CHAPTER NINE: Discovered


Sooo sorry if it took me a little while to update. I was on vacation! ^^

I appreciate the commentary and critiques, they help me become a better writer! I also thank anybody who's read, Favorited, or followed this story. I would stop writing if it weren't for you guys! Thank you so much!

And if you want me to continue with writing author's notes, let me know. I'm usually pretty bad about remembering to do it. But if you enjoy the A.N, I will try to keep doing them each chapter.

This update is dedicated to Anya Vargas, who insisted I continue writing this and post a new chapter

Enjoy!


Alex's POV:

Something was wrong. I noticed it when I first woke up on the island. Hayley was goodness knows where, and mom was still in the kitchen. Mom glanced at me and smiled sadly.

"You okay Mom?" I asked. She walked over to me and gave me a hug. Kissing me lightly on the head, she ruffled my hair.

"I don't know." She replied after a while. She then walked over to the couch and sat down. My eyes followed her, curious. What was wrong?

I walked upstairs and into the bedroom. Hayley was lying on the bed. She looked up as I walked in.

"Hey Alex." She muttered. I looked at her, she seemed down too.

"Are you okay?" I asked, as I had asked Mom minutes ago.

"I don't know." She replied. I groaned. She had given the same answer Mom had given me.

"What is up with everyone today?!" I cried. Hayley looked at me, confused.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Well, when I woke up I one, found myself at the island. Two, you and Mom are acting all sad!" I yelled. Hayley got up and walked over to me. She sighed before grabbing my shoulders and looking me in the eye.

"Please tell me what Peg said was untrue." She whispered. I froze. Hayley did know what Peg had meant by all that. And what's worse, was that she told mom. Or so I thought…

Tears welled up in her eyes as the silence grew longer. I couldn't lie to her, but I couldn't tell the truth either. I was trapped.

"Alex! Say something!" She cried.

"I-I-I don't know…." I trailed off quietly, looking at the floor.

A harsh sob was heard, and Hayley looked up at me, tears streaming down her face. I felt a few tears drip down my own face, and I realized the harsh sob had come from me.

"I'm so sorry Hayley!" I sobbed. She looked at me, her eyes filled with disbelief and pain.

"Alex?" She walked over to me but I flinched away.

"Just leave me alone!" I snapped. I grabbed my journal, and my backpack and headed downstairs where I crashed on the couch. I heard mom get up from where she was and I quickly wiped away all my tears.

Mom walked past me and headed upstairs. I felt panic rush through me. She was going to find out. Mom, and Hayley were going to find out, if Hayley didn't already know. As soon as I heard the door swing shut I opened my backpack. Two days' worth of clean clothes was at the bottom. My toothbrush and toothpaste were there as well. I had a box of Band-Aids, a first aid kit, my dad's old pocket knife, three bottles of water, a box of crackers, and a loaf of bread. I also had my wallet with $400 dollars in it, my hairbrush, a blanket, a flashlight, and a box of pencils. My phone in my pocket, I had everything I needed, or would need. If I ran away.

I had made this bag a long time ago, when the pain was fresh, and the sorrow was real. When Peg was bullying me at school, and when I would come home and retreat to the bathroom. This bag was always there with me, just in case. Sadly enough, I realized that if Mom found out the truth, I would need this bag for real.

I wrote all this down in my journal and stuffed that into the bag. I grabbed a few cookies and stuffed them into my pockets. I also proceeded to rip out a few of the more important pages of my journal and stapled them together. The pages explaining why, and when, and with what. So they would know. I took the stapled packet and taped them to the fridge, along with a quick note apologizing for everything. After about twenty minutes of last minute checking, Mom and Hayley came downstairs. It was time.


Claire's POV:

I heard someone come downstairs, and I realized it was time to go upstairs. I had to find out what was wrong with Alex. I walked past Alex, who must have come down. She was on the couch, trying to quickly wipe up tears. I ignored her, facing the more important things. I walked upstairs and into the girls' room, where Hayley was sitting at the foot of her bed, crying.

