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“Not now, you be good while I’m out”

Blubson continues to watch er, but Glubson—always the laziest of the tns and lays back down It took three years of begging, negotiating and achieving certain goals—which Melany and my father set forth—before I was finally allowed thes in the entire world They are oofiness to offset my overly serious world A fact that Melany is well aware of

“Half an hour?” January’s voice is sharp and her disdain for the constraints of et there, followed by an hour watching your stepet close to any food Eat so now Order a pizza Better still, let me order one for you”

“January…” I let out a sigh “First, Melany is not my stepmother”

“As good as…”

I shiver involuntarily as I drop onto the edge of my bed “Second, I have to watch what I eat I le slice? A billion and one? I don’t think I’ve eaten carbs since I was ten…”

“Hey” She snaps through the phone “I care about you, and this is bullshit People don’t live like this Logging every sip of water, every cru it back to the very people that should be the ones caring for you and keeping you healthy instead of heroin chic?”

“I’h this party It’s an iht”

“To whom?” The sarcasm in her voice is clear and it makes me snap

“Tothe phone onto the bed Let her stare at“This is my dreaown is hanging on the back ofthe robe and slipping the dress over my head

“Is it though? Or are you just saying what you’re supposed to say? Being a et it, you want to follow in your mom’s footsteps But models don’t have to be stick insects anyer and fries once in a while”

I zip up the side zipper on the dress, ad myself in thepride that it’s looser on ner’s studio a few days ago I note the waves of bone that show in the plunging neckline There’s no cleavage If there was, the neckline would dip inches belohere I would feel over-exposed But, one thing I’ve learned in theI’ve done so far, is you put up and shut up—or you don’t get to join in the parade