*(Is this all we see?)*

~*Chapter 14*~

--Warning- Mentions and scenes of Sexual harassment and Self-harm--

Midnight passed his classroom to the bathroom. He didn't want to go to class like this. Or with the clouding thoughts of what they did. His lip was bleeding as well as his nose, and he felt sore.

He ran into the stall and slammed the door, sobbing silently into his sweater. The world felt like it was crumbling. Everything was going wrong. How could he go through another six months of this? School and grades were already tough enough, but these bullies..

Midnight was snapped out of his crying by a knock. On his stall. He froze, keeping his hands carefully against his mouth to keep quiet. Another knock came. 

"Hey..Midnight, right?" The voice behind the door spoke in a low whisper, he sounded nice, not harmful like those others who...He sounded sympathetic? Midnight lifted himself, hesitating to unlock the door for a moment. "I won't hurt you. I would never think of doing what Levi did." 

'That's his name..' 

He placed his shaking hand on the lock, pulling it apart to open the door, it turned and revealed the face behind the door. A blonde haired boy with flat hair, he had dark brown roots and bright green eyes. He held a crumpled paper towel in his palm and was holding it out for him to grab. "Here. I will help you out." 

"Who--" He stopped to look at him again. "Who ar-are you?" 

"Noah. I--you probably recognize I am with those guys but I wouldn't hurt you..my friend and I hate what they are doing to you, we didn't say anything because Levi and Kev are pretty--"

"Violent?" Midnight helped him find the word, shakily he took the paper towel and pressed it to his mouth while Noah continued. "Yes. They are."

"Why can't you report this to the teachers, or the principle?"

"It's more complicated than that. I wish we could. Our group used to be harmless you know? Just a couple of guys being school troublemakers and hard ass smokers. But Levi started pushing kids around last year and bullying the impressionable ones. We don't tell him to stop because he threatens us..it's.." He shook his head, cutting himself off. Then looking up at Midnight's injured face. "You know what? Let's help you get cleaned up, History next right?" 

Midnight nodded. "Yeah."

"Okay I will take you there after I help then go to my own class. Least I can do. Come on." Noah led Midnight to the sinks, bringing him paper towels every few minutes to press them to his face. Eventually after a while, Midnight looked less disheveled. His face was patched with red and his eyes were bloodshot but..he looked tired. Noah nodded to Midnight and smiled after leading him to the history room after going to their lockers. "Well. I'm glad I could help. Take care alright?" 

Midnight nodded. "Yeah. I will." Noah walked away his next class, which he told him was Language. 

'Who was he? Why did he help me if he is part of their group.' It was the only thing in his thoughts. He didn't understand..and who was the friend? Midnight knocked at the door waiting for someone to let him in, his teacher opened the door. "Welcome Midnight. Happy you're here with us." She didn't comment anymore, only letting him walk by and sit. He didn't pay attention to who was looking, only sat with his eyes locked to the ground. 

______

Midnight tried to stay collected the entire day, having extra small visions throughout of what they did. Touched him..though through his clothes it made him feel like dirt. Kicked him around, his head could still feel the pain. And the different taunts Levi did. 

But Noah? Why did he help him? 

Noah was with the group, and his friend, who Midnight didn't know about, was also against Levi's actions. He was surprised. 

When he walked inside the house, it was dark, quiet. Midnight assumed no one was home, he walked upstairs to his bedroom, bag across his shoulder. It hurt for the strap to press against his bruised shoulder, but he ignored it and kept his way up. 

His door was opened when Midnight came back, a note on his bed. He picked it up. "At the store, be back Mid." Signed by his twin. He knew in a sort, because of her way of keeping the door open. 'She never closes my door.' He thought grimly. The boy threw his bag down to the edge of his bed. He felt empty. 

The things that those boys did. Midnight always felt so sensitive about most things, but if this time if someone told him he couldn't, he would feel attacked. Was he allowed? The question made his heart burn. His mind wander. He looked to his shelf. A razor blade, one he had replaced his own razor with was sat. His blue eyes widened. 'There is nothing worth it now...who would care if I did or not? It's only my skin.' 

He hated the negativity, but this..it felt..right. Midnight grabbed the still sharp razor blade from beside himself, fondling it in his fingers. The blade was sharper than he thought, when he rubbed it against his pointer finger it made a small slit. He jumped back. Pulling back the blade, he rested it above his arm, just below the vein in his wrist. Thinking again, the negativity shook him, a chill that ran through his blood. 

With shaking fingers, Midnight ran the razor harshly on his skin, blood poured from the line. He hissed at the stinging sensation. He put the blade not to far down from the first slit. He ran it again, and again lower, and again until his arm was numb. Warm blood covered his entire arm, he could feel the blood leave his body. It was like a uncontrollable waterfall. He didn't even bother to stop the bleeding. 'It's not worth it.' 

He held the blade over his other arm. Hesitation filled his numb hand. He couldn't feel it, it was cold. He felt cold. 

His emotions. His brain. He looked to the side, where his previous white sheets were fading to black. Midnight's back hit the bed.

He ran cold.

_____

So sorry this is late! I was busy all weekend and I couldn't get this out. Anyway, happy pride month to my fellow LGBTQ+ members! Much love and support to all of you. <3

Thanks for reading. 

~Liz <3