Chapter Ten



Around 6 the next morning Peter shook Kristin awake. "Awww it's Saturday!" She protested, not realizing where she was. "C'mon Kristin!" Peter said. He was already dressed and Sophie was already gone. "I'm comi-oww" she cried as she hit her back on the table as she tried to get up.

"Are you like this every morning?" Peter asked as he helped her up. "Uhh yeah. But my back does hurt like this." SHe said, rubbing her back. "You sure you don't want me to put something on it?" "What could you do to help bruises?" "What about the welts?" "I'm use to em." She growled.

"Okay...well, what are you gonna do when we get to the school?" Peter asked as they climbed on the motorcycle. "I don't know." Kristin lied. Truth was, she had the perfect thing. It was what she had always done when she was at her house and Steven had just left the room. It was shiny, but not to sharp. It was a part of an umbrella that had held it up. Adam had torn oen up in band one day and she had picked up the piece. She had snuck it in Horizon.

"Well, try not to get into to much trouble. And hold on." Peter said as he took off.

When they got to the school Sophie was waiting. "Hey what took you guys so long?" She asked. "Sleepy head." Peter said and pointed to Kristin, who smiled innocently. "Me? I'm a perfect angel!" She defended herself. Sophie and Peter both gave her looks that said "Yeah, suuuurrrrreeeee and we're Britney SPears and Justin Timberlake" then rolled their eyes. "Wh- what? You don't think I'm good?" She asked, looking hurt. "No,no, Angel. It's just we think you're not exactly sweet..." Peter said and grinned at her. "Oh. Okay. As long as you don't think I'm bad." She said and ran off.

"SHe's something else." Sophie said, laughing. "Yeah. I'd say." Peter answered, shaking his head.

Kristin was sitting on her bed. The object was in her hand. She remembered the past time when she had cut herself with it and had to wear long jackets to cover the welts. That's right-welts. This object didn't scratch, didn't cause bleeding, just immense pain and welts that were around for around 3 days.

She took it to her arm but hesitated. What would Peter and Sophie do if they found out? They could decide they didn't want to keep her as a daughter-or a student-anymore and give her back to some foster agency. Her dad could get legal rightsback, or her mom who had abandoned her so long ago, and be given back to her or him. She pulled it lightly across her arm, then stopped and went back to the starting place and pulled it as hard as she could across her arm. She whimpered as a small welt showed up, then got bigger.

She slashed it across her arm a few more times. It didn't hurt after the 3rd time, but the welts crossing each other didn't exactly feel wonerful.

Suddenly the door flew open. Kristin whipped her head towards the door and saw Jules. "Hey, Peter said come and get y- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Jules cried, walking over to her. "Nothing." Kristin growled, shoving the object in her pocket. "You were cutting yourself!" "No I wasn't!" "Yes you were! Kristin you can't-" "SHut up!" Kristin yelled and jumped up to run but Jules grabbed her arm and looked at it. "Oh you weren't cutting yourself?" Jules asked sarcastically. "Get off of me!" Kristin yelled, struggling to get from Jules's grasp. "COme on, just tell Peter!" Jules said, still not letting go, fear of what Kristin would do when she was along. "Let go!" Kristin hollered again and punched Jules in the stomach.

"Oof!' Jules said as she let go of Kristin and fell to the floor, clutching her stomach.

Kristin stared in horror. "I-I-I'm sorry! I'm like him now!" She cried and ran out the door, tears flying off her face.