Bordering on Insane by Erin Crowley (books to improve english .txt) 📕

Chapter One- I've Lost It


*This can't be happening!* That is what went through my mind as I stared at the wreckage of metal and glass. Memories of my mother flooded through my head. She had raised me and my brother, Zacky, by herself when our dad left. He couldn't keep his wits long enough to get to the hospital. He drove off the bridge and died. That happened when I was three; I was now 17 and alone except for my brother. I turned to Zacky and looked at his tear-streaked face. I didn't notice the tears on my own face until Zacky brushed one away.
"Zack… what are we going to do? What am I gonna do?" I whispered. Zacky pulled me close in a hug and I cried into his shoulder. My straight black hair was slightly damp from the steady drizzle falling on us and I shivered in my black short-sleeved shirt and took another glance at the wreckage. The police had notified Zacky first being as he was three years older than me at 20 and now my legal guardian. My green eyes sparkled with tears and I rubbed them away.
Alone. I'm alone.
It kept ringing in my head and I furiously pushed it away.
*I'm not alone. I have Zacky.* I looked up at my brother and he handed me a sweatshirt.
"Put it on. You're shivering." I looked at my Jack sweatshirt and did as I was told. Zacky talked to the police for a few minutes and I scuffed the ground with my combat boots. The silver buckles shone in the streetlight and reminded me of the small razorblade in my room. I pushed up my sleeve and stared at the red and white scars along my arm. I hastily pushed my sleeve back down as Zacky walked over with a police officer.
"Raven? I'm sorry for your loss. Your brother is your legal guardian now. We have discussed all the legalities with him so you are free to go home." I nodded stupidly, not bothering to correct him for calling me Raven. No one called me Raven bu Mom; everyone else called me Rave. Zacky put an arm around me and steered me toward his car. I got into the passenger seat as he drove us home.


"Rave…Rave!" I woke up from my nap against the window to Zacky gently shaking me.
"Come on, let's go inside, you can sleep once you get to your room." I nodded sleepily and followed him inside, staggering a little. Zacky helped me to my room and took my sweatshirt to throw in the dryer with his own clothes. He pulled the door after him as he left my room.
"Zacky." My brother stopped and poked his head back into my room.
"Yeah Rave?"
"Leave the door open?"
"Okai. Night Rave."
"Night Zacky. Love you."
"Love you too, sis."


Chapter Two-


I awoke the next morning to muted yelling from the living room. I rolled over and got up, grabbing some clothes to wear. I got dressed and applied black eyeliner before walking out to the voices. I sat down silently in the chair by the door and watched as Zacky argued with his friend. Zacky saw me and threw his hands up in the air, giving up on trying to be quiet.
"See! I told you you'd wake her up!"
"ME?!"
"Guys! Stop it!" I yelled, massaging my temples. My head felt like it was about to explode. "What are you doing here Syn?" I asked, wondering if my headache could get any worse.
"Umm…I forgot."
"Oh god." I put my hands over my face and went to the kitchen. I got a Monster out of the fridge and opened it, taking a sip.
"Monster for breakfast? Ew." Syn made a face and I smacked him as I walked towards my room.
"Hey!" I snickered and put on my converse before picking up my monster and putting my cell in my pocket.
"Where are you going?" Zacky asked, alarmed.
"Out."
"No you're not."
"I'm 17! I can go meet my friend at the park if I want to!" I protested angrily.
"No." Zacky folded his arms and stood in front of the door.
"What the hell Zack!?" I was starting to get pissed at my older brother. The door opened and hit him in the side as Jimmy walked in, ducking his head through the doorway. "Revvy!"
"Rave!" I hugged him as Zacky shut the door, glaring at us both.
"Revvy, Zacky won't let me go out! Help meee!" I begged, giving him puppy eyes.
"What now?" Zacky groaned and took a step back, leaning against the door.
"Ichabod!" I jumped and picked the small black puppy up and cuddling it. "Zacky, Ichabod thinks you should let me take him to the park." I said, holding the cute puppy up. Zacky groaned and mock glared at his puppy.
"Why do you always take her side?" he asked as Ichabod licked his nose. I suppressed a giggle and grabbed Ichy's leash.
"Be careful."
"Always am."
"What? No you aren't!" Zacky said, jamming his foot against the door. I sighed and rolled my eyes, impatient to get out of the house. "Rave, you've just seen how no one is safe. Mom was always careful! You need to be more careful. I don't want to loose you too." I put Ichabod down and hugged Zacky tightly, trying not to cry. I felt Synyster and Revvy join the hug and I giggled through my tears. The hug broke apart and I smiled wiping tears off my face. Syn held out his arms and I gave him a weird look before taking a step toward Ichabod.
"What? No! You're getting a hug, dammit!" I laughed as he gave me a bear hug.
"Um…Syn…Can't breath…Syn? Syn! Brain Elwin Haner Jr! I yelled. Synyster took a step back, shocked that I used his full name. "thank you." Zacky laughed and Syn punched him in the arm.
"Ow"
"Pussy."
"I'm not the one that looks like a fag!"
"Yo! You guys sound like you're 14!" I said, making them both hang their heads in shame.
"It's funny though." Jimmy said, folding his arms and looking down at me. I hate his tallness! EVIL!
"True…but still…okai, I'm leaving now. Bye. Come on Ichy!" I said, stepping out into the warm summer air. I had graduated two weeks ago and I was turning 18 in two months. I had to carry Ichabod to the park so he wouldn't try to run away after anything. When we got to the park, I put Ichabod down and walked him over to the deserted swingset. I sat down on one of the swings and Ichabod tried to climb onto my lap, putting his paws up on my leg. I laughed and picked him up, setting him on my lap.
"Raven Skye Baker, strange to see you here." A voice said from behind me. I stood up and spun around, backing up with Ichabod in my arms.
"Leave me alone."
"I just thought you might need a friend to confide in, now that your mother's dead." The man grinned and took a step forward. I looked around frantically.
*Where's April?!* I thought. She was supposed to be here. The man's short blonde hair was spiked with gel and his blue eyes made me think of ice.
"Don't worry about April, she just has a flat tire. Drove over into her garage and ran over a broken bottle." My heart was pounding so hard I thought that he could surely hear it. Ichabod started to whine and I stood frozen to the spot. I should have listened to Zacky! I was frozen as the young stalker closed in, reaching for me.

