The Self-Harmed

~Welcome home kids~

 I walked into Chloe's room, my wet pony tail swishing over my back, leaving a wet streak like a window wiper in the rain.

Jackson was just picking her up out of her crib.

"Caden took over for Mom so she could get some sleep." I told Jackson. "I could do the same for you."

"You're here on summer vacation Charlie. I couldn't ask you to be a baby sitter."

"One," I walked over and Held out my arms. "She's my sister, and two, I live here."

"Thanks for this." He handed over Chloe. "I'm beat."

I set Chloe on her changing table.

"So have you come up with an answer yet?" I asked, as I changed her diaper. "Should I forgive Caden?"

She blinked at me.

"I mean, He didn't really wish me dead. I think."

She thumped an arm.

"And we're going back to school in a couple of Days. I guess I need someone I can trust."

She sighed.

"I know. I don't want to go back either, but don't you want me to graduate so you can be proud of something that I did?"

She turned her head to the door, and I looked over. Caden took a step into the room, a bottle in his hand.

"I know you probably think I'm crazy for talking to a baby." I told him.

"I've seen you do worse." He held out the bottle. "Besides, I talk to Coltan all the time."

"Thanks." I took the bottle.

"So," He sat down on the foot rest of Chloe's rocker. "School."

"School." I sat on the rocker.

"You nervous?" He looked up at me.

"More annoyed." I looked at him, as I put Chloe's bottle in her mouth.

"You?"

"Yeah." He stood up as Coltan began to cry.

"Let me get him." I handed over Chloe. "I haven't spent much time with him."

I walked into Coltan's room and scooped him up, he stopped crying, but not by much.

"What ever Caden told you about me, It's a lie."

He looked up at me confused.

"I bet he told you I was come Crazy freak am I right?"

Coltan reached up and tried to grab my lip.

"That's what I thought."

I went down stairs and warmed up a bottle.

"Okay," Owen said, coming into the kitchen, with my lap top. "I did some recon."

"How did you even get inside?"

"The door was unlocked," He shrugged. "Anyways, I suggest you stuff yourself before we get to school because they're taking everyone who doesn't make weight to the hospital to get a tube."

"Yikes." I said, shoving a marshmallow into my mouth.

"Yeah, and paint your nails. They'll be looking at them."

"Yeah, yeah," I grabbed the bottle from the fridge. "Lack of nutrients. Got it."

"Are you constipated?"

"Excuse me?"

"Are you constipated?" Owen looked up at me. "Be honest."

"Yeah." I looked down at Coltan.

"Side effect of your eating disorder."

"Really?"

He nodded, "Brittle nails?"

I split my middle finger nail, "Yeah.

"Is your hair falling out?"

I ran a hand over my pony tail, and then looked at the clump of hair in my hand, "Yes, damn it."

"Side effects." He squinted at the screen. "If you take zinc caps and Biotin it helps with hair and nails. And if you eat iron rich food it helps with being constipated."

"Why are you helping me cover up my eating disorder?"

"Do you want to graduate or not?"

"What foods have Iron in them."

He looked back at the lap top screen and typed something.

"Let's see," He muttered. "Peas, beans."

"Anything else?"

"Yeah."

"Well?"

"Pasta-"

"Never mind."

"Didn't think so." He looked at the computer. "broccoli, Potato. But potatoes are bad right?"

"Right."

"Prune, green peppers." He read off.

"Can you go get me some of those vitamins?"

"Sure thing." He shut the lap top and left the kitchen.

A couple of seconds later I heard the front door open and close.

"Was that Owen?" Caden came in Chloe in toe.

"Yeah. He's heading to the store for me."

"What is he getting?"

"Why do you care?"

He just looked at me.

"Vitamins."

He pulled out his phone, and I got a sinking feeling.

"What are you doing?"

"Calling him, "He put his phone to his ear. "I'm seeing if he can find any scar cream."

"What for?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because I love you."

"I love you too. Hey Owen, man pick up some cream. Thanks Bro." He hung up. "I think my scars are ugly."

"They're not." I shook my head. "They're untold stories. You shouldn't cover them up."

"Did you ever cover yours up?"

"Only with long sleeves."

"Well I'm not as strong as you are."

"Well you're just going to have to learn to be."