Cuts and Bruises (ON HOLD)

Chapter Three: Cuts and Piercings

It was the Friday before Christmas break and I was sitting in first period. Brooke, my best friend, was right beside me as always. We'd already given each other our gifts and we were waiting for our friends Ashton and Iris. We never did much before Christmas, probably because our teachers were lazy. I had first period with Blaze too but he wasn't there yet either. Iris walked through the door with Ashton right behind her and Brooke and I both waved as they walked in. We always did that for some reason. They both sat down and we all gave each other our gifts. Bracelets and food, basically. Perfect gifts.  

First period went by, we all laughed and talked about bands and Doctor Who and whatnot, with still no sign of Blaze. I cant say I'm surprised or concerned. He probably wouldn't come today anyway. No one else in the class talked to us; they probably didn't know we were there. That was fine. That's the best thing about having friends as awkward as you are. No one talks to them so you aren't forced to talk to anyone either. 

The rest of the day was uneventful, as usual. At the end of the day, we all got in to my car and I turned up my radio. 

"The glory of a nation dies 

The symbol of this war is coming 

A warning meant to save our lives from 

Fears religion" 

Revelation by Black Veil Brides blasts from my speakers. We all nod our heads along with the beat until Iris yells over the music, "So Alex. How are you and Blaze?" I reach up to turn down the music and look at her through the mirror. "Firstly, there is no me and Blaze. There is me, and there is Blaze but not together. Ok?" They all laugh but nod. "Good," I say. "Hes fine, and I'm fine." I turn the music back up. We drop Iris off first, leaving Ashton in the back seat. "When are you and Blaze getting together though, really?" She asks. "Never! He doesn't like me, Im telling you." She and Brooke roll their eyes. "Stop that. Why would he like me? Hes a jock, I'm an emo. The worlds don't mix." I stop in Ash's driveway. "See ya later Ash!" Brooke and I yell. "Bye! Text me when Blaze asks you out, Al!" I can still hear her laughing as she gets to her door. 

"So how have you been feeling lately?" Brooke asks when I back out. "Ok I guess. Why?"  

"You've just seemed really distant lately. What's on your mind?" 

"Sadly, him. He wants to get to know me and I don't want to let him." 

"Who? Blaze?" 

"Yeah. He keeps asking me to tell him personal stuff and secrets. Hes a jock. He'll tell people, wont he?" 

"I'm not sure. Do you think he would?" 

"I don't know," I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts, "I don't want to trust him just for him to tell everything." I pull into her driveway and she gets out, taking her stuff. "Try it! What's the harm?" She says, walking up to her door.  

Everything. If hes not who he acts like he is.

*later on* 

I had already taken off my bracelets. It wasn't like I was worried my parents would come in to check on me and see my cuts. They were everywhere. Both arms, at least 2 inches up and down. Id cut way more than a hundred times in the past three years. I started when I was fourteen, right after my parents got a divorce because my mom confessed to having an affair around the time I was conceived. So my dad probably wasn't really my dad. It was really hard for me, not to mention my already developing depression and social anxiety. Depression ran in my family so it wasn't surprising I had it too. My mom still didn't understand though. She said that Id be fine. It was all really hard for me to handle so I began self harming. No one knew except for my friends. 

I was working on a new poem. Id also been writing since I was fourteen. It was helping me cope too. I got tired of listening to my mom yell at my new step dad so I put in my headphones.  

"I hate to break it to you but 

You're just a lonely star 

I try to bring you down but 

One level isn't good enough" 

Bite My Tongue by You Meet at Six and Oli Sykes blasts through my headphones. Its one of my favorite songs. I lay my head back against the wall, closing my eyes. I almsot go to sleep but I'm interrupted by Blaze. 

Again. 

"Alex! Look! Look what I got!" He almsot yells as he bursts into my room and takes out my headphones. He points to new piercings on his face: snakebites. He got snakebites. My face lights up, almost like his. "No way! Those are so cool!" I say excitedly. "You really think so?" He asks, looking into my mirror. "Absolutely! Id love some but that would just be another reason for my mom to yell at me." I say, crossing my legs under me and laying down my notebook. I put my hands in my lap, waiting for him to say something. He turns and sits down on my bed. "Um... if you wanted I could take you to get some. The guy I got mine from is super clean so don't worry about that." My face lights up exactly like his did. "Are you serious? You'd do that for me?!" He smiles sheepishly. "Merry Christmas?"  

Then he looks down at my wrists. He grabs my hand and holds my arm up before his face. I try to pull it away but he holds tighter, frowning. I look away. "Don't say anything... please..." I say softly. "I wouldn't. I promise. Just... I'm sorry. I know you don't want me to be but I am. Believe it or not, you're my friend and I care about you. I really do." He pulls my arm closer and rubs his finger over one of my newer scars. He looks at me, unsure, then kisses it softly. He puts my arm back next to my other one gently. "If you want to put your bracelets on Ill drive you to get your snakebites." He says, grabbing the jacket he threw down. "Sounds great." I say, putting all 30 of my bracelets on and following him.

Id say they look pretty good.