The Self Harmed by Chalen D. (electric book reader TXT) 📕

At the Apartment office when we first pulled up, Mom had coxed me out of the car and into the front office with a milk shake. That's where we had met Fred, the pervert.

"So what do you think?" Mom asked, as I brushed some leaves off the patio table.

"It's cute you know?" I sat down in a chair.

Picture this okay? A pool area in the middle, and then it surrounded by back yards. The gate leads right to the pool area. The back yards rather have those brown plastic privacy dividers shoved between the chain link fence, or heavy green tarps. Our back yard was the only one that didn't have anything to block out the views of the neighbors.

"I know it's a big change from the house."    

"Hey, at least there's no mysterious stains on the carpet."

"And there's no yellow on the tile." She added.

We laughed, and she sat down in the other chair.

"Nice view though."    

"I wonder if the pools clean." I picked a lint ball off my shorts.

The two middle straps of Mom's chair snapped. Her skinny legs flew into the air, and she fell through the chair, onto the floor. We were both laughing.

"Oh my god!" I stood up.

Hey, what if mine broke too?

"Help me!" She laughed, kicking her legs.

"Okay ready?"

"Yeah."

I picked up the chair so she was now on her feet. She looked like a little sand crab. She grabbed onto the table and I pulled on the chair. Nothing happened.   

"Pull harder."

I pulled harder and the chair came off. I fell back, the chair flying over my head as Mom fell down in front of me.   

"You okay?" She asked, looking at me over her shoulder.   

"Yeah." I nodded, waving away the smell of dust.

She pulled me to my feet and then dug in her pocket for her phone. I walked over to the fence, and put my fingers through the holes. I looked at the still water of the pool.

"Come on Charlie. Don't be afraid." Dad called from inside of the pool waving.

I slowly walked to the edge, "I'm scared Daddy."

"I'll catch you I promise."

I held my breath and jumped in.

"So." My thoughts were interrupted, by a girl with a small round belly.

A girl with black hair tied up with a bandana and red lips followed her out of a gate.

"What did Mikey say?"    

"Not much, which really freaks me out." She looked up, and waved at me. "Hi!"

"Lola!" The girl with the belly said, yanking her arm down.     

"What Rose?" Lola seemed a little shocked.

"That's the crazy girl."

"Aren't we all crazy? Bye." Lola waved.

I waved back.

"Hurry!" A Boy with black hair said.

Lola, Rose, and I looked down to were he was pointing. There was a big man, and I shit you not covered in hair.

"Hey!" He yelled.

"Sasquatch!" Rose yelled, tossing her ben and jerry's ice cream. "You better open up that gate wide Mikey! Fat Prego’s comin' through!"

Lola and Rose grabbed hands, and ran to the gate. Mikey slammed it closed and Sasquatch looked a little disappointed.

"Hey!" He pointed at me.

Not today! I spun around and ran inside, slamming and locking the door. Sasquatch shook his head and went into a yard. What in the hell?

“Okay, that was the school.” Mom came out of her room. “Are you okay?”

“Never better.”

“So they need you back by tomorrow at dinner.”

“Okay.”

We used the rest of the day, and the next to unpack everything. I left my room packed up still. It’s not like I was going to be living here.

Checking back into the school was easy for me. They were waiting for me. The school halls were empty. No one really tended to hang out in the halls. I pushed open one of the heavy doors to the garden, and made my way to the tree. I smiled. I ran over to the tree, sprawled out on my stomach, and pressed my nose to Owens.

“Hello old friend.”

“Hey,” He laughed a little. “What are you doing?”

“Well the good news is I’m still sick enough to need this place.”

“The bad news?”

“They were waiting for me.” I sat up. “I should be honored really, but I feel as if they’re some kind of cult.” He laughed, and sat up.

“It’s not funny. I’m being serious.” I said, surprised he was laughing. “They gave me a good ol’ pat down, and gave me a checkup. Not to mention, I’m pretty sure they took my last head band.”

He smiled and looked up at me, “So Charlotte Rose.”

“So Owen Isaac.”

“Why did you let me know you’re back first?”

I took a deep breath and shook my head a little, “Because you’re my best friend, Owen.”

“I’m surprised I’m the first you told.”

“I can go really.”

“No.” We laughed, as he grabbed my wrist keeping me from leaving. “Stay. So how much to you weight?”

