Great, now he was starting to think like a pussy by imagining her in different clothes.
“Okay, so how about you make a diary of everything you eat. I’ll assess, and then we can see where you can make changes without your mother knowing.”
“Sure, I can do that. It’s pretty easy.”
“Good, great.”
“When would you like to get started?” she asked.
“I work out at Bruce’s gym four times a week. Do you think you could start making trips there after school?”
“Yeah, I can make some studying excuse to my parents. It shouldn’t be too hard.”
“Great. Monday, we’ll make a start, and next Saturday, I want to see your diary of what you’ve eaten.”
“Will do, boss.”
Later that night, Noah was chatting with his friends on social media. It was late, and he’d not seen them all day as he’d been catching up on his own workout, and then school work. His parents still weren’t back, but that wasn’t anything strange. There were many times when he was home alone.
Searching for Elsa’s name, he found her easily enough, with a few friends as well. Over her page, he saw a couple of pictures of her with Kimberley. The pair was inseparable at school. They were always having lunch together, sharing class.
He was about to send her a friend request, and decided against it. No one needed to get suspicious, and he’d given her a promise, which he intended to keep.
Chapter Three
“Why are you scribbling crap into a notebook?” Kimberley, or Kim, asked.
Elsa glanced up to see her friend frowning across the bench at her. She had been doing everything that Noah had asked of her. “Nothing, no reason. Mom asked me to keep a diary of everything I eat,” she said, lying easily. It wasn’t hard. Kim had been at her house many times when her mother talked about what to eat and the right food to take in.
“She’s wanting you to lose weight again?”
“She’s never really stopped.”
“No offense, Elsa, but your mom is a little mean.”
“Not mean, not really.”
Kim raised a brow.
“What?”
“She’s always pressuring you to lose weight. I don’t think that’s nice,” Kim said.
“It’s nothing. I’ve got a handle on it.” Elsa picked her fork up, and stared down at her meatloaf. School food was horrible, and everyone had to be careful about what they picked. Three years ago, Kim had gotten food poisoning because of something she ate.
“Are you sure? I hate that your mother makes you feel that way.”
“Don’t worry about it, Kim.”
“I’m always here for you, you know that right?”
“Yes, I do, thanks.”
She ate her meatloaf while Kim talked about her father opening up another supply store. This time he was branching out, going to England with the hope of getting into Europe.
“Wow, that is a big deal.”
“Yeah, it’s all he’s talking about, and of course it’s driving Mom up the wall. She’s trying to paint every chance she gets.” Kim was an artist, like her mother. “How about we hang out tonight?”
Elsa was about to answer when they were interrupted by a group of guys, Noah’s friends. She tensed up, waiting for the taunts.
“Hey, paintbrush, are you ready to do some studying?” Kurt asked.
Noah leaned against the tree, and Elsa glanced at him. When he raised his brow at her, she quickly turned her attention to her friend.
“Go away,” Kim said, glaring at Kurt.
Instead of him going away, Kurt took a seat beside her. Much to Elsa’s discomfort, Noah took her right, while Ryan took her left. Adam, the other friend, sat on Kim’s free side.
She was a little confused as to why they were getting special attention.
“Why? We’re friends, really good friends.”
“What do you want?”
“Seriously, this is how you treat lab partners?”
“Kurt, we have to work on one project together, that is all.”
“What is going on?” Elsa asked, looking from Kim to Kurt and back again.
“Nothing,” Kim said.
“Our biology teacher put us together, and we’re to complete an assignment as a team.”
“Have you done what I asked you to do?” Kim asked.
“Which was?”
“Find an actual disease for us to write about?”
“Nope, but I was thinking we could do one of the sexual ones.”
Elsa scrunched her nose up. “I’ve got to head to the library,” she said.
“Do not leave me, Elsa.”
“I can’t help it, I think I’m going to throw up. Meet you there?”
“Fine, fine.”
She saw her friend’s cheeks were a nice shade of pink, and there was even a small smile across her lips. Kim may be pretending not to like Kurt, but all the other signs were there.
Leaving the bench, Elsa made her way to the trashcan and tipped her leftovers inside. She placed the tray back in the dinner hall before leaving. Making her way toward the library, she gave Denise, the librarian, a wave. She went to the back of the library and started looking for the chemistry book she needed to complete her homework. Scanning over the shelves, she wasn’t expecting anyone, so when Noah started to talk, she jumped.