Chapter 9:Depression

"Depression is nourished by a lifetime of ungrieved and unforgiven hurts." - Penelope Sweet

Tick,tock,tick,tock,tick,tock. I was in my room looking at my clock. It 's small,black,hand was moving

slowly,ever so slowly,around the clock's face. I'm now 1 second older than I was a moment ago,2 seconds,3 seconds,4 seconds,5,6,7,8,9,10.10 seconds, amazing. I looked up. I was in my room. Chloe

and I had once shared a room but as our 13th birthday approached we had asked for separate rooms. It was a few days after,after Molly wrecked my life. I should have been happy to become a

teenager,but I wasn't. I had to deal with to many problems. Molly's,excuse me,my vandalism of the Horseland stables had been received coldly by the Handlers. They had asked my parents to pay for

the damages. The school was upset to. My tutoring position with Nicole was terminated and the school,Horseland,and my family were being sued for harassment by Nicole's parents. Horseland hadn't

supervised us enough,the school hadn't been careful enough with there pairings,and I was a developing psycho-path. I had to take therapy for my "anger - management problems".The school gave

me suspension,with the threat of expulsion. My grades had dropped without the extra credit from the tutoring,and to tell the truth I was depressed. Life had been so good,and now kids at school had

distanced themselves from me,because of my "emotional issues".Happy days indeed. I knew that all I had to due to fix everything was to tell on Molly,but I had no evidence. Chloe had vouched for

me,but her track-record wasn't much better. Molly,Nani,Alma,and Will had distanced themselves from me even more and Bailey?He looked at me awkwardly every day when we saw each other. It

seemed like he wanted to say something,but he didn't. He always froze up and walked away. Thank God for Sarah and Chloe. Chloe stood by me and had never,ever betrayed me. She always stood

by me and continued to hang out with me when she could have been doing something else. And Sarah?Sarah was always calling to check on me,to help me with homework,or to say hi. She went to

the same school as we did,being as rich as us and she was always sitting by me during recess,lunch,and gym. She got hostile stares from some kids for hanging out with me,but she didn't care. I had

once been the most popular kid at school. Now my "temper" had caused me to become more and more distanced. Now no-one,besides Chloe and Sarah talked to me. The teachers had sort of given

up on me. My grades had slipped. But I knew that I just needed to do one thing to make everything better. Expose Molly for what she did. How though? Molly would never confess. I could never make

her. I could do something else that was just as bad,then blame it on Molly,but it didn't feel good. Ding-dong. I got up and walked to the front door. My parents had gone out for dinner and a movie,and

trusted us to be good. The house was empty and my footsteps caused loud echoes in the hallway. I walked to the door."Hello."Sarah rushed forward and hugged me,without saying a word.

"Sarah,what are you doing here?" She pulled back and looked at me,smiling. Always positive Sarah."I came to study with you. We've been doing it for the past three weeks. And look who I brought

with me."She turned around to show her cousin Chase. He was wearing a long-sleeved shirt,blue jeans and seemed nervous."Hey Chloe." I smiled."It's Zoey."Chasewas always mixing us up,but I

didn't mind. He was a nice guy and was never angry with anyone."Oh sorry Zoey. I still mix you up some times huh? I don't care. It 's nice to know I still have some friends." His smile dropped. "You

heard?" He nodded knowingly "Everything. I would have never thought that Molly could do something like that. I never did either." I brightened up and led them up the stairs to Chloe's room. I

knocked on the door."Who is it? Who else could it be? I'm the only other person here. No harm in asking. It's unlocked." I opened the door. The room was bright due to her room facing the sun and her

choice of light purple for her walls,while the rest of the house was a subdued white. My room was a bright blue. She was lying on the bed flipping through a magazine,while Frankenstein,required

reading for her class was unopened next to her. "Hey Chloe,aren't you supposed to be reading Frankenstein for your reading class?" She put down the magazine to reply."Well I was but..."she

stopped as she saw Chase behind us. She smiled."Hel-hello Chase." She looked first at me,then Sarah,then back at Chase."What are you doing here?" He rubbed the back of his neck nervously."Just

came over to help your sister study." I winked at Sarah. She winked back and walked up to Chase."Oh,Chase we don't really need your help. You can talk to Chloe while we study,kay?" Chase nodded

backed out of the room and walked down the hall to let what would happen,happen.

...

I looked behind me. Sarah and Zoey were gone. I guess now's the time to make my move. Chloe was watching me and seemed nervous. As nervous as me?I remember meeting Chloe at Horseland

long ago. She was still the innocent,caring,and I had to admit pretty girl she was back then. I sat down next to her and leaned back on the bed. She seemed over her confusion and now was smiling

at me. I was still nervous though,so she grabbed my hand. It was nice to feel her smooth,small,warm hand in mine. I gently sat up and lightly touched her cheek. She was blushing and seemed

happy,though still nervous. Now how do I do this. Do I I lean in and. Chloe decided for me and pulled me in. Well I wondered where she learned to do that?I had kissed girls before,but Chloe was

special.

...

Snap. I took a quick picture,then ducked out of the room."Zoey come on,we have to study remember." I followed Sarah down the hall. She looked at me."Where did you get the camera?" I

stopped."Bailey."Sarah turned around and looked at me with pity."Oh,I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."I interrupted her."It's okay,you didn't know." Sarah looked at me for a while and grabbed me by the

shoulder. She looked me in the eyes."Zoey. I'm your friend and as your friend,I'm going to help you and Bailey get back together. It's okay Sarah,it's over. Bailey and I were together, buts it's over now

okay."Sarah looked unconvinced."No Zoey as your friend I promise that I'll get you and Bailey back together. Bailey is as upset as you and I know you two belong together. Just leave it all to me." I

looked at Sarah and hugged her. It's nice to have friends. They get you through the rough spots.