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

“Yeah.” He ran a hand through his hair. “My Dad told me.”

“How-“

“Your Mom told him. She told him because She thought it might be a touchy subject for you. And she told my Dad to tell me to be careful when I touch you. She said you’re not the same Charlie. It’s going to take me a while so I’m sorry. I’m used to the Charlie what could tackle me in football.”

“I totally forgot I used to play football.” I smiled at a memory of taking down Caden.

“Are you ready yet Charlie?” Mom called. “The party is starting soon.”

“Yeah.” I called back.

I grabbed the light black jacket from my bed, and Caden held out his arm. I gave him a small smile and we walked into the living room.

“Hey Charlie.” Jackson gave me a hug. “You’re so pretty.”

“I get it from Mom.”

“Stop.” Mom laughed.

But it was true. I looked a lot like my mom even though I didn’t want to admit it. We took Jackson’s SUV. Caden had to help push me into the back seat. The hall was already full of people. Live music played from inside. Even though Mom and Dad weren’t together, I was excited for thanks giving dinner.

Music, family, even the food was good. Not that I was going to eat any most likely. But I was supposed to be getting better right? Caden helped me out of the car, and we headed inside. Right away I spotted my Dad. He was tall, and had on a tan suit. I headed over.

“Charlie!” He gave me a hug.

I played the good daughter and hugged him back. He was standing with his Mom the most judgmental woman I had ever known. Only she didn’t know it.

“Do you garden?” She questioned.

“No.” I said confused.

“Then how come you have scars on your arms like you’ve been weeding rose gardens?”

“Mother.” Dad warned.

“And what happened to you?” She demanded. “Half of you is missing. Doesn’t she look like Jenna?” She asked Dad.

"Sure.” He said.

Jenna was her Dead sister. I’ve never met her. She died when she was Seventeen.

“Mrs. Horn!” Caden came out of nowhere. “You look so beautiful. Are those new pearls?”

“They are!” She touched the necklace. “Thank you for noticing, Caden.”

Grandma might be old, but she never forgot a face. Especially one that gave her compliments. Caden was always saving my ass from her.

“Well I’m going to take Charlotte over here to the dance floor.”

“Becareful.” Grandma warned him. “She has two left feet that one.”

“I’ll take my chances.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me away. “Are you just going to let her talk to you like that?” He questioned.

“She’s going to die soon anyways.” I shook him off and headed to the large punch bowl.

I poured a cup, and took a drink.

“Yuck.” I held out the cup. “Taste this.”

Caden took the cup and choked on his sip. We had always done this when He had lived here. Take test samples of the food or drink the other thought was gross.

“It needs sugar. And a lot of it.”

“There’s some in the kitchen.”

Caden dropped the little cup into a near by trash can and followed me into the kitchen. I handed him a bag of sugar and we walked to the punch bowl. He dumped in some sugar and then looked at me. I shrugged a shoulder and he dumped in the rest of the bag. I mixed it as he walked to a trash can. He tossed the bag and grabbed a cup off the table. I poured him a spoon full.

“Much better.” He held out the cup.

I set the serving spoon down and took the cup. It was better. I drowned the cup.

“You know, I grew a right foot over the last few years.” I told him.

“Really?” He held out a hand with a smile.

I slapped my hand into his and we headed to the dance floor. As I said hello to the rest of my family they all pointed out how skinny I had gotten. At first It made me feel good about myself, but the more people who said it, I started to feel uncomfortable with the way I looked.  

It was two days later, so I had been home for four Days. Mom and Jackson were out getting food. Caden was laying on his bed in the hotel. The movers hadn’t finished moving in their stuff yet. Which was understandable. They had a lot of stuff. They were rich. I was sitting on the other bed playing with a stuffed basketball. The hotel sweet was bigger than my house. I tossed the ball at him.

“What?” He demanded, looking at me.

“I’m bored.”

It was true. I had been watching him texting for the last ten minutes. I was starting to miss Clara, and how she talked all the time.

“What do you want me to do about it?”

“You’re an A hole now.” I told him. “You let that stupid phone ruin your youth.”

“Fine.” He shoved the phone into the pocket of his hoody. “What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I’ve been locked up in a crazy school for the last couple of months.”

“What’s it like?” He muttered looking down.

“There’s a lot of people who understand you. People who want you to get better.”

“So you’re there because you have an eating disorder?”

“I cut and I tried to kill myself too.”

“I know someone who cuts.”

“Who?”

He smiled up at me. “Want to watch a movie?”

“Uh, sure.”

We left the bedroom and headed into the living room. We had watched the movie for ten minutes when Mom and Jackson came back with pizza. For the next two days Caden and I stayed in the bedroom of the hotel. Caden had got his Xbox, and we played videogames and watched movies. We played that twenty questions game as well. The day before I had to go back to school Caden had took me to the mall and bought me clothes that fit me that I would actually wear. He had bout me new makeup and shoes and new suitcases.

