Well, don’t be.”

“We can’t help it,” said Rhiannon. “We think you’re in trouble.”

“Trouble?” Kriti looked skeptical. “What are you talking about?”

“We think you’re becoming anorexic.”

Now this seemed to catch Kriti off guard. But instead of defending herself, she just waved her hand, as if to brush it off. “That’s ludicrous.”

“Not really,” said DJ. “We all know you’re not eating. We all know you’re overexercising. And I know, based on what you told me, that you are seeing yourself all wrong.”

Kriti’s dark brows drew closer together, but she said nothing.

“You have a skewed body image,” added Rhiannon. “It’s no wonder, after living with Eliza the past five months. She’s so obsessed with being thin and beautiful, and she’s got all those magazines, and you were — ”

“It seems a little unfair to blame Eliza for my behavior.”

Kriti’s lower jaw jutted out ever so slightly.

“So you admit that there’s a problem with your behavior?” asked DJ.

“Like I already told you, I’m trying to take off a few pounds.”

“Why?” asked Rhiannon.

“Duh.” Kriti poked her midsection. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“No!” they all declared at once.

“You guys are just trying to be nice . . . well, in a
mean
sort of way.”

“Mean?” Casey frowned. “We’re just trying to help you.”

“I do
not
need your help.”

“So you deny that you’re anorexic?” asked DJ.

Kriti nodded firmly. “That’s right.”

“Okay, maybe that’s good,” said DJ. “You’re not officially anorexic yet, but you’re in anorexic training camp.”

Kriti looked down at her lap without speaking.

“Do you have any idea of what anorexia can do to a person?” asked Rhiannon. Before Kriti could answer, Rhiannon began to read from the list. “Malnutrition can permanently harm your bones and stunt your growth, not just your weight, but your height too. It can ruin your hair and nails, and your hair could fall out. Eventually your skin gets all dried out, and you turn yellow. You might break out or get patchy blotches and you will — ”

“That’s enough!” Kriti held her hands up to stop her.

“Not quite,” said Rhiannon. “Anorexia also messes with your vital organs. It can cause your heart to stop and — ”

“I said to
stop.”
Kriti stood now. With her hands on her hips, she glared at the three of them. “Just leave me alone.”

Rhiannon shoved the list toward Kriti. “You’re a smart girl, Kriti. Read through this stuff yourself if you don’t believe me.”

Kriti tossed the papers on her bed.

“Here’s the deal, Kriti,” began DJ in a more gentle tone. “We really care about you. And we can all see that you do
not
need to lose a single pound.” DJ stood up now, gently but firmly pushing Kriti over to the full-length mirror on the closet door. “Look at yourself, Kriti.
You are not fat.”

Kriti looked but just shook her head in unbelief.

“You want to see fat?” said Casey as she stood and pulled off her shirt, standing in front of Kriti in her bra. “Look at this belly.” Then she reached down and pinched at some midsection flab.

“Yeah,” said DJ as she pulled Kriti into the bathroom where the mirror was larger and peeled off her own shirt, “Look at this.”

Soon all three of them had their shirts off. They all stood in front of the wide bathroom mirror and poked fun at various parts of their bodies.

“No one looks like those airbrushed models in the magazines,” said Rhiannon.

“Not even the models,” pointed out DJ.

“Yeah, I’ve heard they do all kinds of computerized tricks to make them look better,” added Casey.

“But, here’s the deal.” DJ slapped her own rear end that she’d just been making fun of and calling her
junk in the trunk
. “I’m okay with how I look.”

“Me too,” added Rhiannon. She pointed to her chest, which she’d just admitted could barely fill an A cup. “And I’m not getting implants either.”

“Take off your shirt,” Casey urged Kriti.

She just shook her head.

“Sure, you let us all stand here showing you how picture perfect we aren’t. Then you refuse to play. Nice!” Casey frowned at Kriti.

“Fine.” Kriti slowly unbuttoned and then took off her shirt.

“Look at you,” said Rhiannon. “You’re the skinniest girl in the mirror.”

Kriti frowned and looked down at herself. “No, I’m not.”

“You are too!” insisted DJ. “Look at yourself. Look at us.

It’s obvious.”

Kriti looked back at her reflection now, squinting as if her eyes hurt.

“Do we need to take a photo to prove it?” asked Casey. “I’m willing to get my camera.”

“Want me to go get my measuring tape?” asked Rhiannon.

But Kriti’s expression changed ever so slightly as she stared into the mirror, trying to see what they saw.

“Are you seeing it yet?” demanded DJ.

“I don’t know.”

“Do you want us to stand here all night until you get it?” asked Casey.

“Or maybe we should strip naked,” said DJ. “Would that help?”

Kriti sort of giggled now. “No, not really. But thanks for the offer.”

“Okay,” said Rhiannon as she pulled her shirt back on.

Soon they were in the bedroom again, and DJ felt it was time to give the ultimatum. “Look, Kriti,” she began slowly. “Because we all really care about you, we want you to stop this. Do you get that?”

Kriti nodded solemnly.

“And it’s possible you might need help,” said Rhiannon. “The article I gave you says that if a case goes on too long, the patient might need both medical and psychological treatment.”

Now Kriti looked truly alarmed.

“But that might not be how it is with you,” said DJ quickly. “For starters we’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Okay?”

