The Self-Harmed

~Back to school blues~

Checking back into the school was easy for me. They were waiting for me. The school halls were empty. No one really tended to hang out in the halls. I pushed open one of the heavy doors to the garden, and made my way to the tree. I smiled. I ran over to the tree, sprawled out on my stomach, and pressed my nose to Owens.

"Hello old friend."

"Hey," He laughed a little. "What are you doing?"

"Well the good news is I'm still sick enough to need this place."

"The bad news?"

"They were waiting for me." I sat up. "I should be honored really, but I feel as if they're some kind of cult." He laughed, and sat up.

"It's not funny. I'm being serious." I said, surprised he was laughing. "They gave me a good ol' pat down, and gave me a checkup. Not to mention, I'm pretty sure they took my last head band."

He smiled and looked up at me, "So Charlotte Rose."

"So Owen Isaac."

"Why did you let me know you're back first?"

I took a deep breath and shook my head a little, "Because you're my best friend, Owen."

"I'm surprised I'm the first you told."

"I can go really."

"No." We laughed, as he grabbed my wrist keeping me from leaving. "Stay. So how much to you weight?"

"Really?" I nodded once. "That's what you want to talk about? No, how's your life at home? Dreadful?"

He just looked at me.

"Lighten up!" I tossed a leaf at him. "It's going to be thanks giving soon."

"Where you going?" He called after me.

I spun to him still walking backwards, "To go find someone who's happy to see me."

He grinned, and I turned around. Truth was, I was a little nervous to see Ryder again. Was he better? Was he worse? Did He miss me? I turned left and then took a couple of steps back, and plastered myself against the wall.

"I gained three pounds." Clara said, standing on her tip toes proudly.

"Sorry, I win. I gained Five." Ryder smiled.

"Well since my skin is cut free, and I haven't tried to kill myself, I win." Ayelie smacked his chest.

"There you are." Alex walked down the hall to them. "Guess what I heard?"

"What?" Clara asked.

"That someone's coming back today."

"Who?" Ayelie asked brows pulling together.

"Yeah, Who?" Clara wanted to know.

"Me." I walked into view. "It's me. I'm coming back."

Alex grinned at them when they looked at him and held out his arms.

"Sister."

I smiled, and jogged over to him. He grabbed me in a hug.

"What's wrong?" I looked at the girls. "No hug?"

They looked at Ryder, both of them opening their mouths.

Ryder grabbed my shoulders, "Look at me Charlie."

I looked up at him, "What happened?"

"Alen and Daniel happened."

"What do you mean?" I demanded.

"While you were gone they decided to sneak out of the school. They never made it back Charlie."

"So They're missing?"

Ryder looked down, his hands still on my arms.

"Well?" I demanded looking to the girls and Alex.

"No." Ryder shook his head. "They're not missing Charlie. Alen and Daniel Died."

"What?" I stepped away from him.

"They saw a couple of guys trying to rape a girl. They tried to stop it." Alex said softly. "They were both shot. The girl ran and told the cops."

"Where's Ava?" I asked. "She must be crushed."

A little sob escaped and I looked to Ayelie, "Ava killed herself, Lottie."

"No." I backed down the hall.

"She did." Ayelie sobbed and Clara grabbed her in a hug.

I turned to run, but smacked into Owen, who pinned me to his chest as I cried. Sure I left things bad with Ava, but she still cared about me enough to try to help me. And I cared about her. She was still a person, and What about Daniel and Alen? How could three people just be dead in a blink of an eye? And how was Ayelie supposed to get over this?