Breaker

Chapter 2: Dancing with the Blade

Chapter 2:

 "Ahem." Breaking apart, I turn to see Jenna behind me, arms crossed and foot tapping. "Are you two quite finished sucking eachother's faces off? Daniella needs to be getting into my car to come to my house, so....." She raises a single blond eyebrow, daring me to argue. I smirk and turn back around to give Philip one more kiss.

"I'll talk to you later, okay?" I tell him, squeezing his hand.

"Of course. I'll call you tonight." He brushes his fingers across my cheek, kissing me softly. As he walks away, I reluctantly turn around to face Jenna.

"Are you ready to go? We'll stop by Evan's to pick him up, considering his mother won't let him drive anywhere other than school." She flips her short blond waves, grabbing my hand in the process. She ushers me into her '98 mini cooper, gleaming red in the afternoon sun. I slide into the sleek black leather interior, resting my head on the seat.

"Can we stop by my house first?" I ask her, watching her face as she drives. "I really need to get a snack, and my mom makes the best." I recall my mother's face in my nightmare, cold and lifeless. Cringing at the thought, I move on to thoughts of Philip. Jenna brings me out of my revere, announcing our arrival to my home.

"I'll be just a second, and I'll bring you some food, too," I tell her. I shut the door and walk toward the large, gleaming estate that is my house. I open the front door and quickly jump inside, the door clicking behind my back. I peer around the corner of the foyer, checking the living room for signs of life. Seeing no one, I tip toe to the stairs and take them two at a time. I turn the corner and slip into my bedroom. I shut the door silently, not wanting to attract attention to myself. I turn around and scan the room for what I really came for. I go to the bed and pull up the sheets, my hand already finding the invisible gash in my mattress. My fingers touch cool metal and wrap around it carefully.

I pull out the gleaming blade and stare at it longingly. I deftly pull up the sleeve of my shirt, exposing the scars that are already there. Some are older, already healed, and others are barely scabbed over. I touch the sharp edge to the inside of my exposed flesh and exert the lightest of pressure. Not too deep, I think. Don't want to get blood on my shirt. I slide the blade slowly, watching with wonder as the blood drips down. I place the blade beside my leg, gently laying it on the floor. I squeeze the small cut, urging more of my blood out of it. I can't help but to giggle like a little girl. After I have had my fill of this, I clean myself up and put my mutilation tool back into the mattress, after cleaning it, of course.

I open my door and walk down the hall, down the stairs, and into the kitchen. I notice my mother pulling a fresh batch of cookies out of the oven. She sees me standing in the door way and smiles.

"Hey, hon. I just made some cookies if you want any," she says brightly.

"I'll take some to go. Jenna's waiting for me outside and I promised her I'd bring her a snack." I take a paper plate out of the cabinet and pile it full of chocolate chip cookies.

"Well why don't you bring her inside to have a glass of milk with them?" she asks me, looking out the large glass window to the waiting car with Jenna inside.

"We're going to her house, mom, and you know how crazy her parents are about curfew," I tell her quickly. Nodding her head, she wraps the plate in foil and hands it to me. As she does, I notice violent bruises on her wrists, beneath her sleeves, in shades of purple and blue. I clench my teeth, knowing how she obtained them. Giving me a hug, she ushers me out the door, telling me to tell Jenna she said hello. I assure her that I'll tell her and quickly walk to the awaiting vehicle. I open the door and slide in.

"Alright, lets go. I have the cookies," I tell her jokingly. She laughs and puts the car in drive, pulling away from the curb. I grab a cookie from under the foil and take a bite. I let out an embarrassing moan, falling back in the seat. The warm, melted chocolate is the perfect match for the sweet, fluffy cookie. I look at Jenna and she is trying to hold back her smile.

"These have got to be the best cookies my mom has ever made," I tell her. Taking another from the plate, I hold it towards her. She takes a bite and chews slowly. She shivers and sighs, "I do believe you're right." I laugh and watch the road disappear behind us in the mirror, and I silently pray my father won't be there when I get back.