Catch Me In The Rain

4. Bloodied wrists

   My mouth hung open while my eyes were locked at the green text bubble that appeared below the recent conversation we had. I moistened my lips with my tongue and sighed, my body slowly beginning to sag. I rolled my eyes and put my phone down next to my leather journal that lay lifeless on the acacia wood night stand. 

   I walked from my bed to my closet as I clutched my hand in pain. I swiped through my wardrobe, looking for a sweater to cover up the bruises and cuts I made the night before. My eyes became fixated on the green, long sleeve shirt that hung in the back of my closet. Before I had time to reach for it I heard faint footsteps coming up the staircase that neighbored my bedroom. I glanced back at the piece of shared glass that lay on my dresser next to my mothers old necklace. I rushed over towards it, tripping over my bare feet, reaching out towards the piece of glass. 

   "Mornin honey, hope you slept well cause Ella and I are taking you and Chris somewhere special tonight" my fathers voice muffled between the crack in my bedroom door, followed by a faint squeak from the hinges as he shut the door. 

   I let out a sigh of relief as I took the piece of glass from my sock drawer where I hid it. I walked back over to my closet and unhooked the shirt from its hanger, going limp in my hand. I peeled off the piece of cloth from my hand and look at the slits that ran up and down the side of my hand. I touched one of the slits cautiously, trying not to hurt myself. The skin was raw as tiny bits of scab began filling the small wounds. I stared at them, wondering it I should wear a bandage or just go without it. 

   I slid off my Nirvana tee shirt and black shorts and I stared at myself in the mirror, looking at my bare body as my night clothes lay exhausted from the twists and turns they dealt with in my sleep. 

  I was a wreck. My chestnut brown hair was draped over my cream colored shoulders, resembling the tentacles of an octopus. Black and blue semi circles hugged the bottoms of my red eyes. I looked away with shame. I turned around and slipped on my green shirt and tugged on some black ripped jeans. I slipped my feet into my floral vans and tied my hair up into a messy bun. 

   "Did you get hit by a bus or something? You look like shit!" My stepbrother said, gliding a butter knife across the Peanut butter covered toast. I ignored him as I continued walking towards the fridge.

   "Oh com on willow, it was just a joke, isn't that what big brothers do?" I slammed the fridge door shut, causing the condiments to rattle. I glare back at him, staring into his blue, glistening eyes. 

   "You are NOT my brother. You are just a 15 year old who invaded my home last year after my father married your slut for a mother." I bit my lip at the end of the sentence.  He slammed his fist onto the marble counter top, creating a loud thud that echoed through the kitchen, sending a wave of fear through my body. 

   "I live in this house. I am the man because your father doesnt do shit. Don't you ever call my mother a slut! And how about you stop being such a bitch all of the time like 'woe is me I'm so depressed and even though I make my stepbrother drool-"he was face to face with me now, I could feel the warm air on my face as he breathed. He caught himself. I watched as he slowly started to back away. I grinned. 

   "Sssoooooo my stepbrother, who is the star wrestler of Carter Hill High just admitted to I quote 'drooling' over his younger stepsister who just called his mother a slut. I have no words." My elbow was propping my head up as I stared at him from across the kitchen island. His mouth trembled, and I liked it. His eyes shot from the paintings, the fridge, the sink, the oven, then to me. As I stared at him, my phone began to buzz in my pocket, sending a wave of sudden shock through my body. 

   "I'm gonna go now" Chris said hesitantly, dropping the knife in the sink and heading to the living room. I pulled my phone out, seeing the time was 7:18am. The same picture of Marceline and I flashed on the screen, making the corners of my mouth frown. I slid the text open and Marceline, gasping at the text. I looked around me cautiously, making sure my father or Ella wouldn't walk by and read bits and pieces. With my elbow propped on the kitchen counter, I began reading Marcelines text. 

   "Willow we need to leave soon. This has been really hard and we need to go. came home last night to detectives and they asked to speak. I didn't tell them anything and I just locked myself in my bedroom, but that didn't do either because of the incident that took place. Also my mother is dead. She was smothered I guess... My stepfather is on the run and I don't think it's safe for both of us to stay home home now because he knows where you live too. He searched through my journal and saw all the addresses I know. He knows where you live now willow. And even worse he ripped out the page. We need to leave on the 14tn of January, I'm getting a lot of money and stuff from Christmas so we won't be as broke on the street. Meet me at school at 7:25 30 minutes before school starts. Please hurry. -Marceline"

*authors comment

Ok I don't know if I should add a smut between Chris and willow before she runs away. Ugh this took so long and I have so many choices. Vote below whether I should or not. Love you guys! -A