Demons {Septiplier}

Chapter Nineteen

Jack's POV

I woke up to a very loud pounding on my door, I blinked before forcing myself to get up. Walking out of my room, I hesitated when I cracked open the door. Please don't let it be him...

"Jack!" It was Mark, I opened the door all the way, and he barged in. Engulfing me in a hug.

"Uh, hi?" I said, hugging him back, "Are you okay, love?"

"You didn't answer! I-I texted and called you several time, and I got so scared, I thought something bad happened to you," He pulled back and looked at me in the eyes.

"Oh... I'm sorry. I guess my alarm didn't go off so I didn't get any of your calls," I leaned up and pecked his cheek, "I told you though, if I ever needed you I'd message you, okay? Don't forget that promise."

"I know, but I understand how hard that can be at times," He said, and he seemed a bit off.

"Mark.." I started off, hesitantly, "Are you okay?" I watched his facial expression, trying to read him. But I couldn't. He wasn't happy, that's all I could tell that at least.

"I'm fine!"

I stared at him, grabbing his hand a pulling him to my room, "Mark, you're not fine. " I lead him in and closed the door behind us, "Please...Talk to me.." I said, worrying.

"Jack- I. " He stopped, only to move to hug me. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," those words only made me even more worried. I hugged him back, tightly.

"Talk to me, Mark. What happened?" I asked softly.

"I got home yesterday, and- and. My mom, she said some pretty awful things to me," I pulled back, pulling him to my bed and sat down. Running my hand through his hair to encourage him to continue, he took deep breaths.

"You're okay, you're doing great dear," From experience, I know it can be hard to talk about something.

He didn't look at me as he continued, "Fuck, I'm sorry Jack," he put his hands over his eyes, rubbing them. My hand moved to rub his back.

"You don't have to tell-"

"No! I need to tell you. I don't want to, but I need to. I need help, and I need to tell someone. You need to know so you can help me. "

I don't think he understood how proud of him I was, he was being responsible. He wanted to get help. Though the proudness I had for Mark didn't compress the worry for him.

"What is it? Take your time.. Deep breaths, "I whispered.

"Remember the time you asked me about why I was wearing  long sleeves?" He blurted out, and I stared at him.

Oh no. I knew where this was going.

"Mark...Roll up your sleeves.. Please.." I said quietly, getting up and crouching in front of him. He didn't move. "Mark, I'm not going to force you, but let me see them. Please. "

His eyes were clenched shut, and he put his arms out. My guessing telling me to do it. I slowly unbuttoned the sleeve and begun rolling it up, my heart broke in a million pieces. I went to the other sleeve, repeating the same process. My heart only broke more. There were scars running up and down his arms, vertical and horizontal. Dry blood still on his arms from what I'm guessing what happened last night.

"Mark.." I said, my heart breaking even more. I looked up at him, and to my surprise, I saw a few tears leave his eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Jack."

My hands went to his face "Baby, it's okay. " I stood up a bit, holding his head in my hands, and leaning into kiss his forehead. I looked down at his arms, sighing softly, "It happens okay?" I brought one of his wrist to my lips, and kissed it, "You're going to get through this." I stood up, and grabbed his hand, "Come with me, I'll clean them for you and you can tell me what happened, okay?"

He didn't say anything, but nodded and stood up and followed me to the bathroom.  I had him sit down on the toilet, his eyes never met mine.

"Mark, look at me," I said, using my hand to have him look at me, "You don't need to be ashamed alright? Do you understand how proud of you I am? You know you need help, you didn't have to tell me, but you did. That's so good for you Mark," I said and leaned in to kiss his forehead. He still didn't say anything. I understood why. I sighed to myself, moving to take a wet wash cloth, and cleaning of the blood. His eyes closed, as I cleaned the wounds. I could feel my chest hurting from seeing this. I'm so glad, and proud that he told me, but it just hurts to see him hurt himself. I took some peroxide next and dabbed the wounds, before cleansing that off. I put a bandage around his wrists, and hummed. "All done. "

He didn't move, he sat there. Not looking at me, but looking down at his wrist.

"Mark.. Talk to me. "

He was quiet for a second, but he finally spoke, staying quiet, "I just feel so guilty. "

"No no, " I knelt down to look at his face, moving my hands into his, and intertwining our fingers, "Mark, please. You don't need to feel guilty. Stuff happens," he actually looked into my eyes, "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

I watched him take a deep breath, and I squeezed his hands, "My mom.. She was drunk. She took my arm, shoved up my sleeves, slapped my cuts, " I winced at the word 'cuts', "Then told me to go do it. And I did. Mother knows best."

"Mark, she doesn't know what's best. This is not the best. Next time, if this happens, which I hope it doesn't. I really hope it doesn't, please. Text or call me. "

He avoided my eyes, "But you have so much going on already, I don't want to make you feel worse. "

"I still want to be here for you though, you know how much I care for you. If you don't, I want to let you know I care for you so much. You mean everything to me. I can push away anything to try an help you. "

"I don't want you to push away everything, you need to help yourself. "

"No, we need to help each other. You can't do this alone anymore, Mark. I'm here for you," He didn't reply to this. I let go of his hands and stood up, putting my arms around him. He put his arms around my waist in return. "I'm not going to ask you to promise me you won't do it again, because I understand it's hard and if you were to break that promise, you'd only feel worse. But I want you to promise me one thing," I pulled back slightly and used my hand to tilt his head to look at me, "You'll try. You'll try hard not to hurt yourself, okay?" He nodded.

"I promise I'll try. " he only went back to hugging my tightly, his face buried in my chest, "Thank you so much for understanding. Thank you for not making me promise to not do it. Thank you for listening. Thank you for cleaning my arms, Just thank you so much," his voice as muffled, and as he continued to speak, his voice got weaker.

"Hey hey, you don't need to thank me. I'm your boyfriend, I'm willing to do anything for you," I felt the smallest smile in my body, and that made me smile slightly, "Also, we're currently really late for school-"

"Let's ditch. I don't want to do anything today. "

"Okay," I agreed immediately. I honestly was not ready to go back.

"Let's go to my room and watch some movies, and cuddle okay?" I said, and he nodded, I pulled back, and grabbed his hands again. Only to pull him up. I leaned in a pecked his lips.

"I like you~" I said, hoping to get a reaction.

"I like you too," He smiled faintly, leaning in to peck my lips in return.

I stared at his eyes for just a single second before I lead him into my room, locking the door after entering.