• next door neighbor •

// chapter four

• Demi

We left the restaurant and I drove around aimlessly, hoping to prolong the time. Sadie kept her head down beside me and her hands fumbled around with one another. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, going insane at the unbearable silence that filled the car as we drove along.



"Is there any place specific you want to go?" Sadie just shook her head and returned to staring at her hands with a blank face. I didn't want to keep her out any longer is she didn't want to but I had a sneak suspicion that she wasn't fond of the idea of her so called home. She may keep quite about her own family, but I'm quite certain that it's not idealistic. After driving around with no destination, I eventually decided that we should get a movie and some snacks and chill at my house.




I pulled into Walmart and Sadie slowly picked up her head. She furrowed her eyebrows together and frowned, noticeably confused. "Why are we going to Walmart?" She looked at me for the first time this half hour car ride. "A movie, snacks, and lemonade or something like that. You know, a classic girl night." I reached over and poked her nose and with that, she finally smiled. "What movie?" We walked into Walmart, and I reached for her hand. She tensed up when I intertwined and out of the side of my eye, I saw a flash of terror in her chocolate brown eyes. It made me wonder, what all is going in that house next to mine.




Even though she quickly recovered and relaxed, the sight of such fear on her face lingered in the front of my mind. I started to get so caught up in my own mind that Sadie pulled on my hand, pulling me out of my train of thoughts. "Demi, where are you going? Aren't we getting food and a movie?" I had been walking around mindlessly and wasn't aware that I was heading towards the sports equipment section of the store. I chuckled and nodded my head. "Yup. That's what we're supposed to be doing."
Sadie giggled and pulled me in the opposite direction. We continued to crack jokes at each other and laughed so loud that others looked at us and smiled. Now that, that is ideal in life. We eventually left the store with Inside Out- Yes, Inside Out. It's a great movie. We also got a bag full of junk food because why not?




I pulled into my drive way, blaring my car's speakers as loud as they would allow. Sadie and I were currently singing 'I Will Always Love You' at the top of our lungs. I turned my car engine off, laughter sounding from both of us. We were both laughing so hard our stomachs hurt. "That was great." Sadie breathed out, catching her breath from the mixture of laughing and singing loudly. I nodded, still in a fit of laughter. "All right, all right. Let's go inside."




I shoved my key into my door and it wasn't budging. "Sadie, can you hold the bags for a second? I think the key is stuck." As I handed the bags over to her, she reached out for them and her sleeve rolled up. I noticed several scars, new and old, up and down her arms. I didn't dare keep my eyes fixed on her arms. I know that if she knew that I had noticed, it would only make her uncomfortable. I met her eyes and told her thank you. I heaved out a sigh and went back to unlocking the door. I can't just let her harm herself but I feel as if it would be better if she comes to me and tells me. If she trusts me enough, It seems promising that one day she would tell me. However, when I was cutting I never told anyone, even the ones I trusted the most. These situations are still tricky for me. All in all, I just want to help her but I certainly don't want to push too hard.




Eventually, the door swung open and I took the bags from her. Sadie turned on the lights as I set the bags on my kitchen counter. I decided to strike up a conversation while I prepared the snacks and drinks. "So Sadie.." She pulled out a stool at the counter and looked up at me. "Are there any boys you like?" She rolled her eyes and giggled. "Eh." I grabbed the bag of Snyder's of Hanover Hot Buffalo Wings Pretzels and shook some out into a bowl. "Eh?" Sadie scratched the back of her neck with an odd smile plastered on her face. "I mean.. I don't know.. I guess there might be.. Never mind." It was funny to see her ramble on and on. "I gotcha, girl." Sadie laughed and laid her head down on the counter. "I hate that question." I smiled and took the snacks and the lemonade into the living room.




"Everyone does, Chica." I sat down beside her and patted her back. "What about the movie, huh?" She pulled herself up from her slouched over position. She was about to hop off the stool, but her phone rang. She looked at me as if to ask me if it was okay is she answered her phone. "Go ahead and answer it, love. I'll go set up the movie." I went over to the TV and set the movie up. Sadie was still on the phone so I decided to go get some blankets and pillows. Who doesn't love an abundance of pillows and blankets while watching a movie?




As I came back from collecting pillows and blankets, I noticed Sadie was no longer at the kitchen counter. It made me a little anxious but I shook it off. She probably just went to the bathroom. Ten minutes have passed and I officially have gone into panic mode. I jumped up from my seat at the couch and walked quickly to the bathroom. I could see light flooding out from the crack between the bottom of the door and floor. I could hear sniffles and quick, short breaths. "Sadie." Silence was the only response. I shook the door handle, and finding it unlocked push it open. Sadie stood in front of the mirror with tears freely falling down her face. Her hands were clenched at her sides, shaking. I didn't want to cause her any fear so I stood at the doorway, trying to keep myself calm and collected.




She cowered and kept her eyes on the floor. She shook uncontrollably and I could see that she was about to have a panic attack. "Sadie, what's wrong?" I spoke quietly. She shook her head and managed to stifle a sob down. "No-Nothing." She exhaled and wiped her tears away. I looked down at the floor as well, suddenly enticed by the grey carpet. "I know something is wrong but you don't have to tell me."




She shrugged and finally picked her head up. She forced a smile and turned towards me. "How about that movie, huh? You know the classic girls night..." Her voice shook and the smile she was forcing was wavering. I looked at her with a frown and I shook my head. "It breaks me to see you in that much pain." She bit her lip in effort to force back tears. "Whatever you're going through it's causing you too much pain and I hope that one day you will realize that you shouldn't have to go through this and that you don't have to hold it in. Tears are perfectly okay and getting out your pain, anger out, properly, is good."




She pursed her lips and nodded as if taking in what I had said. She sighed and looked me straight in the eye. A tear slipped out of her eye and her voice was shaky as she spoke. "You don't have to waste your time trying to save someone, who's not worth saving.."



//



hey, so long time no update. I really do hope to update more. I've been quite busy but I will update as often as I can. I hope you all enjoy. I love you all very much. If you guys ever need anything.. I'm always here and my inbox is open. (:
xx