Temporary ✔️

Chapter 19: True Friend

AN: here's chapter 19. Enjoy, people.

Lexi's POV: (three weeks later)

TW: brief mentions of abuse. Goes into eating disorders (forced) and physical abuse but not in detail!

It's been three weeks since Nick first punched me. He extended his abuse to mental as well as physical. Whenever he came round- which was quite often- I was forced to lie that I wasn't hungry and skip important meals. If my half-brothers didn't believe me, I'd throw up my food afterwards. I tried eating when he wasn't there, but he'd somehow find out and I'd get a beating.

I examined my reflection in the mirror. Dead eyes, sunken cheeks and bloodless lips. I applied a little makeup to seem better and examined my bruised ribs. After they'd healed from my near-death experience, Nick wasted practically no time in injuring them again.

My friends kept asking me if I was okay, but I pushed them away. When Jackson asked if he could come over to work on the project, I told him we'd have to work in the library, making some terrible excuse that I'm sure he didn't believe. Nick had already threatened my half-brothers and I didn't want my friends on his radar too.

Flashback:

"Don't eat your food," Nick muttered as we were all sat around the table. Fortunately for him, the noise was loud enough to drown out his voice, "and don't tell your half-brothers."

"What if I do?" I snapped defiantly.

A slow, sick smirk spread across his face. Carelessly, he picked up his knife and threw it. It flew across the table and narrowly missed hitting Ryan.

"Sorry!" He cried, "I was showing Lexi a trick and it kinda failed."

My heart climbed in my throat and I tried to mask my emotions. His meaning couldn't be clearer.

End of flashback.

Sighing, I grabbed my bag and went downstairs, lost in a tsunami of thoughts. I skipped breakfast again and started leaving the house.

"Lexi?"

I turned at the sound of Ryan's voice, careful to keep my guard up, "yes?"

He fidgeted slightly, "are you okay? Me and the others have been worrying about you a lot and, well, we wanted to give you some space... is everything okay?"

I wanted to break down and confess to what Nick had done. But the thought of Nick and his goons hurting my half-brothers stopped me in my tracks, "everything is fine, Ryan. Don't worry about me," with a curt nod, I left.

The sky was riddled with gray and the semi-comforting smell of wet cement hit my nose. The discordant clamour of cars and people made me wince. I squinted in the weak sun, feeling drained.

The day passed in a blur. I felt like I was there, but not there at the same time. I avoided my friends as much as possible, bouts of pain washing over me. I couldn't find any pain killers or medicine, so I had to suck it up and suffer.

During Science, a wave of nausea overcame me. I groaned softly, dropping my pencil and clutching my stomach. Jackson- who was next to me- shot me a concerned look.

Shakily, I raised my hand, "Mr. Miller? Please can I go to the bathroom?"

He looked at me in irritation, "you should've gone at break. That's what it's for."

I gritted my teeth, "so can I go?"

"No." He went back to his book.

I closed my eyes and breathed deeply through my nose. It was time for drastic measures.