Permanent Vacation

4

Okay. So a lot of chapters will deal with serious subjects. I won't put a trigger warning on every single chapter. Thanks.
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After the drama of last nights stabbing, I was a bit nervous to do the first challenge today. The boys said I didn't have to, but I felt as if it wouldn't be fair.

"Okay all. We lost another girl last night due to some... Repeated offensive actions towards another member of the challenge. But without further ado. Bring out the hover boards!" Ashton points to the back of the room where the other boys each carry in one hover board.
"One person of each group will ride the hover board and the other will help lead them to the end of the hall. Whoever gets the furthest is the winner. The last place one goes home. Ginger, since your partner went home last night Calum will lead you." Ashton nudges the girl standing alone. She nods slowly.
In our pair I was chosen to ride.

As soon as I mount my board I am scared of going home. Michael tells us to start. I just barely lean forward and the board seems to move really fast. The group of two girls are immediately going fast. About 10 feet ahead the brunette girl named Alisha falls. And poor Ginger fell just a few feet past start. Arabella coaches me as we barely glide past Alisha and Juliet. I hardly cross the finish line before I completely face plant. My nose is bleeding a little, but I'm alright otherwise.

"Oh crap. Max are you okay?" Luke asks.
I nod and wipe my nose with the tissue Luke handed me.
"I'm sorry Ginger, but this challenge was just not your cup of tea." Calum explains shaking her hand.
"That's okay. I'm just glad I got to meet you guys. You are my heroes. Thank you for having me." She whispers politely.

All the boys gather round and hug her. Even though she won't go on tour with them she got free tickets to their show in her hometown and backstage passes. I notice her and Calum exchanging numbers.
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When we are back in our room Arabella is acting a little bit odd. I don't question it.

"Max you need to eat something." She pleads pushing the plate of chicken nuggets towards me.
"I'm not hungry. Okay?" I shake my head.
"Just a few?"
"Fine!" I shove one in my mouth. I finish a couple more. Even though my body is practically begging for more, I push the plate away.
"Thank you." Arabella pats my back.
I nod and go to the bathroom.

Feeling disgusted in myself I force two fingers down my throat and all 3 chicken nuggets make a reappearance. I flush the repulsive substance and brush my teeth. I walk out and Arabella is still eating. I go into our room and make a video. Arabella comes in a few minutes later and curls up in a ball and begins typing on her laptop. He phone dings several times before she actually checks it.

"Oh my god..." She sobs.
I look up.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Nothing." She says grabbing her purse. She disappears into the bathroom.
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It has been 20 minutes and she hasn't come back. I look around and see her phone laying there. I grab it and there is no passcode. When it opens I see a message from someone named Ethan. That must be her boyfriend.

*Messages*
'Um. Hi. Idk how to say this but, your bf is cheating on you. I am the other girl. When he was asleep I looked at his messages and saw that you had been calling him babe and such. I wouldn't have done it if I'd have known. Sorry.'
*End of Messages*

"Oh no..." I say to myself. I run to the bathroom. Right when I get ready to knock and I hear sobbing. I wiggle the doorknob and the door opens. I gasp at what I see. Arabella is sitting on the edge of the bathtub, blade in hand, with blood running down her legs. I run over and grab the blade. Throwing it on the counter, I grab a dark towel and wet it in the tub. I begin to clean her legs off and noticed other scars around the new ones.

"I'm not mad. I hope you know that." I say finishing wiping off her legs.
"I-I'm just so... He..." She tries to say before breaking down once again.
"I know. It's okay. Let me see your arms." I explain.
There are no new ones on her scar ridden wrists.
"W-why are you s-so calm?" She asks moving the towel off her legs.
I sigh and roll up the pant leg of my yoga pants to let her see my scars.
"Because I know how it feels. I still have troubles staying clean sometimes. But I hope I can help you."

She asks if she can take a shower. I nod and grab anything she could harm herself with. I leave her to get cleaned up and set a pair of shorts and one of my sweatshirts outside the door. I head back into the kitchen to make food for the boys.

"Can we come in?" Michael shouts banging on the door.
"Sure. Let me check on Arabella. She just took a warm bath. Her muscles were a bit sore. There is pasta on the stove." I lie opening the door.

The boys get and get food when I go back in the bedroom. Arabella is sitting there tracing circles on the bed.

"Do you want some yoga pants so you can be with the boys?" I ask sitting next to her.

She nods so I grab a pair of her pants from her suitcase. When I turn around there is a shocked Michael standing in the doorway.

"Arabella..." Michael gasps.
She just starts crying.
"No. I'm not mad." He says.
I grab the medicine and clean the cuts again while she cries.
"I'll be right back." Michael says.
*Michaels POV*

After finding Arabella I go back out to the boys.

"Where's Arabella?" Ashton asks.
"She's feeling a bit peaky at the moment. I'm going to take her some pasta." I say trying to make my lie believable.

I put some pasta in a bowl and head back to the bedroom. I hear sobbing.

"He's g-going to t-tell the others a-and they will k-kick m-me out." Arabella says
"No I wouldn't... I say a little too loud.
*Max's POV*

"No I wouldn't..." I hear Michael say outside the door.
"I got you pasta, Arabella." He says walking in the room.
"You aren't getting rid of me..." She speaks up suddenly.
"Did the boys get rid of me?" He asks.
Arabella looks confused as Michael comes over to her. He shows her his arms which are scarred.
"See, it's okay." He comforts her.
"Thanks for bringing me t-this. A-and thanks for that too..." She hugs him leaving tear stains on his shirt.

Michael gives me a look saying he has to go. I look back so he knows I've got her.
After he leaves Arabella eats and goes to bed.
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"Max... M-max wake up..." I am stirred out of sleep by a crying Arabella standing over me.
"Hey... What's wrong." I ask sitting her down and turning on the lamp.
"I c-can't sleep... And I f-feel si-sick." She chokes out.
"Come here. Do you feel like you are going to throw up?" I ask rubbing her back.

She nods and I pick her up carefully to not stir her already upset stomach. When we get to the bathroom I set her down in front of the loo.

"D-don't wanna be s-sick." She whispers.
"I know. You have yourself all worked up. It's okay." I continue rubbing her back and pull her hair back when she gags.
"Shit... Shh. It's okay..." I say as she keeps gagging in between sobs.

I feel her whole body wretch and she throws up the pasta she ate for dinner. I get a hair tie and put her hair in a bun to keep it out of the way. I don't notice the tears slowly making their way down my face until one hits my bare leg.

"Are you done?" I ask as calmly as I can.
Shaking her head she gags again, bringing nothing up. She falls back into me crying even harder. I flush and run to the kitchen to grab a bowl just in case. When I come back in she is gagging again.

"Shh. Please calm down. You're going to make yourself sick again." I pick her up again and carry her to my bed.
"I know it's hard to calm down. But it's okay. I promise it will be okay..." I am trying to think quick before she makes herself sick again. I do the first thing I can think of. I start singing.

"White lips, pale face
Breathing in snowflakes
Burnt lungs, sour taste
Light's gone, day's end
Struggling to pay rent
Long nights, strange men." I continue singing A Team until she falls asleep on my chest. I soon follow...
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1555 words