Brooke Valley. NC

You see me for me.
It was a simple answer, and he'd repeated it from her, but it fit how he felt perfectly. Once he'd sent it his mom called him in. She let him stay out there however long he wanted, bless her, but she always grew worried once it became too dark. She climbed down obediently from the tree, eyes locked on his phone screen.

"There's no easy way to say this. I'm insane," She began. She couldn't look at his face, fearful of the resentment she was sure she'd see. "I'm absolutely bonkers. Medically, I have Schizophrenia, Anxiety, Chronic Depression, and Bulimia..." She trailed off. It sounded like so much more when she said it out loud. "I. Um. I see figures. They follow me around. They talk to me..." She took a deep breath. "If I'm going to tell you this, I'm telling you everything. I've never told anyone before. I was raped." Her eyes fell to the ground. "I was young. Nine. It was my dad..." She took a deep breath in. "He didn't stop after just one time. He didn't stop until he committed suicide. Everything just kind of followed suit. The figures are really tall, depending on the room they can be seven to ten feet tall, I'd say. They're really thin and mangled looking. They're bent at awkward, unnatural angles. Sometimes they smile. They're everywhere I go. They say things he said while he raped me. 'Just enjoy it. Relax. It won't hurt.' Things like that.

It doesn't stop unless I cut. Plus, I cut because I like it. It helps me release the pain." Without looking at him, she pulled down just one of her sleeves. The fresh cuts were a bright red. At least 200 other cuts lined her arm, vertical and horizontal. "They're on both arms, both legs, my stomach, and thighs. I've tried to kill myself multiple times. It's failed each time, obviously."

She finally looked at him. "I am insane and not worth your time. I'm not worth it."

The fact that he used her words to respond gave her shivers. Pendley pressed the phone to her forehead as she forcibly calmed herself.
I like that.


Kade listened quietly, his face unreadable. He waited until she was completely finished before he even considered talking. Eyes locking on hers, he stepped closer to her, then dropped down onto both knees and looked up at her from where he kneeled. "When I was this small," he began, "my parents put me up for adoption because they didn't want me. I was diagnosed with depression. I hated myself, thought I wasn't good enough. I didn't want to be a part of this world anymore."

Then he stood, now looking down to meet her gaze. "Now I'm this tall. I'm not depressed and I don't have myself." He lightly grasped her hand, feeling the smoothness of her skin in his. "I know what it's like to be lost. And I know what it's like when you feel like you're so messed up that nobody wants you anymore." He paused, cupping her cheek with one hand, his thumb stroking the side of her face. "And because of that, I'll help you to grow, just like I did, until you can love yourself again." He gave her a gentle smile. "Okay?"

His mom made a joke about how his eyes were locked on his phone when he walked past her. "I'm talking to someone," He said in a distracted tone. He heard his mom cracking up behind him when he disappeared into the hallway. He knew she was simply overjoyed that he found someone to be this involved in.
It's late, little rabbit. Are you tired?

She leaned her face against his hand, pressing up more against the warmth. It was simply the best feeling she'd ever experienced. Tears sparkled in her eyes, reflected by the moon when she locked her gaze with him. "Also, when I'm with you, they disappear," She whispered.

Pendley rolled over in bed, scribbling away at her drawing pad, enjoying the picture of Carter she'd created.
A bit. You?

Kade smiled. "I'm glad," he replied in an equally quiet voice. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before stepping back, not wanting to physically overwhelm her. "How about I take you home?" he said with a smile. "It's getting late and you need to eat dinner and finish your homework just like I do."

A bit. If we go to sleep together at the same time, it can be a special moment for just us. He shut off his light and threw himself into bed, kicking off his jeans under the covers so he was just in his boxers. His window shades were open to let moonlight illuminate his room.

She nodded, obviously sad about it. Not only did she not want to leave Kade in the slightest, she wasn't looking forward to what awaited her at home. Besides, she wouldn't be eating. Or at least digesting.

The text cute-d her out. Pendley squealed as quietly as possible into her pillow, knowing that if she was too loud her dad would come upstairs. Struggling not to smile to re-open the cut on her lip, she snuggled into the covers and replied.
Let's do that.


Kade led her back to the car, noting how late it had gotten in such a short time. "Make sure you eat well tonight, alright? And if you can, try to keep the food down. Having all that extra protein in your body will make you even more beautiful than you already are." He opened the passenger's side for her, waited for her to get in, and then climbed into the driver's seat himself.

Okay. Good night. He snuggled into his pillow, not caring if it was girly.

"I'll try. For you." She promised him.
And she did. She really did. But the figures came back. They wouldn't leave her alone. She kept repeating that she had to do it for Kade, but they wouldn't let her. They were closing in on her. One was going to touch her when she ran to the bathroom and violently threw up. Afterwards, she lied in bed and sobbed because she couldn't do it. She went to bed with even more new cuts that night.

