Author's Note:

I came up with the idea for this story (sorry if there's a similar plot already on this section as I don't read all fanfictions) after my younger sister made the comment that Tawni is shown eating a lot or likes to eat (Three's Not Company, Promises, Prom-misses, potato skins in With a Chance of Dating, etc.) She thought maybe they tried to make her look bigger so that Demi would look smaller (a ploy used often in Hollywood between the lead and supporting characters), but I'm not going to get into that, because I'd love to look like either one of them, lol, so I don't think it really matters either way.

The following story involves the theme of eating disorders. I am by no means trying to make light of the matter because my best friend struggled with an eating disorder for many years, but the good thing is, there's always hope for those struggling and she has now recovered. Ugly thoughts will always be there, insecurities come and go, but as Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent." Not even you can make yourself feel inferior if that's not what you want. Of course, I realize it's usually easier said than done.

Amidst the drama of the story's plot, this will also be a Tawnico (TawnixNico) story.

Disclaimer - I don't own Sonny With A Chance. As if you didn't know that, right?

Sonny, Tawni, Nico, Grady and Zora sat at their usual lunch table in the studio's commissary. Each poked at their food unenthusiastically. "You would think that they'd give celebs better food than this," Grady said, eliciting agreements from all of them.

"Since when do we act like celebs?" Sonny followed with a question. "We're above being the typical Hollywood teen stars," she motioned towards the Mackenzie Falls cast as if to make her point.

"At least their food looks edible," Nico answered. "Oh well, let them eat their…" he raised his voice so the drama snobs could clearly overhear the conversation, "…high calorie food. At least we'll stay looking good for the camera." Everyone else at the table let their eyes grow wide and tried not to laugh as they watched the Mackenzie Falls cast slowly begin to analyze what they were eating. After about five minutes of talking amongst themselves, Chad and his fellow cast members grabbed only their salads and left the commissary and the rest of the food where it had been. "I can't believe that actually worked," Nico said in amused disbelief.

"Who cares, let's eat!" Sonny led the charge over to the abandoned food, the others following without giving it a second thought.

"Wow! Who knew the lunch ladies could cook like this," Tawni said excitedly as she grabbed something of everything for her plate, taking small bites here and there as she did.

"Dang, Tawni. Not even going to wipe and gloss? I'm impressed," Nico joked in regards to Tawni's sometimes ridiculous need to look her best at all times, proving she was more like the typical Hollywood teen stars, Sonny previously mentioned, than any of the others. "But, uh, if you eat all that, we might not all be looking our best for the camera," he joked again, not meaning anything by it, seeing as his own plate was filled up with almost twice that as Tawni's.

"Haha, Nico," Tawni spat sarcastically, but then began eyeing her plate more thoughtfully as they sat down. After all, he made a good point. She couldn't risk destroying the career she'd worked so long to create. Suddenly, she decided she wasn't as hungry as she thought, but she wasn't about to let Nico think it was because of what he'd said. Thinking quickly, she covered her mouth overdramatically, "Okay, one of those bites most definitely did not agree with the other," she acted as though she were going to get sick.

"Oh, now that is just nasty," Nico and Grady both covered their food in case of a sudden projectile of unwanted vomit. However, Tawni quickly ran out of the commissary allowing them to uncover their food again.

"You know, Nico," Sonny said thoughtfully after they'd been eating a while, "if I know Tawni, maybe you shouldn't have been so harsh about how much food she had on her plate." Sonny was glad she wasn't one to worry about her weight to an extreme degree, but then again, she knew every girl was prone to worry at least once every now and then about what others thought. And Tawni was probably one of those girls and then some in comparison to someone as levelheaded as herself.

"Relax, Sonny," Grady covered for his friend before Nico had a chance to himself. "I'm sure Tawni knew Nico was just messing around. Besides, Tawni thinks she's the most beautiful person in the world. I doubt something like that would get to her."

Still, Sonny's words had gotten through to Nico despite what Grady had said. Now that he thought about it, he did feel a little guilty for implying that she was a pig or something. While Sonny talked idealistically, he knew that they were all celebs just the same and Tawni was the most catered to acting like the ones over on Mackenzie Falls when given the opportunity. "Maybe I should go see how she is, you know, to make up for what I said," Nico excused himself, taking a chicken wing with him as he did.

"Wow, I didn't think he'd actually feel guilty," Sonny and Grady exchanged astonished glances. "I was just thinking out loud really."

"Nah, he probably just wanted an excuse to get great blackmail footage of Tawni in her most pitiful hour," Zora suggested maniacally.

"Yeah, that's it," Grady rolled his eyes as he and Sonny looked at Zora like she was crazy.

-----oOo-----

There was a soft knock on Tawni's and Sonny's dressing room door. "Hey, Tawni, you in there?" Nico heard someone moving around inside and suspected it was Tawni coming to let him in. After a few moments, longer than Nico had expected it to take, Tawni finally opened the door. "Feeling better?" he asked as he came in.

"Um, yeah," she answered, realizing what he meant.

"That's good. Thought you might get hungry again since you just up chucked your food and all, so here," he held out the chicken wing.

She eyed it curiously and then looked at Nico hesitantly before taking it from him. "Thanks, Nico," she tried to sound grateful.

Nico noticed her uneasiness and felt the guilt return. "Look, Tawni, I didn't mean what I said back in the lunchroom."

"What do you mean?" she asked, pretending like she had forgotten.

"Well, you know. I shouldn't have implied that you were eating too much. I know girls get sensitive about that stuff. So, I'm sorry," he apologized genuinely.

"Oh, pffft, that?" Tawni laughed a little and Nico joined in, a little more nervously. "But, thanks for the apology, Nico. That was really sweet." Maybe she had been overreacting after all, she began wondering.

Feeling a little more comfortable with the situation now, Nico tried to lighten the mood with what they all knew best: humor. "After all, we're celebs right? We don't have to take nothing from no one. We can eat as much as we want." He laughed some more, once again joking, but he didn't notice the way Tawni again began looking at the chicken wing in her hand as she joined him in laughing. He hadn't meant it as another personal attack, but to Tawni, it practically compromised the sincerity of his apology. He still thought she had been eating a lot, so what if others started thinking the same thing? Or were they already? "Hey, you okay?" Nico had stopped laughing and noticed that Tawni had become distant again.

"Hmm?" She brought herself back from her thoughts. "Oh, yeah, I was just thinking how good this chicken wing looks," she lied.

"Now that's the spirit," he patted her on her shoulder before heading towards the door. "And for the record, you look good too, Tawni," he gave her a friendly smile before leaving her alone again.

Tawni waited a few moments before taking the chicken wing and throwing it violently into the trash can beside her vanity. She then began inspecting herself in the mirror, paying particular attention to her stomach, thighs and arms. "No…I don't…"