Monsters Within

Chapter 8

I wake up to a world of blur. Rubbing my eyes, I get up and walk to my bathroom. My hair is a mess sticking out in every direction, yet also matted to my head, I brush it yet it still looks puffy, so as usual I put it in a high bun.

I wash my face and get on an, "internet kids never sleep", shirt, with a cute pair of skinny jeans, and navy blue Vans. With my backpack on my arm I head to school.

About halfway there I am greeted by Cole. I give him a hug and feel him cringe. My eyes give away how worried I am when I look at him.

"What happened?" I say already knowing I wouldn't like what came next.

"Just a couple of guys being jerks, that's all, I'm fine." I give him a look telling him to continue. "We got into a disagreement and they shoved me against a wall and hurt my shoulder."

I don't really need to ask what the "disagreement" was about but I do anyway, and he replies, "Same thing as last time." He obviously hates saying that. But, I hate him hurt even more.

I just look at him for a while. That ends suddenly when I look away, holding in the tears that threaten to come. It's hard for me as I realize what I need to do if this doesn't stop, but for now I just hope I am wrong.

"Are you ok?" He looks at me worriedly.

I sniffle and keep my hair down in front of my face. "Yeah, just a runny nose." He stops, and I do too. Cole reaches out to my face, and gently moves my hair away.

"I know you enough to know that trick, what's worrying you?" His eyes are now looking glossy, as if he may too, burst into tears. I can't tell him the truth
though, it would only worry him more.

"It's just weird, knowing that I'm not alone anymore, that I have someone to help me, but it's also scary..." I drift off as I feel myself coming too near the truth. He looks at me like he doesn't fully believe me, but still takes it as true. The look of understanding on his face, like he really gets it, when I haven't even told him the truth burns my soul.

I feel the warmth of his chest on my face as I bury it there to cry. And, he does exactly what he should, comforts me. I hate lying to him.

*************************************

I know how red my eyes must be. The crying stopped only recently. He had to almost pry me off him so I could get my stuff.

Cole just doesn't realize that I may not be able to do that much longer, hug him. So I sit next to him in class, distant, barely hearing the meaningless words spoken by my teacher. Then he looks over to me.

"Kay!" He whisper-yells. I shake my head and face him.

"Yeah? What?"

"You okay? You seem... a little out of it. You know?" He replies.

"Oh yeah I'm fine." I say, choking out the last word. In truth, that one, little word, is filled with everything I am feeling; sad, mad, anxious, worried. All in that one word, that one word, which is only a lie. He reaches down and grabs my hand, giving it a slight squeeze, I just sit, hoping.