Pieces [Wattpad's Editor's Choice]

40: tEaR dUcTs

You're just like everyone else...

The thought ate at my brain like a flesh-eating disease. I squeezed my eyes tight to push it away. Now that the alcohol was wearing off, the thoughts latched onto my brain like parasites.

What the hell did I just do?

I hugged my knees to my chest, forehead on my arms, and focused on the knife in my skull. Unfortunately, the thoughts were stronger.

Frannie, you're pathetic...

You don't think...

This is why no one can love you...you're emotionally unstable...

I couldn't breathe and my body ached. Damp makeup smudged all over my arms and left black streaks on my knees (including that goddamn matte-wannabe red lipstick). But the worst thought of all was the real reason I couldn't catch my breath or will my weak bones to push me to my feet:

He doesn't love you and he never will.

"Hurry up!" someone shouted outside the bathroom door. "It's been half an hour!" Thud!

That was the fifth person to knock. Now they were pounding.

Two hours passed since I left the bedroom. I came straight here and vomited, rinsed my mouth, and vomited some more. And then I just...cried.

Tonight, I forfeited my soul to a stranger out of anger. I proved to myself and everyone else I could get someone easily, too. Luna, Isaac, Arrow, they all saw me as incompetent, dumb, or unworthy of love. Now that I had opened my body up to another person, it didn't matter anymore. It wasn't important. I just wanted to see if I could entice someone at all.

I wanted to call Mom (something I should've done earlier this week) but my phone, I now remembered, was in Luna's jacket, and Luna's jacket was with Tyrell. I had to be high to think he'd still be at the party after Luna embarrassed the hell out of him.

And besides, I deserved this. Everyone lined up outside the bathroom could eff off. I'd leave when I was ready. When I felt like I'd suffered enough sitting in my pool of tears and skin contaminated by another stranger-a stranger who already dipped.

"Get out of there before I ax this door!" Annd thud! Something hard hit the door.

"Go away!" I shouted finally. I wanted to go, but everyone out there saw me.

More thudding. Can't breathe...

More shouting. I covered my ears. Shut up, shut up...

"Frannie, I know that's you in there!"

Go aw-wait. What?

The door flew open, though I had the lights off so whoever it was couldn't see me. I only saw a broad silhouette approach and only once he crouched in front of me did I realize who it was. "Found your bobby pin on my floor. Finally came in handy."

Before I could reply, he scooped me up and carried me out of the bathroom.

"No, set me down! I'll walk from here!" I started shoving at his chest, but he tightened his hold.

"Now's not the time for your stubbornness. I'm tired, I'm annoyed, and I'm sick of your friends blowing up my phone at this ungodly hour. I'm not fucking waiting for you to Brick and Mortar your pride, so you're going to stay put till we're out."

A large crowd of people shoved each other outside the bathroom and their phone lights flashed rapidly (pictures...videos...oh God), so I hid my face in his chest as he carried me out.