Chapter Seven: Bruised

I swear I didn't mean for it to feel like this

Manny

After I stormed away from Jimmy's I felt bad. I didn't mean to leave so angry, but I wanted him to be able to talk to me. Because I think I might like him. I know it's a little early to be liking him because I just shut Craig out of my life for good, and I'm still hurting from that. Love can be so confusing.

I turned around and walked right back to his house, knocking on the door. But he didn't answer it. His mother did.

"Hi, is Jimmy home?" I asked. I knew there was no way he left already.

"Sorry," his mom said, shaking her head. "Jimmy isn't feeling well and he told me that he didn't want to see anyone."

"Oh okay. I'm Manny. Could you just tell him that I stopped by?" I asked.

"Sure. I'll let him know."

"Thanks." I turned and walked away again. I really screwed that up didn't I?

I couldn't hold my tears in, so I cried the whole way home. How is it that I ruin everything? Maybe I should have just accepted Craig's offer. Because at least then I wouldn't be alone.

Ellie

I walked home, thinking about how to tell my mom. I was going to wait until I found out for sure, but I had to come up with something. Since Sean left, I couldn't pay the rent on our apartment, so I had to move back home. Mom has been better—she really has. She hasn't touched a drop of alcohol at least since I've been home. I wouldn't know before that, but she told me that she went to rehab for awhile.

Of course, my dad still isn't home. Neither of us have spoken to him in over four months. I really miss him, but I have no idea of how to contact him at all. We were never given any type of phone number or address. The only way I know he's still alive is that we haven't had any man in uniform come to the house to tell us.

I finally got to my house, and walked in the door. I nearly fainted at what I saw. My mom was sitting on the couch. I could tell she had been crying, and there was a man on the couch next to her. He was wearing his battle dress uniform—also known as camouflage—and he was holding my mother's hand. I swallowed the hard lump in my throat.

"Mom…?" I choked out. She jumped, obviously startled by my presence. I felt my heart pounding in my chest, and thought that I might stop breathing if someone didn't start talking.

"Eleanor, sweetheart. How was your day at school?" she asked, walking over to me and giving me a hug.

"Mom...what happened?" I asked, holding back tears. "Is Dad…?"

"Oh, honey no. Your father's fine. This is his good friend, Private Benjamin Hutchins. He was with your father on the mission, but was able to come home. He decided to visit and we were just sharing some stories about your dad," she explained.

I breathed a huge sigh of relief and forced a smile. My dad was okay, but he still wasn't here. And now there's a strange man sitting in my living room. Oh and I'm probably pregnant. What a great day I'm having.

"I'm just gonna go to my room. It was nice meeting you…sort of…" I said to the man on the couch. He just smiled and nodded, so I left the room. I threw my backpack down on my bed as soon as I got in my room. I sat on the edge of the bed, and picked up the picture frame closest to me. It was a picture of me and my dad, from the day he left for his peacekeeping mission.

I started to cry just then. I couldn't stop because I needed my dad. He was probably the only person who could help me now. He was also the last person who would ever be there for me. Maybe he just doesn't love me enough to care anymore.

No one loves me like Sean did. But then again, he left, so he probably didn't either.

Emma

I eventually ran out of breath and stopped running. I was probably halfway to the ravine by then. A familiar red-orange civic pulled up beside me.

"Where are you going?" Jay asked through the window.

"Where do you think?" I asked, still walking.

"You shouldn't go to the ravine," he said finally.

"Why not? Why do you even care?"

"Because it's not you Emma. You're about more than the ravine, and pot, and sucking guys off for fun."

"Jay, I don't need to hear this kind of crap from you. I'm going to the ravine and you won't stop me. I need something to help how I feel right now," I told him, finally stopping and turning to look at him.

"And what kid of pain is that? The pain of what happened to you there? You lied to Ellie and I, didn't you? Something happened there that you're not telling us," he said.

"If it was any of your business, I would have told you, wouldn't I?" I said, glaring at him.

"Emma, I'm only trying to help. Why don't you get in the car? I'll bring you anywhere but the ravine."

"Mind your own business Jay. I don't need you."

I ran off as quickly as I could, trying to avoid him from following me. I didn't stop until I made it to my destination.

Spinner

I sat on the picnic table at the ravine, staring off into the distance. For once, I was actually thinking while I sipped my beer.

