To Be a Broken Smile (sequel to Tumbling Down - DM Fanfic)

Hiding (Ch.17)

I don't even put my textbooks in my locker. I just go out the closest exit and run home, as fast as the heavy backpack will let me.

I throw myself up the stairs and into my room. I close the door and put my chair under the knob.

I collapse at the side of my bed, curling myself into a ball.

The only sound I make is the sound from my hiccuping.

It's about thirty seconds later my phone starts ringing. But it's probably Chloe about dance. I'm not going to dance.

Nobody wants me. Tyler lied to me. And I knew it too. I told myself I was crazy, and I wasn't.

Nobody wants me. Nobody loves me.

Nobody. I'm all alone.

I look at myself in my mirror. Of course nobody would want me. I look so gross.

I sit and cry until no tears come out.

I look to my left and see my old dance costume. The stupid plastic thing that goes with it.

I reach out and pick it up. It's cold.

The edges are kind of sharp. Not sharp enough to do damage, but it feels dangerous.

I am dangerous.

I know this thing can't cut me. But I wish it could.

I hold it against my wrist like I did in the dance.

I slide the plastic along my wrist, but harder and faster than I did in the dance.

That dance. I'm turning into that character I portrayed in the dance. And the card actually did hurt me this time. It didn't draw blood or anything, but I wish it did. I wish it could hurt more.

I deserve to be hurt.

More than I already have been.

*Chloe's POV*

Paige: You're coming over before dance right?
Me: Yeah. Clara will be home on the bus so before we go we have to pick her up.
Paige: It so weird that we started competitive dance at her age. And now she's doing it with us.
Me: Yeah. She's growing up. It's crazy. She's in junior high now.
Paige: I remember when Mackenzie started school again. She was so excited. Clara was terrified.
Me: Well Mackenzie automatically became popular.
Paige: And now she's not...
Me: And she's not happy anymore. I don't know what happened to her.

We pass where she hangs out after school. She's not there.

Paige: Where is she?

I look around and see Rock, pushing away some blonde.

What. What the fuck?

That "some blonde" shouldn't be her unless she wants to be locked up for 5 years.

Paige: Is that-

I hand her my bag.

Me: Yeah.
Paige: Don't do anything stupid.
Me: I'm above stupid. But not above bitchy.

*Paige's POV*

Chloe doesn't get mad easily. But when she does, it's bad.

Last time she threw a still-hot curling iron at her sister.

And it hit her on the collarbone, leaving a burn mark for a couple months.

Chloe(shouting): Hey, Kayla!

Kayla turns around. I'm scared. I look over at Rock, but he's on his phone. Probably looking for Mackenzie.

Kayla's in Chloe's face; Chloe's in Kayla's. I stay back, fearing I may have to call for an ambulance.