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Throughout a couple more weeks, Jackie used the razor as a way to escape her pain and fear. She was careful to leave no evidence so no one got suspicious. But as the weeks grew longer, Jackie became weaker and skinnier. Mark was the only one who noticed Jackie's change. After a while, Jackie was forced to go back to school. She woke up early to see that blood had stained her sleeves in the middle of the night.
" Great." She mumbled to herself. She took of her shirt and looked down at her wrist. Three dark cuts on each arm that were starting to scab, looked back at her. She shook her head and put on another long sleeved shirt and a fresh pair of jeans. Walking out into the loft, Mark, Mimi, and Collins eating breakfast at the table. Jackie went over and sat herself in the empty chair next to Mark. Jackie looked around the lost and then looked at Mimi.
"Roger has band practice this morning. Mimi answered Jackie's nonverbal question. Jackie nodded once. Mimi smiled at Jackie " So are you ready to go back to school Jackie?" Mimi asked her. Jackie shrugged her shoulders in return. Collins laughed at Jackie.
"Well, you had to go back sooner or later." He said. Then he returned to reading the newspaper. Jackie didn't feel hungry this morning. In fact, she hadn't felt hungry in al least 2 days. Instead she amused herself by spinning a fork on the table. Mark stared at Jackie with deep interest.
" She's always hungry in the morning." Mark thought to himself. He just could let go of the feeling that something was going on with Jackie. After a minute or so, Jackie looked up at Mark.
" What?" Jackie asked in the same rueful way Roger always responded when angry. Mark stared at her eyes and saw that Jackie bright green eyes that usually sparkled with life seemed dull and emotionless. She also had dark bags under her eyes. Mark then turned away and pushed his glasses up his nose. He then grunted goodbye and headed to work. Mimi soon followed and went down to the life café.
" Well, lets get going shall we?" Collins asked Jackie. Jackie nodded in response and followed Collins out of the loft.
Jackie sat at her lunch table by herself. She threw away the lunch Roger made her the moment she stepped into the room. She never really noticed how lonely it was without Mel talking all the time. Jackie considered herself a better listener then talker. She looked around and saw everyone looking at her, whispering to each other and giggling once or twice. Jackie shrugged her shoulders and put her head on her arms, which were lying on the table. All Jackie could think about was that little sharp friend of hers, waiting in the bathroom. She shivered at the thought. About 5 minutes later Brittany and Justin came walking towards her.
" Speak of the devil." Jackie whispered to herself as her raised her head.
" So Jackie," Brittany said with a evil smirk, " where's Bug-eyed Mel these day? I miss making her cry." Jackie kept a straight face and gave no sign that she was mad. She remained quiet for a moment before replying.
" I don't know." Jackie said expressionless. Brittany and Justin smirked.
" Well you must be a real loser to be sitting by yourself at lunch." Justin added. Jackie just shrugged her shoulders. Brittany and Justin looked at each other with looks of confusion before turning around and heading back to their own table. Jackie took a deep breath and sighed. " Why don't I care anymore??" Jackie asked herself. Before she could ponder it any longer, the bell rang loudly. Jackie picked up her stuff and headed towards art class.
When school ended, Jackie took the long way home. Instead of going through the short cut to the life café to visit Mimi, she walked all the way through the park and down every street in between. She read the graffiti on the walls once or twice when passing by. By the time she got back to the loft, it was almost dark. She walked up the long flight of stairs and headed into the loft. Roger, Mimi, and Collins were all sitting on the ripped couches talking. They all turned their heads when Jackie entered the room. Roger was the first to speak.
" Where the hell were you?" He demanded, standing up and walking toward Jackie, his blond hair waving in his face. Jackie looked at the floor; afraid the Roger could read her mind. " Jackie?" Roger screamed impatiently.
" I took the long way home." Jackie answered, dropping all of her books on the ground. " Is that ok?" Jackie asked. Roger stared at her for a moment, before sighing and returning to the couch. Jackie's heart pounded once more at the thought that someone might discover her terrible secret. All of a sudden, Jackie felt a wave a fatigue and dizziness. She stumbled a step or two and held onto her head. Mimi and Roger ran over to her side and held her arms.
" Are you ok, chica?" Mimi asked through her brown eyes of concern. Jackie made a slight laugh and nodded,
" Yea, I'm fine. Just tired from school I guess." Jackie answered. " I-I think I'll go to bed now." Roger nodded
" Here, let me help you." Roger insisted. Jackie tried to pull away from him, but found it harder then usually because of her weakness.
