Save Me

Chapter 3

I slowly climb out of Gemma's car. I am determined not to cry. The other girls will see me and start to call me names. I get my bags out of the back and turn to Gemma.

"G-Gem- Gemma?" I stutter.

"Yes Hayley?" She asks.

"C-Can I p-p-please have your ph-phone num-number?"

"Sure sweetie. Don't be scared to call me if you're in trouble okay?" I nod and hand her my phone. She types her number and name in. "Let's go inside shall we?"

I gulp and follow her.

You have to make a good impression Hayley. Nobody likes you. Not even Gemma. My inner demons start saying. I try my best to ignore them. We reach the front door and Gemma rings the doorbell.

The door opens and I see a kind looking woman standing there.

"Why hello there. I'm Dianna. Come in." We walk into a small office. "You must be Hayley." She says in a chirpy voice. She looks down to me and I freeze. She holds out her hand. When I don't move to shake it she says "A little shy are we?" Gemma nods for me.

"I'm Constable Gemma Williams. I spoke to you on the phone about her parents." She says and shakes hands with Dianna.

I feel sick so I sit on the floor, curl into a ball and cry remembering them. I feel someone drop down beside me.

"Hayley. Hayley. What's wrong?" It's Gemma. She sounds genuinely concerned. I don't answer her. I just continue to cry and shake.

"What's wrong with her?" Dianna asks.

"I don't know." Gemma replies.

Gemma picks me up and carries me over to a couch. She sits me on her lap. I just hug her and cry into her shoulder.

"Shh. Hayley, tell me what's wrong."

"Par-Parents. H-Hated. Me. H-Hurt. M-Me. Still. P-Parents. L-Love. Them. N-Now. G-G-Gone." I manage to get out.

"Oh sweetie. Shh it's okay. Everything's going to be okay." Gemma comforts me. I shake my head and my breathing speeds up.

"She's having a panic attack." Gemma says to Dianna. "Sshhh Hayley. Copy my breathing. In. Out. In. Out. Slowly. That's it. Good girl. You're alright." My breathing slows down to it's normal pace and Gemma hugs me even tighter.

"Sorry about that." Gemma says to Dianna.

"That's okay. What do you say we get you settled into your room Hayley? All the other girls are at school. You will meet them when they get back. There is only sixteen girls including you." I nod and still crying I stand up and get my bags. She leads me to my room.

"You are twelve right?" Dianna asks me. I nod.

"Good. You are sharing a room with Sophie. She is 14." I put all of my stuff on my side of the room and climb onto my bed.

"Dianna. Can I speak to you outside for a minute?" Gemma asks.

"Sure." They walk outside and close the door. I quickly get up and stand by the door so I can hear what they're saying knowing that it's going to be about me.

"A couple of things I think you need to know for anyone who wants to adopt her." Gemma says.

"Okay?"

"She self harms. I also suspect she has an eating disorder. She is very light. And she probably has anxiety." Gemma says. I quickly lay back down on my bed facing the wall. I don't want to listen to anymore of that.

I hear the door open. I refuse to look at them. I feel someone stroking my hair. I look and see Gemma.

"Hayley. I have to go now." Gemma says. I immediately shut down and don't hear the rest of what she is saying. I stare at her blankly. She hugs me but I don't hug back. She gets up to go. I quickly stand up and grab her hand.

"NO NO NO GEMMA PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! DON'T GO! I DON'T TRUST THEM! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! THEY'LL HURT ME! THE OTHER GIRLS WILL BULLY ME! PLEASE DON'T GO! DON'T LEAVE ME PLEASE!" I scream and begin to cry. I don't know why I'm like this. My breathing speeds up and I sit on my bed. Gemma sits down beside me.

"Hayley. Hayley please calm down. I have to go sweetie. I'm sorry. Breathe with me. Come on. In. Out. In. Out. Shh. Breathe sweetie." My breathing eventually slows and I look at Gemma.

"Don't go." I whisper.

"I have to sweetie. I have to go back to work. Tonight I promise I will come back okay? After dinner okay? Around seven o'clock. I'll see you then."

"P-promise?" I ask.

"I promise. You have my number remember? Don't hesitate to call me. See you later Hayley. Stay strong." She gives me one last hug and leaves.

I lay down on my bed just staring at the ceiling until finally Dianna leaves as well. She probably feels really awkward around me. I wait for about five minutes after Dianna left then I look at my phone. It's 2:47pm. The other girls will finish school at about 3:00pm. That's just enough time.

I take my blade out of the back of my Demi iPhone case and open my door. I find the bathroom, go inside and lock the door.

I sit on the floor for about two minutes debating whether or not I should do it.

Hayley. Hayley. Nobody likes you. Just one cut. It'll make everything so much better. One cut and we'll leave you alone.

I bring the razor to my wrist. One cut turns to two. Two turns to four. Four turns to eight.

This goes on until I've made about 16 cuts on each arm. I turn on the tap and wince as the water runs down my arms. My demons were right though. I do feel better. I clean my blade and walk back to my room.

Just as I had put my blade back into my phone case, Dianna knocks on the door. I open it.

"The other girls are going to be back shortly. I will introduce you to Sophie straight away then you will meet the other girls at about 3:30pm. Is that alright?" She asks me.

I want to say "No it's not alright. They'll hate me. I'm fat and ugly. They'll just bully me." Instead, I just nod. It's silent for about 5 minutes then I hear the front door open. Ugh. The other girls. Shortly after, my bedroom door opens. Sophie. She is really pretty. She's about average height with blue eyes and long straight blonde hair.

"Hi. I'm Sophie. You must be Hayley." She says happily.

I nod. How is she so happy? How can she even look at me?

"Nice to meet you." She says. I just look away.

"Sophie can you please tell the other girls to sit down in the lounge?" Dianna asks her.

"Sure. Just let me change." She gets a blue dress and blue sandals then leaves.

My breathing starts to speed up. Dianna doesn't notice. "Let's go introduce you to the rest of the girls." She says.

I stand up slowly trying to calm down. Dianna leads me to the lounge where all the girls are seated.

"Wait here until I tell you." She says and goes to stand in front of the girls.

"Hello girls." She says.

"Hi Dianna." They all reply in unison.

"As some of you may have heard, we have a new girl to welcome today. She is twelve and I expect you all to make her feel welcome and happy. Come in Hayley."

I take a deep and walk in to Dianna, holding my hands at my front and refusing to look at any of the girls...