Keep Me Safe.

Chapter 3

*Adelaide*

When I finally made it far enough into the alley that no one could see me, I sat down on the ground and leaned my back against the brick wall. I slowly pushed up my sleeves and ran a finger over the lines of scars covering the skin of my arm. I flinched as my skin moved across the newly scarred cuts but for some reason this calmed me. With shaky hands, I dug around for the scissors in my school bag, but I heard someone yell, "No!" from farther up the alley. I quickly pulled my sleeves down and before I knew what was happening someone was gripping my arm tightly, pulling the sleeves back up. I was now shaking completely, wondering who the person could be; finding out my deepest secret. After a long bit of silence, I worked up the courage to look into the stranger's eyes.

Yet, they weren't a stranger's eyes. They were eyes that had been staring into mine only minutes earlier. Luke's eyes were full of concern, confusion, and care. I had to look away to keep from breaking down.

"Luke.. you don't understand-" I started but I was interupted by the soft whimper that left his throat.

"My.. my mom.. she used to do this," he looked down at the cuts on my wrists and my arms and sunk down to his knees, breathing heavily, "she used to hurt herself like this and we had to send her to rehab. We had to help her and it didn't help her at all, and I can't let you keep doing this to yourself, I can't let you.. I just.. I can't."

"It's not your problem." I whispered, watching as he ran his fingers over my arms.

"Yeah.. Yeah, I know. But, Adelaide, why? You, you seem so happy." He told me, loosening his grip on my arm. I slowly pulled my arm away and held it to my chest.

"How could you know that? Just because I act happy doesn't mean anything." I took my bottom lip between my teeth, fighting tears. I just needed to get out of this situation- and find a new place to hide. "Luke, I gotta go." I started to stand up, and I grabbed my bag, but Luke grabbed my arm again, pulling me back down.

"Adelaide," He started, looking me dead in the eyes, "I'll be coming over tonight. I'll stay until your mother makes me leave and I'll make sure you don't do anything to yourself. I'm not letting you destroy yourself. You're beautiful. Everything you do."

I took a deep breath and just nodded, feeling numb from this entire encounter. I tried to stand and this time he let me. I pulled my bag onto my shoulder and started walking back to my friends, only turning around to see Luke staring at the exact spot that I was only moments earlier.

How had he seen me leave? He was with his friend, yeah, but I left when I knew he wasn't paying attention. I just sighed, and continued on down the walkway to my friends- I was so very excited to deal with them, too.

-

When I entered my room, I was so very happy. I could just sit there and not worry about anything at all for the next few hours, and just sleep. Life would slowly fade away and I could dream of being far away from this place- and things would finally go my way for once.

Of course, this lovely thought was ruined by the knock on my door in mere seconds. I growled in frustration and walked down the stairs, calling my brother to see if he was home. Nope. Great.

I hesitantly opened the door, knowing what was coming.

"Hey, Adelaide." Luke spoke softly, his hands in his pockets. I looked him over; his plaid shirt was unbuttoned, showing a white undershirt. He was wearing a pair of worn down jeans and his hair was messy.

"Hi, Luke," I replied, sighing.

"You gunna let me in?" He asked, smiling slightly. He knew the answer already. I knew to expect him, yes, but that didn't mean I didn't spend the whole day coming up with an excuse to send him back on his way. Somehow, I found nothing. Some parts of my brain were actually yelling at me to just let him stay forever. Stupid brain; knew nothing.

I just stood out of the way of the door and held my arm out in an invitation. Luke nodded and entered, pulling his hands out of their previous location. "So, what do you want to do?" He asked.

I scoffed, "Isn't that what you're supposed to come up with? I mean, you're the one babysitting me, right?"

He frowned, "It's not babysitting, Adelaide. You were freakin' cutting yourself behind the cafeteria today, it's just common courtesy to make sure you're okay afterwards."

I laughed dryly, "Yes, because after I cut myself and you find me, it all magically becomes better. These thoughts in my head disappear,"

"You do realize you're not the only person in the world to feel sad right?"

"Of course I do! But because I'm not the only one, does that mean I'm not allowed to handle it in my own way?" I countered.

"No. But it does mean that you can't go around acting like just because you're sad, it means that the world won't keep going. That the sun won't shine the next morning!" He replied, angrily. "Adelaide, I'm just trying to help you!"

"Don't, I don't need your help."

"Well, you're getting it anyway." He replied, flopping down onto the couch. "You can sit here with me and watch a movie that I picked out - Kung Fu Panda - or you can sulk about because you're making a new friend."

I just stared at him for a moment. "How did you... but.. you just.. ugh, fine I give up." I slowly sat down on the couch as far from his as possible and sat criss-crossed on the couch.

"Good. I was starting to think that I would have to fight with you. And I don't want to fight with my new friends." Luke grinned at me. I just stared at him, raising an eyebrow.

"Who said we were friends?" I asked.

"I did."

"Who gave you authority over whose my friends and whose not?"

"Me."

"And who made you that way?"

"Me."

"Do you just really like yourself?" I asked, glaring.

"Yessss." Luke replied, grinning.

"I figured." I ended the conversation at that, not replying to anything else he had to say.

--

Feisty. Lol. So heres an update and well bye xD