The next day at school seemed brighter. Carter got to school early to purposely beat Pendley. He waited at the entrance, trying to look casual, like he hung out there all the time. Most people saw through him, he even heard a couple girls exclaiming how cute it was that he was doing that for her.

Annabelle, likewise, also got to school incredibly early. This time, it was due to the fact that she'd hardly been able to sleep due to the excitedly nervous jitters she had in her stomach from thinking about Kade constantly. She kept reliving that moment in the observatory in her mind. She couldn't wait to see him.

(so sad T-T)

Pendley tried a little extra hard that morning to look nice. She wore a pair of black leggings, a long pink tunic, her everyday black cardigan, and a pair of white Toms. She brushed through her hair and attempted to cover up the bruise on her jaw with some of her mom's concealer - her lip would have to do as it was, split and swollen. As usual, her father drove her to school. She remained silent on the car ride and jumped out of the car with an obligatory goodbye. She was busy pulling her hair around her neck to conceal the bruises when she noticed Carter standing at the front entrance. Pendley gave him a little wave, suddenly embarrassed for dressing up.

Kade arrived in the student parking lot at his usual time. He trotted in through the side entrance and headed down the front hallway, hoping to bump into Annabelle on the way. He was curious to know if she'd been successful in eating last night - he knew what it was like to not want to eat, and he hoped she'd at least tried to improve.

"Pendley!" He greeted. He couldn't conceal the happiness he felt at seeing her arrive. When she got closer he looked her up and down, but in a way that you could tell he was admiring her beauty for everything but sexual interest. "Wow, you look amazing today," He breathed, flushing. "I mean, even more amazing than usual... Uh, I mean, good morning."

She was pacing the hallways when she bumped into Kade. She was wearing a large brown fluffy sweater with a deer on it and black leggings with combat boots. Her hair, as usual, was straight. "Hi," Was all she managed to say as she gazed up at the boy she'd admittedly dreamed about last night. The boy that'd been on her mind since she met him.

Pendley flushed, looking down at the ground as an embarrassed smile threatened to form on her lips. "Thanks, Carter," she said quietly. It felt weird to say his name, especially as she hadn't said it the day before. She ran her fingers through her hair, hoping he wouldn't notice her lip or the obviously concealed bruise on her jaw. "Sleep well?" she asked quickly.

Kade smiled as Annabelle suddenly appeared before him. "Why are you so cute?" he said with a little moan of frustration. He gave her arm a comforting squeeze before nudging his head towards one of the benches in the hallway. "Want to sit and chat?"

"Yeah," He said with a smile. "Knowing you were going to sleep at the same time was comforting," He admitted. It was a minute before he noticed her lip. He wasn't sure if he should directly mention it, so he settled by asking a casual, "Hey, are you okay?" That way, she'd have the choice of whether or not she wanted to confide in him for whatever it was. Still, she could have just fell, but you couldn't be too careful.

She nodded enthusiastically, already making her way towards the bench and sitting.

The blush that filled Pendley's cheeks from Carter's words dissipated quickly at his question. "Play fighting with my brother," she said quietly. "Got out of hand." She put her fingers to her lips, uncomfortable with the topic.

"I was thinking we could invite Carter and Pendley out if we get the chance," Kade said thoughtfully once sitting on the bench. "It might be fun as a group."

He was doubtful for a moment, but he smiled good-naturedly and put his hand on her shoulder. "You little rascal, you," He teased affectionately.

"That sounds great," Annabelle said with a smile. She instinctively brought her knees up in front of her on the bench, hugging them tightly. Sitting this way made her feel protected, and kept her from shaking.

Pendley smiled lightly and ran her fingers through her hair. She didn't want to tell him that she didn't have any siblings, nor that play fighting wasn't the cause of her lip injury - thank god she'd concealed the bruise on her jaw or else he might have been more suspicious. "Beautiful sky," she said quietly, "last night."


"Awesome," Kade replied, grinning. He them cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes aimed down the hallway. "Did last night go alright?" he asked gingerly.

He had a far-off look in his eyes once she mentioned the picture he'd sent to her the day previous. "Yeah," He agreed. He looked away for a moment, then back at her, then away again. He seemed to be flustered by something, as if there was something he really wanted to say. He laughed softly at himself for being so nervous.

Novalee froze, muscles tensing up all too much. Then, instead of verbally responding, she briskly shook her head.

Pendley blinked, confused by his sudden change in behavior. She watched him for a few moments, examining him with bright sea colored eyes. "What's up?" she asked, curious to know why he was acting strangely.


"Ah, well," Kade said lightly, giving her back a soft pat. "Maybe today will be different," he said and smiled. "There's always next time for improvement, right?"