Chapter Three


I must have blacked out because the next thing I saw was…let's call him 'Spike'…on the ground. I looked up and saw Revvy shaking his hand like he just punched a wall. His knuckles were starting to bruise and he was glaring at the unconscious stalker.
"Are you okai?"
"Fine…now…thank you." I said, my voice shaking.
"What about you? Your knuckles are bruised."
"I'm peachy. This guy has a hard fucking head." He replied, shaking his hand again. I laughed and decided to ask the question in my head.
"Why are you here?" he shrugged and rubbed his knuckles, wincing.
"James Sullivan! Tell me!"
"No. You'll think I'm weird.
"I already do. Now tell me. Please?" I gave him a hug and he shook his head. "Revvyyyyyy…"
"I just…had a feeling that you were in trouble." He said, blushing slightly. I forced myself not to laugh and laid my head on his arm. I picked up Ichabod after a few seconds and scratched behind his ears. Ichabod struggled to lick my face but I held him away, laughing.
"Come on, let's go." I said, turning back to The Rev. Jimmy nodded and caught up with me, his long legs causing me to walk faster. When we got to the house, I set Ichabod down on the couch and unclipped his leash.
"Come on Revvy, you need ice." I dragged him into the kitchen and got a bag out and filled it with ice before pressing it against Jimmy's knuckles.
"What did you do to my drummer?!" Shadows burst into the kitchen and looked from the ice to me to The Rev.
"I didn't do it!"
"No, really Matt. I hit a guy with a brick head." He said when Shadows gave me a skeptical look.
"Why? And why did you just run out of here like a bat from hell?" Zacky asked, walking into the kitchen. He froze, looked at me and I exchanged a look with Revvy.
"Okai, spill. Now." I stood in the corner with my head down as Revvy explained what happened. Zacky stared at me until I raised my head and met his gaze.
"What the hell?"
"Don't ask me!" Zacky was starting to get pissed and I could tell. I moved behind Jimmy to hide myself from Zacky's rage. I moved my head so I could see the room and I saw Syn walk in, holding a beer.
"Zacky what's going on? Why are you so pissed?" Syn took a sip of his beer and looked around the room. The story was retold and Syn sat his beer down on the counter. "What!"
"Okai so it's great you all care about me and all but ITS GETTING ANNOYING!" I said before hiding again. I didn't notice Zacky moving until he picked me up and dropped me on the counter. "Why! Zacky, I just want to go to sleep."
"Not yet. You have rules. One: you aren't leaving this house without someone with you. Two: you have to tell me when and where you're going."
"What! Zacky, I'm turning 18 in two months!"
"Well then you only have to listen to me for that long, but I'm still gonna press you to do this."
"Zacky come on!"
"No. I'm not changing my mind!" I jumped down from the counter, knocking Syn's beer over in the process.
"Sorry Syn." I said as I walked out of the kitchen and into my room,