Hood

New Americana

For the next few weeks, Calum and I have been working on our History project. We decided to make a giant poster about the revolutionary war and the Dark Peppered Moth.

We would meet Monday's, Wednesday's, and Friday's at his house afterschool. I would drive us to his house because he can't walk, obviously.

I also found out that my bestftiend Sharleyne is dating Michael Clifford, Calum's mate. I was stunned, but decided to let it go, since I knew about the little crush they had on eachother.

As I was driving ourselves to Calum's house, my phone rang. "Calum can you please check the caller ID for me?" I said, focusing on the road ahead of me. "Yeah, it's your mum, should I answer?" He spoke, eyes fixed on my screen. "Yes please, tell her im working on the project with you, that I'm driving." I knew my mum would flip out if Calum answered and just start rambling all about sex safety and tell Calum to keep his hands to himself. And that's exactly what happened.

"She says to be home by 9, and she wants to talk to you when you get home."

"Ok, thanks Calum." He put my phone in the cup holder and turned the radio up a bit. "Smells like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana was softly playing from the CD i had put in this morning, and I heard Calum humming and tapping his fingers to the beat.

"Do you sing?" I asked him, still facing the road. "Yeah, I'm actually in a band with my mates. How about you?" He asked. "Yeah, i do. I'm currently working on a song. Im titling it 'New Americana', it'll probably be done in like 2 to 3 weeks."

"Oh cool! Our band just finished a new album aswell, we're calling it 'Sounds Good, Feels Good.'" He said smiling like an idiot. "One of our songs called 'Jet Black Heart was a hit! Do you want to hear it?" He asked, some what shy. "Yeah sure!" I thought he was goibg to play the song on his phone, but instead he started singing.

"Everybody's got their demons,

even wide awake or dreaming

I'm the one who ends up leaving

Make it okay.

See a war i wanna fight it

See a match i wanna strike it

Every fire I've ignited,

Faded to grey.

But now that I'm broken,

And now that you notice

Caught up in a moment

Can you see inside?

Cause I've got a jet black heart

And there's a hurricane underneath it

Tryin to keep us apart

I write, with a poison pen.

But these chemicals burning between us

Are the reason, to start again.

Now I'm holding on for dear life,

There's no way that we can rewind

Maybe there's nothing after midnight

That could make you stay."

As he continued to sing the song, I was focused on how passionate he was about his music. As he finished the song, i was in awe of his vocals.

"That was- Amazing Calum! It was beautiful and super relatable. I LOVE IT!" i Basically yelled. It was an amazing song and his voice, his voice was amazingly shaped and toned nicely.

Spending time with Calum was great, until it was 8:30 and i was headed to my house. As I parked my car in the driveway, my mom stepped out of the house. I got out of the car and began to walk towards her. She looked- mad almost.

"I don't give a single fuck, if you were working on a history project. I don't give a shit, if you're going to fail the class. You fucking bitch! It's all your fault! This is happening because of you!"

She was drunk, again.

I hate it here.

"Get inside, you know the drill." She spoke sternly. I paced inside the living room, praying to God that the beating isn't as bad as the others.

"Shirt off, pants off. NOW!" She yelled. I quickly stripped out of my clothing, noticing that she had a peice of a broken wooden frame. "Turn around, hands above your head, if you scream or cry, that's an extra." She instructed. I hesitantly lifted my arms about my head, turning as I do.

As she lashed the wood onto my skin, the stinging sensation of it burned through me, sending my nerves a breaking point. I tried my best not to move or make sounds, but failed. "Ah! Please, stop mum, you're not functioning properly!" I begged. "Shut the hell up and stop telling me what to do! Fucking shit!" She yelled in between each whip.

"Now leave before I get you by the hair and make you regret it!" She yelled, pointing at the stairs.

I tried to move, but my back was aching. I picked up my belongings, and crawled up the stairs as fast as I could. I limped into my room and shut the door, locking it in process. I threw my stuff on the floor, breaking down into tears. I was sitting in a corner, hugging my knees and sobbing into my legs. Then i thought about it. My friends.

I ran to my restroom, making sure I lock this door as well, before opening the cabinets and grabbing my bag full of shavers. I grab one, and think. Is it really worth the pain? And slit my wrists, crying each time the blade makes contact with my delicate skin. No. It's not worth it.

I threw the blades, crying and screaming before sinking my head into my hands. Shaking. A cold feeling coming over me, almost attacking my body. My eyes were closed, yet the demons just woke up.

I was living in a battle against myself. The shadows swallowed me, taking me into a dark place. My screams were not heard, and I wish they were.

I slowly drifted into a slumber, the color of blue.

Author's Note :
Ayyyy, sad and exciting chapter, i knowwwww
I want to give some credit to my friend Sharleyne for being awesome and helping me with this chapter. So thanks! Go check out her new story! > @sharleynex