Nadine's Stuck.

TWENTY-THREE

Nadine's POV

I slouch in the chair outside the principal's office. Elana's inside, trying to talk herself out of detention with god knows what story. I didn't get in trouble because Mrs. Lavoy said it wasn't like me, and Elana probably influenced me. I'm only being sent to my dorm for the rest of the day.

I'm really that unnoticeable. Hasn't she noticed I haven't been in class - that I've been skipping all of them for the past week?

I squeeze my eyes shut and inhale through my nose. It smells like the secretary's flowery perfume. It's weirdly nostalgic, but I don't know from what.

My mind spent hours repeating Elana and her friend's words back to me. I debated whether or not I should tell Akiko or not, but I ultimately decided against it. From what she's told me, I don't need to break her heart more than it already is. She doesn't need any more cuts.

Heavy footsteps approach me, the sound stopping close to me for a few seconds before the voice belonging to them speaks, "Nadia, why did you skip class?"

I open my eyes to face Cade. His eyebrows are raised, waiting for an answer that I won't be able to give. I look down at my lap.
He sighs softly, crouching down in front of the chair. His hands find a place on my knees, gently resting on them. My insides finch, tears pricking my eyes. They stay glued to my lap. 
Don't look at him. Don't look at me.
Don't touch me, 

don't touch me, 

don't touch me.

"Nadine," he says, firm.

I shift my body so my legs are away from his hands, draped over the side of the chair. "Yeah...?" My voice cracks.

Four days left.

Only four.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. But I'm just saying it would be very helpful to both you and me. I get in trouble when you get in trouble." He straightens up to stand, "Come on, let's go."

I get up, grabbing my backpack from the floor and setting it over my shoulders. "Why would you get in trouble, too? I'm the one who did it."

"Because I'm in charge of you." I wait for him to start walking in front of me before starting my way to the dorm. I don't like being in front, not able to see him or what he's doing. Walking, we pass Kai.

"I'm your senior." I have to speed-walk to keep up with him. "I'm responsible for you...like, a parent is their child. I'm like, uh, your school parent. And obviously your regres-" He cuts himself off, dismissing the rest of his sentence with the wave of a hand. "You know. Plus, I'm trying to get on the principal's good side. When she saw that I signed up for the seniors-freshmen thing, she said if I do a good job - I don't know - fucking rehabilitating my freshman, then she would clear my record of the things that happened last year, like when I punched that Luca kid." He talks fast.

"You think I need rehabilitation?"

He stops abruptly, spinning on his heels to face me. I almost bump into his chest. "You need something, Nadine," he says, grabbing my shoulders to steady me.

"Something?" I shrink back.

"Something," he nods, turning around and walking even faster than before.

"What is something?" I jog.

"I dunno. That's why I called it something."

"Okay?" I shake my head. What does that even mean? What is he trying to get at?

With the pace Cade is walking, it doesn't take long for us to reach the dorm. He opens the door. It wasn't locked. Why wasn't it locked?

I keep my head down, kneeling down to untie my shoes.

"Hello, Cade. Nadia."

My jaw clenches at Riley's voice. My fingers pausing in place, unable to finish untying my Converse. I bite my lip and stand up. 

Don't look at him. Don't look at me.

I glance over Cade. His mouth is moving - he's talking to Riley, walking to him. I can't hear anything, though. My ears are ringing. I'm dizzy. 

I feel sick, the icy monster in my wrist spreading its poison throughout my body.

I run to the bathroom, swinging the door shut harder than I meant to. My fingernails dig into my palms, creating crescent moon indents.

My shaking hands fiddle with the lock before I'm finally able to turn it clockwise. I twirl, pressing my back to it. I slide down to the floor.

No, no, no, no.

No.

No.

No.

I keep my legs covering the front half of my body, hugging them close to my chest. My breathing grows heavier and faster, my lungs filling either too much or too little. My heart pounds harshly against my chest, mimicking that night.

Pounding, pounding, and pounding.

I can't make it stop.

I can't. Please make it stop.

I need to cut. I need to cut myself.

I can't be here with both of them like this.

. . .

Cade knocks on the door, "Nadia, you've been in there for an hour. Are you okay?"

The white towel I swipe across the bathroom floor soaks with blood. "Yep!" I call out, disguising my voice to be fine.

I'm fine.

With bandages on my wrist, I'm fine.

With a bloodied towel - not mine, I'm fine.

With a blade from the bathroom drawer.

With four days left.

I'm fine.

Fine until I'm dead.

. . .

Nadine's Stuck. One-Year Special Survey! [NSOYSS]
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. . .

[Guys, sorry I didn't update sooner, I went to my dad's house and I forgot to bring my computer charger, so I couldn't write ≡(▔﹏▔)≡. Anyways, I love you guys so, so much! Don't forget to update and comment!! Eat and drink well!!]

[Word Count: 962]