Chapter 13 – Present:

I continued to write in my journal, talking about how I overdosed. I felt fine though, I really did. Well, my head still hurts, but… I could hear Jerome and Lachlan having a blast without me, with whatever they were doing this time. I don't know where Alanna went, I just know she left. I closed my journal and left it on the floor, curled up in the corner of my room as I quietly cried. What did they do with my blades? My chest felt heavy and my heart was cold, breaking- shattering into pieces. I can feel it breaking in my chest. I'll never find all the pieces again… A light knock at my door made my stomach turn.

"Hey, Mitch? I want you to record with us. It isn't Minecraft or anything, have you ever heard of the whisper challenge?" Jerome asked.

"Y-yeah…" I called back.

"You want to try it with us? It'll be fun- please?" Jerome pleaded. I grabbed a tissue, wiping away the clear tracks on my face, and then hurrying to greet him at my door. I didn't smile, seeming to cause him discomfort, but he dragged me into the living room nonetheless, Lachlan already waiting for us. And for the next 10 minutes, we all played the whisper challenge. Lachlan was the first with the headphones, then Jerome went, and then it was my turn. They'd give me things I'd expect, like 'Betty' or 'hunger games', but then they'd also throw in random words too, like different objects or food items. It wasn't hard; I was good at reading lips. My vision was focused on Jerome's soft, pink, delicate lips as they formed words, his tongue rolling like silk and his smile never fading.

"Spaghetti." Jerome slowly stated. I didn't answer, just kept staring at his lips, my mind beginning to wander. "Spaghetti." Jerome repeated. I looked up, meeting his gaze. Why not…?

"I love you." I slowly replied. Jerome and Lachlan exchanged humored glances, but Jerome looked back to me, chuckling.

"Spaghetti." He stated for the third time.

"I love you." I repeated. He laughed, as did Lachlan. Leaned forward, he pulled the headphones off of my head, still chuckling.

"Spaghetti." He informed me. I didn't reply, just looked away. Of course you'd take me as a fool. Lachlan glanced between us, staring at me for a bit longer than I felt comfortable with, but he looked away as I glanced back at him. Lachlan smiled brightly, ending the video. "Hey, Mitch, you want to take a walk?" Jerome asked as he stood, stretching. I smiled brightly, nodding eagerly as I bounced to my feet. Just us… Jerome smiled, both of us saying bye to Lachlan as we started for the front door. My heart was pounding, but now, not in a bad way. I felt anxious- excited. I couldn't stop smiling.

The mid-morning air of Florida's finest weather yet consumed our air-conditioned skin, Jerome letting out a sigh as I did nothing. I didn't mind, though the temperature of the brisk morning or evening air was always nicer than the moist, sticky temperature this time of day. The rushing cars and bustling chatter of on goers quickly filled our heads, the faint, singing birds calling to each other. I already knew we were going to the park. Jerome loved going to the park this time of day, he had ever since he was young. The sun burned intensely down upon us, not a cloud in the clear, vast, pale blue sky. A slight breeze whipped our hair around as we crossed the still, dead seeming street, the light red and most of the cars waiting on us, seeing as we were mixed in with a large crowd of people that were also crossing the street. And about 5 or so minutes later, I found we were in the quiet, peaceful environment of the park, heading deep into the shaded forest.

We walked along a lakeside path, ducks swimming and squirrels racing. Jerome nudged me, motioning to a bench. We went over to it and sat down, a breeze sweeping our hair to the right as I sighed. Just simple things… I leaned against Jerome, watching the clumsy little ducklings as they swam in a line behind their mother, or sat on land with their families, no one here to disturb them. The quiet song of the birds mixed with the other sounds of nature, and it was almost like I could hear the song they played. Hear the quiet whispers of Mother Nature.

"Why'd you want to come out today…?" I whispered, snuggling up to Jerome's side.

"Oh, uh, Alanna wanted-." I didn't hear the rest of what he said as Mother Nature's music screeched to a halt and my newly, somewhat fixed heart once again broke to pieces, thumping painfully hard in my chest. I sat up straight again, scooting away from him as Jerome gave me a confused look.

