• dynasty • | gnr | kiss | bon jovi |

•8•

I stare at my reflection in the mirror and just wonder where it all went wrong.

I allow my fingertips to brush against my light caramel skin, all the way down to the red marks on my wrists. Maybe it's the way my complexion glows, the way my hair shines when it catches the light. Maybe it's the fact that just half of the clothing in my closet costs more than what most people make in a decade.

People like me spit on people like Stan, but somehow I could never see Jon doing the same things he's done. Money can't buy substance, apparently.

I feel the urge to throw every single luxury item I have out the window, against the mirror to crack my perfect reflection.

I guess I've answered my own question. Everything about me and my life is so sickeningly perfect, so plastic, as if everyone in my life is but a mere chess piece, and some higher power is playing the game.

And that's what I envy about Stan. He plays by his own rules, and he's anything but plastic.

"Hey? Cal?"

Jon has appeared out of thin air. He stands there, dressed in his football uniform, staring at me with wide doe eyes. He stinks of grass and sweat, so he must've just come from school.

"You've been gone from school for three days... and you haven't been answering my calls. What's the matter? What's going on?"

He drops his gym bag on the floor and gets down on his knees in front of me, peering up into my eyes. Maybe he's genuinely worried about me, but I don't care. I turn away from him and stare down at my wrists, not bothering to wipe the fresh tears from my cheeks.

"You're crying," he softly comments. "Are you upset with me?"

I open my mouth to tell him no, but that also wouldn't be entirely truthful. So I decide to keep my mouth shut instead.

I don't tell him about what happened, I don't tell him about my fear of the outside world, I don't tell him that part of me is glad he's here, because now I'm not alone anymore.

"Sweetheart, I brought you something."

He reveals a flat, velvety jewelry box. He flips open the top and reveals a neclkace, a thin gold chain with a large diamond pendant. I swallow hard just looking at the thing, Rick's rusty laughter echoes in my ears. He would've loved a piece like this.

"To match the bracelet I got you."

He stands behind me and moves my hair to one side. I'm too weak to object as he gently clasps the new jewelry around my neck and places a gentle kiss against my skin.

"Where is the bracelet?"

I gasp as he gently rolls up one of my sleeves and reveals a burn mark. His eyes widen and then narrow, he holds my face between his hands.

"Did you do this to yourself?"

"No," I whisper. My voice comes out rusty.

"Who did it?"

I panic and bite my tongue, searching for words that won't come. I wrack my brain for a white lie to tell, but nothing seems relevant enough to logically account for the burns.

So instead I kiss him softly, and he's instantly distracted. I kiss him again and pull away, brushing his slightly damp hair away from his forehead.

"Go home, Jonny. Take a shower."

His lips brush against mine as he speaks. "Will you come to school tomorrow?"

I nod slightly and he finally leaves, closing the door softly behind him. I bring my hand up to rip the necklace off of my body, but I freeze mid-motion. Somehow I can't bring myself to do it, to hurt the gift he gave me.