Chapter 5

As he started to pull himself together and get off the floor he spotted a doughnut lying under the corner of his bed from yesterday’s morning indulgence. He picked it up to throw away, but part of him resisted, part of him wanted to just take a small bite of the thick creamy glaze and give into his desire. “WHAT THE FUCK AM I DOING,” he yelled thrusting the doughnut away from his face, “I’m literally thinking about eating a fucking doughnut I found on the fucking floor! God what’s wrong with me…” he kept talking to himself, but his body wasn’t listening. It yearned for a big fat lick of the glaze. Lex started moving the doughnut back toward his mouth. “ I mean I don’t want it to go to waste… besides I just want it because we never have sugary things in this house… and I’m going to go the gym tomorrow so I... “ Before he could finish trying to justify his reasons he licked the chocolaty frosting, let out a small grunt of pleasure, and crammed the entire doughnut into his mouth. HE WANTED MORE… but Dan would be in the kitchen with Jen and he didn’t want his brother to see him raiding the kitchen for more desserts. So Lex decided to go down to the kitchen pretending to get water or something and hopefully avoid Dan all together. But when he got downstairs he saw his brother lying out on the couch watching ESPN and taking to another man. “IT WAS JARED,” Lex thought to himself as he ducked behind the kitchen counter. Jared was the running back on Lex’s football team and perhaps the only person more conceded then Lex himself. He didn’t know what to do, he didn’t want Jared to see him all fat and bloated, he would never hear the end of it, but it was too late, Jared started heading over to the kitchen and Lex was trapped. Luckily he had changed back into his sweatpants and hoodie so he hoped the visual damage would be minimal, but the first words out of Jared’s mouth was “Dam your face is huge!”

“Thanks?” Lex replied feeling sad and embarrassed.

“No dude, I mean that Car wreck did a number on you, if your brother hadn’t told me about the accident I woulda thought my old gym buddy got fat on me, no wonder I haven’t seen you at the Gym… Hey when do you think we can hit the weights again together?”

Lex was relieved! He hadn’t thought his face had changed any, but he was just glad Jared chalked up his recent weight gain to swelling from the wreck. “Not for a while.” He lied, “ The doctor said no strenuous activity for a couple of months.”

“Oh bummer dude. The team misses yah. We have all been working out together and wondered where yah had gone. Now I know I guess, sorry again by the way.”

“Its fine.” Lex replied

Jared started heading towards the door. “Well I better get going. Dan said he’s waiting on his girlfriend and you probably need your sleep.”

“Yeah”, Lex sighed, “I’m really tired.” It was only 10 o’clock and Lex was wide-awake, but he wanted Jared gone as quick as possible.

Jared turned around as he was leaving the front door, “Well I guess I will see you at the football send off thing at the beach next month. Should give you plenty of time to get better, and get that tooth thing fixed,” he leaned in close and whispered, “careful Lex, you don’t want to end up like your brother, he seemed to pack on quiet a few pounds since his accident, don’t let it happen to you bud.” With that Jared left, and Lex closed the door with a sigh of relief. He had completely forgot about his missing tooth since he had been avoiding looking at himself in the mirror, but his appointment was tomorrow so he was glad he was reminded.

“Oh rats,” he muttered as he headed back towards to kitchen, “I guess I will have to start my diet and exercise another time. Can’t be running and lifting weight if I’m high on that knock-out gas.” Lex was relieved by the opportunity to skip his workout, but immediately regretted it when he remember he wasn’t allowed to eat for the rest of the night since the gas had to be given on an empty stomach. Hungry and frustrated Lex hid the cookies he had gotten out from his brother and went up to bed.