"Oh." I whispered a little colder than I meant too, tears brimming in my hidden eyes.

"Mitch…?" Jerome questioned. "What's wrong-?"

"Allergies, I'm going home, have fun." I muttered, getting up and walking off briskly.

"Wait a minute- Mitch!" Jerome called, his thudding footsteps rushing after me. I covered my left eye with my left hand, tears tracing my right cheek as I bit my bottom lip. I turned a sharp corner and dashed off into the forest, rushing off a bit before ducking underneath a grove of tree roots. I heard Jerome slowly follow me into the forest, shouting my name loudly, brush being pushed around and his voice carrying every which way. I could hear the crunching of nearby dry, dead leaves, Jerome's foot appearing outside the "entrance" to my little grove. And soon, I found him ducking under as well, staring at me from his position outside the grove of tree roots. "Mitch." Jerome started. "What's wrong?" He demanded.

"I'm f-fine." I choked out. Why…?

"No, you aren't." Stop torturing me…

"I'm fine!" I snapped, sniffling as I wiped my eyes off with my sleeves.

"Mitch, you aren't!" Jerome bitterly snapped back, sliding underneath the entrance and sitting down in front of it. "So tell me why! Please!" Jerome took my hands and gave them light squeezes, a pleading look in his eyes and written all over his face. I just sat there shaking, vision blurry as I quietly cried. "Don't cry…" Jerome hushed, releasing my hands and cupping my cheeks, wiping away my tears with his thumbs. I brought my right hand to my right cheek, gently holding his hand there as I stared at him, not in the eye, but to his lips. And I leaned forward. Jerome directed my head to his shoulder and hugged me tightly. I broke down sobbing. Why does the universe hate me? "It's ok…" Jerome quietly assured.

"No!" I cried out. "No- it'll never be ok Jerome- y-you don't understand!" He held me tighter, moving my head to his chest and placing his head overtop mine. "Y-you don't understand how hard I w-work for you- or how hard I try and you never fucking notice! You- you act like everything is ok- and- and w-whenever Alanna's around you n-never spend t-time with me!"

"Mitch, I do notice how hard you work for me." Jerome quietly mumbled. I pulled away, my hands on his chest as I stared into his shaded eyes. He smiled.

"Y-you do…?" I whispered, supporting all of my weight against his firm chest. He chuckled.

"Of course I do. You've been eating for me, and haven't been harming yourself." I just stared at him, dumbstruck. "Plus you recorded a video with us today. I know you're doing your best Mitch, you don't ever have to prove that to me." Jerome insisted, placing his hands on my shoulders. I glared at him, tears still streaking my face. He frowned, confused. I shoved him away, wiping at my eyes and not looking at his surprised form. "Mitch-."

"Just move, god damn it." I snapped harshly. He gave me a confused look, but slowly backed out the entrance, allowing me to get out and dust myself off. He placed a hand on my shoulder, but I just, once again, shoved him away.

"Mitch-."

"No- don't touch me." I snapped, starting to quickly walk away, out of the forest.

"Mitch-!"

"No- you didn't understand a word I just said!" I love you.

"Yes I did-!"

"NO JEROME! YOU DIDN'T- BECAUSE I'M NOT TRYING TO PROVE ANYTHING TO YOU DAMN IT- NOW LEAVE ME ALONE!" I heard Jerome's footsteps slow to a stop as I continued to hurriedly walk off, pulling out my phone and speed dialing Lachlan's number, tears beginning to once again streak my face. He picked up rather quickly.

"What's up Mitch?"

"Can you pick me up from the park please?" I whispered, sniffling.

"Are you ok? Is Jerome with you?"

"No, the only reason he came was because of Alanna." I choked out.

"Oh… Ok, where are you?"

"The park."

"No no no, what part of the park?" He corrected.

"Oh, uh… I'll head to the front and meet you there." I assured.

"Ok, I'll see you then, bye."

"Bye…"