The Outcast

17- Pieces

[ that is so me. Five personalities. ]

-

A WEEK LATER and nothing in my life has changed one single bit.
Every day I go to school and then come home to my horrible life filled with drunk fathers and over worked mothers.

Nothing ever changes.

Until today.

"Cassidy, I need to talk to you..." Louis says, fidgeting with his fingers nervously

"Okay... What's wrong?" I ask

"I-I have to break up. I mean, we have to break up." He stumbles, not meeting my eye

To be honest, I've been expecting this. When Louis told me he was moving a few days ago, I knew it wouldn't last. We both couldn't do a long distance relationship.

"I'm sorry. I just... We're going to be so far apart and..." Louis keeps rambling

"Louis..." I say softly, putting my hand on his shoulder, "I get it."

"Really?" He asks, looking up, "you're not upset or anything?"

"No. I mean, I'm a bit upset but I can see why you want to I mean, new place, fresh start. I get it." I shrug, ignoring the sick feeling in my stomach

"Sorry Cassidy. I really like you but..." He says

"We'll stay friends." I say but we both know that's a lie.

"Sorry Cassidy." He says

"Don't be." I shrug

He pulls me into a hug for the last time and we both pull back with blurry, wet eyes.

"Good luck Louis." I whisper

"Thanks. I'll miss you Cassidy. Always. Until we meet again." He says, handing me a box, "never forget me."

"Never." I say as he swings his bag onto his back

I watch him as he walks out the school gate along with the flow of other students. He lifts his hand for a final wave before disappearing into a sleek, black four wheel drive.

And I wonder if that's the last time I'll ever see him.

-

For the next day, I feel so down on everything. Hurt is dragging me down and I'm starting to give up on being saved.

The last thing Louis gave me was a necklace, it is a plain circle with the quote

'the best place in the world is inside a hug'.

I'm never taking it off. Ever.

I sigh, lying in my bed. I can't wait until high school is finished and I can start something new.

But nothing stays new for long.

Will we just get bored of everything we try? If so, what's the point in living, if all you do is hate your life.

Life is simple.

It's people who make it complicated.

My phone vibrates and I open it, my eyes scanning it.

It's in a group chat with all my old group.

Tia: I'm sorry Cassidy. Please. Come back! I was a bitch.

Kirsty: Same! We're sorry! Pls come back! it isn't the same!

Monique: we miss you

Me: what influenced this?

Kirsty: we miss you.

Tia: please come back

Monique: yes!

Me: maybe...

Kirsty: just try it, for one day? PLEASE?????

Me: fine.

Tia: THANK YOU! YAAAY!

I roll my eyes and turn my phone off.

That's weird. Why did they all change so suddenly? I mean, wow. I realize I'm smiling, which I feel like I haven't actually done in a while.

It's nice to feel wanted.

-

After a week, I've moved back to my old group.

Don't get me wrong, sitting with the guys was fun but... It doesn't really work if there's only two girls in the group.

Carter came too.

They're alright, including me a bit more. They like Carter too, which is a plus.

It feels like the pieces of my life are coming back together finally.

But someone is still trying to tear them down.

While school life has gotten better, my home one is close to falling off the edge of the cliff.

My mum is getting sick of dad, although she says she isn't, but I can tell.

If dad doesn't change his ways, I don't know what will happen between him and mum.

Honestly, I don't want to know.

"Hi. Cassidy. I have a headache. Get me aspirin." My dad orders when I walk into the kitchen

I nod meekly and walk towards the medicine cupboard, trying not to notice my dads rumpled hair, creased clothes, bloodshot eyes, pale skin and the reel of alcohol.

My dad isn't the problem.

The alcohol is.

He's addicted. He can't stop. He can't help it. It's not his fault. I try to remember that but it's hard when he's smashing up your life, piece by piece.

I walk back out and hand him tablets which he quickly swallows.

"You know," he says, his breath stinking of alcohol and late nights, "I haven't seen you in a while."

That's because you have to settings dad:

Drunk and hungover.

"Yeah." I say, gritting my teeth and grabbing an apple.

My eating has improved, not to the point I'm better though. That's going to take a while longer.

"Why?" He asks

"Because you're too busy drinking." I snap

I'm sick of pretending everything is okay. Sick of lying. Sick of feeling so helpless.

I want it to end.

"You ungrateful bitch. I put a roof over your head and that's what you say?" he snarls

"Well it's true. Stop it dad, please. The late nights, the drinking, it's ripping apart this family and me and mum can't keep just picking up the pieces. You have a problem dad just admit it. Please." I beg

"I'm not an alcoholic. How dare you accuse me of that." he snaps

I feel a sting on my cheek but the pain in my heart hurts more. I clutch my face, looking up at my dad with tear filled eyes.

"I just want my dad back." I whisper before turning and running up to my room

It was bad when my dad punched me when he was drunk.

But what hurt me more this time was the fact that he wasn't drunk out of his mind, just hungover.

He just slapped me in the face. And this time,

Alcohol isn't to blame. He is.

-//----------

AN

Hey guys hope you liked it!

Sorry for the wait! I was just hating the wattpad update but its all good now!

Please vote, comment and share!

Hopefully more frequent updates from now on.

Question: WHO'S EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS?

Thanks for reading!

:)