doesn't think it's possible for you to hate everything.

specifically hates Australia most of all.

concerned. "Why? What happened?"

"I told him I wanted to be homeschooled and he just laughed at me..."

it over a minute or so before replying. "Well, you don't have to be homeschooled by him. Maybe you could find a tutor?"

"But, the whole point is not to go to school anymore..."

shakes his head, "Well, you don't have to go to school if you get a private tutor. It'd be like homeschooling, except instead of Australia

teaching you someone else would."

begins to tear up. "He wont listen to anything I say. If I even start to talk about being homeschooled he just rolls his eyes."

to comfort her, but doesn't really know how. "I'm sorry? Maybe he'll come around?"

rubs her eyes angrily (at herself as much as Australia). "No, he won't ever listen he hates me anyway...I don't know what to do...

I feel so trapped... everyone hates me at school. I have no friends except Sealand and he only hangs out with Latvia now, and I just don't

know what to do anymore... sometimes I wish I was dead...

* "

frowns. "I-I doubt they hate you... Why would they ever have a reason to?" He gives her a hug that he hopes is more consoling than awkward

"But, they do... these three girls cornered me in the bathroom at lunch today and kept kicking me and hitting me... look!" She lifts her

shirt slightly to reveal an array of bruises. "And, no one will talk to me. They all call me 'eyebrows'..."

winces at the bruises. He really doesn't know what to say or do now. "Have you talked to a teacher about this...? A-and you at least have

a friend in Sealand right? Even if he hangs out with Latvia a lot. He doesn't call you 'eyebrows' does he?" And he was supposed to be good

at giving adivce...

beyond normal advice. Her last dozen diary entries have been suicide plans. "I can't talk to anyone... really especially teachers...

they hate me too, even they call me 'eyebrows'. Did you know, some of the kids actually followed me home the other day, and they were

yelling at my back the whole time, and throwing things... what did I ever do to them?"

can't think of anything else to say that will actually do anything. "I... You can talk to me." He says helpfully. "And have you tried

to talk to Australia about the bullying? Even if he doesn't like you... He... He can't just sit here and let people beat up on you like this

." Though, he knows first-hand just how much people will ignore before they try to help...

"I tried... he says I'm exaggerating. Whenever I tell him anything he says I'm being melodramatic... no, he wont do anything for me."

looks even more concerned. "Did you show him the bruises?"

"I did... he said I probably made them myself. He-he doesn't believe anything I say, ever."

knows a similar feeling. " I wish I could do something to help." He says a little bit shyly.

"I'd rather die than go back to school now... I ran away once, and when Australia found me he hit me... so I can't do that again."

stares at her. It's as if nothing he says is doing anything. He supposes he should just... Listen. "Oh. Maybe you could get one of the less

busy nations to homeschool you? It doesn't have to be Australia..." He should just give up.

Her mind drifts back to a picture she's been imagining a lot of lately

she hears what Matthew says as if from a distance. That ball of dread twisting in her stomach. "I'll do it then..." She says to herself.

as though she's ignoring him... What a familiar and terrible feeling. "A-at least know some people care about you! Please?"

faints.

certainly not expecting her to just faint. He has no idea what to do. Should he call 911? Freak out? No, no, not freak out. He goes with

picking her up off of the floor and... Where to now? A store? Oh God. This is not good. Not good at all.

Her eyes flutter, half closed for a moment before she awakens a bit. "What? Where are we?"

looks down at her, having decided to go to his house after his little series of mini-crises. "You're at my house. You sort of... Fainted."

"Oh..." She isn't surprised. She hasn't eaten for days.

"Mm-hmm... Well, I made mac and cheese- would you like some?" He gestures to his rather humble dinner sitting on the table. Of course he

made enough for two. If she was going to be over at his house, the least he could do is feed her.

Her eyes turn to glass. "Th-thanks, but I've already eaten."

blinks. "Are you sure? I-I insist. Not to mention, it's not that filling..." He won't push her too far, but really, she looks like she

hasn't eaten in a long time. He can't just let her not eat.

winces. "Okay then... I'm really not hungry though..." She wolfs it down nonetheless, but immediately afterward begins to feel sick as

you do if you eat after you've been starving yourself for a long time.

very happy that she eats and is a bit surprised to see her eat with unexpected desperateness. "Thank you." He says, then adds, "Er... For

eating it that is... You look like you needed it..."

smiles a bit. "Thanks for saying so...and thanks." She closes her eyes and presses her face against the table, loving the coolness of it

she was 33.7 kilos when she last checked. She's afraid of what she'll find when she checks now. She feels so ugly and pathetic she wants to

cry. She bites her lip to keep from making any sound.

goes over to Wy, noticing the distraught look on her face. "Wy? What's wrong?" He sits down next to her. "You look like you're about to cry

. Did the mac and cheese taste really bad or something?"

"N-no. It was fine. I just. Nevermind."

"You just what?"

can't just say she hasn't been eating, can she. She's terrified of being found out but feels guilty keeping it from Matthew.

the atmosphere get a bit too tense. "Well, you... You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." He stands.

incredibly guilty because he has been so kind to her. She grabs his wrist. "No! Wait-- I'll tell you."

can't deny he wants to know. He sits back down. "Really? Well then.. Eh... What is it?"

"I think... I have a problem."

nods again. "A problem? What kind of problem?"

"I- I hurt myself sometimes... and I don't eat."

bites his lower lip. Self-harm hits a little close to home. "What do you mean by hurting yourself? And... Why not?"

"I... well, it started with just a little cutting and burning on the wrists, and then it got out of control.. and same with the not eating

and I just don't even know how to stop." She pulls up her sleeve revealing a bony scar-covered mass of cuts old and new.