Fear: American Horror Story (CANCELLED)

Chapter Ten

Now I understood how Lynn felt. The pity I got at home was killing me. Whenever I was with the rest of my family, usually only at dinner, they didn't even try to initiate conversation. They just eyed me warily, as if they were worried I would pick up a fork and stab myself with it right there or something. When I tried to explain to my mom that I didn't actually try to commit suicide, she didn't believe me. My dad brushed it off as well. And Lynn--well, if I didn't know better, I'd think she was happy that I would choose the same route she did. Like we were in the same boat. At least I still had Alison to talk to.
In retrospect, the entire situation was completely my fault. I shouldn't have freaked out about Michael like that. If I wasn't so frantic, I would have counted to make sure I didn't take too many pills. It didn't matter, though. It was already done.
How ironic was it that Michael was the one who drove me to do that, yet we were meeting up at the beach this Friday. Once I could speak again, we talked about the get-together over the phone. It was funny how different he sounded when he wasn't actually there than he sounded in person. He almost sounded nice, like a normal teenage boy. Anyway, we ditched the movie idea when we realized how "romantic" it sounded. Dinner also was out of the question, so we settled on going to the beach.
I was terrified. I didn't want to be alone with Michael. He scared me. I didn't know why, but he did. There was just something off about him.
I went about my days trying to distract myself from the upcoming event, but it became more and more difficult with each day. My parents had taken me out of school, and took away my internet and TV privileges. They told me that they thought that it would help me to get better, if I didn't have the "popular media" bombarding me with "hidden messages". And so I was left alone with only books and music to comfort me.
And Alison. After I regained my voice, I used everything in my power to find her phone number. Long story short, It took several hours, and I ended up calling up everybody with the last name "Miyasaki" in L.A.
My parents decided to let Alison come over to my house, but forbade me from leaving to go anywhere else. Honestly, I was considering actually killing myself just to get out the house. I never realized how boring house arrest would be until I was pretty much put in it.
The doorbell rang, and I hurried to answer it. I knew it was Alison, and I was dying for some human interaction.
"Salem!" She said when I opened the door, smiling. We hugged, and I ushered her in and shut the door behind her. "So, um, are you going to tell me why you pulled out of school and won't leave your house, or am I gonna have to assume you've turned into a vampire or something?"
Shit. I thought she wouldn't have asked so soon. I knew I was going to have to tell her about my "suicide attempt" eventually, but I didn't expect her to ask about it first thing.
"Long story," I replied. "It'd be better if I told you in my room."
"Okay," Alison shrugged, and followed me up the stairs.
"Your house is beautiful." She said, looking around at the decor.
I laughed. "Yeah, I guess. It's a bit creepy, in my opinion, but maybe that's just me being crazy," I replied. Unfortunately, the "crazy" part might just be true.
I opened the door to my room, letting myself and Alison in.
"This is my room," I said. "Um, it's not that great, I mean, Lynn's room is bigger..."
"No, it's fantastic!" Alison replied. "I really like your posters. "I knew you had a great taste in music, but...damn. I knew I had a good reason to be friends with you."
"Oh, there's gotta be more reasons than just my taste in music," I teased.
"Hmmm," Alison said, in mock deep thought. "Nope. No other reasons."
"Shut up!", I laughed, playfully shoving her. I plopped onto my bed, and Alison followed, sitting cross-legged on the other end.
"You still have to tell me why you can't leave your house." Alison said accusingly.
I sighed. I was going to have to tell her eventually, so I might as well have gotten it over with. I just really hoped she didn't think I actually tried to kill myself.
"Okay," I said. "Just...don't freak out. It's not what it seems--"
"Did your parents flip out on you for coming out? Like, of the closet ?" Alison blurted, cutting me off.
"Wait, what?" I exclaimed confusedly. "No...I...what? No!"
Alison looked away. "Oh, it just made sense at the moment. Um, just ignore me," she said.
My mind was still reeling from that outburst. It didn't make any sense. People don't just automatically assume you're talking about coming out. Unless...
"Um, Alison?" I asked. "Are you...not straight?"
She giggled nervously, still not looking at me. "Oh, haha, um, if you mean by 'not straight' that I'm, um, a lesbian, then, maybe?"
Wow. That was news. If there was one thing that I didn't expect at all, it was that my best (and only) friend would come out as lesbian today. Not that I cared. It just surprised me, especially since I've been feeling...things, lately. I wasn't gay. I knew that for sure. But lately, I had been thinking that maybe I wasn't one-hundred-percent straight. I didn't mention that to Alison, though. I didn't want to say something that I wasn't sure was true.
"Hey, don't be so nervous!" I said reassuringly. "This literally makes no difference at all in how I see you. You're still my best friend."
Alison, who was looking down in fear of seeing my reaction, slowly lifted her head, eyes teary. "Really?" She said, smiling.
"Really."
Alison giggled, relieved. "I just...I was afraid you would react the same way my parents did. They told me it was abnormal, that I would go to hell. But I can't help how I feel. I was afraid you would reject that and I would lose you." By the time she finished that sentence, her eyes were shimmering and a single tear had made it's way down her cheek.
I pulled her into a hug. "It's okay, Al. They don't know anything. You don't have to worry."
"Thanks, Salem," She sniffed. "I knew you would understand."
I was still comforting her when she suddenly laughed. "You still have to tell me why you've dropped out of school and became a hermit."
We separated. "It's complicated..."
"And what I just told you isn't?" Alison said.
"You're right. I might as well just tell you...my parents think I tried to kill myself."
Alison, surprisingly, was unfazed. "You aren't freaking out," I said dumbly.
"Yeah," she replied, "because I actually listened to what you said. You said your parents think you tried to kill yourself. But you didn't, did you?"
"No, I didn't," I said, "But admittedly, it did look like I did."
"Why?" Alison asked.
"I may have accidently overdosed on sleeping pills..." I replied.
Alison grabbed my hand. "Salem! Don't do that! Meds like that are bad for you!"
"Yeah, I guess..."
Alison shook her head. "I'm not even gonna ask. But stop. Don't take pills unless you need them for a medical reason. Um, one thing, though...you told me your sister tried to commit suicide? But she still goes to school. Why did your parents pull you out and not her?"
I sighed. I had thought of that as well, but no matter how long I thought about it, it never made any more sense. "I honestly have no idea. Maybe my parents just freaked out extra hard because they already had to deal with an attempted suicide before, with Lynn? I don't know."
"That sucks, man," Alison said sympathetically. "Well at least you have me. I can drop by whenever and just hang out. Actually, I can just live here if you want. My parents would be glad to see me gone."
I laughed. "No, that won't be needed. But just...thanks, okay? Thanks for being an awesome friend."
Alison hugged me again. "No, thank you. I'm glad I finally have someone who will just accept me for me."