The Journal

Chapter 26 : Vacation

Chapter 26

A few days later...

Riker POV

I barely talked to Kelsey all day. I felt extra miserable today for some reason. Maybe it's because I know I won't see Kelsey all weekend. But I really don't know.

Kelsey gave me back rubs during lunch, but they didn't really make me feel better.

I just felt sucky. And after school was over, I walked home all by myself. It was cold and lonely and miserable.

When I got home, mom and dad were packing up the van with our suitcases and stuff. I went up to the bathroom and locked myself inside.

I really want to make some cuts. Today has been so long and hard, and I just want to take some of the hurt away. But I need to make sure to hide it from Ross and Rocky.

I took out my blade from my phone case and pulled up my sleeves. But I was scared Rocky would check my wrists. 

So I pulled off my shirt and pulled my pants down and made some marks on my hips. He'll never see them there.

I forgot mom was going to pick up my siblings early. And I was bleeding when I heard them all coming home.

All of a sudden, there was a knock on the bathroom door.

"Riker? You in there?"

It's Rocky.

"Um... Yeah?"

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'll be out in like a minute!"

I started cleaning up my hips as quick as I could. I'm going to get caught for sure.

I pulled my pants back up and put my shirt back on, and then I went to my room. Rocky was packing his homework to take on vacation.

"You ok, Riker?"

"Yeah."

"You weren't cutting, were you?"

"No."

"Can I see your arms?"

I went over to him. He pulled my sleeves up and checked my wrists.

"Ok, good," he said, pulling my sleeves back down.

"Told you."

"How was school?"

"Not good."

"Why?"

"It's just a bad day."

"Well maybe spending some time with the family and being on vacation will cheer you up."

"I hope so..."

I packed my backpack with some things to do in the car as well as some snacks and drinks. I made sure to bring my homework, and I grabbed some blankets too.

"Kids! We're leaving in 10 minutes!" Mom called.

I went downstairs and put my backpack in the car. I was going to sit in the middle row in the middle seat so that Rocky and Ross could sit beside me.

"Kids! Make sure you grabs some snacks and use the bathroom before we leave!" Mom called.

I went back inside and used the bathroom. And then I got in the car.

One by one, my siblings came out and got in the car. Once Rocky and Ross were in, I spread a blanket out over all of us and cuddled into Rocky's side. And then we left.