Audrey, it was well known, enjoyed swimming, and so it was down at the pool where Belle found her later that day. She sat on a lounger to watch her. They were the only people in the pool room and now as Belle watched Audrey swimming, she realised that Jim was right. Audrey definitely wasn’t eating properly. Her swimming costume showed that much. She was so...skinny.

Presently, the girl stopped swimming, caught hold of the pool rail and looked up curiously at her observer. “You ok?”

They hadn’t really spoken properly before, apart from the few brief times when Belle had accidently walked in on her and Jim, ahem, anyway. Audrey was a pretty tough girl and Belle was fairly nervous about approaching her on the subject of her apparent anorexia.

“Um, yes, fine,” she smiled.

Audrey glanced at her. “You don’t look fine.”

Neither do you, thought Belle, but she stopped herself from saying it just in time. Instead she said “Well, actually, I was wanting to chat to you about something.”

“Oh, yeah?” Audrey clambered out of the pool. Belle could see the outline of her ribs through her costume. Audrey reached for a towel and rubbed at her hair. “Shoot.”

“Well,” Belle hesitated before asking. “How are you?”

Audrey frowned and then laughed. “I’m ok. I didn’t know you’d taken on the role of school therapist, Belle!”

Belle giggled. “No, I haven’t. It’s just, well, I was talking to Jim just now...”

“Mm?” Audrey bent over to rub at her hair with a towel.

“Well, he was in the library and, um...”

“Jim? In the library?” Audrey straightened up and began towelling her arms dry. “Is he sick?”

No, thought Belle, you are, but again she stopped herself from saying it in time. “No, although he was in the medical section.”

“Oh?”

“He was looking up...symptoms of anorexia.”

Audrey’s expression changed completely. Her eyes narrowed. “Oh.”

Belle pursued. “He’s just really worried about you, Audrey...”

“Yeah? Well, he shouldn’t be!” Audrey snapped, seizing the towel and wrapping it around her waist. “And do you know why? Because there’s nothing wrong with me!”

“But Audrey,” Belle stammered. “He loves you and he just-”

“I know he loves me!” Audrey snapped, savagely. “I love him too! But I wish he’d stop making out there’s something wrong with me!”

“But there is!” Belle couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Audrey, you’re emaciated! Look at you! Jim says you don’t eat and sometimes you faint from hunger!”

“That’s none of your business! What was he doing telling you to stick your nose in where it isn’t wanted?”

“Audrey, I just want to help.”

To her surprise, Audrey suddenly punched her on the arm. It hurt. A lot. “I don’t want your help!” snapped Audrey. “I don’t need your help! I’m fine!”

“But you’re killing yourself!” Belle cried, rubbing her arm.

“I am not! I’m just trying to keep fit and lose weight!”

“If you lose any more, you’ll be nothing but a skeleton!”

“Who asked your opinion?” Audrey turned her nose up. “It’s nothing to do with you! Leave me alone!”

“Audrey, I just wanted-!”

“I said, leave me alone!”

Audrey turned and stomped away. Well, thought Belle, rubbing her arm, that could have gone better.

She went for a walk after that. Jim was right. Talking to Audrey had done no good. The girl wouldn’t even admit there was any kind of problem. What now? Jim wasn’t about to just let his girlfriend slip away into nothingness. But what could he do to stop it?

Automatically, her feet took her to the Drama class when she heard the sound of someone playing the piano. Inside, she found Adam, with his back to her, making a change to the sheet music in front of him. “Change that to C,” he muttered, clearly not noticing her.

Belle slid into the seat beside him and he looked up. “Belle,” he smiled, and then he noticed the look on her face. “What’s wrong?”

She sighed. “I should never try to help people. I just make things worse.”

“What do you mean?”

“I just tried to talk with Audrey because Jim’s worried about her but she just wouldn’t be told.”

Adam stifled a laugh. “What?” asked Belle, curiously.

“You tried to make Audrey see sense about something?” Adam shook his head. “Belle, you are so naive!”

“Hey!” Belle elbowed him.

Adam elbowed her back, accidently catching her bruise. She gave a yelp. Adam’s smile faded at once and he became concerned. “Belle, I’m sorry! I didn’t nudge you that hard, did I?”

“No,” she insisted, rolling back her sleeve. The bruise was quite nasty. “Audrey...kind of thumped me earlier.”

“Ouch!” Adam winced. “What the heck did you try and tell her?”

“Just that Jim’s worried about her because she’s anorexic.”

“Audrey?” Adam looked surprised.

“Yes. Didn’t you know?”

“Well, it would explain why she doesn’t eat much. I just assumed she was a picky eater.”

“When did she start not eating very much?”

“As far as I know, she’s always been like that.” Adam shook his head. “Gee, who’d have thought!” He looked at Belle, who was examining the bruise on her arm again. “You alright?”

“I think so. It’s not hurting so much anymore.” She met his eyes and grinned. “Why? Are you offering to kiss it better, Adam?”

Adam flushed. “I don’t know whether that would make it better, Belle.”

“See.” She held out her arm. She didn’t expect Adam to kiss it; but he did. She was surprised, but in no way disappointed. Adam smiled at her. “Congratulations, Belle. I think you just perfected the art of flirting.”

Belle blushed. “I did. I didn’t realise...”

Mr Genie came in at that point, carrying a roll of posters. “Hey!” he greeted them. “Afternoon, you two!”

“Do you need some help, sir?” asked Adam, getting to his feet.

“Oh, if you wouldn’t mind. Actually, perhaps you two could put some of these up in the corridors for me.”

“Certainly,” replied Adam, taking some of the posters. One fell to the floor and Belle picked it up. It unrolled as she did so and she read it. “Auditions for the Summer Concert. 10 am – 1pm on Friday.”

“Yes, yes!” Mr Genie looked excited. “The Summer Concert! I cannot wait to see if we can top last year’s! I hope you two will both audition!”

With that, he magicked three posters up in the room and hurried out again. Adam laughed. “He’s eager!”

“How do you audition?” asked Belle.

“Well, he usually wants us to sing a song or act a piece of dialogue, or maybe do a dance. Why, are you thinking about auditioning?”

“Me?” Belle smiled. “What talent could I bring to a concert?”

“Surely you can sing, at least? I know you can act.”

Belle laughed. “My voice isn’t the best in the world! Trust me!”

Adam didn’t believe that for a second but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he smiled “I’ll bet you’ve got a hidden talent somewhere in that head of yours, Belle. You just need to set it free.”

“Well, I will, if you will.”

“What?” Adam laughed. “I haven’t auditioned for the Summer Concert yet and I don’t plan to now!”

“But you’re so talented at playing,” she insisted.

“You really think so?”

“I do.”

Adam was touched. “Very well, Belle. I will if you will.”

“Then it’s a deal,” she grinned. “Come on, let’s get these posters up.”