The Self-Harmed

~Thanksgiving dinner~

Mom knocked on my door. I had been home for two days. We got a week off for thanks giving. I turned to face her, and held out the ends of the dress she had bought me for this night.

"How do I look?" I questioned.

When My parents where together they had planned this big ass meal in a hall inviting both of their families. They have been doing it since I was thirteen. Both of them didn't want to tell their part of the family that the party was off, so they both bit the bullet and the party is still on.

"You look good and wear the heels that I bought you too."

"Do I have to?" I asked as the doorbell went off.

"Yes." She said, "Don't you want to show your Father you're still a composed Lady? That it's what I taught you?"

"Yes."

"Okay then." And then she left to get the door.

My Mom's friend from high school had just recently moved back to town. He was recently divorced and he had a son a year older than me who loved to soak me with buckets of water on the fourth of July. Mom had invited him to the party so She's taking him as her Date, considering Dad will have that Blonde bimbo girl. I'll be prancing around the dance floor with his son, Caden.

"Jackson!" Mom said, as a deep voice said her name. There was a slight silence then, "You've gotten so big Caden!"

I pulled on my other heel and two shiny black shoes came into view. I stood up, but my eyes kept traveling up.

"Careful there Char," He chuckled. "You'll break your neck."

There he was. He wore pressed black slacks and a soft blue turtle neck witch brought out his blue eyes and made his blonde hair even lighter. He had definitely let it grow out.

"Caden?" I questioned, a little shocked.

He just laughed, "Yep. You got a little shrimpy." He poked me in the shoulder.

"I have an eating disorder." I told him, covering my shoulder because he poked me too hard.

It wasn't his fault. The littlest touch now hurt me. When Mom gave me a hug when she came to pick me up I tried not to flinch. When I had got to my new room, all my boxes were still packed. My bed was now made and there was a whole new closet full of clothes. Clothes that weren't too big for me.

"Yeah." He ran a hand through his hair. "My Dad told me."

"How-"

"Your Mom told him. She told him because She thought it might be a touchy subject for you. And she told my Dad to tell me to be careful when I touch you. She said you're not the same Charlie. It's going to take me a while so I'm sorry. I'm used to the Charlie that could tackle me in football."

"I totally forgot I used to play football." I smiled at a memory of taking down Caden.

"Are you ready yet Charlie?" Mom called. "The party is starting soon."

"Yeah." I called back.

I grabbed the light black jacket from my bed, and Caden held out his arm. I gave him a small smile and we walked into the living room.

"Hey Charlie." Jackson gave me a hug. "You're so pretty."

"I get it from Mom."

"Stop." Mom laughed.

But it was true. I looked a lot like my mom even though I didn't want to admit it. We took Jackson's SUV. Caden had to help push me into the back seat. The hall was already full of people. Live music played from inside. Even though Mom and Dad weren't together, I was excited for thanks giving dinner.

Music, family, even the food was good. Not that I was going to eat any most likely. But I was supposed to be getting better right? Caden helped me out of the car, and we headed inside. Right away I spotted my Dad. He was tall, and had on a tan suit. I headed over.

"Charlie!" He gave me a hug.

I played the good daughter and hugged him back. He was standing with his Mom the most judgmental woman I had ever known. Only she didn't know it.

"Do you garden?" She questioned.

"No." I said confused.

"Then how come you have scars on your arms like you've been weeding rose gardens?"

"Mother." Dad warned.

"And what happened to you?" She demanded. "Half of you is missing. Doesn't she look like Jenna?" She asked Dad.

"Sure." He said.

Jenna was her Dead sister. I've never met her. She died when she was Seventeen.

"Mrs. Horn!" Caden came out of nowhere. "You look so beautiful. Are those new pearls?"

"They are!" She touched the necklace. "Thank you for noticing, Caden."

Grandma might be old, but she never forgot a face. Especially one that gave her compliments. Caden was always saving my ass from her.

"Well I'm going to take Charlotte over here to the dance floor."

"Be careful." Grandma warned him. "She has two left feet that one."

"I'll take my chances." He grabbed my arm and pulled me away. "Are you just going to let her talk to you like that?" He questioned.

"She's going to die soon anyways." I shook him off and headed to the large punch bowl.

I poured a cup, and took a drink.

"Yuck." I held out the cup. "Taste this."

Caden took the cup and choked on his sip. We had always done this when He had lived here. Take test samples of the food or drink the other thought was gross.

"It needs sugar. And a lot of it."

"There's some in the kitchen."

Caden dropped the little cup into a near by trash can and followed me into the kitchen. I handed him a bag of sugar and we walked to the punch bowl. He dumped in some sugar and then looked at me. I shrugged a shoulder and he dumped in the rest of the bag. I mixed it as he walked to a trash can. He tossed the bag and grabbed a cup off the table. I poured him a spoon full.

"Much better." He held out the cup.

I set the serving spoon down and took the cup. It was better. I drowned the cup.

"You know, I grew a right foot over the last few years." I told him.

"Really?" He held out a hand with a smile.

I slapped my hand into his and we headed to the dance floor. As I said hello to the rest of my family they all pointed out how skinny I had gotten. At first It made me feel good about myself, but the more people who said it, I started to feel uncomfortable with the way I looked.