Look After You {Sequel To Lost In Stereo}

Chapter Twenty Four-Baby Girl

"You know what they say about hope? It breeds eternal misery." -Spencer Hastings, Pretty Little Liars

When you think about scars, the first thing that comes to my mind is honestly lightning. When the word scar is said I think of Harry Potter. And I'm glad I do, if the first thought in my head was my wrists I'd never be as good as hiding how I actually feel.

I wasn't sure what to do now. Zach wasn't in London anymore. He was somewhere with Cam and Corey waiting to audition for X Factor. And I was sitting on my bed with Taylor Swift blasting from my iPod dock. It's funny how relatable some songs can be. I swear Back To December was written about me and Zach-well except it was written years ago...

I had my head against the wall as the music filled my ears. It's amazing how I can find interest in just sitting and listening to music. But music's powerful, like books, it can change us, out opinions, our emotions. Maybe if I had put my music on earlier there wouldn't be a new cut on my wrist...

"Tellie."

I didn't even bother to look towards the door. Dad had been up here every hour trying to make me leave the room, but I wasn't going to do that. Not knowing there was still blood in the bathroom I needed to clean up.

"Tellie."

"I'm not deaf." I hissed. "I heard you the first time..."

"There's no need to be like that Tells,"

"I'm pretty sure there is. I want to be alone, not pestered to go downstairs..."

"Come on sweetie, I get why you're upset, but you can't just sit up here forever."

"I can." I said bluntly. For a moment the room was silent, dad put his hand on my shoulder and sat next to me on the bed. And from that moment all I could do was cry into him.

"Hey, it's okay baby girl." Dad murmured. "He's going to come back. It's not like he's gone forever or anything."

"He may as well be." I managed. "He-He-"

"Tells just calm down, it's not like he broke up with you or anything, he just...finished school-though I would prefer you did date a boy your own age if you're going to date any boy. But it's not like you're going on dates or anything."

I wanted to laugh. Just the other day I was on a date with Zach...

"Love, why is there red stuff on the sink?"

Shit.

I looked to the bathroom, biting my lip as dad rose from the bed not looking back as he stalked to the ensuite.

Oh god...

I'm screwed.

"Is this blood?" He snapped, and all I could do was bite my lip. I didn't no what to say. My body was stiff and only short breaths were escaping my nearly sealed lips. It was like déjà vu, like the first time I'd stood frozen in the kitchen last year as he held out a handful of my blades-some I didn't even know where still in my room.

"Cristell," Dad hissed narrowing his eyes on me. "Answer me."

Again I didn't do anything. It was like I was watching rather than actually being there and sitting on my bed, my face growing pale and stomach churning. For a second I thought dad was just going to shake it off and forgot he ever saw the blood-but he didn't. He did exactly what I expected him to do; open the draw under the sink and pull out the tampon box. I knew it was a stupid idea hiding the blade in there again. After all, I'd already told him before that I hid blades in there. And now karma was screwing me over for it. I sat silently, waiting until he found what he wanted.