sʜᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ

E L E V E N

Alexa

Elliot was harsh. I couldn't stop crying as he stared at me, even though he was no longer glaring at me. He had yelled at me for hurting myself.

Elliot sat down, sighing heavily. "I'm the one who should be sorry," he says suddenly. "I-I shouldn't have gotten angry. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."

I wipe my eyes and look at him. I didn't say anything, though. Elliot wrapped his arms around me as I lightly sniffled. My cuts were exposed, but he didn't seem to be disgusted embracing me.

"Just, Alexa," Elliot paused. "Don't hurt yourself again."

I wasn't sure if I could manage that, but I just nodded in confirmation to his words.

"I should tell Andrew--"

I quickly sat up, staring at him with wide eyes. "Please don't tell my brother." I only just got him back. I don't want him to see how much of a wreck his twin sister has become.

Elliot narrowed his eyes. He didn't say anything at first, as if thinking of what to say, and then his eyes softened. "I can't just keep this from him," he says. "Cutting is a dangerous habit--"

"Which is why I'll stop," I quickly say. "So no one else has to know--least of all Andrew. We can both put it behind us."

Elliot sighed. "Fine, but I'm warning you--if I see any more cuts, I'm telling not just Andrew, but Michael and Jackson as well."

"Okay "

But eventually Elliot will forget what he had seen, or he will just move past it. Then I'll be able to go back to my own self destruction.

How could I have gotten so careless for him to find out?

I have to be more careful now.

"We have an hour before we have to leave," Elliot says, "so get ready. My sister will take us to school. You can take a shower first."

I nod, but on the inside I was freaking out. Ryan teaches at my school. I really don't want to see him, but I knew that I had to go to school, especially since my twin brother is there.

I just... I don't know.

***

After Elliot and I had gotten ready, Elliot's older sister drove us to school. Elliot and I got out of the car and entered the school building.

"Do you still want to see your stepbrothers after school?" Elliot asked me.

I nodded. "I think I'll just walk with Andrew."

Elliot glanced at me. "Normally Zach or Cameron picks him and Ryder up," he says. "Mostly Zach since he's out of school."

Does that mean Andrew gets along with them, truly? I know Elliot says they weren't mean to him, but I'm still nervous.

We made it to our table. Michael and Jackson were already there so we joined them. I couldn't help but wonder where Andrew was.

"Hi, Elliot, Lex!" Michael says, wearing a goofy grin.

Jackson just simply nodded his head at us.

"Hey," I say, sitting down. "Andy's not here yet?"

"Obviously not. Do you see him?" Elliot said, sitting next to me.