*(Is this all we see?)*

*~Chapter 19~*

**Mentions of Self-Harm**

A great start to his Christmas break made the first day feel like forever. Nick texted him as soon as he accepted. Maybe he was obsessing too. No. He's not the type. He wouldn't.

Midnight rolled over on his back, laying with his phone above his face. He smiled seeing Nick's name pop up.

Nick: "Still up I see?"

Midnight: "You see right."

Nick: "Sorry if I bothered you today."

Midnight frowned. He typed confusingly. "Bothered me?"

Nick: "With the smoking."

Midnight: "You really didn't."

Nick: "It looked like it. I mean, it's a bad habit but.." his message seemed to trail off. He started typing but stopped. This happened a few times until he texted again. "you know how it is. Bad habits and all."

Bad habits. Yeah. Just a few days ago he cut his arms more. The blood and wounds were still raw, he couldn't handle the bullying. Cutting was his only outlet. And he couldn't tell Nick. He froze reading Nicks message again. He started typing.  "Yeah I do."

The next question made him stop. "What's yours."

'Oh mine? Making myself almost bleed to death.' Midnight thought. Obviously he wouldn't type that. Nick couldn't know. It would change how he thought. "Just a few different things."

"Like?"

Midnight shook his head. Now he was just being nosy. He quickly typed. "Some pretty bad things Nick. I'm not going to type them."

Nick: "Okay. Tell me at school when we get back?? :)"

Midnight almost laughed at his emoji and his desperation. "Maybe."

He could envision Nick pulling down his arm and saying yes in an accomplished way. He chuckled. "I just want to know more about you. I want to be friends. You seem really nice."

Midnight: "I know. And thanks for thinking that."

Nick: "Noah and I really like you. We would like to be friends. We could be like a trio."

Midnight: "Right. I'll think about it cool boy."

Nick: "cool boy?"

Midnight nodded and started typing confidently. "Yep. Cool boy."

Nick: "Fine. I'm cool boy and you're shy kid."

Midnight: "we've established names. That's a start to being a trio." He stopped, clicking back to his picture and profile name. Nicolas. It was his full name. He never told Midnight his full name. Maybe he didn't like it. 'I need to stop questioning everything.'

Nick: "I'm glad :)"

Smiley face. Maybe that was a good sign that he was serious. Did it mean he was? Was it supposed to? Midnight placed his phone back on his bedside table, standing up to walk towards the stairs. He opened his door to continue on the walk down.

Getting downstairs he saw Leah talking to Dawn, with Leah looking back up to him and taking a long breath. She tilted her head up towards him to point. "Oh..Mid..Hi." Dawn slowly turned to look at him. Her face was blank, he could hardly tell if she was going to say anything.

"Hi?" Midnight walked into the kitchen, sitting on the stool next to the counter. He made a short smile before Leah started talking. "So hows...school?"

"Um..fine?

"Are you passing well..?"

"Yes.." Midnight chuckled breathlesly. 'What is this all about?' He thought maybe it was Lilly. Even if Dawn already knew, Lilly could have told Leah by now. Even told Fawn. He really hoped she wouldn't do that. Midnight shifted in his seat. "Is there something wrong you guys?"