Despite all the amazing gifts I’d received, I was desperate to return to the shop when it reopened a couple of days later, but Hank had to work and Mom and Abby were out running errands. Unwilling to wait, I walked the mile and a half to the shop.
Returning home with my new battle partner, I stopped by the kitchen on my way upstairs, more out of habit than anything else. Might as well, while Hank was still at work.
Nothing in the fridge grabbed me, so I tried the pantry, where I found a package of two orange Hostess Cupcakes.
No.Anything but those. Since he’d broken down and begged for my forgiveness, Hank had mostly laid off me, but I could see in his eyes that it wasn’t easy for him. He still didn’t like it when I ate, and the disappearance of his precious cupcakes for a second time was certain to send him over the edge.
I tried to make do with safer options: Cheez-Its, Ruffles, a handful of salted peanuts, again sampling from open boxes andcans, taking only as much as wouldn’t be missed. But now that I’d gotten my salt, my body demanded sugar.
The cupcakes whispered to me,We’re all there is. Go on, eat us. He might not even notice. And even if he does, he promised to be nice.
I wasn’t sure I believed that, but who was I kidding? Trying to fight a craving as strong as this never worked. Sooner or later I was going to eat the damn cupcakes.
As I reached for the pack, a voice spoke behind me.
“Fat pig.”
I jumped back, a cold tremor rattling up my spine.
It was Hank. His jaw was clenched, his lip curled in a little sneer.
“I wasn’t—”
“Don’t lie to me, pig.”
“I’m not a pig!” My grip tightened on the toy Pokéball still clutched in my hand.
“No self-control. You’re an animal.”
“That’s not true.” I was so angry I threw the ball down on the floor like a challenge.Bulbasaur, I choose you!
“I look at you and want to throw up.”
Hank used Poison Sting. It was super-effective!
Emmett was hurt by poison.
Tears of frustration slid down my cheeks. He was right—Iwasgoing to eat it—but I would’ve felt embarrassed and ashamed whether he caught me or not. Why did he have to be so hurtful about it?
I imagined Bulbasaur jumping up off the floor and launching herself at him, tentacle-like vines poised to strike, a cartoon vein throbbing out of her forehead. I wished she were real. I wished they all were, Sobble and Zangoose and Wobbuffet. Just like I wished my mom’s threats were real, and Hank’s promises that he would change, that things would be different. But that hope was as imaginary as my pocket monsters.
He stepped toward me.
Emmett is paralyzed! He can’t move!
Walking past me into the pantry, he grabbed the cupcakes.“Come on.” He pulled me down the hall by the back of the collar, his voice a taut chirp. “If you’re hungry for a snack, then you’ll have a snack.”
I was so confused, I barely resisted. He shoved me into the bathroom, facing the mirror, and held out the cupcakes. “Here.”
“What?”
I flinched at the cold surprise of his hand against my stomach. He was grabbing my shirt, wrenching it up over my head, exposing my naked belly and boobs.
“Eat them,” he said. “Watch yourself in the mirror.”
“N-no.” I crossed my arms over my stomach, ashamed. It had been years since anyone had seen me shirtless.
When I wouldn’t take the package, he tore it open with his teeth. “You’re gonna eat these cupcakes, sport,” he said, pulling them free from the cellophane.