She looked relieved.

“But here’s the deal,” continued DJ. “You
have
to start eating. And you have to stop that manic exercising. I mean, it’s great if you want to work out. There’s nothing wrong with good exercise, and Casey and I can even help you with a sensible workout program.”

Kriti looked slightly interested, then she frowned. “But what if I don’t want your help? What if I refuse to . . . well, to change?”

“That’s what I’m getting to.” DJ took in a deep breath. “If you refuse our help and keep doing what you’ve been doing, I
will
tell my grandmother everything. And she will inform your parents so that they can deal with it. I’m guessing they’ll move you back home.”

“But we’d really like you to stick around,” added Rhiannon.

“Really?” Kriti did not look convinced.

“Okay. We realize we haven’t been that friendly. But that’s mostly because Eliza seemed to rule over you.”

“Yeah, it’s like you became her personal property,” said Casey.

Kriti nodded like she got this. “I guess it kind of felt that way to me too. Still, she’s nice in her own way. And she seems to care about me. And she’s so beautiful. Eliza was the first real friend I’ve had.”

“Real
friend?” DJ studied Kriti closely. “Do you really believe that?”

“I don’t know . . .”

“Don’t you feel like she kind of uses you?” asked Rhiannon.

“I mean, it seems like you do everything for her . . . but what does she do for you?”

“Besides telling you that you’re fat?” said Casey.

Kriti slowly nodded. “Okay . . . maybe you’re right.”

“Look,” said DJ. “You are smart and pretty, and you really have a lot going on. You don’t need to be someone’s puppet.”

Kriti gave them a half smile.

“So, are you going to cooperate with us?” asked Casey.

“Because we’ll be watching you closely,” said Rhiannon.“Both here and at school.”

“We’re going to be keeping track of whether or not you’re really eating,” said Casey.

“And I’ll be watching to make sure you don’t overexercise.”

“It’s just because we want to help,” added Rhiannon. “We want you to be healthy.”

“Are you in?” asked DJ. “Will you cooperate?”

“Yes.” Kriti nodded as if she meant it. “I will.”

DJ grinned. “Okay, here’s your first test. I’m hungry for a hot fudge sundae. Who’s ready to go with me?”

“And fries too?” asked Kriti.

7

“I KNOW WHERE TAYLOR IS,”
chirped Eliza on Saturday morning.

The girls were at the breakfast table, but Grandmother had been delayed with a phone call so the conversation was fairly relaxed. “Where?” DJ asked, trying to sound disinterested.

“Rehab,” said Eliza proudly.

“Says who?” DJ was still trying to act nonchalant as she applied the butter substitute to her whole-grain toast.

“Says Seth.”

“How would Seth know?” asked Casey.

“He happens to be Taylor’s boyfriend.” Eliza dabbed her lips with a napkin. “Why wouldn’t he know?”

“Why would he tell you?” demanded DJ.

“Because I know how to get what I want from a guy.” Eliza smiled smugly.

“Maybe he lied to you,” suggested Casey.

Eliza laughed. “Look, I don’t see why you guys are trying to cover for Taylor. We all know she has a drinking problem. You should be glad she’s getting treatment. How long is she in for, DJ?”

DJ took a big bite of her toast and slowly chewed. She was determined not to engage with Eliza.

“Just because Seth said that Taylor is in rehab doesn’t make it true,” persisted Casey. “How would he even know . . . I mean, I’ve heard that people aren’t allowed contact with the outside world when they’re in rehab.”

“He said that Taylor called him.”

“Taylor called him?” demanded DJ with her mouth still partially full of toast.

“Ah-ha!” Eliza looked pleased, kind of like the spider that just caught the fly. “So she really is in rehab.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You don’t need to, DJ. Your face says it all. I actually thought that Seth was just making it up. But now I know that he was telling the truth after all.”

“Whatever.” DJ rolled her eyes, but inwardly simmered to think that Taylor had called Seth and not her.

“Are we all ready for our modeling class?” asked Eliza cheerfully. “This is the big day when the other girls start coming.”

“Don’t remind us.” Casey groaned. “I can’t believe we’re being forced to spend the next few Saturday mornings with people like Madison and Tina.”

“I doubt that Madison and Tina will really come,” said DJ. “I’ll bet they were kidding.”

“Why wouldn’t they want to come?” asked Eliza. “It’s a great opportunity for girls outside of Carter House to improve themselves.” She gave DJ a catty smile now. “I know a couple girls right under this roof who could use some improvements as well.”

DJ didn’t respond. She simply excused herself. Why did Eliza make life so difficult? And this news about Taylor calling Seth was especially aggravating. After all DJ had done for Taylor . . . and then Taylor calls stupid Seth instead of her. Seth, who’d been arrested for underage drinking himself. She wondered if Seth had told Taylor about that little incident.

DJ went to her room and flopped onto her bed. She had to agree with Casey . . . the last thing she wanted to do this morning was to sit in a room with girls like Madison and Tina, not to mention Eliza, and to be forced to listen as Grandmother droned on about the correct care of cuticles or the necessity of weekly exfoliating masques or how to sit like you had a corncob stuck in some hidden part of your anatomy. Or, puh-leeze, how to walk. DJ knew how to walk. She just wished she could walk out.