" I'm," Jackie said putting all of her strength into getting out of her brother's grip, " fine, Roger!" Jackie secretly wanted Roger to help her but didn't want any chance of him finding out her secret. Mimi observed Jackie closely and noticed she looked underweight. Of course, being a dancer, Mimi knew more then a few things about weight. She hoped it was just her imagination. " I'll be fine. I don't need your help." Jackie said bitterly, walking towards her room. Roger, Collins and Mimi watch her make her way to her room, almost falling in the process.
" She's just tired." Roger said in a hard tone." She's like me when she gets tired." Collins nodded his head in agreement and started to talk to Roger about his next gig at the life. Mimi remained silent for a while, still thinking about Jackie. She shook her head and talked along with Roger and Collins.
Jackie stood in the room Roger and her shared and held on tight to the stuffed bear Roger made her in his home economics class. Roger was putting all of his stuff into a suitcase fast. Jackie looked up at Roger with big eyes.
" Where are you going Roger?" 10-year-old Jackie asked. Roger spun around and stumbled on his words.
"Jackie, I'm going away for awhile to find us a new home. I'm going to come back for you but I can't take you with me right now. It wont be safe." Roger said trying to make Jackie feel better. Jackie kept staring at Roger, and her eyes started to water up. Roger kneeled down on the floor to come eye level with her. " Don't cry. Please, I need you to be strong right now. Stronger then ever because I'm going to come back as soon as I can." Roger said, wiping way her tears with his thumb. Jackie nodded.
" Promise?" Jackie asked. Roger smiled.
" Pinky promise." He replied, holding out his pinky. Jackie held out hers and they connected. She then hugged him, almost knocking him over. He ruffled her hair and grabbed his suitcase. Jackie followed him to the front door and watched him slowly walk down the steps and into a cab. He turned around one more time and waved. Jackie waved back and watched him leave. Just then, the smell of blood and fear came into her nostrils as two huge shadows towered over her with bright red eyes and laughed wickedly. Jackie screamed and was pulled into the darkness.
Jackie was now 11 years old and her father was drunk again. He found it amusing to throw a broken mug at her back when she wasn't looking. She screamed in pain as she fell to the floor in agony. Tears streamed down her face.
" Roger! Roger, help me!" Jackie cried into the darkness. But nothing answered her back. Instead she heard the deep, drunken laugh of her father as he stumbled over to her.
" That Son of a bitch isn't coming back! You here me girl! Never. So stop your fucking whining and get me another beer before I hurt you again!" Mr. Davis hollered at the injured Jackie. Jackie cried even harder.
" Roger! Please, Roger!" Jackie cried into the emptiness once more. Mr. Davis grabbed Jackie by the hair and threw her into the wall, knocking her into the world of darkness.
Jackie woke up in a cold sweat and was breathing fast. She cried into her blanket, hope no one could hear her. But nothing she did could stop her crying. After about 5 minutes, she calmed herself down a little, but still had silent tears fall down her cheeks. She got onto her feet and stumbled, still feeling week. She stumbled into the dark loft near the couches and finally fell onto the ground. She had her eyes closed as she rocked back and forth mumbling into the darkness.
Roger was in his bedroom with Mimi when he heard a loud noise. He shrugged it off but then heard it a second time. He decided to go take a look, just in case Mark got locked in the bathroom again. When he walked out, he saw his sister sitting on the floor rocking back and forth talking to herself.
" Jackie?" he whispered fiercely. He ran over to her and went onto his knees, trying to make eye contact with his sister. Holding onto her shoulders, he shook her. " Jackie? Jackie it's me, Roger." Jackie didn't open her eyes or stop rocking. She did however start talking.
" Don't leave me. Don't leave me with them. Don't leave me." Jackie whispered. Roger's eyes widened. Jackie continued to repeat the same words over and over.
" Jackie." Roger said to her, holding her shoulders. " I'm not going to leave you. I'm right here." Jackie didn't stop. Roger shook his head, and lifted Jackie up into his arms. He then sat on the couch with his sister on his lap and hugged her. He didn't let go of her no matter how much she rocked. He repeated the words he said before. " I'm not going to leave you." Jackie finally stopped rocking and cried into Roger's chest. Roger held her the whole time, not letting go once. When Jackie was so worn out from crying she started to calm down.
Before sleep took over her body once more, she whispered, " Why did you leave me?" and fell asleep in his arms. Roger held on tight to his sister's frail body, letting silent tears run down his face. He then picked her up and put her onto her bed. He covered her and sat at the edge of the bed. He wasn't going to leave her side. He was going to keep his promise this time.
Hmmmm? What's going to happen next? Well reviews keep the story going.)