Invisible

Old Habits and New Scars.

Matthew's POV

I hurt her. A million times. I tossed and turned. I won't be able to sleep. The guilt was eating me like I was a pancake.

I turned towards her windowsill, in the dark night, expecting to see her tucked inside her blankets on the small, blue sofa. But she wasn't there.

I stood, and creeped outside.

"Cel?" I called, more like whispered.

There she was.

Her brown hair was flying in the night wind, she was staring outside from the balcony, and she was quiet.

I went to the balcony, and held her shoulder.

"Hey." I whispered, but she didn't respond. I tried to look at her face, and she didn't bother to shy away from my gaze.

Her tear-stained cheeks, wet eyes and sad smile was enough to say what she had done; she was crying.

"What happened?" I asked softly, but she scoffed. The tone was like the one I heard when we were fourteen. Bitterness.

"You're asking me this? How funny. The spellcaster didn't remember what spell he used and on who." She spat, and still refused to look at me.

"Look," I held her by arms length.

"I know I hurt you-" she released my hand. "You didn't hurt me." Her gentle tone turned cold and her face hardened as she said, "you broke me."

She looked away from me, but talked.

"I should never have been attached." She said quietly, "should've kept people by arms length. Should've kept away from my weaknesses."

She sat on the very corner of the balcony, face on her knees.

"When you asked," she choked.

"I should've said no."

That stung.

"Celestia-" "Stop!" She ordered, her voice thick but the power in her voice made me listen to her.

"Do not mention this to anyone." She said, before pulling me by the collar. "And don't come near me again."

She kneed me the same place where she did at the Halloween Party.

"Ever." She hissed venomously and rushed away.

The next day, I ended up falling asleep on the sofa outside her room. When I woke up, I was glad to know it was Saturday, to the sound of the cofee-maker.

Joanne was holding a coffee cup when I entered the living room, and so did Mr. Harolds, so it was between the two of them.

Mrs. Harolds and Celestia were both sipping hot chocolate while reading novels. Seems that I wasn't the last one. Kiki, Niall and Louis were nowhere to be seen.

"Hello." I greeted. Awkward silence. Joanne looked up and gave me a wave. Mrs. Harolds and Mr. Harolds chorused a 'hello',but Celestia didn't even bother to wave, hello, or look up from her novel.

Her face got giddy and highlighted something.

"Celestia!" Mrs. Harolds scolded. "Greet your friend."

She scoffed and gave me a wordless glare, before turning to her parents.

"He's not my friend. So why greet him." She said coldly, before continuing to read, a very happy expression as she read one of the lines.

Dominique stood beside her, reading the novel.

Was it so interesting?

"Of course it is!" Celestia snapped, she looled highly offended. "You said it out loud," Dominique said, smiling sheepishly.

I tried to look at the title.

The One.

Romance story. "Oh my gosh, Maxerica!" Celestia squealed, and Dominique shook her head, but there was a smile on her face.
Oh, Maxon and America. Right.

Then, she walked away upstairs, bringing her book and hot chocolate with her. "Should I go after her?" I asked, a bit uncomfortable by the silence.

"She likes a personal moment with her books." Joanne grinned.

But the happiness in the air disappeared when Kiki yawned sleepily. "I think you should." She yawned and rubbed her eyes.

"She doesn't look happy."

And I rushed upstairs, to see the novel open by her bed, and there was a sentence, highlighted in blue.

Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like. It was only ever yours to break anyway.

A sharp pang shot my heart. Oh, no.

I immediately knew where she was.

The bathroom door was locked. I didn't bother to knock. I burst it open. Inside, a brunette gasped. In her hands, there was a small pocket knife, and a gash on her shoulder.

I wrestled the knife out of her hand and gave her a glare.

"What made you do this?" I snapped, and Celestia stood, barely feeling the bleeding gash on her shoulder.

"I do what I want." She snapped back, sending me her famous go-away-and-if-you-don't-you'll-pay-for-it look.

"I'm not leaving until you tell me, Celestia." I said angrily and locked the door. "There. Privacy." She didn't utter a single word, only grabbing a small towel, rinsed it with water and pressed it on the gash, wincing a little.

My eyes softened as I saw her figure.

She wasn't short. She was quite tall. She was slim and well built. Her long, brown hair cascaded her back. She was flawless, if you didn't see clearly.

But when you got to a closer watch, you'll see the scars on her left hand. A few on her right hand, and this new one on her shoulder.

"Does it hurt?" She turned to me, giving herself a whiplash. "Why would you care?" She asked angrily.

"Because I care about you."

"Enough lies!" She barked, and washed the towel, covering the new scar with her shirt. "Don't tell this to anyone."

She reached for the door handle, but I held her wrist. "Let me go!" She ordered, but she didn't hold the authority in her voice anymore, instead, it was weakness.

"Not until you tell me." She sighed.

"Fine! I cut because I have no one, okay? I sick of your games, I'm sick of mom's criticisms, I'm sick of everyone lying to me that's its going to be okay. I'm sick of lying to myself and say I don't have feelings for you when I do."

She whispered, and a tear slipped down her cheek.

"And I hate being weak." She added, wiping away the tear.

"Crying doesn't mean you're weak." I whispered in her ear, as I embraced her. "It does." She insisted, and I smiled, even when her joy was gone, one part of an pld Celestia was still there; her stubborn nature.

"It means you're being strong."

She cried in my shoulder quietly.

After s few minutes, she calmed down, steadying her breath. "I'm here, okay?" I told her.

She took a deep breath as she went to the mirror, checking her reflection. Her eyes weren't that red and puffy.

She plastered a fake smile that I knew too well.

"Thank you. Now let's go." As she walked out, I stood still. Admiring her strength as she could walk out like nothing happened.