Chapter 2 - 2

For the next few weeks it became almost a game of avoidance for poor Liz. She was crazy about Nate and wanted to be with him very moment but not if it meant she was going to have to deal with a night like the last time. She said yes to anything involving going outside and moving around or avoided food. The problem was after being turned down for anything like another restaurant he liked or even the movies a few times Nate began to wonder what was going on with her. He thought maybe she was seeing someone else or maybe didn't like him as much as he liked her. Finally he decided to find out once and for all what was wrong with her.

Sitting down on her couch he pulled her onto his lap which Nate noticed made her more than a little un comfy he noticed right away. Hold her still Nate asked, "Liz what is going on? Do you not want to be with me? Your acting really strange." Liz put her hands gently on Nate's cheeks and looking into his eyes said in a soft voice, "I want to be with you more than anything. I adore you." Nate shook his head at her, "For a girl who claims to care deeply for me you seem to avoid me a lot and right now you act like you can't stand me touching you you keep trying to stand up and move." Liz Swallowed the lump in her throat and looking away said, "please don't ask me to explain it just trust that I do care for you." By now Nate was feeling betrayed like she was lying to him holding something back. He removed Liz from his lap and standing turned away to leave. Liz called after him," Where are you going??" Nate stopped and without looking at her answered, "If you can't be straight with me what's the point of any of this." And went to leave. Liz ran after Nate catching him by the hand and asking him to please wait she pulled him back to her couch and sat him back down. Taking a deep breath she stood in front of Nate and said," ok I guess it's time I explain things to you. It's not like it's not something you will won't eventually find out about me anyway. " Nate reached up for her hand and squeezed gently encouraging her to be honest with him.

Liz looked down at her toes not quite sure how to explain everything. The truth is looking down at her toes and actually being able to see them made her smile a little to herself. "Look Nate the truth is the girl you know isn't exactly the girl you think you know." At this Nate quirked an eyebrow. Liz looked down at him and held a hand up telling him with this little gesture to let her finish. " I haven't always looked like this. I am me the girl in front of you just about 100 lbs. less of me then there has been in the past. The thing is I grew up the fat girl and I am terrified of going back to that now. It's not that I don't want to be with you I just don't want to be tempted to eat the whole buffet or order the large fries or have that dessert dripping in butter. I am terrified that you won't love me if I change back..if I get fat again." Nate smiled about at Liz and standing up to hold her in his arms he laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation. " I thought you were trying to find a way to end it or that maybe you were cheating on me. If that is all it is don't worry about it beautiful. I would love you even if you were 300 lbs. it doesn't matter to me you are perfect no matter what." Liz was relieved at his words but she still had a hard time trusting them. Yet she knew if she wanted to be with him she had to choice but to believe him. Reaching up she put her arms around his neck and giggled as he lifted her from the floor. "Besides,' he said, 'right now you are so skinny there is barely anything to you. I'd like to see some meat on those bones."

Liz finally agreed to try things his way and relaxed a little when Nate wanted her to try a bite of his dish or share a dessert. The trouble became those little tastes of things stopped bothering her after a while and she began to have things even when she wasn't with Nate. Before long Liz began to notice her jeans were sliding up over her hips so easily anymore and even had to lay down on the bed to pull the zipper up and button them. That panicked little feeling began to grow in her tummy again. She ate next to nothing that night out with Nate and didn't want him touching and undressing her again. Nate seemed to be able to read her mind and kissing her hard he pulled her up against him. Holding her close enough for her to feel his arousal he looked down into her eyes and said, "you turn me on Liz would you stop worrying." Liz kissed him back with her pent up fears still there but ignored. And two weeks later she couldn't get those jeans over her hips at all.

Nate just kept encouraging her to let go that he didn't care in fact he liked her new curves. Liz still had a hard time believing such a thing but she didn't want to lose him either so she just went along with it all. Before long the scale was showing higher and higher numbers and she knew she had gained almost 30 pounds back by now. Nate would just run a soft hand over the little pot of her belly and tell her it was sexy. Everything seemed to be ok until that first night out with his friends after she had retired those can't fit into them anymore jeans. Nate's friends were all a fit bunch muscles and sports. Their girlfriends would give your average runway model a fight for the title of anorexic of the year. Poor Liz had never felt all that comfy around that group as it was but now she felt like the dumpiest girl in the room. Liz sat in her chair with the group nursing a beer and trying not to make eye contact with anyone.

After an hour Liz got up to use the facilities and closing the door to the stall she heard the outer door open a few minutes later and the giggle of one of the more annoying women in the group. "Have you seen how fat Nate's girl has gotten?," she said. My god it's a shock that chair can even support her and honestly why would Nate even want to be with such a cow?" Liz held her breath trying to remain as quiet as possible finally the two other women left in another wave of giggles and Liz let go of her breath and a quiet stream of tears. She allowed herself to drown in a pool of self-loathing and tears for a good few minutes then opening the door to her stall she went over to the mirror above the sinks and turning on the faucet below washed the streaks off her face and pasted a fake smile on. She was not going to allow those petty stupid bitches to get to her at least not in such a public way. Heading back over to the table she called out, "who's ready for another drink!" and smiled smiled smiled. the guys of the group all agreed it was time for another shot and Nate hugged his girl close and kissed her on the cheek. That was the last night of general peace they had with his group.