CLOUDY \\\ B.E. imagines

fragile mistakes

You jump, the sound of glass breaking in the kitchen startling you.

Hopping off the couch, you jog through the halls to find the source, and end up barging into the kitchen breathing heavily.

You lock eyes with your roommate, Billie, who's scrambling with her bare hands to pick up the pieces of a shattered glass cup, and obviously trying to hide the mess from you while doing so.

Her eyes are wide as you gasp, terror written all over her face.

"Billie! Back up! Don't use your—"

"No, I'm sorry! I'm sorry, please just give me a few minutes, and it'll be cleaned up! A-And, i'll buy a new one! I swear, I will! I know th-this was your—"

She blinks harshly as a piece of glass cuts her hand, making you flinch.

"Your um... god, I'm sorry! Your favorite glass! To-to drink from! T-The juice you like! I'm so sorry, Jenna— I'm so sorry. I can glue it together if you'd like! Or buy you a whole new set! I could buy some more juice, and—"

She inhales sharply, more glass digging deep into her skin as she continues picking up the tiny pieces.

At first you are confused, but as she continued talking, you remembered that conversation you had with her when you guys first moved into the college-owned apartment together.

She had mentioned a bad childhood— and upon some prodding from you, she revealed a heavy life of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, up until she got a college scholarship at 16.

She's basically a prodigy.

Her grades have been unbelievably good her entire life, and she got into college early because of that.

You agreed to room with her last year— you both take similar classes, and it just worked out well financially.

Her currently being 18 while you're 24 isn't bothersome to either of you.

Because of how well you guys get along, you're rooming together again this year. 

One thing she warned you about was mistakes.

Particularly, how she reacts to making mistakes.

Growing up, any mistakes she made resulted in...

Punishment.

You don't like to think about what she told you those punishments consisted of— things like excessive exercise, starvation, beatings, forced sexual acts...

Just horrible, horrible things.

This resulted in Billie never making mistakes— out of fear and natural instinct.

Of course, though, everyone has to slip up eventually.

You'd yet to ever see that in the two years you've known her.

Well, until now.

You slowly bend down to her level, and tears begin to pour down her face as she freezes, blood dripping onto the tile of the kitchen floor.

You hesitantly reach for her hands, but she pulls away harshly, breathing fast as she shakes her head violently.

"No, please! Please, it was an accident. It-It won't happen again! PLEASE! No... NO!"