fractures

running

Layne

Music is blaring loudly from somewhere in the living room. People are singing along, dancing, laughing. I squeeze through the throng of people, looking for Marlene.

She went off ten minutes ago to get a drink. And she didn't return to our spot in the backyard beneath the stars.

I turn the entire house upside down looking for Marlene, but I don't find her. Finally, as a last guess, I check the front porch. There she is. I go over to her and settle down beside her, noting the empty cups scattered around her.

"Did you drink all this?" I ask her.

"Yeah, it wuzza nice drink," Marlene slurs, turning her head to look at me with unfocused eyes. "Want some?"

She's definitely drunk. "Nah, I'm good."

Marlene shrugs. "Suit y'self."

Then she lifts the cup to drink from it but realises it's empty. She tosses it to the ground to join its fellow friends.

We sit in silence for a long while, me looking up at the stars and Marlene looking down at the grass.

Until I stand and say, "We should go back home. Our parents will be worried."

When Marlene doesn't react, I take a hold of her hand to try and pull her up. But Marlene wrenches it back, says, "Home izza living hell."

I am momentarily shocked. Because Marlene never says this kind of thing. But I've seen how upset she looks these days, when she thinks I'm not looking. And she's been rather...off. Like she's there but not there. Is this the reason? Is something happening in her family? I asked her what was wrong every time she showed signs of being upset, but she never wanted to tell me. She always insisted she was fine and she was happy, which I never really believed.

Maybe it's the alcohol talking.

Or maybe Marlene's finally going to tell me her problems, finally going to let me help her, finally going to stop keeping everything in.

But Marlene continues, looking like she's about to cry. "I don't wanna go home."

"What's wrong?" I ask, kneeling down before her.

Marlene shakes her head. "I don't wanna go home."

"What happened?"

"I said I don't wanna go home."

"I'm asking you what's-"

"Stop asking! Stop asking like all of them, all of them busybodies who want us to think they actually care when they don't. I've had enough, enough!" Marlene shouts, pushing me away.

"No, Marlene, I really care about you and I want to know what's wrong!" I insist, grabbing her shoulders and forcing her to look me in the eyes. "I want to help you!"

"NO!" Marlene screams at me, standing up and shoving me so hard that I fall back onto the grass. "Stop asking me what's wrong! Everything's wrong! You can't help me, no one can! So stop bothering me and leave me alone!"

Then she's off, running into the darkness of the night.

-

hello:)

this chapter is dedicated to wellofwishes because it's her birthday today!! happy birthday!! :D i hope you liked the chapter haha. since it's your birthday, i'll update another chapter later today haha. hope you enjoy your birthday :)

-ohkayed:)