Chapter Two

Kim made it up the stairs, and to her room before she lost in.

She had breezed past her mom, who was working at her desk "Hello honey", she had called. Kim had yelled something back, saying she was going to take a shower.

She grabbed a towel, and booked it to the bathroom, yanking the shower curtain open and twisting the handle to drown out her breathing. She was on the brink of an anxiety attack. She was trying to get her breathing under control, to stop the little pained noises that seemed to be escaping her mouth. To stop her shaking.

She hated to lose control like this. For fear her mother would find her, and for Jared's sake. She knew, thanks to the imprint, that through the bond they could feel the others feelings, when they were strong. And he would surely be able to read her anxiety if it got any higher.

These attacks only came on bad days. Like, really bad days. And today was one of the worst. Because she knew she had someone to hold her, tell her it was going to be okay. But she was holding him at arms length. Kim thought she should stop seeing him all together, but last time she did that, it only hurt them both more. These visits however, where she acted distant, didn't exactly help either.

What do you do when the only thing worse than holding on, is letting go?

"Honey?" Her mom knocked on the bathroom door.

"Yes?" She managed to keep her voice even.

"When you're done will you come downstairs? I wanted to talk to you about tonight."

She squeezed her eyes tight. "Sure."

Kim waited until she heard the retreating footsteps before letting out the breath she had been holding. She jumped in the shower, letting her hair get wet so it looked like she actually showered.

Fifteen minutes later, she was sitting on the couch, still in the same clothes, but now with wet hair. She may as well have taken a shower after all, now she was just cold and wet, without being cleaner.

"You look fresh!" Her mom told her with a smile.

Kim smiled back. Her mom always tried to see the best in her. Which was good, she was lucky not to have a parent who nit-picked, or just didn't care. But…but it just meant her mom didn't see what was wrong.

"So about tonight…"

Kim coughed.

"I'm going to the grave." She looked at Kim, Kim looked at the spot above her mom's head. Breath in, out, in, out…

"You don't have to go honey…" Kim still didn't speak. "I can bring something for you, if you'd like? A note or flowers?"

"That's okay…I've got a lot of school work tonight. I don't think I'll have the time…"

Her mom held up her hands. "Okay, honey. I thought I would check. I shouldn't be back too late." She kissed Kim on the head. "There's a sandwich for you in the fridge if you get hungry."

"Alright. Thanks."

Kim's mom headed out the door, grabbing the bag she had packed by the door. Like she knew all along Kim was never going to come with.

Kim returned back to her room, passing her backpack on the way in. Of course she didn't have any homework. She was ahead on the reading in two of her classes. Plus with a free period, she almost never had homework.

She flopped down on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Wishing everything were like it was six months ago. That she could go back to being that girl who had a crush on Jared, and was elated he was suddenly paying her any mind. When her problems consisted of grades, and figuring out what to wear with her limited wardrobe. When she didn't wake up every morning feeling like she was only a piece of what she used to be.

But she couldn't go back. No matter how much she wanted to.

A/N: I'll try to get the update soon. In the next couple chapters all will be revealed. Let me know what you think!