The New Guy

Chapter 5

Rosalia POV

I awoke the next morning to the sound my alarm clock, like any normal day.

I awoke.

Meaning I didn't have a concussion and didn't slip into a deathly coma when I want to bed last night.

Damn.

Liam POV

Rosalia never came over yesterday. I was honestly pretty curious as to where she was, but hopefully she'll be in school today and I can ask her.

As for Haley, since my night was free, I actually did end up texting her. We talked for a while and she's pretty cool. But the whole time I just felt guilty. Which was stupid because Christina and I were over, no matter how much I hated it. After about two hours I lied and told Haley I was going to bed, but actually called Christina. It was the first time I had any contact with her whatsoever since the move.

"Hey baby. God, I miss you so much."

"Um, hey Li. What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry, I know we agreed the break up would be easier if we didn't talk, but it's driving me fucking crazy! I miss you like hell! I can't stand not being able to see you every day, talk to you, hear you laugh, kiss you. You're my everything."

Then there was silence.

"Christina? Are you still there?"

"Yeah, I just needed a minute. Look Liam, I love you. And I always will. You were the first guy I've ever loved and you will always hold a very special place in my heart, but I can't do this."

"W-what?"

"Liam, we agreed not to talk for a reason. Because we are still in love with each other. And yes it's driving me fucking crazy too, but I need to get over you. Believe me, I swear, getting over you is the last thing I ever want to do, but I can't be with you if you live in another state now. I know it isn't your fault, but that's the way things are now. I'm sorry. I really am. But I just can't do this. Goodbye Liam." She hung up.

I had sat there for half an hour in shock. I felt like my heart had been ripped out my chest all over again. I felt like we had broken up a second time. Nothing was registering properly. I just sat there, frozen.

Finally, as if in a trance, I made my way into the bathroom. Without even thinking, barely even remembering to shut the door (I did, luckily), I grabbed the razor and made new patterns on my forearm. I didn't even feel it. It was like the first time, right after Christina and I broke up. I was too numb from her words to even be aware of my surroundings. The house could been on fire, hot flames eating me alive, and I still wouldn't notice. Her words rang in my brain, repeating themselves again and again and again.

"I can't do this."

"I can't do this."

"I can't do this."

Eventually I stopped moving the razor down my arm. I still couldn't feel the pain, but I had at least become aware of the fact that sooner or later the bleeding would become fatal and I had to stop. Briefly, I debated what would happen if I kept going. But I couldn't allow my parents to find me like that. They did move me away from everything I cared about, but they were still my parents and I loved them. I applied pressure to my new wounds and bandaged my forearm, then trudged back into my room to fall asleep.

Rosalia POV

I considered skipping school again. Then I took a look at the bruises littering my body, reminding me of what happened last night I thought that would be a good idea. Besides, I hadn't talked to Haley and Lola in a while, and they would be getting worried. I couldn't do that to the only people who care about me.

The day passed by uneventful. Haley talked my ear off about the progress she was making with Liam. Every. Single. Chance. She. Got. Lola didn't join in the conversation very much. Haley didn't seem to notice.

By the time I got to Spanish I was ready to duct tape her mouth shut. It wasn't that I minded listening to the awesomeness that was my friend's life, because I was happy for her, seriously. I just couldn't help be reminded of how different mine was. How much shittier.

However, I managed to escape into class and away from Haley's incessant boy chatter before that happened. I slipped into my seat next to Liam and was immediately bombarded with questions.

"Hey where were you yesterday? Why didn't you come over? And why weren't you at school? What happened? Why didn't you tell me you weren't coming?"

I sat blinking for a few seconds after he finished with his slew of questions. "At home. I was sick," I told him the same lie I told my friends.

"Oh, okay. Well, do you feel better now?" His question surprised me almost as much as the genuine concern I detected in his voice.

"Uh, yeah, I'm fine."

"Okay, good. So do you wanna come over today to work on the project instead?" No.

"Okay, sure."

"Cool."

"Yeah." Is this how normal kids talk to each other? It seems very awkward.

"So, do you have to like go home or anything first? Or do you just wanna go straight to my house? Because I have a car, I can drive us. If we start earlier, we can get done faster." And the faster we get done the less time you have to spend with me.

"Uh, yeah, that's fine."

"Okay, cool."

"You say 'okay' a lot." I noted without thinking. Dammit. Rosalia, you know you're not supposed to talk unless directly addressed, what the hell are you doing?

"You say 'uh' a lot," Liam shot back. I almost laughed at how quickly he retaliated.

"Touche." He smirked in response.

Ugh, okay so this chapter sucks, and it's a day late, but I've been having computer troubles and have been needing to borrow my mom's laptop for the past week so shush I'm allowed to update late and those are the rules. Also, it may not be perfectly edited; I tried to get my friend *cough jasmyn cough* to proofread it but she wouldn't reply to me (bae, water you doing?). And sorry for making you guys wait so long for just a filler chapter though. I've been struggling with this chapter for so long and have just come to terms that it will suck no matter what I do. Hopefully next chapter we can get some real plot development going though :)

Okay, please remember to vote and comment if you enjoyed, and if you didn't, tell me how you think I can improve (in a nice way)