T.R.I.G.G.E.R

T.R.I.G.G.E.R - #3

Thursday.

I have another meeting with Kinsey today.

I don't want to go...

I sighed and rolled onto my back, covering my eyes with my arm.

I felt someone take a seat on my mattress and assumed that it was Melanie. Nina never 'takes a seat'. She always flops down somewhere.

It was around seven in the morning. In about twenty minutes, we'll be forced out of bed to start our dull routine.

Last night, I had a nightmare that woke me up at two in the morning. I've been up ever since.

"Red?" I heard Melanie's light voice travel to my ears.

"Hm?" I mumbled.

Melanie took a deep breath which by the sound of it, seemed to be from nervousness. Then I felt her laying next to me.

"...are you alright?" She asked quietly.

I didn't say anything, I let the question swim around in my head.

Am I alright...?

"I know that we aren't that close for me to ask that, but I just... I feel like you aren't doing as good as everyone thinks..." She added.

I let her words sink in. Then something alarmed me.

Melanie doesn't act like this.

Usually, she's loud and ranting or gossiping about everything she can think of. I've never witnessed her act like this toward anyone in the hall. Not even Tim, who's had a crush on her for the two years that he's told me about.

"...I'm fine." I answered her question after a few seconds of silence.

Melanie didn't say anything for a long minute, and I had started to think that she was falling asleep. Until I felt her move closer to me.

My body stiffened when I felt her head rest on the arm that wasn't over my face.

"Red..." She whispered. Her fingers played with the hem of my shirt and my lungs felt heavy in my chest. "If you ever need someone to talk to...I really want you to know that I-...I'm always here to listen..."

I couldn't move. It was like I went into shock.

What is she doing?! I panicked.

Her hand trembled as she hesitantly flattened it against my stomach. Then she slid her hand under my shirt and over my skin.

Her fingers were cold and my body started shivering in fear.

I felt a strong sense of déjà vu come over me. I couldn't take it.

"STOP!" I sprang up from the mattress, harshly pushing Melanie away from me.

I stood with my back to her, trying to steady my breathing. My body shook. Everything I didn't want to remember came back to me.

The feelings...thoughts. Everything I pushed down was crawling up my spine. Taunting me.

Melanie's pleading voice rang in the background. "R-red, I-"

"You don't have to say anything, just-...just stay away from me. Please." The door made a loud beeping sound, signaling the time to get up.

Without looking at her, I rushed out of the door and made my way to the café.

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"I hate this stupid food." Tim stopped next to me in the breakfast line.

I chuckled. "You sound like you hate life too. Tough morning?"