Another Rainy Day [SEPTIPLIER] (COMPLETED)

Chapter 8

Jack's POV
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It had been around a week since Mark first invited me to his table. It was strange, how his friends took to me so easily. No one had ever really enjoyed my company this much. Well, aside from maybe Dan or Phil, but they had each other. Wade, being a bit of an idiot, kept cracking ridiculous puns that I couldn't help but laugh at. Mark seemed to laugh a lot before, but now seemed to stop whenever he felt me staring at him. Did I say staring? I wasn't staring at him... Ok that's a lie, I was.

I didn't know why, but Mark started to seem extremely nervous around me now. Whenever I said something funny, he would start giggling, but then stop abruptly. He would start to say things, but then shook his head and mumbled something about forgetting about it. I was starting to get worried about him.

And even worse, those mysterious bruises and scars kept popping up. I was scared that somebody was abusing him, or worse, he was doing it to himself. It could just as well be both! I didn't know what to do, I'm no therapist! I decided to talk to Bob after lunch one day.

"Hey Bob, can I talk to you?" I piped up that afternoon. He shrugged and replied. "Sure. What's wrong?" My eyes shifted. "Is something going on with Mark? He's been acting really strange lately and... Well... I'm worried about him..." Bob seemed confused. "Yeah, he has been acting weird. But I don't know what's up with him. Maybe you should talk to him." I nodded. "Thanks Bob." I walked off towards fifth period. "I'll talk to him tomorrow," I thought.

Mark never showed up for school the next day. Or the day after that. Or the day after that. I tried contacting him, but he never responded. I had probably sent over 200 texts, and left around 25 messages. The second school was over, I raced out of the building. I heard somebody call my name, but I didn't stop. I was running to town, there was a place I needed to visit.

I stepped into the pawn shop, looking for the clerk, who I happened to know personally. "Jackaboy!" He swung around the counter, a grin on his face. "Daithi! Hey!" I replied, happy to see him. He was another Irish transfer from a few years ago, and I had happened to bump into him when I first came here.

"What can I do for ya? I take it you aren't here to shop?" He read my mind. "Well... It's this guy, Mark," I mumbled. "Oh HO! So it's romance advice you need!" Blushing madly, I shook my head. "N-No! It's not that! It's just, he's one of my close friends, and he hasn't been showing up, or responding to any contact I try to make with him. I've called him, texted him, even tried his house, no one answered. I'm seriously worried about him! What should I do?" I stood there looking down at my feet, my face was red, and I was biting back tears. "Hey." I felt a hand on my shoulder, and looked up to see Daithi giving me a reassuring smile. "It'll be fine. Maybe he just went on vacation and lost his phone. Maybe the real reason you're getting so worked up over this is because it IS romance advice you need." My face was practically on fire as I turned to leave. "Thanks Daithi." "No problem! Come back with that Mark and I'll give you a couple's discount!" He laughed as I walked out, face burning.

Sighing, I began to walk home. What Daithi said couldn't be true. I'm not allowing myself to fall in love again. Not after what happened last time. Not again...

//FLASHBACK//

"Molly, I'm ho- MOLLY?!?!" My girlfriend, who I trusted and loved, was making out with some guy on the couch. She stopped immediately and looked at me. "S-Sean! You're back early!" She exclaimed. I stood there, face stricken and heart breaking. "Molly, how could you do this?! I thought you loved me!" She started to protest, but then sighed rolled her eyes, and looked at me with a flat glare. "I never loved you Sean. I was just using you because I needed money and a place to stay. You're just an annoying, clingy, brat." She spat the last words with venom. And with those words, my heart shattered into millions of pieces. "G-Get out! Get out of my house!" I cried, stumbling over my words. She shrugged, grabbed her bag, and dragged the man out the door, leaving me to fall to my knees and sob.  Crawling to the bathroom, it was such a relief to know my parents wouldn't be back until tomorrow. They were rarely home anyway. They wouldn't notice. They never did. Hands shaking, I pulled out a razor, with brown stains from previous times.

"One, for being pathetic."
Cut.
"Two, for being stupid."
Cut.
"Three, for trusting anyone."
Cut.
"Four, for ever believing that someone could love me."
Cut Cut Cut.

From then on, I trusted no one with my heart. People would say they liked me, I'd push them away. I built walls around me, and let nobody in. I was lonely, but at least I was safe.
//FLASHBACK OVER//

I shook my head, not wanting to reminisce anymore. I walked faster, hoping to get home before dark. I didn't realize I had stayed out so late, and the sun was practically setting. Passing by an old art store, I thought I heard someone crying up ahead. I also heard voices, deep voices that sounded pretty suspicious. They sounded like they were coming from the alley up ahead. Suddenly, the cries grew louder, and I immediately recognized the voice. "S-Stop! P-Please! Why?!" Mark! I ran down the street and turned into the alley to find Mark out cold, and being thrown over the shoulder of a tall, burly man, while other men of similar structures gathered around him.

"Mark!!! Put him down!!!" I screamed. The men turned to look at me, brandishing weapons. Feeling like I was in over my head, I stood my ground, slowly reaching for the pepper spray and pocket knife I kept in my bag. "J-Just put him down, and I won't call the police," I warned. "Go ahead and try, kid," one of them sneered. "Get him too." The men started after me. Grabbing the pepper spray and whipping it out, I pressed the trigger and aimed for their faces. I managed to get most of them, but one was still left standing, the one with Mark. The pocket knife would have to do. Brandishing it like I knew what I was doing, I ran at him and swung at the man's face, making a deep cut. He hissed and backed away. Snarling in disgust, he dropped Mark to the concrete. "Take him back then, lover boy. Come on, let's go." And with that, the mafia-like group ran off.

Dropping to my knees, I checked out Mark's frail body. He had a black eye, blood coming from his mouth, bruises everywhere, and-

No. Please no. Tears filled my eyes as I looked to Mark's wrists. Cuts everywhere. God, I knew something was up! I knew it! Holding him close to my body, I sobbed. People like him aren't supposed to get hurt! They're supposed to stay safe! Wiping some of the blood away from his face, I leaned down and pressed my forehead to his. "Mark..." I whispered, sadness filling me.

Shaking my head and brushing away the tears, I picked Mark up, bridal style, and rose to my feet. He was awfully light, jeez. I started to walk back to my house, a little bit dizzy. My eyelids slipped a bit, but I had to get home. I was determined. (Hoi hoi hoi, the Undertale references for days)

Finally getting home, I took Mark upstairs to the spare room. For once, I was glad my parents were gone. Another month-long business trip. Laying him on the bed, I dashed to the bathroom and pulled out the first aid kit. Getting out the bandages and peroxide, I applied them to his wounds. He flinched a bit when the peroxide came in contact with his cuts, but I continued anyway. After all his visible wounds were tended to, I wondered if there were any others. Blushing a bit, I pulled up his shirt. I was right, many more bruises and scrapes. Pushing the strange thoughts out of my head, I cleaned them and bandaged them as soon as possible, and ran downstairs to throw his blood-stained shirt in the wash. Coming back upstairs, I looked at Mark. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully. That was good. Smiling a bit, I pulled the covers up over his bare stomach. I brushed his blue bangs out of his eyes and turned to leave when I felt something pull at my t-shirt. I glanced back to see Mark holding tight to my baby blue shirt. Stifling a laugh at how childish he looked, Jack sat down on the bed next to Mark.

"Man, you really know how to get into these crazy situations, don't you?" I chuckled. And before I knew it, I was out like a light.