He had also bought me a new backpack. I smacked him with a pair of shorts, as he had made a joke. We were in the laundry room in the hotel folding my new clothes. Caden Smiled and Reached for a shirt. And that’s when I saw it. Just A tiny glimpse, so fast I wasn’t sure.

“You okay, Charlie?” He asked, setting a shirt into one of the suitcases. 

“Uh yeah.” I shook my head and put in the shorts.

He reached for another shirt and his sleeve pulled up. I looked down and grabbed some jeans.

“I know you saw it.” He muttered.

“I kind of have an eye for it now.” I muttered back.

He hiked up his sleeve and handed me his arm. I looked at the newly made cuts.

“You know my school can help you.”

“I’m not going there.” He yanked his shirt down and zipped up my suitcase. “I’m not crazy.”

“And I am?” I questioned.

He hit the table and left the laundry room.

“Think about it Caden!” I called.

The elevator dinged. I’ve never been in this place before. Knowing cutting isn’t a good thing, and knowing someone who is doing it and they don’t want help? Yikes. What was I supposed to do to help him? How could I? I waited outside of the hotel for my Mom.

“Where’s Caden?” She smiled at me.

“We already said goodbye.”

I shut the back door and hopped in.

“You ready to go back to school?”

I glared at her.

“Sorry.” She started the car. “I forgot.”

I grabbed her hand and smiled. She smiled back and we pulled out of the lot. It was late when we got home. I took a shower and Mom straightened my hair before I headed off to bed. I had to be back at the school by Noon. So at eleven I shoved in my last suitcase into Mom’s trunk. I was about to shut it, when She waved over my shoulder. I turned around and Jacksons car pulled up to the curb.

“I thought you already said goodbye.” Mom said.

“Me too.”

Caden jumped out of the car and pulled open the back door. Two suitcases hit the floor, and when He shut the door he had a backpack slung over his shoulder. He grabbed the sticks of his bags and walked over. Jackson patted his back and he nodded.

“Room for one more?” Caden asked.

“Of course sweet heart.” Mom reached up and hugged him.

Caden looked at me as he shoved in his suitcases. He shut the trunk and I pushed his arm. He grinned and picked me up in a hug walking to my door. We both waved Mom away, and walked into the lobby.

“Charlie!” Maggie said, coming over.

We hugged.

“You look nice!”

“Thank you. This is My Friend Caden.”

“Hello Caden. I’m Maggie, The nurse for the suicide wing.”

He shook her hand as he looked at me.

“It’s where I stay.”

Maggie hurried off to greet another student and I walked Caden to the office.

“You can unpack.” The woman at the front desk said. “He’ll be here for a while.”

I walked down a hall and saw all my friends. I got a sudden urge to run down the hall and jump on them. I quickly waved and then grabbed the stick of my bag so it wouldn’t fall. They all waved back and hurried to me. But they suddenly stopped and crossed their arms. Confused I looked over my shoulder to an empty hall. I set both of my suitcases upright.

“Hi.” I tossed up a hand confused as I fixed my makeup bag strap around my neck.

“We’re supposed to be getting better.” Ayelie spat at me.

“I know.” I said confused at her attitude.

“Then why did you lose weight?” Clara demanded.

“What?” I looked down at myself. “I didn’t. I’m just wearing clothes that fit me now. Caden bought them for me.”

“Caden?”

Alex, Ayelie, and Clara asked confused. Owen said it with a sneer and Ryder had a tone of jealousy.

“You said you wouldn’t leave me.” Caden said coming to my side.

“I’m sorry. This is my friends.” They all stared at him.

“Owen.” Caden nodded.

“Caden.” Owen nodded back.

“You know him?” Clara looked up at Owen and pointed.

“We don’t get along.” Caden reflexively grabbed my hand.

With the same reflex I grabbed onto his.

“Please don’t hold my girlfriends hand.” Ryder pulled me away from Caden, with so much forse I fell against him.

“Ryder.” I looked up at him schocked.

Alex pulled Ayelie closer, and Owen did the same to Clara.

“Stop it.” I stepped away from Ryder to Caden. “What is the matter with you all?”

“You have an accent now?” Ayelie snorted.

“How long have you been hanging out with the Brit?” Owen demanded, nodding his head.

“Stop it.” I said sternly. “Caden is my friend, and if you’re my friend you’ll be nice!”

“But Charlie-“

“She’s right.” Alex stuck out his hand, cutting off Clara. “I’m Aelx.”

Caden grinned and shook his hand.

“Caden. Nice to meet you. And for the record I’m not British.” He grinned at Owen. “I’ve spent a couple of years in Australia as well.”

Owen