Jayfeathers Room of Lightning, Chapter 2
"Hollyleaf, have you seen my red pants?" Jayfeather asked his sister. Hollyleaf snorted.
"Don't you mean my red pants? I bought them two weeks ago. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," Hollyleaf said as Jayfeather opened his mouth to protest. "Don't act like you don't know. I noticed when they went missing."
"Well, whatever," Jayfeather mumbled, embarrassed. "They looked better on me anyway."
"That's cause you're so damn skinny," Hollyleaf snapped.
"Hollyleaf!" Leafpools shocked voice startled Jayfeather. "Don't swear!"
"Sorry mum," Hollyleaf apologized. "But Jayfeather stole my pants."
"Oh for gods sake!" Jayfeather cried. "You're such a bitch!"
"JAYFEATHER!" Crowfeathers stormed into the room. "Apologize to your sister at ONCE!"
"Sorry," Jayfeather snapped. Then he turned to his dad. "Happy?" he yelled.
"You raise your voice one more time, young man," Crowfeather hissed.
"OR WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?" Jayfeather screamed.
"OR YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE WHAT HAPPENS!" Crowfeather yelled back.
"I HATE YOU! I HATE ALL OF YOU! I WISH YOU ALL WERE DEAD!" Jayfeather stomped out of the room, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. He slammed the door to his room shut, not caring if it angered Crowfeather even more. Eyes blurry, Jayfeather pressed the play button on his ipod, desperate for a distraction.
I don't know why I cut myself
just give me a sign or help
I won't cry it'll be fine
I'll take my last breath
push it out my chest till there's nothing left
I know that my life's near its end but
I hurt myself and fell
I won't cry it'll be fine
I'll take my last breath
"Push it out my chest till there's nothing left!" Jayfeather screamed, tears falling onto the floor.
They left dark stains on the dirty carpet.
"We need to do something about Jayfeather," Crowfeather growled. Leafpool sighed.
"I just don't know anymore," she said. "It feels like we're watching him break farther away from us every day."
"The only thing we're watching is his downward spiral," Crowfeather snapped. Leafpool looked at her husband worriedly.
"Take this seriously... don't you feel disconnected to him? He told us he hates his family," Leafpool said quietly. "Can't you see something's wrong?"
"I can see our son is going down the wrong path," Crowfeather said.
"I'm sure he's not going down the wrong-"
"Open your eyes!" Crowfeather cut Leafpool off. "Take a look around you! He stole his sisters pants for gods sake! He won't cut his hair and do you remember when we caught him wearing makeup?"
"It's probably just a phase," Leafpool muttered. Crowfeather snorted. "Yeah right. He's just a stupid little emo kid that everyone hates."
Leafpool gasped. "Crowfeather!" she shouted. "How dare you say something so horrid about Jayfeather!"
A choking noise distracted Leafpool. She looked over at the door, and felt her heart fall out of her chest.
Jayfeather stood there, and by the look on his face Leafpool knew he had heard every word.
"Jayfeather," Leafpool started, but her voice broke off.
Jayfeather walked away before she could apologize for her husbands cruelty.
"Now look what you've done!" Leafpool cried. Crowfeather rolled his eyes. "He'll be fine. Let him go cry and cut himself and he'll be fine."
Leafpool got up and stormed to the door. "How dare you," she hissed. "He is our son, and you treat him like shit every day and I'm tired of it," then she turned and stalked away.
"Jayfeather," Leafpool said quietly, knocking on the door to Jayfeathers room.
"Go away," Jayfeather snapped. "I'm busy."
Leafpool opened his door anyway, and sighed when she saw Jayfeather sitting on his bed doing absolutely nothing.
"I thought you said you were busy," Leafpool said.
"I am!" Jayfeather exclaimed. "I'm plotting ways to kill Crowfeather."
"I'm sorry about what he said to you," Leafpool said, sitting down on the corner of his bed.
"I really am."
Jayfeather stared at her for a minute. "Why are you with that asshole?" he asked. Leafpool was about to scold him for swearing, but stopped when she realized he was genuinely wondering.
"Because I love him," she said simply.
"But why?" Jayfeather asked.
"It's difficult to explain," Leafpool replied. "But he does love you, Jayfeather. I promise he does."
"Well it doesn't feel like it," Jayfeather mumbled, scratching at his arms. Leafpool sighed, looking down at Jayfeathers arms. They were covered with stripy armbands that Leafpool swore were Hollyleafs.
Then a thought hit her.
"Take off you're armbands," Leafpool said. Jayfeather widened his eyes very briefly before he replied.
"No," he replied.
"Just take them off," Leafpool said, her suspicion turning to dread.
"NO!"
Leafpool reached over and with a quick movement she stripped off the armbands.
Red scars laced his arms.
"Oh my god," Leafpool choked. "Jayfeather, did you-"
"Don't you see, mom?" Jayfeather whispered, then pointed to his scars. "This is how much I hate him."
"But- you can't - I mean..." Leafpool didn't know what to say. She gently traced her finger over the bloody red scars, pausing when one drew blood at her touch.
"Did you do this just now?" she asked. Jayfeather nodded his head yes. Leafpool continued to look down his wrists, pausing when she saw his hands.
"Where did these scars come from?" she asked. "Did you do those too?"
Jayfeather looked down at the white scars that laced around his hands.
"No those weren't from me," Jayfeather whispered. "They were from a long time ago."
Leafpool stared at them for a heartbeat longer then looked up into Jayfeathers eyes.
"I love you," she said quietly. "And again, I'm very sorry about Crowfeather."
"I love you too," Jayfeather said. "And I have an idea."
"What's that?"
"Let's leave, just you and me. We can live together, and then Crowfeather can't hurt me anymore."
Leafpool nearly cried when she saw the hopeful expression on her sons face.
"We can't do that," she murmured. "I'm sorry."
"Why is there an extra plate on the table?" Crowfeather asked. "Are we having a guest?" Jayfeather had set the table for dinner, and had laid an extra plate out for Flametail.
"Yes, Flametail will be joining us," Leafpool explained, shooting a glance at Jayfeather. "Now would Flametail like soup or just a piece of toast?"
"Who the hell is Flametail?" Crowfeather growled.
"He just wants soup," Jayfeather told Leafpool, ignoring his dad.
"How much?" Leafpool asked, spooning some soup into 'Flametails' bowl.
"I said, who the HELL is Flametail?" Crowfeather shouted.
"Just one scoop for him," Jayfeather said. "He's not very hungry."
"I AM GOING TO THROW MY PLATE AT THE WALL IF SOMEONE DOESN'T TELL ME WHO FLAMETAIL IS!" Crowfeather howled.
"God, dad, will you calm down?" Jayfeather snapped, causing Crowfeather to turn beet red with anger.
"Flametail is Jayfeathers imaginary friend," Leafpool explained.
"Oh," Crowfeather said sarcastically. "I apologize."
"No you don't," Jayfeather snapped. "Don't even pretend you're sorry."