Alice gulped, taking in a shaky breath of air.
She stood on the sidewalk, next to many other milling girls of various sizes waiting to be picked up. The white sweater she had knitted herself was enough to keep her toasty - Buttercomb was far enough south that the winters were mild at worst. At her side sat a large suitcase, packed for two weeks worth of family fun.
Over the past week and a half, Alice had successfully reigned in her eating habits. Ronnie purposely cut back on her deliveries to the apartment, and when she did bring something, she always made sure it wasn't one of Alice's favorites. Upon hearing her wishes, everyone was willing to support her in any way - though Sam couldn't refrain from calling her a 'little skinny bitch' on occasion.
But without any active moves to lose weight, Alice had at most dropped a pound or two. It was something, but it was definitely not enough.
So she stood there in her biggest sweater, the one that could barely hide her little belly, searching the sea of vehicles for one she recognized.
She loosed a worried whimper. There it was - her mother's white sedan appeared, moving slowly through the line of other parents wishing to pick up their children.
She smoothed out her sweater, making sure her added girth wasn't noticeable. Looked good. She wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans. Why was she this nervous? It was just mother! She'd accept her for who she was! Right?
Several minutes of nervous fidgeting later, the car became accessible. It pulled up next to her.
Alice's eyes widened. She felt a smile crawl across her face. The passenger side window rolled down to reveal the chubby, beaming face of her sister.
'Hey, sport! Throw that thing in the trunk, will ya? The line's waiting!'
+++
'So, how'd your first semester at Buttercombe treat ya? Meet any new friends?'
Alice beamed. 'Oh, yes! Ronnie and Megan and Sam. They're all sooo nice and sweet and perfect!' She paused. 'Well, except for Sam. But she's still great, just in her own way.'
Mel looked confused. 'What do you mean?'
The smile vanished from Alices face. She looked around, as if mother might suddenly appear in the back seat. 'Well, Sam likes to swear. Like, a lot.'
Mel laughed heartily. 'Believe me, lots of girls like to swear down here. You'd better get used to it.'
Mel cast a sidelong glance at her little sister, unable to glean anything from the rolls of bunched-up sweater.
'So... hows the Buttercombe fare been treatin' ya?' she inquired slyly.
Alice felt herself blush immediately, any trace of mirth quickly departing from her face. 'W-well, y-you know... it's pretty good and all...'
'Was I exaggerating? Did the food not live up to my praise?' She asked, smiling now. 'Was it just 'pretty good'?'
'I-it's just as good as you said.' Alice reluctantly admitted.
'You enjoy it?'
Alice nodded, refusing to look at her sister. 'A-a bit too much, maybe...'
Mil cackled in her own little way. 'C'mon, Al, let's see the damages. It can't be as bad as my first semester.'
Alice blushed even deeper. She couldn't remember how big Mel had been when she came back for Christmas her first year. Had it been this bad? It was hard to imagine she'd been bigger - surely she would have been able to recall mother's scream. Then again, mother hadn't been such a health nut back then, either.
With deliberate reluctance, Alice slowly raised her sweater to reveal her soft little pot-belly, which bulged cutely over the lip of her jeans and stretched her small pink undershirt tight around it.
Malorie tried hard to keep from showing surprise. She couldn't exactly remember how big she'd gotten that first semester, either - but she couldn't have been much bigger than that. She glanced again at the little mound of flab which clung to Alice's middle. Her little sister wouldn't be little for much longer if this kept up. Of course, Mom would definitely have something to say about that. She felt bad for little Alice.
'Really? That's what you're worried about?' she bluffed expertly. 'That's nothing.'
Alice hurriedly slid her sweater back over her stomach. She was felt the dread come creeping back into her. 'That's not what mother's gonna think...'
'Oh, she'll be fine...' Mel lied. In fact, mom had already outlined to her several times the diet she was enforcing on the household that christmas - flat vegetarian, complete with tofu turkey and the likes. It wasn't going to be fun for anyone.
Maybe I could do something to help... Mel thought. Go get some real food and dole it out in secret. Dad would appreciate it, I'm sure. She glanced again at her burgeoning sis, then at her own rather massive gut. Then again, I actually don't want my little Alice ending up like... well, like me. Fat. She huffed, staring at the road. And if Mom found out, she'd be on my ass so hard... she might even make me start working out.
She shuddered. No matter what happened, though, there was one last thing she could do...
'Hey, Alice, you hungry? Let's go stop by McDonalds. Get a burger or two.'
Tofu turkey
'Or three. And a few shakes.'
Alice gave her sister a horrified look. Was she trying to fatten her up?
Mel grinned sheepishly. 'Just... trust me on this one, Alice. You'll thank me later.'
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