Secluded

Chapter 2

It's nearly midnight and we are all watching a horror movie at the guys house still. I know I should go home but I figured if I've stayed this late I might as well not go home.

I'm sitting on the floor hugging a pillow, Michael and Calum are also on the floor. Luke in the chair and Ashton and Leah taking up the couch, cuddling each other.

I've never liked horror movies, ever since it happened. I don't know why, I just get scared easily. Something jumps up on the screen and I make some weird quiet scream and jump to the side which is coincidently where Calum is. I knock him over and he screams, I start laughing and sit myself up. He sits up and fake glares at me. I smile slightly and look back at the film.

I see him smiling from the corner of my eye. Maybe they aren't so bad, I think.

-------------------3 am---------------------

Everyone's crashed out on the floor and sofas, with blankets and pillows everywhere. I'm sort of to the side of the room and Michael is to the right of me, while Calum is in front. Luke is asleep on the chair. Ashton and Holly are cuddled up on the sofa asleep. Though I, am sitting up awake. I don't normally get much sleep so I just read. Luckily I had some books in my school bag and I'm reading one. Using the light from my phone so I can read.

I hear a groan to my right and some shuffling. I turn and see Michael leaning on his elbows squinting at me.

"Why aren't you asleep?" He whispers.

"Can't sleep." I reply, turning of my light. "Sorry."

"No no, don't be." He sits up looking at his sleeping friends. "What time is it?"

"3:15" I say.

"Wanna go outside and get some fresh air?" He asks.

"Sure." I ponder. He stands quietly and helps me up. We go and sit on the front steps admiring the sun rise. I stare at it mesmerised. I would often sit on my roof and watch it, if my parents are arguing or just if I feel like it. It's nice.

"It's so pretty." I mumble, pulling my sleeves to cover my hands.

"Not as pretty as you..." He mumbles under his breath, looking down.

"Sorry?" I say.

"Nothing." He sighs looking up. "So, what's wrong?" He looks at me.

"What do you mean? I'm fine." I fake smile, looking at him and then back at the sunrise.

"No you aren't. Why're you sad?" He says, he sounds sad.

"I'm-" I start.

"You aren't, I understand if you don't want to tell me. And I know you don't really know me, but you can always talk to me Lex." He says making eye contact. My Mum used to call me Lex...

"I know, thanks Michael." I say looking down, and fiddling with my sleeves.

"Y-you can call me Mikey if you want? Or Mike. Or whatever you want. I-I don't mind." He says quickly. I smile slightly, he's so cute.

"Okay." I whisper, still playing with the top of my sleeves. I feel his eyes on me and slowly look up at him. His eyes trail to my lips, and he leans in slightly. He's going to kiss me, what do I do- I'm stopped mid-thought as a soft pair of lips attach to mine. I kiss back slowly. Once we've pulled away an awkward silence sets among us.

"Umm... Do you wanna head back inside?" He asks.

"Sure." I stand up and walk back into the lounge quietly. I lay down on my blanket. I see Michael secretly kick his pillow closer to me. I don't think I was meant to see, oh well. He lays down on his side facing me. I turn away from him, so my back is facing him. "Night Mikey..." I whisper, smiling slightly. He smiles.

"Night Lex."

----------------morning--------------------

I feel something tickling the back of my neck, and turn over becoming face to face to a Michael Clifford. He's already awake looking at me.

"Morning." He smiles.

"Morning." I sit up and see everyone's awake.

"Finally they're awake!" Luke says, not taking his eyes of the tv screen. Concentrating on beating Ashton at FIFA.

"Michael was awake the whole time just watching the back of her head." Says Calum. Everyone laughs. Michael blushes, and goes bright red. I feel a slight redness to my cheeks.

I notice Leah isn't here.

"Where's Leah?" I ask.

"She's dishing up some breakfast for us all." Says Calum.

"Oh okay." I look at my phone.

*9 missed calls* *8 new messages*

*Messages from Dad.*

WHEREE ARE TOUI?!

Come Hone righT Boww!

I will beat you sio harrd yiu wIL die

I will fucking kill you get home now you shitty fucking skit. Come here now.

I hope you are fucking ready.

I will hunt you down and rip you to pieces.

I will kill you.

Just like your mum.

I feel my eyes tear up, and the stingy feeling behind them. I get up and walk quickly to the bathroom, as soon as I leave the room the tears start falling down my face. I get to the bathroom and lock it behind me. I hold the sink and look at the mirror in front of me. My hairs a mess, my mascara is under my eyes, tears running to my chin. I sob quietly. I look down and see my tears drip into the sink. My wrist comes into view, where the sleeve has risen in my sleep. The scars show. Blood stained red, to pale white. Showing my secrets and past in one move. The bruises my dad has given me covering my arm. Purple, red, black, green. Everything. My sobs get louder as I can't hold it back anymore. I need to cut. He's going to kill me. What I'm I going to do. I have no way out... Except... I start opening the cupboards, revealing medicines, tablets. I grab a bottle and try to open it. My breathing a quickening, my heart races. I'm shaking, I can't open it. It's not opening. There's knocking at the door.

"Alexis!? Are you okay!?" It's Leah but there are other voices as well. I don't reply and cry harder dropping to the floor, I'm too weak to open it. People are shouting from the other side of the door, telling me to unlock it. Calling my name. It's too loud. I use all my might but the lid won't budge. I start hitting it weakly against the wall. I scream and punch the mirror, glass flying everywhere. Blood trickles town my hand. I watch it, and pull a piece of glass out. I slit up my arms and around them In a swirl. Blood flowing down my arms onto my clothes. Suddenly the door is broken in, and Leah comes running in. I quickly grab the pills.

"Alexis, oh my god." Her voice is calm. She's not shouting at me. She understands.

"It's not opening!" I scream, standing up, tugging the bottle harder. She pulls the bottle from me and it breaks open. Pills scatter over the floor. "Look what you did!" I scream in her face. "Look what you did..." I cry, falling into her. She wraps her arms around me.

"Shhh, it's okay. It's going to be okay." Her voice is soothing. Calm. She shoos the boys away with her hand. I look up and see Michael staring in shock, worry in his eyes. I see a tear trickle down Calum's face, and he says something to Luke but I can't hear it. Everything goes black.