Chapter 0004

Coffee meant calories.

Calories meant fat.

And fat, I had plenty of. Did he want a slice? Probably not.

A coffee with this guy? I would probably get trolled and left halfway, so why was he asking me?

"What," I asked, giving him a chance to take his offer back, and he did.

"Nothing, nevermind, bye," he said with a curt nod before turning to walk out the door. I stared at his retreating figure before shaking my head. Maybe I should have said yeah, and scared him a bit. I laughed to myself and walked into the back room where Jenny was perched at the table, concentrating.

All her soft features were pulled into a determined look, how did some people look so perfect doing anything?

I shook my head, it wasn't right to feel jealous over my best friend.

"You need help?"

"No, just a few more. Get started on the flowers."

I nodded and took the bucket to the far corner, sat down and relaxed. When I was sitting, I didn't have to hold my breath, or force anything. Just be natural. I shrugged my jacket off as the heat was getting to me, and laid it across my lap.

I plucked the flowers out grabbed the thread Jenny had already put out for me, and got to work. There were so many to do, and so little time.

It wasn't till midday that I was finished with one bucket — and I had plenty more to go. I frowned, how did time go so fast? I was sure I did more flowers than this.

"Violet?"

I looked up at Jenny as she stood up to stretch

"Yea?"

"Do you want to go get lunch now?"

Honestly, I was starving, and my stomach knew it. But should I really eat? Maybe if I skipped a meal I could get less calorie intake... but that was probably a bad idea.

"Actually you go eat, I'll go on a break once you come back, that way I can finish more flowers."

She nodded and grabbed her coat. "Do you want me to bring you back something? Oooh, how about that new cake store in the corner? How about I get us some slices?"

"No thanks, I don't feel like sugar," I told her, and she gave me an odd look before grabbing her purse.

"I’ll never understand how you don't like sugar, I crave it."

I just smiled and went back to the flowers. Of course I loved sugar, who didn't? And whoever said they did were in denial, but sugar was bad and a sweet sin I can't indulge in.

I stretched out my feet since I was all alone, then got up and walked to the staff kitchen at the back, and filled up my glass with water. I placed a few ice-cubes in because when the water was cold, I could barely tell it was water.

I took the glass back with me as my lunch, and sat back down and just looked at all the flowers. Sometimes I hated my job.

*

I stirred the sauce in the pan, and looked at it with one question: why did this look so wrong, and smell so bad?

Day one of trying to cook a healthy dinner: failed.

I grunted, switched the stove off and threw the remainder of the disaster into the bin. Well, I couldn't make healthy pasta, sue me.

I bit my lip and looked at the fridge; should I? I really shouldn't. But, I could hear the ice-cream just calling my name, like a seductive man in bed — except all I had was a bed, a good bed that was just for me.

And just as that thought passed my mind, something crawled between my legs, winding itself through them; oh right, a bed for me and my cat.

I looked down and smiled as I picked up the black beauty, its green eyes sparkled at me and I sighed.

"Hello beautiful," I said as I walked to the couch and sat down. Okay, twenty sit ups, here I go.

I didn't even get to five before my spine started to hurt — in my tailbone to be precise. It was like I was sitting on hard timber, and not my fluffy carpet, as I tried to finish my next sit up.

It was like the floor didn't want me to exercise.

"Oh come on, I'm trying here."

Eight, come on Violet you can do this. I closed my eyes and thought of all the online dresses I saw, and all the shorts — oh god, the shorts.

I had great legs, all I had to do was tone my stomach, and I could slip into those beauties, I didn't want to wear them everywhere, just wanted to know that I could wear them if I wanted to.

That was the motivation I needed to get through a few more.

Eleven, come on only nine more to go.

Think of the high school reunion: you walk in, a sexy dress, and a handsome man — that is not the one who infuriated you this morning — on your arm. Oh yes, that will show them all.

Thirteen, okay how about this, go to twenty and you can order yourself pizza since you failed.

That got me to work, I did twenty — and an extra three on top — as my fluffy cat walked around me confused to what I was doing.

"Yes Charlie, I exercise," I told my cat as it jumped onto the black cough disappearing into it. It closed its eyes and it was gone, great I just hope I don't sit on it.

I stood up and did squats while I walked to the phone. I felt like I was in shape already.

I grabbed the phone and dialed the number, hoping it wasn't too late for delivery, and smiled when someone picked up.

"Hello" I said a bit breathlessly as I continued to do squats. I mean I was ordering a pizza full of calories, and thanks to my skipped lunch, I was sure I could devour the whole thing.

"Pizza Hut, how may we help you?"

How many should I order? One? No, if I order two then I could have left overs for the week, but I was trying to be healthy. One it is.

"Hi, can I order a ma—" I paused, think healthy. " A vegetarian please, delivery."

Vegetarian has vegetables, I mean a bit counted, right?

"Sure, expect your delivery to reach you in thirty minutes, address please?"

I told him my address, and stood up feeling more than a bit tired. I think that was enough for today.

"Thank you for ordering."

"Sure thing. Love you, bye," and I was just about to hang up when I realized what I said. I felt my face flush red.

Crap, it was a habit. the only people I called was friends and family, all whom I said ‘love you, bye’ too, and I always picked up my pizzas.

I blushed as I heard a soft chuckle, "aww, I love you too."

"Um," I looked at the couch where Charlie opened one eye, sensing discomfort and bared his teeth at me.

"I hope you don't assume you're going to get a discount, now that you’ve exclaimed your undying love to me."

Oh lord, this was awkward. "I um— I just— It's a habit."

"I'm only joking, expect your pizza soon."

I groaned as I heard the dial tone. Really Violet,can't you do anything right? I went to the fridge to grab a soda to help calm my flustered self, but then thought better of it, and grabbed a glass of water and added two ice-cubes, cold water was better for you.

I walked around and cleaned the apartment a bit, a workout in itself, when I heard the doorbell and grabbed a note from my wallet. "Coming," I yelled and tripped over some shoes that were in the way.

Crap, so much for cleaning.

I opened the door, trying not to look flustered as a girl stood there smiling.

"Here is your pizza," well that was faster than I thought.

"Thanks, keep the change," she beamed when she realized how much she could keep, and I smiled. At least someone had a nice reward.

"Aww, really, thank you!" she jumped and I watched her walk away, her skinny legs rushing under her massive jumper.

I didn't want to be as skinny as her, but come on, how was her body proportionate and mine was like an upside down Dorito?

I grunted as I closed the door, the smell of the pizza was making me crave these bad calories.

Charlie jumped off the couch, smelling the food and I laughed, "no Charlie, you already ate."

He purred and rubbed up against me as I sat down. God, this cat loved human food.

I opened the Pizza, surprised when a serviette fell out.

I picked it up, frowning as I read it, then a blush tainting my cheeks.

Well, this was awkward.