Sally's Pov
"J-Jake sh-shouldn't you be at w-work?"
"I don't have work today. I said that this morning."
"Oh…."
"That doesn't matter right now," He walked over and sat in front of me, "Why didn't you tell anyone? We would've helped you."
"I don't need help."
"You didn't tell anyone!"
"Dee-"
"No don't you Dee me what would Allie think Sally, you said you'd let people in more, trust them, you said you would let people help you!"
"That was before she was gone! And don't use her against me like that!"
"Sal you're not the only one who's struggling…."
I snapped my head up to face Jake, "How can you possibly know what it's like!"
Jake sighed before rolling up his sleeves to reveal cuts going up and down his arm on both left and right. Then he rolled up his pants to reveal more.
"You're not the only one here who's a little broken, but we can be broken together."
"J-Jake..."
Jack had tears streaming down his face.
"Is-is this my fault…..did I cause you to do this..."
"Jack no! This is not your fault at all, do you hear me. You had nothing to do with this!"
"Then why would you do it….."
"I'm insecure Jack, about my work, performances, looks…..everything….so when cutting helped make me feel better it just kinda stuck as a coping mechanism."
"Stop. Promise me you'll try to stop."
"I'll try…."
Jack tackled Jake to the floor in a hug and Jake tried to calm him down.
"That goes for you too." Damien turned my head to look at him, "Promise me right now that you'll try to stop."
"I pro-"
"And that you'll talk to your roommates about this stuff so they can help you."
I looked down at the ground, 'I can't promise that.'
"Sally Cortez Black. Promise me those two things right now or I'll do it myself!"
I looked back down at the ground, 'I can't I'm sorry Allie I let you down….'
Just then my phone went off, Amy:
Hey kiddo I'm staying at a friend's place tonight so don't freak out when I don't come home. I hope you're feeling better. ~Love Amy.
"Amy won't be home tonight…."
"Ok."
"Sally."
I looked at Dee then back at the ground.
"I can't promise I'll tell them but I can promise I'll try to stop before I hurt myself again…."
"Fine. Jake"
"Hmmm?"
"Here's my number, have Maddie text me when all four of you are home tomorrow. Jack, let's go. We need to give these two time to talk."
"Ok." Jack let go of Jake and stood up.
Damien gave Jake his number then he and Jack left. We sat in silence just looking at each other's cuts and scars till someone cleared their throat. We both looked up to see Maddie looking at us from behind the couch.
"Both of you in my room. Now."
We got up and went to Maddie's room. A few minutes later Maddie came in with an unreadable look on her face…..I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little scared.
"Sit. Both of you."
We sat on the bed. Maddie came over setting a box on her desk.
"Jake put your legs up."
Jake put his legs up in the air and Maddie started cleaning and bandaging the cuts.
"Arms."
Maddie did the same to his arms as she did with his legs before turning to me and sticking out her hand.
"Arms."
I held out my arms and Maddie started cleaning and bandaging the cuts when she put her supplies away before turning to us.
"We have a lot to talk about when Amy gets home."
"Amy won't be home till tomorrow."
"Why?"
"She's staying at a friend's house tonight."
Maddie sighed, "I'll order a pizza and you two will be in your rooms till then. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Maddie." We said then left going to our rooms.
I decided to work on my mural since the other three walls were done.I had a good portion done when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in!"
The door opened and Maddie came in, "The pizza is here."
"Coming." I set the paintbrush down and walked out of my room.
I sat down and looked at the pizza.
'I should eat…'
'Why? You don't need it.'
'I promised Dee I would be better….'
'You promised you'd try not that you'd stop and things would be fine.'
'Yeah but I need to eat in order to try….'
'You don't need it, you're fat enough as it is.'
'I know but I need food to live…..'
'But if you die then you can see Allie again.'
'She's not gone and Dee would be heartbroken…
'Who cares you'd see her again besides you already broke the promise to her what's one more.'
'She's not gone….besides I-I don't know…'
"Sally?"
I looked up at Jake.
"Hmmm."
"Eat."
"I'-I'm not hungry."
"Don't give me that. Eat. You need it Sally, you're really skinny and it's not healthy….please."
I sighed, and took a piece and started eating, 'I can just throw it up later.'
"Hey Sal…."
"Yeah?"
"I'd like to apologize for yesterday I shouldn't have pushed it and when you told me to drop it I should have and I was wondering if a walk in the park would help make up for it? But really Sally I'm sorry…."
"Well let's go then before it gets too dark Princey."
Jake's Pov
We bid Maddie farewell and walked across the street to the park.
"So that was your brother?"
"Yeah…"
"I'm I allowed to ask who Allie is or no?"
"Not yet I'm not ready to talk about her yet."
"Ok that's fine…..when we get back can we talk."
"About what?"
He pointed to our arms, "Are you know what's…."
"Oh….yeah but you owe me a trip to Hot Topic tomorrow."
"Fine." I felt a smile on my face.
We walked around the pond in silence for a while lost in our thoughts. I heard thunder rumble in the distance and looked up to see dark grey clouds.
"We should head back."
"Yeah….I love thunderstorms."
"Really?" I turned to look at her.
"Yeah...there's something about them that's calming and me and Al-never mind." She smiled looking up at the clouds closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened her eyes widened and she stopped not moving.
"Sally, what's wrong?" I asked confused.
"Look it's the emo freak! And she's got herself a little friend."
I turned to look at the three guys walking towards us. It took me a minute to realize that they were the guys from yesterday. I stood in front of Sally a bit as I heard her breath pick up.
"Who are you?"
"Oh, just a friend of Sally's from high school." He said in a sickeningly sweet voice, "My name is Carson."
"I'm Jake….if you'll excuse us we'll be taking our leave now."
I turned and grabbed Sally's hand going the way we came.
"Call Damien or Jack or text them. Now."
Sally quickly took out her phone and sent a text to someone.
"Wait before you go, why don't we have a chat?"
"No, we really must be getting back now, have a nice day."
I started picking up my pace holding Sally's hand tightly as the guy, Carson, mumbled something I couldn't hear. Before I could say anything I was pulled away from Sally and pinned to the ground.
"What do you want us to do with this one?" The guy on my right asked looking at Carson as he walked over to a panicking Sally.
"Tie him up and throw him into the lake for all I care."
"N-no!"
Sally looked scared, looking around in every direction for another person to help us but everyone had already gone home because of the oncoming storm. I struggled as they tried to tie my hands behind my back and my feet together. I heard Sally cry out in pain.
"Hey leave her alone!"
"Shut up pretty boy."
"Awe you think I'm pretty. Now put me down!"
"Ok fine."
Before I could scream I was thrown into the water and everything went black.