jeopardize her control over the group。 ?Next??
?I?m Jodia and I?m an alcoholic; too;? said the chubby girl sitting next to Blair。 ?I even drank
perfume once。?
?Me too;? Blair cut in; eager to top Georgie?s performance。 She uncrossed and recrossed her legs;
giving the room a glimpse of her sexy black fishnets through the slit in her dress。 ?I?m Blair
and 。 。 。? She hesitated。 Where to begin? She took a deep; dramatic breath。
?My parents got divorced last year。 It turns out my father was gay and he was fooling around
with my mom?s personal assistant; who was only twenty…one。 They?re still together; and now they
live in a chateau in a vineyard in France。 My mother just married this gross fat freak real estate
developer and now they?re having a baby; even though she?s; like; a hundred years old。 It?s a girl;
they just found out。 I was supposed to apply early to Yale; but my interview sucked。 So this old
friend of my father?s said he?d give me an alumni interview。 He was really attractive and I?d
never been with an older guy before so I kind of hooked up with him;? she glanced apologetically
at Nate。 He?d forgive her for philandering; just as she?d forgive him for straying from her。
Jackie listened with her mouth agape。 She was used to the kids in teen group giving a little more
detail than was necessary; but she?d never run across anyone who seemed to enjoy talking about
herself so much。
?I think part of the reason I cut all my hair off was I was trying to make myself ugly; even though
I didn?t realize it at the time。 I thought short hair might look cool on me。 But I think I was maybe;
you know; bringing all the ugliness inside to the surface? And this past week I stayed home from
school。 I wasn?t really sick; I just couldn?t??
?I?m sorry to interrupt; but if you could simply name your problem?;? Jackie broke in when she
realized Blair wasn?t even close to being finished。
Blair frowned and twisted her little ruby ring around and around on her finger。 It sounded like
she had to have aspecific problem or they?d kick her out。 ?Sometimes when I?m upset?which;
considering what my life is like now; is all the time?I eat too much; or I eat something that I
shouldn?t; and then I make myself sick。?There ; that sounded convincing。
Jackie nodded。 ?Can you name your problem Blair? There?s a name for that you know。?
Blair glared at her。 ?Stress…induced regurgitation?? she answered tightly。 She knew Jackie wanted
her to saybulimia ; but it was such a gross word; she refused to say it; especially in front of Nate。
Bulimia was for losers。
The rest of the room tittered。 Jackie was eager to get the group back on track after Blair?s
soliloquy。 ?Well; I suppose that?s one way of putting it;? she noted; marking something on her
clipboard。