Avery's POV
I woke up today feeling disgusted by the actions of that girl yesterday. I have work today but I don't wanna leave Scarlett here with just Amy.
School will be starting in about 2 weeks for them so summers coming to an end.
I got up and opened their door, Scarlett was in the same position as yesterday sleeping and Amy was reading a book. She looked up at me worried and I looked at her with sad tired eyes.
I went to the kitchen and started making coffee. I'll pick up breakfast on my way to work and I decided to call that babysitter Scarlett had when she was still with her foster dads. She agreed to come and showed up about 25 minutes after I called. I told her about what happened yesterday and asked her to keep a good eye on Scarlett because "Even though their aren't any razors here and I count the knives every morning and night, she used the metal clip of a pen to cut. I don't want her hurting herself and she can get very creative with it so please keep an eye on her"
"Ok I got it"
I was heading out the door and said "don't forget to have her take her meds"
"Okay" she responded and I was out the door
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Amy's POV
I walked outside our room to see Scarlett's old babysitter standing in the kitchen.
"So your the one that's gonna be watching us?"
"It's nice to see you again Amy, and yes I'll be here"
I sighed and made some cereal for breakfast.
"What's your name again?"
"It's Luna"
"Ok, hi Luna"
She nodded and walked into our room and I followed.
"Scarlett, you need to get up and take your medicine and eat something" Luna said
Scarlett didn't move.
"Scarlett I know it's hard but you have to get up" She still didn't move.
Then Luna pulled back her covers and Scarlett was laying there all bandaged up staring at the wall.
"Oh so your awake, Scarlett you need to get up"
She didn't move.
Then Luna looked at me like I'd know what to do.
"She's been like this since yesterday, I don't blame her after what happened. I'm guessing Avery already told you"
"Yeah. She did"
We focused our attention back to Scarlett who was refusing to move.
Then Luna sat her up and she stared at the sheets. She seemed so lifeless and broken, I wish there was something I could do to help.
"Amy can you get her medication"
"Ok" I walked to the medicine cabinet, unlocked it and got her meds out. She's taking Xanax and Zoloft. I got a glass of water and walked back to our room and handed the pills and water to Luna.
"Scarlett, I need you take these" She took a pill from each bottle and handed them to her. Well, more like placed them in her hand. She gave her the water and told her to take them. Scarlett of course didn't move and we didn't really know what to do.
"Scarlett, you have to take them" She didn't move.
"Ok, Amy tilt her head back" I looked at her confused, was she seriously gonna force the medication down her throat?
"Please just do it" I walked over and tilted her head back and Luna put the pills in her mouth with the water and closed her mouth.
"Scarlett swallow it"
She didn't do anything.
"Swallow it"
She stayed still
"Scarlett swallow it!"
She finally listened and swallowed the pills and looked me dead in the eye. She seemed upset that I helped force her to take her pills but she didn't say anything.
"Ok now what do you want for breakfast?"
She laid back down and faced the wall.
"Scarlett you have to eat something"
She didn't say anything or move. Luna forced her to stand up and led her to the kitchen. "How about cereal?"
She looked mad and started scratching her arm. "Scarlett stop, you'll irritate your cuts"
She stopped and sat there looking off into space. Luna made her a sandwich and told her to eat it. Scarlett hasn't eaten since yesterday so she had to be hungry, but I knew she wasn't gonna eat anything in this state.
"Scarlett. You have to eat"
"No." I looked at her in shock because that was the first thing she's said since her and Avery came back yesterday.
"You have to" She just looked at her.
"Please eat" she looked at me looked at the sandwich looked back at me sighed and started eating it.
I could tell by the look on her face that she wasn't enjoying any second of it, but she was doing it for me. I smiled at her and she of course kept an angry face, but I'm happy that she's eating.
She finished the sandwich and got up.
"Not so fast" Luna said
Scarlett turned around and looked at her.
"Don't try and puke it up, sit in here for a little while"
She balled her fists and sat on the floor in the living room. Me and Luna sat on the couch and turned on the tv. Scarlett stayed on the floor fiddling with her bandages. We sat there for about two hours until Avery got home. Jamie called and said he was helping a friend move so it was just gonna be us tonight.
Avery thanked Luna and they talked about the day while she was walking her out. She closed the door and turned back at us. "So how was you guys day?" She sat on the couch and started talking to us.
"It was okay" Scarlett stayed silent.
"Scarlett? How was your day?"
"Shit."
Avery made the same face I did when I heard her finally say something.
"I'm happy to see that your talking. Even if it was rude"
She looks up at her and then continued to pick at her bandages.
"That reminds me, we need to change your bandages"
She looked up and they both went to the kitchen to clean and change her bandages.
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Avery's POV
I can't believe that Scarlett's talking already. I was scared she would become mute or something. I hope I can help her work through this in a safe and effective way.
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Scarlett's POV
I'm still in shock from what happened the other day. I feel like my hearts falling out my chest constantly. And with school starting I feel like I'm constantly on the verge of an anxiety attack.
Cutting helps, but Avery and Amy would never even give me the chance to do it. But I want to do it so bad, I know it'll make me feel better. These damn bandages will be a dead giveaway that I'm trying to do something because I have to unwrap them and what not. And there's no locks on any of the doors so it's not like I can just lock myself in somewhere. Think think. Keys maybe? No. They'd know instantly I'm up to something. "God I just wanna release all this pent up stress already" and I just did it again, to deep into thought.
I look up and see them all looking at me. I can feel the anxiety and I'm trying to breathe through it and calm down but, it's no use. "Nothing gets rid of a panic attack like cutting" They looked more concerned now. Fuck. Why does my brain keep doing this?
"Scarlett, should I call your therapist?" Avery asked.
My stress levels are through the roof right now. I wanna scream, I wanna punch something, or cut or do something to let this all out.
"Scarlett?"
Ugh just stop thinking already! I'm too in my head and it's making this panic attack worse. I hear Avery walking over to me. It's now or never. I have to do something.
"Scar?"
I start unwrap the bandages on my left arm.
"Stop!" She grabs me. I haven't even done anything yet.
"I know your scared, but just breathe through it. Don't always look for a quick fix. Just breathe"
I looked at her. I could feel Amy and Jamie's stares.
"Why am I so angry?" Why did I say that?
"Because you've been through a lot, you have every right to be angry"
I balled my fists as tight as I could and she held my hands and for whatever reason that relaxed me. I don't know how to describe it, I just felt a wave of calmness come over me. I felt my hands soften and my body relax. That's the first time a panic attack has stopped without me hurting myself in some way. And then I look at my palms and see red indents where my nails were digging into my skin. I was bleeding a little bit, I wonder if that's what stopped the panic attack. Or was it really Avery? I don't care to know right now.
"Ok then. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm really tired though-
I felt a sudden wave of tiredness come over me, not like passing out from food feels like. It feels like my body is just giving in and I pass out right there.
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Avery's POV
Scarlett just passed out into my arms. Is she malnourished?
"Guys, when's the last time she ate?"
"She ate that sandwich yesterday, I think she's just tired" Amy said
Well that's funny to think about.
I picked her up and carried her to her room, after I came out I could see them both chuckling about something.
"What's so funny?"
"It's just the fact that she's usually all fired up about something, and seeing her pass out from pure exhaustion, It's just find it kinda funny" Amy said
"I second that. That kid is something else"
I smiled at them and sat down on a bar stool. What an interesting day.
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