The Monsters In Your Head

1

It was a hot summer afternoon as a young Aaron Goodwin walked to his best friend, C.J's, house. "Hey!" a familiar voice yelled at Aaron. Aaron looked behind him and saw three boys from school. "Yeah, you! What do you got in your bag? Huh? Some band-aids for your little emo girlfriend?" the tallest one mocked.

The others laughed as they got closer to Aaron. Aaron shifted his backpack and muttered, "She's not my girlfriend," under his breath. "Oh, that's right! No one wants to date your fat, ugly-ass," the smallest boy threw out.

Aaron grumbled and shifted his backpack. "What do you guys want?" he asked, taking a few steps back. "Nothing much. Just your money," the middle boy, Derek answered. The trio walked closer, faster and Aaron ran away on instinct. "Come back, Fat-ass!"

They almost caught up with him until a cop stopped them. When Aaron finally got to C.J.'s house he knocked heavily on the door. The blue eyes that Aaron had been so accustomed to opened the door wearing a long sleeve shirt. C.J. didn't seem too surprised that her best friend -her only friend for that matter- was bleeding from his lip. She let Aaron inside.

"What happened?" C.J. asked. "Those numb-nuts were chasing me again. I guess I just bit my lip too hard when I ran," Aaron replied as he wiped blood away. C.J. went to the kitchen to get a wet paper towel. "Here," she said, handing it to him. "Thanks."

Aaron's lip eventually stopped bleeding. That's when he let his mind jump to other things. "Why are you wearing a long sleeve? It's hot as hell out here!" he exclaimed at C.J. The girl looked down at her thin arms and sighed. Aaron glanced at C.J.'s covered wrists. "I thought you said you stopped," Aaron said quietly. "I did stop," C.J. began. "But, it..It just feels too good." 

Coral Jane was the only person in school who self-harmed. Crazy, right? Well, not really. She had been through shit. She had to find some way to let out her anger with out hurting others. This was her outlet.

Aaron got up and walked over, then crouched in front of the "emo" girl. "Can I see them?" he asked. C.J. sighed again and gave Aaron her arms. He pulled the sleeve up on her left arm, only to see cuts and scars. Old, new, bloody. It was a mess. The sight in front of her made C.J. cry which made Aaron cry.

"I'm sorry, Aaron. I'm so sorry. I'm a freak," she half-shouted, half-weeped. "Hey," Aaron softly said. He cupped her face in his hands and made C.J. look him in the eyes. "Freaks are cool. This-this isn't cool. I mean could you imagine what would happen if you hit a fuckin' vein? I'd be lost without you, sis."

After that mushy moment that seems to happen a lot, Aaron tended to C.J.'s new cuts. "Promise me you'll stop. Like, really stop this. You're my only friend. People love you, dammit! I love you," he sighed. "As-as a sister," Aaron quickly added. C.J. giggled and slightly smiled.

"I love you, too, Big Bro," she replied. They bear-hugged each other tightly. "Thank you. For everything," C.J. quietly said. "Of course. And, thank you too," Aaron replied. He smiled at her after they pulled away from the hug. "Um, so, what did you want to do? I m-mean since you're here," C.J. stuttered.

Aaron cleared his throat."Oh, well, I was wondering if I could stay here tonight. My parents -I love them- but, they are getting a little too pushy about me not going out enough," Aaron explained. "That's fine. Anna won't be back for a few days," C.J. replied. They got comfortable on the couch, ordered a pizza, and turned on the T.V.

After the pizza man came and C.J. payed for it, she set the pizza box, some sodas, and napkins on the table. "Awesome! I haven't had pizza in so long. Thanks so much, bro," Aaron said goofily. C.J chuckled. "Yeah, no problem. I haven't either," she said, taking a drink from her soda bottle. They ate while watching 'Family Guy'.

Aaron smiled to himself each time he heard C.J laugh. She had a pretty messed up life, including her past. C.J.'s parents died in a car crash when she was 7. Her aunt Anna took her in after that. So, for ten years now, C.J. has been under Anna's care.

"You know what I just realized?" C.J. asked randomly. "No, what?" "We only have one more week of school! Soon we'll be able to do whatever we want," she answered enthusiastically. "Dude, I don't know if I want to turn eighteen yet. Growing up sucks!" Aaron whined. "Well, too bad! You're not a vampire," C.J. told him, saying the last part with a fake "vampire voice".

They laughed at that dumb bit. "Yeah, but you know who thinks they're a vampire though?" Aaron asked. "Who?" "Zak Bagans," Aaron answered. C.J. rolled her eyes, "You mean 'Mr. Perfect'?" "C.J., nobody's perfect." "Hey! He might change his name to 'Nobody', then," C.J. joked.

Aaron chuckled, shaking his head with a grin. "Yeah, he might." "Wait, is he still going to our school?" Coral asked. "Yep. May I ask why so curious?" "Just wondering," she said. They continued to watch television.

4 hours and 2 seasons of 'Family Guy' later, the two friends were still chilling out on the couch, drinking their soda watching T.V. "You tired?" Coral asked. "No," Aaron yawned. C.J. giggled, rolling her eyes. "Okay, well, when you are you know the guest room's down the hall on the left. I'm going to bed, so goodnight." "G'night," Aaron said.

Around three in the morning Aaron finally went to bed. When he passed C.J's room, though, Aaron could see C.J.'s light on under her door. There was a shadow that passed the door. Aaron thought it was C.J. until she came walking out of the bathroom.

"You're still awake?" she asked tiredly. "I think so. Is someone here?" "No, why?" she replied. Aaron raised his eyebrow. "Well, I, uh, saw someone pass in front of your door," Aaron said. "Really?" He nodded. They both became nervous.

C.J. walked to the kitchen with Aaron following and grabbed a sharp kitchen knife. "What are you doing?" Aaron asked suspiciously. "If there's someone in my room I want to be prepared," C.J. answered. Aaron understood and followed her back to the door. They got on opposite sides of the door.

Aaron opened it as much as he could, letting C.J. walk in slowly to look around. She had the knife ready to hurt someone who was going to attack them. "Is somebody in here?" C.J. called out, voice a bit shaky. Aaron finally came into the room. "Maybe I was just seeing things," he said.

"Yeah, maybe. But, just to be safe," C.J. started. She handed the knife to him. "Take this." "Are you sure?" Aaron eyed the rather large blade. "What about you?" he asked nervously. "I'll be fine with my pocket knife," she replied. Aaron finally took the knife. "Okay, goodnight," he said, starting to slightly shake. "Goodnight," C.J. replied.

They eventually fell asleep in their beds.

C.J. dreamed of home before the accident. Her parents lived on a beach, so each day before school C.J.'s dad would take her surfing while her mom stayed on the shore taking pictures.

Aaron dreamt of all the fun he had with his friends from middle school. They would always do stupid, yet hilarious stuff together. But, people change.