Caroline's Cries

Chapter 8

Jake's POV

"You coming down for dinner Jake?" My mom shouted from the bottom of the stairs. 

"In a second." I said back before covered my hands in my face again, trying to conceal my emotions. 

I know I pretend to be happy and to be enthusiatic around Caroline, almost pretending that I don't notice that she's dying. But I do notice, and it's been causing me a lot of mental breakdowns lately. Those in which I hide inside my mind, bottling them up until I can release it on my own inside my room. As a guy I'm expected to be the brave one, but I'm not. I'm so scared of losing her. She could die any moment, what if she died in my arms? 

"Jake, your dinner is getting cold." My mom shouted again, this time in a more no-nonsense way. 

"I said I'm coming." I shouted. 

I got up and made my way downstairs and sat down at the table, right next to my dad. I hardly sat by my dad but I didn't even care at this point. 

He turned to me suddenly and asked, "You working hard son?" His breath lingered of strong alcohol. 

"You still drinking dad?" I asked bitterly. 

I looked up at my mom who's mouth was hanging wide open. I got up and started to walk away when my dad grabbed me by the shoulders. 

"You listen here son, you aren't ever to back talk me again, you understand?" He shook. 

"I can do whatever I want to you, you're drunk. You're always drunk." I shouted while trying to tear away from his firm grasp. 

"Bill let him go," My mom butted in while trying to rip him off of me. 

He finally looked at her and let me go before embracing her in a hug and slurring a bunch of words I didn't understand. I quickly ran upstairs to my room and locked the door. 

My phone buzzed with a notification from my friend Conner:

"You up for a fortnite match at my house right now huhuh?" 

I rolled my eyes and typed "No." 

He kept spamming my phone with "Pleaaaaaasssseee" so finally I gave in and said sure. 

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I pulled up to Conner's house and he opened the door before I walked to the doorstep. 

"I've been waiting for you HA HA HA.... I'm so funny." He laughed before pulling me inside. 

I was greeted by my other guy friends that were already starting their matches, grabbed a soda, and sat down next to my friend Luke. Luke was halfway through a story he was telling to the other guys and was the only one laughing at his own jokes, I couldn't help but laugh. 

"AYYYYE there's the Jake we know." He said, punching my shoulder. 

"Dude what do you mean?" I asked. 

"Well I mean you've been so gloomy and like bleh lately, you aren't like you usually are." 

"Oh, just issues." I replied. 

"Issues? Like.... girl issues?" He smirked as all the guy's went "ooooo". 

"Yeah something like that I guess." I sipped my Pepsi. 

"Dudes. I really like Sasha, but I have no idea how to ask her out." Conner announced very loudly. 

We all gave him a side eye, "Seriously? Sasha? But why?"

"Have you even seen her? She's so dreamy." 

We rolled our eyes and let him fanboy as we played our game intensely. 

"Soo..." Luke said, "What kind of girl issues?" 

"It's just Caroline stuff." 

"Is she giving you a hard time with anything?" He accusingly asked. 

"What? No. She's good, it's just..." 

"GUYS I GOT A VICTORY ROYALE." Conner screamed. 

We all yay-d him and Luke forgot all about what he was asking me, I breathed a sigh of relief until my phone buzzed again with a notification from Caroline: 

"Wanna take a midnight stroll with me?" 

I bit my lip hesitating and finally turned off my phone. 

She could do it without me this once. 

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Caroline's POV

Midnight strolls are very lonely when you're alone. It's pitch black outside and a part of you wishes there were a comforting hand in your hand, grasping on as if to say "I won't let the darkness slip you away from me".  The darkness and the stars are your only friends, and the cold air dances around you. 

 I don't know why Jake wasn't replying, I assumed he was asleep, even though he sleeps at 4AM. 

I heard a rustling sound from behind me. 

"H-Hello?" I called out. No reply, it was probably just a creature. 

I regretted telling my mom I would be fine walking by myself. I was starting to wish she came with me. 

The rustling turned into footsteps. I pulled out my phone and thats when something hit me upside the head. 

I fell to the ground unconcious.