Who needs parents anyways? I'm so sick of them. Maybe I can get my own place. The apartment building Sean used to live in is pretty cheap. I bet if I worked at The Dot full time, then I could afford a cheap one bedroom. It would be better than living with a father who completely ignores me and a mother who pretends he's perfect. Besides, they'd still have Kendra.

Even though I now had a plan, I was still upset. I grabbed two more beers and kept on drinking. A bunch of people were having fun around the fire, but I didn't quite feel like joining them. I just sat in peace, drinking, and hoping the feeling in my stomach would go away. I felt like no one cared about me. And I was probably right.

I was actually about to leave, when, oddly enough, a completely high Emma Nelson ran over and sat down next to me.

"Want some?" she asked, offering the joint she was holding.

"No thanks," I said, waving it away. "I'll stick to this." I held up my beer.

"Your loss," she told me before giggling and taking a puff. She coughed as she blew the smoke out of her mouth, then turned to me and started staring.

"Want some?" I asked her this time, holding the beer out.

"Sure." She grabbed the bottle and took a long swig. "That's disgusting," she said, making a face. But instead of giving it back to me, she kept it and proceeded to finish it off. Laughing some more, she threw the bottle to the ground where it broke into three big pieces.

"What's up with you?" I asked, grabbing my last beer from the ground and opening it. She took another hit from her joint before answering me.

"Nothing. I'm just having a good time."

"Since when do you think this is good?" I asked. "I heard all about what you've been doing with most of the guys here. Why? That's not like you," I pointed out.

"You're really killing my high right now. Stop being like Jay. He was just asking me the same damn thing. And guess what? I don't have a fucking answer for you!" she yelled.

"Then why are you right here? Talking to me?"

"Because you looked like you needed a good time," she answered.

"Well, you were right. I really do."

"Great. Then let's go see what's in the van!" she yelled, breaking out into a fit of laughter once again.

"I really don't think…" but she interrupted me before I could finish.

"Don't be such a pussy Spinner. You know it's fun." She grabbed my hand and dragged me off. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't want to go. I definitely did. But I felt really bad for Emma. She was so high that she probably didn't even know what she was about to do. And I was definitely not drunk enough to forget it in the morning.

Craig

I can't believe Manny turned me down. I was so sure that she'd get back together with me because I thought she was in love with me. But I guess I don't blame her. I really screwed things up with her and with Ashley.

So maybe I need to move on to someone new. Someone completely different. Like…oh come on, who am I kidding? I doubt anyone will willingly date me since they already know what I'm like. Unless I can somehow get with a girl from Bardell or something.

I used to think I'd have a chance with Emma, but that's probably long gone. I don't think she's liked me for a few years now. And then there was also Ellie, but since Sean devastated her, I've only seen her hang out with Jay and oddly enough, her exact opposite, Emma. I definitely go through too many girls. Hopefully I can find the right one for me…and it will last more than a few months. Great, now I'm even thinking like a girl. Maybe I forgot to take my meds.

Jimmy

I sat in my bed, thinking about what happened with Manny. She was right; I hadn't already gotten over what happened with Spinner. I wasn't even sure if I ever would. It's his fault that I'll never walk again. It's his fault that I thought about suicide every day I was in the hospital, and attempted it three times already. And now it was Spinner's fault that I just went off on the girl I was starting to like.

I reached over and pulled the bottle of pain medication out of my night stand. I turned the bottle over in my hands a few times before opening it and dumping two pills out. As I turned my stereo on, I dry swallowed them, blaring rock music from my speakers. Of course, that didn't last long.

"JIMMY!" my mother yelled, opening the door. I turned the music down and glared at her.

"What?" I snapped.

"Would you please turn it down?" she asked. "That music is giving me a headache."

"I already did," I said, rolling my eyes. She turned to leave, but I stopped her. "Hey Mom?" I asked.

"Yes honey?" She turned to face me.

"I heard you talking to someone who came to the door. I was just wondering if it was Manny."

"No honey, it wasn't.

"Oh," I said, disappointed. "Would you let me know if she stops by?"

"Of course dear."

A/N: The lyrics and the title of the chapter are from "Bruised" by Jack's Mannequin and they own it. Here we have Craig introduced as a main character of the story. I'm probably going to use everyone that I really like to have POVs.

Please review if you have the time. I'm getting the feeling that not many people like/are reading this story. If that's the case, I'm going to put it on hiatus so I can finish Let That Be Enough...that would take about 2 months so if you want the story to stay, please review!