Iceheart

Chapter 6: Not What She Seems

 Jason slowly opened his eyes. He looked up. The ceiling was above him, as was his... bed? Nanook was curled up next to him, soundly sleeping. Jason's back ached, his spine sore from the hardwood underneath the layer of soft fluffy carpet. He grabbed his pillow and hugged Nanook.

"Not gonna get up," Jason muttered. "No way, Jose. I'm too tired..."

Nanook yawned slightly in reply. Jason groaned and dragged a blanket off of his bed.

"Just five more minutes," he muttered, holding Nanook tighter.

Unfortunately, Nanook understood time, in a sense. He pulled off the covers and licked Jason's face.

"Stop it, Nanook," Jason groaned. "Let me sleep..."

Nanook barked in Jason's ear. He pulled on his shirt and kept barking. Jason moaned and sat up, flailing his arms in attempts to shoo away his dog.

"I get your message, doggy alarm clock," he muttered. "I'm getting up. Now stop barking. I don't really want to get yelled at by my dad."

Nanook panted a little and pushed Jason's backpack towards him. He wagged his happily, making a bit of a mini bark. Jason smiled and pet the eager husky's head.

"You big fluffball," he said. He slipped up his backpack, but it caught his sleeve, revealing his scars. Jason looked at them and sat on his bed. He sighed and put his head in his hands.

"What am I gonna do?" he muttered. "I'm a mess. I gotta stop but... it's so hard." He sighed and looked at Nanook. There was still a bit of dried blood on his nose. Jason gently dripped some water from an old water bottle onto the white husky's nose and rubbed it, trying to remove the red stain. Nanook snuffed and shook his head, barking slightly annoyed.

"Sorry boy," Jason said. "But we can't have you stained with my blood. That would just be weird."

Nanook barked again. He nudged at Jason's legs.

"Alright, alright," Jason said. "I guess I do need to get going. I'll see ya after school, boy."

The teen headed out of the house, tiptoeing to avoid waking the bear in a drunk hibernation that was his dad. He zipped up his jacket and headed out to the bus stop. He looked around quietly. As he looked towards the trees, he felt arms wrap around him. He yelped, scared, and turned around to see what the force was. He saw Jenny, hugging him. He remembered the dream. Everything. He remembered Jenny's promise. He felt his arms hurt again. He looked at Jenny.

"I remember," Jenny said quietly. "I really was there. Roll up your sleeves."

Jason felt his stomach turn. He looked at Jenny, his face showing a slight emotional pain.

"Do I have to?" he groaned.

Jenny nodded. "Please, Jason," she said. "I won't tell anyone, I won't do anything. Just... show me. You don't have to show them all."

Jason sighed. He held his stomach for a second and hung his head low. He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a few of his most recent scars.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I'm so, so, so sorry. It's hard... I don't even understand it myself... I'm so sorry."

Jenny put her hand on his shoulder. "Sh..." she said. "Hey. Don't apologize to me. You didn't do anything to me. I heard what you said. Jason... I don't know how to help..."

Jason sighed. "I... I don't know how to myself," he admitted. "I just... I really don't know."

Jenny nodded solemnly. She sighed and looked away. Jason felt guilt swarm him. He looked to see the bus coming.