“Really?” I nodded once. “That’s what you want to talk about? No, how’s your life at home? Dreadful?”

He just looked at me.

“Lighten up!” I tossed a leaf at him. “It’s going to be thanks giving soon.”

“Where you going?” He called after me.

I spun to him still walking backwards, “To go find someone who’s happy to see me.”

He grinned, and I turned around. Truth was, I was a little nervous to see Ryder again. Was he better? Was he worse? Did He miss me? I turned left and then took a couple of steps back, and plastered myself against the wall.

“I gained three pounds.” Clara said, standing on her tip toes proudly.

“Sorry, I win. I gained Five.” Ryder smiled.

“Well since my skin is cut free, and I haven’t tried to kill myself, I win.” Ayelie smacked his chest.

“There you are.” Alex walked down the hall to them. “Guess what I heard?”

“What?” Clara asked.

“That someone’s coming back today.”

“Who?” Ayelie asked brows pulling together.

“Yeah, Who?” Clara wanted to know.

“Me.” I walked into view. “It’s me. I’m coming back.”

Alex grinned at them when they looked at him and held out his arms.

“Sister.”

I smiled, and jogged over to him. He grabbed me in a hug.

“What’s wrong?” I looked at the girls. “No hug?”

They looked at Ryder, both of them opening their mouths.

Ryder grabbed my shoulders, “Look at me Charlie.”

I looked up at him, “What happened?”

“Alen and Daniel happened.”

“What do you mean?” I demanded.

“While you were gone they decided to sneak out of the school. They never made it back Charlie.”

“So They’re missing?”

Ryder looked down, his hands still on my arms.

“Well?” I demanded looking to the girls and Alex.

“No.” Ryder shook his head. “They’re not missing Charlie. Alen and Daniel Died.”

“What?” I stepped away from him.

“They saw a couple of guys trying to rape a girl. They tried to stop it.” Alex said softly. “They were both shot. The girl ran and told the cops.”

“Where’s Ava?” I asked. “She must be crushed.”

A little sob escaped and I looked to Ayelie, “Ava killed herself, Charlie.”

“No.” I backed down the hall.

“She did.” Ayelie sobbed and Clara grabbed her in a hug.

I turned to run, but smacked into Owen, who pinned me to his chest as I cried. Sure I left things bad with Ava, but she still cared about me enough to try to help me. And I cared about her.

Later that afternoon kids filed onto the steel bleachers outside on the P.E field. There was a podium, and off to the left was a picture of Daniel and Alen, and then off to the right was Ava’s. I sat between Alex and Ayelie on the bottom bench.

“They risked their lives to save a girl who was going to be raped. They succeeded. The girl ran for help, and the guys were arrested. But that won’t Bring back Daniel. It won’t bring back Alen.” Mr. Pepper had his hands braced on the podium, as he looked down. “But they were caring souls and they will be in peace. And Ava.” He sighed.

“Was a good friend.” I stood up.

Everyone looked at me. Ayelie grabbed my hand and stood. Alex grabbed the other and stood too.

“When I first met her, she was guarded.” I nodded trying to swallow the lump in my throat. “She was just the best friend of my best friend. She made me face my fears, and told me she had her reasons.”

“Ava was the first friend I made here.” Ayelie spoke up. “When everyone thought I was a freak because Of my Sister, she was kind to me. She helped me find all my classes, dealt with all of my freak attacks, all of my episodes. She helped me with so much. She talked me out of suicide thoughts so many times.” She sobbed once. “And I couldn’t do the same for her.”

I grabbed her in a hug, and Alex put a hand on my back.

“Ava Was sweet, determined. But not everyone knew that, because she was afraid to be hurt. That little girl has been hurt so many times. She only befriended kids from the suicide wing, because she wanted to help them. Even if she couldn’t help herself.” Alex added.

A girl stood up. “I’m Jace. This one time Ava found me crying in the bathroom. She never knew my name, but she sat down and held me while I cried. She told me everything was going to be okay. And for a little while it was.”

“She stopped a couple of kids from beating my ass because I’m gay.” A boy stood up. “My Name is Cameron Cole, and I’m just another kid that Ava Blaire helped.”

“So.” Mr. Pepper smiled. “Here’s to Daniel and Alen. The boys who helped  a random girl. And to Ava, Who helped random kids.” We all laughed a little. “May they find peace.” He nodded. “Because they deserve it.”