Beat Heal Love

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Nathan ends up staying the entire weekend and come Sunday night, my mother and stepfather still haven't returned.

Nathan noticed that I don't eat so he's tried to make me, but he never wins. I've gotten used to only eating a small thing every few weeks but that's only when I'm allowed. If I had food before my stepfather lets me, I'd get a beating that would make me puke it back up. So the lack of food doesn't really bother me anymore.

Every day, Nathan looks at my ribs and then are slowly healing. I check my back when I'm alone and that too is slowly healing but it'll still be a long time before they become scars.

During the weekend, Nathan and I have gotten closer. We know more about each other than we did before and despite him being involved with MMA fighters, I trust him.

It's Monday now and I'm getting ready for school. I put on a pair of baggy sweats and a baggy long sleeve. I pull a brush through my hair and head downstairs. Nathan was already waiting for me.

"C'mon, I'll give you a ride," he says. I shake my head.

"I can walk. Thank you though."

"You're not walking Charlie. Not with your ribs. And it's like what? An hour walk from here? Not happening." I nod and follow him outside. He holds the passenger side open as I sit down in his car. I thank him before he goes to his side.

It's the 7th of October today so it's been a week since my last beating and I am so happy! It's actually a new record! I think the last record was four days without doing anything to me.

Soon enough, Nathan is pulling into the staff parking lot of the school. I go to open the door, but Nathan stops me.

"Do you have gym this semester?" He asks me. I shake my head. "Okay, good. If the pain gets unbearable, come see me and I'll give you some pain killers. I don't care if it's in the middle of a class, just come see me." I nod and smile. "Last thing, can you come to my room at lunch please?" I nod. Now he smile and gets out, I follow his lead.

•♦•♦•♦•♦•

Third period just started and I've been shoved, pushed into lockers, tripped and a few people had hit my books out of my hands and stepped on my hands when I went to grab them. But no matter how much pain I'm in, I'm not going to go to Nathan to ask for the pain killers. I've dealt with this stuff for seven years without anything to help. I only have one more left till I'm free.

•♦•♦•♦•♦•

Lunch rolls around and I'm in the bathroom, trying to ease the pain of my panic attack. I don't even know what happened. I was fine one second and the next I was having trouble breathing, so I ran in here and locked the door. I don't even know how long it's been but I can't calm down. I'm in so much pain now. Not just my ribs, no, now it's just a pain that hurts so bad in my chest and back.

"Is anyone in here?" Nathan's voice appears in the bathroom. Of course he would have found a way in even when I lock the door. But I cover my mouth and try to be as silent as I can, although, when you're having a panic attack, it's hard.

Nathan must have heard me because there's footsteps coming closer to my stall. From there, he crouches down and knocks.

"Charlie, that you?" He asks. "Two knocks yes, one knock no." I find some strength and knock once. I don't need him to see me like this again. "Nice try, Charlie. Can you come out please?" I'm still covering my mouth but my panic attack is still in full swing. I knock once. "Can you unlock the door for me then please?" I shakily reach up and unlock it. He won't leave until he knows I'm okay so I don't really have a choice. And he'd probably just find a way in either way.