Warning: This Chapter has themes of depression and dark thoughts.
Charlie’s POV
I’m fine. I’m totally fine.
At least, that’s what i like to tell myself. All at once, every bad thought I’ve ever had, every name I’ve been called, it all seemed to crash together.
You’re a weirdo.
     I’m a weirdo.
You’re a loser.
      I’m a loser.
You’re a nerd.
       I’m a nerd.
Nobody likes you.
      Nobody likes me.
Nobody cares-
“Are you okay?” Ace appeared beside me, causing my thoughts to dwindle. He looked worried?
I’d been sitting on my own for awhile now, feeling out of place.
I took a deep breath, as if to try to calm myself, then released it with an exasperated sigh.
“Can you tell Ella and Clayton I went home?” I asked softly.
“You’re leaving? You just got here.”
I gave him a tired look.
“Okay, I’ll tell them.” He glanced concernedly before slowly walking away.
I texted my mom to come and pick me up and began to crutch away.
I’m fine. I’m okay.
Everything’s great, besides the fact that my leg is broken, but hey, at least it’s healing!
It’s been awhile since I talked to someone, Like, really talked to someone, about all of my problems.
“Wait up!” I hear Ella running from behind.
I paused, waiting for her to catch up.
“Where you going?”
“Home,” I said. “I think I might’ve had a bad batch of cotton candy.” I lied.
“Oh, okay.” She sounded upset.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, don’t worry about it.” She hugged me.
I really needed this hug.
“I think Ace is headed out also, maybe he could give you a ride?”
“He rides a motorbike.” I stated.
“So?”
He’d probably turn a corner too fast and I’d fall off. Or he’d probably rush into traffic and my body would go flying through the air before landing on the roof of an oncoming vehicle.
Okay, maybe I’m being too dramatic.
“I think my mom’s coming to pick me up.”
“Okay, see you later?”
“See you later.” I halved a smiled.
“Love you!” She hugged me again.
“Love you too.”
I made my way to the front entrance of the mall and sat down on a bench. My mother still hasn’t read my text, which was strange. She’s always on her phone, especially to keep tabs on me via social media. And yes, my mother has social media.
I text again with one too many question marks.
Maybe if I keep spamming her, she’ll open her phone and respond.
A familiar sound caused me to look up.
“Need a ride?” Ace asked from his motorcycle. He parked it right in front of where I sat and pulled off his helmet.
“I don’t want to end up in hospital, again.”
“You’d rather walk home?”
“I’m waiting for my mom.” I lied. She still hasn’t seen my message.
“Quit being such a wuss and get on.” He held his helmet out towards me.
“What about my crutches?”
“Hand them here.”
I did as he said, balancing on one leg against a sidewalk post. He pressed the button on each of the crutches and dismantled them, popping them into the pannier. The ends stuck out, but hopefully they won’t fall out.
“Now, get on.” He urged.
I put on the helmet he handed me and reluctantly did as he said, again.
I awkwardly grabbed to top of his shoulders, my hands grasping against his leather jacket.
“Dude, if we hit a bump, holding onto my shoulders might not be the best idea.”
“Huh?”
“Put your hands around my waist.”
Uh, I’d rather walk home.
“Don’t make it weird.” He added.
I rolled my eyes and reluctantly put my hands around his waist, the leather of his jacket cold against my hands.
“Wait, where’s your helmet?”
“I don’t need one.” He said. I didn’t need to see his face to know he had that annoying smirk across his face.
He started the motorcycle and revved it a few times before taking off.
“Please, don’t murder us.” I shouted of the sound of the motorcycle.
“I’ll try my best.”
To my surprise, he took it easy. I expected him to drive like he was on a racecourse or something.
I couldn’t believe i was on a motorcycle with Ace Caldwell.
My arms slightly tightened around his waist, a sense of comfort enveloping me. I leant my head against the back of his left shoulder.
Wait. No.
Snap out of it, Charlie!
I gave myself a mental shake and pulled myself back, loosening my grip around him.
I never should have gotten on this death trap.
After driving across town, we finally made it to my house.
It wasn’t as big as the other houses on the block. It had two storeys to it with three bedrooms total. The front lawn had a nice maple tree and a pretty garden that decorated along the bottom of the pale blue picket fence. Mostly Daisies, Peonies and Daffodils, all of my mother’s favourite flowers. My father once tried to grow roses as a gift for my mom, but she didn’t like them so she snipped them off with gardening shears.
The driveway was vacant, causing me to dramatically roll my eyes.
The motorcycle came to a halt and I was more than eager to get off.
I stood on one leg and hastily reached for my crutches to put them back together.
I felt like I was playing hopscotch.
“I think I deserve a five star rating” Ace said.
I slightly chuckled, finally clicking my crutches into place.
I crutched my way to the front door, hoping that at least one of my parents were home.
“The door’s locked.” I stated after trying to twist the handle.
“Where’s your parents?”
“I don’t know.” I groaned in annoyance.
“Maybe they’ve been kidnapped and held hostage?” He suggested.
Idiot.
“You’re so weird.” I laughed.
“Hey, at least I made you laugh.” He leaned against the railing of the porch, brushing a hand delicately through his brown hair. “Don’t you have a spare key? Hidden under a rock or something?”
“No.”
“Are you okay?” He asked.
“Yep.” I lied.
Honestly, I felt as if I were on the verge of having a mental breakdown.
“I don’t mean to overstep, but you don’t seem okay.”
“What are you? A therapist?” I sat down on the porch steps, setting my crutches beside me.
“No. But I know what it looks like when someone is struggling.”
Maybe he’s a psychic? Or a mind reader?
I didn’t say anything.
“You seem upset. Or, depressed?”
“I can’t explain it. I just, I hate it.” I blurted out, utterly annoyed at everything.
“Hate what?” He says down beside me, his green eyes curiously looking into mine.
“Everything.” I said in low spirits.
Everything.
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