Scars

3

*****TRIGGERING******
(Cutting)

He knows. How does he know? He can't know. No one knows. Brooke stares at her phone in disbelief.

To Bad Boy:
My life is hell enough. Please don't say anything about this to anyone.

Her phone dings repeatedly and she looks at her notifications.

Twitter:
Ew_you : attention whore

Twitter:
Violet_Purple: kill ur self

Twitter:
Jaidaboo: thot you could get away?

Twitter:
Rainbow_sheep: Go slit your wrists attention whore.

Twitter:
Jill-Jill: y r u still living?

Twitter:
Traphouse-C: just cuz u strt a new skool doesnt mean u stop being a freak

Great. They're back. Deciding she's had enough, Brooke throws her phone at the wall. No matter what, they're always so rude. Don't they get understand how bad that could mess a person up?

Brooke stares at her shattered phone, letting all the thoughts come back. Not being able to handle herself she goes to the bathroom and pulls out the jewelry box, gladly welcoming her old friend.

A cut for each person. Six more for each word. Eleven more for all the pain and sorrow. And sixteen for the sake of it.

Brooke looks down at the streaks, finally getting release. This world is full of vile creatures. Cruel, hellish beasts. They never understand the damage they cause. They just keep at it until they can't.

Brooke, washes away the blood and goes back in her bed, not being able to even think about sleep. There's a knock on the door, but she's too out of it to even care.

When Alex opens the door, he's surprised to see Brooke staring down at her fresh cuts. "What the hell did you do"?! She looks up with red rimmed eyes and can't take it anymore. She cries.

"I just want it to go away! I'm sick of everything! If it weren't for you trying to be heroic, then I wouldn't have to deal with this! It's all your fault"!

Alex sits and pulls Brooke into his arms. "I hate you Alex! I hate you"! Alex wipes away Brooke's tears and kisses her forehead. "I know you do. I'm sorry. But don't you dare think that even for a moment I would let you leave me. We're in this together whether you like it or not. You're my responsibility and that will never change. Do you understand me"? Brooke gives a nod and clings to her brother, staining his shirt with her tears.

"Why"? "I don't want to talk about it. Not now". "You know I have to take you to the hospital". When Brooke doesn't respond, Alex let's out a string of curses. He stands with his almost limp sister in his arms, walking to the door and picking up the shattered phone.

While Alex drives to the hospital, Marcus is non stop texting Brooke apologies. Once he figures she just won't text him, he calls. It rings twice before someone answers. "Hello"? "Brooke"? "No it's her brother. Who's this"? "Uh, this is Marcus. I'm a friend of Brooke's". "Now isn't a good time". "Please. I just need to talk to her. Five minutes. Please". After a moment of silence, Alex finally cracks. "Go to Saints and Angels. I'll meet you by the door". "Saints and Angels? Is she hurt"? "Just meet me there. Okay"? "Yeah. I'll be there in a bit".

Alex hangs up first, parking in front of the hospital. He gets out and goes to the back seats, picking his barely conscious sister up and taking her inside. He walks to the counter and approaches a young woman. "Yes"? "My little sister. She lost some blood and is barely conscious". "Okay sir, set her on the gurney and Myles will take her to her room".

Alex obeys and sets her on the gurney, wiping away any stray tears staining his cheeks. He walks to the front, Brooke's blood staining his skin and clothing and her phone repeatedly dinging in his hand. He looks through everything and is just about ready to snap.

Marcus walks into the hospital half an hour later, walking straight to the front desk. "Hello sir, how can I help you"? "I'm looking for Brooke. Brooke James". Alex perks up and glares at him. "She's in her room at the moment and I'm afraid she isn't allowed visitors. But her brother is right there". Marcus turns to face him and walks to him. "Hey, I'm Marcus". "Follow me outside". Marcus follows, clueless as to why.

Once Marcus is close enough, Alex throws him against the wall. "What the fuck is wrong with you"? "Do you know what the hell you caused"? "What I caused"? "Yes. What you caused". "I only told her that I know. I just want to help her". "Help her how? You don't know the things she's been through". "You're right I don't. But I just want to see her smile. I know what she cuts and she shouldn't. I want to help her stop. She's beautiful and shouldn't have to do this to herself".

Alex glares at the boy in front of him. "Fine, but if she ever sheds one tear because of you. You're a dead man. Got it"? "Yes. I got it". "Good". Alex walks to the waiting room, Marcus staying a few feet away, but following in suit.

After about an hour, a doctor comes in and asks for a guardian. "Yes", Alex asks, running to him. "Your sister is fine. The blood loss wasn't too bad and we cleaned up all her cuts. She's still asleep but she'll be alright. You can go see her if you'd like". Not being able to help it, Alex hugs the doctor, tears of joy springing from his eyes.

Once Alex is settled, he turns and looks at a Marcus. "How did you find out"? "I saw the scars and she blamed it on dogs. So I looked it up because it didn't show up. But then self harm scars showed up and they matched the ones on her arm. Is life really that bad"? "Why don't you go talk to her? Just explain yourself before you dive right in". "Got it". "Room 327".

Marcus gets up and walks down the dimly lit hallway. Once he finds the room, he sees Brooke curled into herself. "Brooke"? Said girl's eyes widen about twice their size. "W-What are you doing here"? "Listen. I just want to talk". "Th-There's nothing to talk about. Go home Marcus". "Just listen. I know you cut. I just want to understand why. I want to understand you".

Marcus cautiously walks to the bed, sitting next to her. "I'm sorry if I freaked you out. I didn't try to. But, why would you think I'd tell anyone? It's no one's business. This is between you and me, that's it".

Brooke looks at Marcus with teary eyes. "Everything just becomes too much. The rumors, the lies, the hate. I just want it to go away". Marcus slowly wraps his arms around the crying girl, giving her enough space to push him away. However, to his surprise, she clings to him, crying on his shoulder and fisting his shirt. He rubs her back and sets her in his lap, keeping her close.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be crying". Marcus gently pushes Brooke back by her shoulders, enough to look her in the eye. "There's nothing wrong with crying. Sometimes you need to cry".

Marcus gives and Brooke a small smile, kissing her forehead gently. "If I fall asleep, do you promise to stay with me"? "I promise". Brooke holds her pinky out and Marcus wraps his larger pinky around hers. He lays back, Brooke laying ontop of him, neither finding a thing wrong with it. "Good night beautiful". "Night Marcus". As Marcus lays there, looking down at this broken girl, he can't help but see all the beauty that engulfs her. This beautiful broken girl.

He lays his hand on her cheek and rubs circles there with his thumb, listening to Brooke's breath steady out as she slowly drifts to sleep. He watches her for a moment, sighing and kissing her head, letting his lips linger. "What have you done, Princess"?