It Can Only Get Better From Here

Chapter Nine

Katiana's POV

I woke up with a start, heart pounding, head spinning. It took me a few minutes to figure out where I was.

I sat up. My back cracked as I stretched. What time is it?

I looked around for the clock. I struggled to read it. 4:00am, it said. There was no way I could get back to sleep.

I shuddered as I thought about my latest nightmare.

I was walking through the city streets, holding Xaivier's hand. He was unusually cold, but when I looked at him, I could see heat waves coming off of him.

"Don't worry, I promise I'll fix you." He continually said this in a monotone voice.

We stopped in front of a house I had never seen before. He opened the door for me, and I walked in.

Abbey was there. Her eyes were red, matching the colour of her nails.

"I'll fix you..." Xaivier said.

Abbey grinned evilly. "Go ahead, Xaivier. Fix her."

I looked down. My legs were breaking like glass. The pain was unbearable. I looked behind me, and saw Xaivier's flesh melting off of his face while Abbey laughed.

I felt sweat trickle down my back. I needed to get out of the hot, stuffy hotel.

I got up, quietly as I could, and practically ran to the balcony. I threw the sliding door open and tried my best not to slam it.

I took some deep breaths and turned around.

A figure was already standing there, leaning precariously over the railing.

"Heith?" I whispered. He jumped, but didn't turn around.

"Hey Katt." He leaned even further over the railing. I watched in horror as he began to slip off.

"Stop!" I ran forward and pulled him back on to the balcony. "I don't want to watch you die!"

He turned away from me. "Oh really? I seem to recall you threatening to punch me in the neck at dinner."

I laughed a little. "I would never punch you hard enough to kill." I noticed his sleeve was pushed up a little for once.

I looked closer.

"Heith... do you cut?" I gasped. He quickly pushed his sleeve. down.

"None of your business!" His voice cracked on the last word.

"Oh Heith..." I murmured, moving closer to him. He turned and looked over the city again. He didn't stop me from lifting his sleeves and looking at the cuts.

He winced when I ran my fingers over his forearm.

"How long...?" I couldn't finish the sentence.

"Just a few months." He pushed his sleeve down again. "People say that words don't hurt... but I know first hand that they hurt more than being punched in the face, or kicked in the shin."

I nodded. "I know... what made you start doing this, Heith?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. It must've been when we first started the band, two years ago. We were talking about the whole look of the band... and our asshole manager decided to tell me that I was too pale, too skinny, too... irritating." He paused to swallow, and his voice shook. "I don't know why I was so hurt by that, Katiana. The other guys didn't think anything of it when he told them their flaws." He had to pause again.

"I guess I just couldn't handle it anymore. I had heard about cutting... and I thought, 'why not?' But I know I have to stop."

He broke off, unable to continue. I felt my self shift even closer to him, and my arms snaked around him.