Running over, I sat next to her. I placed my arm around her and pulled her into a hug. Her sobs racked through her whole body, and it took some time for her to finally calm down.

When she did finally calm down, she pulled herself away from my grasp and looked into my eyes.

"Mom, I have something I need to tell you. It is very disturbing, and I want to make sure you're ready to hear this." She warned me. I laughed softly.

"Oh don't worry honey, if it concerns me, I'll always want to know." I replied. She smiled warmly at me.

"If you say so," She took a deep breath before continuing. She explained about how Peg had come in the other night and said some stuff. She also explained about the fish knife, and how it was under Alex's pillow.

"Really?" I asked. "I wondered where it was! I need it for fish tonight." I remembered.

"Yeah, well, Alex had it, under her pillow." Hayley told me. I shook my head, unbelieving.

"So where is it now?" I asked.

"I have it." Hayley walked over and grabbed it off her bed. She handed it to me.

"So why would Alex have it?" I asked, hoping it wasn't what I thought.

A few tears dripped from Hayley's eyes as she whispered it to me. "I think she's been cutting herself."

I gaped at her. "What?! Alex!? No, no, no, she wouldn't!?" I cried. I thought back to the bullying incident, and how much depression and pain it had caused her. Was it possible?

"Do you have proof?" I asked frantically. Hayley told me about checking her arms, and the new cuts.

"There's only one way to find out." I said after a while of silence. I didn't want it to be true, but we had to know. Hayley nodded slowly.

"We have to ask her." She mumbled. I sighed.

"She's downstairs on the couch right now, let's go." I got up and grabbed Hayley's hand. Together we walked downstairs to confront Alex. I just hoped with all my might, that everything we just talked about wasn't true.


Alex's POV:

I stood in the center of the living room, my backpack slung over my arm. Hayley and Mom stood in front of me. Both had tears in their eyes, and I felt guilt and sorrow pierce my heart.

"What's wrong?" I asked shakily, although I already knew.

Mom walked up to me and placed a hand on my arm. I winced, in pain, and tried to pull away, but she kept her grip.

"Alex, honey, I need to see something." She said slowly, and controlling. I gave in and let my arm go limp. She looked me in the eye before she slowly rolled up my sleeve. The cuts were revealed, most of them scabbing or red, few healing.

She gasped and stepped back. Hayley sobbed and Mom let a few tears slip down her nose.

"Alex, how did this happen?" She asked me.

"I picked at the scabs?" I tried weakly. Mom glared at me.

"Alex, how did this happen?" She said again.

"I-I-I don't know!" I whimpered.

"How did this happen." She wasn't asking now, she was demanding. I shrunk back as I felt my throat give up.

"I did it." I said softly. Mom choked on her own tears, and Hayley fell to the floor.

"H-how….how did y-you do it?" Mom asked shakily.

"Um….I used the fish knife…" I trailed off. Mom shook her head in dismay.

"Alex! How could you?! You should've talked to us! We're your family! You can always trust us! Why on Earth would you do something like that to yourself?!" She cried. I felt numb.

"I-I had to." I said after a while. Tears were flowing down my face and I felt my body shaking.

"Oh, honey, you never had to do anything! Sweetie, you can trust us! We won't hurt you." Mom took a step closer but I flinched back.

"NO! I CAN'T TELL YOU! I COULDN'T TELL YOU! I didn't need you to know…" I yelled.

"YOU SHOULD'VE TRUSTED US!" Mom yelled back. I looked into her eyes one last time. They were a mix of anger, confusion, and sorrow. But deep inside, I could see love.

"I'm so sorry." I whimpered. "I'm a disappointment to this family." I looked up at mom.

"Goodbye." I said. She tilted her head in confusion.

"Goodbye?" She questioned. I nodded and walked towards the kitchen. Mom remained frozen in the living room. By the time she figured it out I was already at the door.

"ALEX! NO! ALEX WAIT!" She screamed. I turned and ran. Sprinting along the sidewalk, I left it all behind. And I didn't turn back once.