Second Best to a Blade

Chapter Three

SMS: From Kate.

'You okay to sneak out tonight? Meet me out front at 11. Being the alcohol :P xx'

I sigh as I get this text from Kate, it's ten and I'm sitting on my bed. Mum and dad have gone upstairs to their converted attic bedroom and I'm lucky they have it, it means they won't be able to hear me sneak out. They're not asleep yet though, I can hear them getting ready in the bathroom. I get up slowly and begin dressing in clothes for the party, I decide on a simple outfit, dark jeans, grey shirt, denim jacket and a red beanie. I know people think that guys don't make much of an effort with clothes, and if I'm honest I don't really, but for big occasions we do. Funnily enough, males have emotions and care about what others think.

I freeze when I hear my mum call down. "Night Matt!" And the lights all switch off.

I breathe quietly, listening to the creak of their bed as they get in, and then there's silence. Slowly, I dress, tugging the jeans on so as not to make a sound, but I almost fall over and knock half my chest of drawers over. I wince at the sound, and lean against it absolutely still with my jeans half pulled up, waiting for a reaction from my parents. When there is none, I continue, and finally I'm done.

I text Kate back: 'Yea, I'll meet you out front then x'

And then sit on the edge of my bed. I consider taking my camera, Aaron's really gotten me into photography lately and I feel like there'd be some good opportunities. I decide against it though, I don't want it ruined.

After a while, I decide the house has been quiet for long enough, and remove the plastic bottles from my wardrobe. I'd hidden them in there earlier to make it easier for me and I'm grateful for my planning. I scoop them into a bag, and shuffle out my bedroom door.

The floorboards hidden under the carpet, creak beneath my feet. I'm cautious and walk slowly with my arms slightly raised in case my parents wake up. Every sound I make is about ten times louder than it should be, and the stairs are a nightmare. But eventually I'm out into the cold night air, grasping my key tightly as I pull the door to a quiet close behind me. I slip it into my pocket and walk towards the wall.

"Kate?" I loud-whisper into the darkness.

A figure looks up and I see that it's her, she looks beautiful and I feel awkward for admiring her but I can't help it.

"Hey." She greets, and hops off the wall.

"Hi. You okay?" I ask, swinging the bag.

"Yeah, I can't believe we're doing this!" She giggles.

I laugh too, my chuckle echoing slightly in the quiet street. "My parents are gonna kill me if they find out."

"Well they won't!' She whispers and pushes me down the street.

We walk in silence, and every now and then she glances at her phone.

"Who ya texting?" I ask, I actually feel a little jealous.

She looks up and anxiously nibbles her lip. "I'm not, I'm on Instagram."

"Oh." I say, I've never had it so I can't relate. "Doing what?"

"Just looking through some photos..."

I tilt her screen back to take a look and she gasps, I can see why though, there's a picture of a girl with blood covering her hands.

"Jesus, what'd that girl do?" I ask in shock, the red is everywhere.

Kate shrugs. "...It was just on my feed..."

Then I notice a few deep crimson lines along the girls arms and the glint of a small, metal object in her hands. "Did she do that to herself?" I exclaim.