Gladys got up early. She felt full of energy. She dressed. The school had a nine-period day, only eight of which any student had (given either a late or early schedule). She already had a late schedule, and thus didn't have to change anything now. Just show up early and practice.
She felt more and more good about herself. Her clothes felt a bit looser. The exercise she was getting as a cheerleader (even in one day) clearly was gaining results. She wasn't even very hungry and only ate a very small breakfast.
Melissa Smith, Amber Levine, Jessica Davis, Allison Wright and Erika Webber were already there when Gladys arrived in the girl's locker room, changing into their uniforms. Tiffany Sanders was off the squad for now, due to pregnancy and the rumors that were still flying over it. Sarah McMillan hadn't yet arrived.
Erika approached her. "Look ... I just wanted to say ... you're one of us now." It wasn't exactly an apology for anything they'd done to her in the past. "We stick together," she said. Erika herself hadn't picked on Gladys individually. She had been more part of the group picking on her. Some people were followers, rather than leaders. She shrugged. "You were great yesterday. Like you've been doing it for years. You're a natural."
Gladys smiled. "Thanks," she said. "I'm eager to do it again."
"If Sarah ever gets here," Jessica complained. "What was up with her yesterday? She was making all of us look bad in front of the recruits."
"She said the nurse told her it was malnutrition from dieting so much. But it's not like she's a doctor or anything. And besides, Sarah can't be on any kind of diet right now. I saw her scarf down two full lunches yesterday," Melissa added.
"I heard she's in the hospital," Amber said. "Her mom called in a specialist or something."
"Is she really sick?" Allison asked.
"I don't know. But as Melissa said, she was acting abnormally yesterday."
Gladys hoped she was okay. Sure, Sarah had said some really nasty things to her, but no one deserved to be in the hospital.
"What's the prognosis, doctor?" Susan McMillan (Sarah's mother) asked.
"I've never seen anything like this," he answered. That's not something you want to hear from a doctor, especially a specialist. "Her vision is continuing to deteriorate. She'll have to wear glasses from now on. My tests show me that even laser correction won't help."
"I thought laser correction worked on anyone."
"Not your daughter. And that's not all. Brace yourself." He pulled back the bed sheet.
Susan nearly screamed in shock.
"I can't find a reason why, but your daughter has gained over fifty pounds overnight."
"Can't you stop it?"
"I'm sorry. But until I find the cause of this, I can't do anything."
