Before I Forget

Monsters

Sky had changed her clothes at least a dozen times before finding the perfect outfit for her non-date with Cody.

It had been surprisingly difficult, and now piles of clothes lay scattered on the floor and her bed, dresses, jeans, skirts - even some high heels she had tried on, before realizing she still couldn't walk with them without losing her balance.

Stupid brain injury. Sky really missed high heels, missed the feeling they gave her, like she was a beautiful badass who could take on the world.

But for now, cute sneakers would have to do.

She stood in front of the mirror, observing her looks with a frown. The pink, pleated skirt that reached her mid-thigh was super cute, and the simple, white shirt she had paired it with, revealed an inch of her stomach. Just enough to catch the eye but not so much that she would look slutty—

And why do I even care if I look like a slut? Everyone already thinks I am one.

That thought was depressing, it threatened to turn into bitterness, into hurt, and beneath there was always the sharp, piercing pain, the sickening knowledge that it was Hawk who had started this rumor—

Sky stopped her thoughts before they could go further, reached for the pill bottle that was on her dresser, and took one. The second one for today, but it wasn't that much, was it? She wasn't planning on taking more. Just enough to keep Hawk off her mind, the things he had said to her, his face when he had grabbed her arm at school today, as if he still cared, as if their love hadn't been just a lie.

She sipped some water to swallow the pill down, to flush away the bitter aftertaste. It wasn't like she used drugs for fun. It was a matter of survival, just a life vest that would keep her head above the surface for as long as she was in danger of drowning. But if she ever remembered how to swim, she wouldn't need the life vest anymore. Then she could maybe stop the pills. Maybe. With that thought, she pushed the pill bottle into the drawer of her dresser and closed it, turning the key in the lock.

She could definitely keep this under control. And Dad would never have to find out about it.

With a sigh, she turned her attention to her makeup, starting to fix it a bit, adding some eyeliner and mascara, and painting her lips pink with a shade that matched her skirt. The image in the mirror looked cute. She looked like the girl Sky had once been before her bloody and beating heart had been ripped out of her chest. She added some glittery eyeshadow, trying to ignore the hollow pain the passing thoughts of Hawk had caused. Hell, she would paint the whole fucking world with pink and glitter if it only helped her forget—

Her phone blipped, and Sky picked it up, to notice that Moon had replied to the text she had sent her earlier.

Sky: what can u tell me about Cody Bishop?

Moon: Cody?
you're not interested in him, are u?
Sky, he's bad news.

Sky stared at Moon's message for a couple of seconds, feeling a tight knot forming in her stomach. Suddenly she was reminded of the night she had gone to meet Cody, the sharp coldness she had sensed from him, the way he had chuckled before saying are you kneeling or not?

But he had been so nice the next morning, and then today... he had been cute and nervous, blushing when trying to ask if Sky wanted to go out with him.

Sky glanced at the card with the grouchy hedgehog and the text that said I'm sorry I was a jerk and felt a weird weight on her chest.

She typed a swift answer to Moon's message.

Sky: what do u mean?