THEM

Chapter 8: Everett

TRIGGER WARNING:

This chapter has detail about suicide, if you don't feel comfortable reading I would love you to skip over this chapter. Mental health will always come before a chapter in this book! I love you guys! If you guys stuggle with thoughts about suicide please give this number a call, don't have a perminate decision be a solution to a temporary problem. There is hot lines linked for domestic abuse, suicide, alcohlism etc. remember that there are people out there that want you here and don't want you to feel like this is the only option <3

Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

Domestic abuse hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Alcohol abuse hotline: 1-212-870-3400

There are many more hotlines you could reach for help, these are just a few i found. Remember we love you<3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So yeah, I'm just really glad you called," she sighs, finishing with what she had said. Man, I thought she would have an amazing family.

"Yeah, I'm glad I was able to get you out of there," I scratched the back of my neck, "So you applied to colleges?"

"Yeah... but not by my choice," she rolls her eyes, "Have you?"

"Yeah, but I doubt I'll get into any of them. My essays were shit," I shake my head, "An anniversary came up when I was applying and I just couldn't-" I stop feeling choked up. Remembering what happened to my sister is something I will never forget.

"Are you okay?" she asks, shifting in the passenger seat. I feel like I can't talk, so I just shake my head, "Do you want to talk about it?" she asks.

"Two years ago-" I pause trying to figure out how to tell my story, "Two years ago, when my sister went to college," I took a deep breath. Carson reaches over and grabs my hand and gives it a light squeeze.

"She had this boyfriend. He-he was so awful," I shake my head feeling hot tears fall from my eyes. "He would abuse her, call her these names that no woman should be called. She would come home on breaks and she wouldn't look like herself," I wipe away tears and look over to Carson, "She came home for summer break, my parents and I were so worried for her because she had bruises all over her arms and legs."

I take a drink of water to try and clear the lump I feel, "One night she came into my room and we talked for hours. She wanted me to know that she will be happy again soon and that she wouldn't let him hurt her anymore. At first I thought she meant she was going to break up with him. What I didn't know was I would be the one to find her."

I furrowed my brows and continued, "She was so lifeless. She left a note for my parents and one for me. She basically said that she didn't want to hurt me or my parents any longer by letting that asshole take over her body. She said no matter what she will continuously be by my side," I smiled, "She wrote a letter to my future wife. I haven't read it. I kinda want to but I know she would probably haunt me in my dreams for being nosey," I laughed a little, "If she ever got to meet you, I feel like she would have loved you," I look over at Carson.

"Really?" she smiles through her tears, "I wish I had gotten to meet her."

"She was the life of the party. She wouldn't let anyone have a bad day," I smile, "I just wish she was still here. I feel like since she left my family hasn't been the same. My parents got a divorce last year and my dad turned into an alcoholic."

"I'm so sorry," she squeezes my hand again.

I look over at Carson again. I feel like she was put into my life for a reason, "I want you to know that if you ever need me I will be here. I don't want anything to ever happen to you," I say and she smiles, "I mean it, and if I ever fail you, you better hold me to it."

"I will," she giggled, "And you can count on me." She holds eye contact with me. I run my thumb over her hand and she puts up her hand to wipe away my remaining tears.

"I haven't opened up like this to anyone but Kyle," I admit.

"So I'm your girl version of Kyle?" she raises a brow.

"Yeah pretty much," I nod my head.

"Does that mean-" she pauses, "I'm one of the boys?" she giggles.

"No, mainly because there are many factors that come into play when considering that," I laugh

"What other factors? Maybe I can prove myself," she perks up.

"Well for starters- you don't have a- um- a- you know- magic stick," I try to word out. She looks at me confused, "You don't have a dick okayyyyyy" I say.

"Ohhhhhhh," she elongates the word, "Well I mean I can get one," she smirks

"And how in the hell would you do that?" I laugh.

"A sex store obviously," she lets out a giggle.

"Oh my gosh," I slap my hand on my face. Carson then lets out a huge laugh that I've never heard before.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding," she waves her free hand, which made me realize we are still holding hands.

I think she realizes what I'm looking at and looks down, "Oh. Um-" she says as she starts to let go of my hand.

"No, it's okay," I quickly say. She sits back into her seat and leaves her hand in my possession.

"You know, I have never been here before," she looks out of the front window, which reveals the entire city.

"I come here when I need to think or blow off steam," I tell her, "It's calming being able to look out and see all the lights knowing that there are other people that are going through the same things we are, or possibly worse."

Carson nods, taking in the view. I look over at her and she has a slight frown. Her eyes are focused. It's like I can see the wheel turning in her head.

A few moments of silence pass. Carson then turns her head to face me, her eyes searching my face. Biting her lower lip nervously, "While we're here," she began slowly, "There's something that I've been needing to get off my chest."

I say nothing. I just raise my eyebrows at her, nodding for her to continue. My heart starts racing as I wait in anticipation.

Carson doesn't say anything again for a moment. Taking a deep breath, she finally blurts out, "I think I like you Everett."

When those words left her lips my heart skipped a beat.