The Sacrifices of Fame

Chapter Twenty One

I wake up to the irritating sound of my alarm clock. I internally scream before turning it off. I look at the time even though I know it's six am. I climb out of bed and go into my bathroom starting my normal morning routine. I grab my uniform out of my closet and throw it on before heading to the kitchen.

"Morning." Mom says.

"Mom please don't make me go." I whine.

"Lauren we've been over this! There's only a month and a half left of school I just want you to finish."

"I don't care what you want! Why don't you care what I want? Do you know how embarrassing it is for the entire school to know you were in a mental hospital because you wanted to kill yourself?"

Mom looks down at the ground and takes a deep breath. It's been about a month since everything happened and I'm sick of it. I wish that I could just be a normal teenager and have a fucking breakdown without millions of people knowing about it.

"Lauren.. please just go to school. We will talk more about it when you get home."

I groan and leave the house. On the way to school I stop at a cafe and get breakfast. It sucks because Em still isn't talking to me. She's been pissed ever since she found out I was leaving. It's not that I was just gonna go without telling her I honestly forgot. Then everything happened too fast and I just got caught up. I tried to get in contact with her but after a week I gave up. I've been writing a lot of music lately and I'm excited because my album is almost complete. It's amazing writing without people always asking when's the next song coming. No label and no social media. It's been hard but it's worth it. I finally get to school and all I want to do is skip. I turn around and start walking away.

"Who knew the great Lauren Morgan runs away from her problems."

I turn around and see Jade and Rain standing on the steps on the school with smirks on their faces. I roll my eyes and take a deep breath before walking into the school. You know how paranoid people think that people are always talking about them? Well I don't think it's called paranoid when you know they are talking about you. I roll my eyes and head to my guidance counselor's office. I've never met her but apparently having a "star student" from their school in the hospital raises concerns. I knock on the door and hear a soft come in. I open the door and take a seat trying to calm myself down.

"Lauren, it's nice to see you." Ms. Aris says.

I give her a light smile wanting to just be out of her office.

"Well I'm not going to keep you long. We just have to go over your grades and we'll be done."

I nod and listen to Ms. Aris tell me what I already knew. My grades are fine and missing a month of school didn't hurt them too bad especially because I have a medical excuse and I'm a straight A with the occasional B student. After a very boring meeting I'm finally allowed to go. I head to my locker and just look around the halls for a second. This is the last place I want to be right now. I head to my class and as soon as I walk in the whispers start again. I roll my eyes and sit in the back of the classroom not paying attention to what's going on. The bell rings like twenty minutes later and I leave. I can't do this anymore. I start walking towards the exit but someone grabs me. I turn around and come face to face with Em. I pull away from her and keep walking.

"Lauren.. please wait." Em calls.

I scoff and stop walking and turn around.

"Why? After everything.. now you want to talk?" I ask.

"Awe trouble in paradise?"

I turn around and see Jade and Rain standing with their arms crossed.

"Don't you have something better to do.. like go get tested for crabs?" I ask.

"Don't come for me because you didn't get to die." Jade responds.

Before I can think I swing and all I know is my fist makes contact with something hard. I take a deep breath and look at Jade, her nose is dripping blood. Jade comes at me and starts swinging. I move and start throwing punches blurry vision and all. I feel someone grab me and it snaps me back to reality.

"Get the fuck off of me!" I yell.

"Lauren please calm down." Em pleads.

Em.. I take a deep breath and try to calm myself down. I just wish this person who stop touching me! I stop moving and the person whose holding me lets me go. I grab my stuff and take off. I don't think the security guard was expecting me to run but that's his problem. I get out of the gates.. which normally aren't open and make my way down the street. I stop at one of the shops and buy some snacks because I'm hungry then make my way home. When I get home it's quite meaning mom isn't here which I'm extremely thankful for. I take my uniform off and get in bed.. I just want to sleep.
-
I open my eyes but it's all dark. My eye adjust to my surroundings, I'm in my room. I look out the window and see how dark it is. I climb out of bed and make my way to the living room but I stop walking when I hear mom talking on the phone.

"I don't know what to do anymore Ash.. she's out of control."

"No I'm not having second thoughts I just don't know how to help her. She doesn't talk to me anymore she just shuts me out. She shuts everyone out."

"All I can think is that what if she actually attempts to kill herself. I just want the old Lauren back."

I turn around and go back to my room.

I want the old Lauren back too..