Let Go

Chapter 23

A/N- Alright, so I've decided now would probably be an appropriate time to post pictures of the closest accurate representation to what the characters should look like. Sorry it took me so long.

Top left: Abby
Top right: Luke
Bottom left: Asher
Bottom middle: Jett
Bottom right: Matt

Okay, enjoy the chapter and I may or may not post pictures of other side characters as needed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Abby's P.O.V

"Hey, I'm gonna run out for a bit, but Asher said he's gonna be here in like twenty minutes, will you be okay here by yourself?" Jett asks me as I fiddle with the sleeves of my shirt.

"Yeah, I'll be okay." I offer him my best fake smile, and he comes over to hug me.

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow. Don't forget to go to bed at a decent hour, your first day back at school is tomorrow." He smiles before adding, "I love you, bye." Then he walks out of the front door. As soon as I hear the door click shut my eyes well up with tears.

My heart lurches in my chest once the door is closed, because this is the first time I've been alone ever since I got back from the hospital.

I walk upstairs to my room, and I feel as though I have to tiptoe. I have twenty minutes to do this. I open my closet door and lift up my old jewelry box, revealing a small blade. I roll up my sleeve and look at my wrist. It's the one without the major scars, but it's covered in much lighter, harder to see ones. I've been doing this ever since Lana took her life, and I don't particularly know when to stop, because it seems as if it's the only thing that distracts me from the pain that doesn't go away. After a couple of hours or so, the cuts will stop stinging, and it's as if I never did it, but there's this constant, dull pain in me now, and I'm not sure how to get it to stop.

I know I told Luke I hadn't before, but it was a stretch for me to even talk about Lana, much less tell him everything.

I press the cold blade against my skin, and then push down until it breaks the skin, but not deep enough to leave a large scar. It'll leave one that is too faint for a pair of eyes that aren't looking for it.

And I do that several more times, until the cuts run up to the middle of my forearm. I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand, leaving salty tears on it.

"Abby?" I hear Asher call from downstairs, and then I hear the door close behind him.

Fuck.

I quickly push the razor back into its place and shut my closet door.

"I'm up here!" I call, pushing my sleeve down to cover up what I've done. I shuffle through some books on my desk just to make it look like I've been looking for something, and as I do so Asher rounds the corner, a bouquet of sunflowers in his hands.

"Hey." He smiles, and then leans down to give me a quick kiss.

"Hey." I greet him back, and can't help the smile that lingers on my lips.

"I got you these flowers." He says, scratching the back of his neck, a cute smile stuck on his face. I take them and smile back at him.

"Thank you, they're beautiful." I breathe in the sweet scent of the flowers and then walk downstairs to find some type of vase to put them in.

"How have you been?" He asks me, even though he just saw me yesterday.

"I've been good." I tell him, setting the vase full of flowers on the counter.

"I'm so proud of you, you know that?" He says, touching my waist softly. My hand subconsciously touches my wrist.

"I'm just glad you've been here to help me." I smile. It's easier to lie to him than it ever was to Luke. It's easier to let him think that I'm getting better.