A/N: Um hi everyone! It's been like 3 years since I've last updated this story and I'm really sorry about that :( I've matured quite a bit since then so my writing may have changed (also I haven't written in a while). I've decided to continue this story to see if anyone is actually going to read it so here goes nothing.

!WARNING!: mentions of self harm, suicidal thoughts, and depression- if that is triggering to you, read with precaution or skip chapter entirely.

Disclaimer: I still don't own the Monster High franchise lol.

You know those moments where you're so full of emotion that everything just feels clogged in your throat, like you'll never be able to say another word? That's how Frankie felt as Holt continued to whimper and sob against her neck. Her mind was simultaneously racing and frozen all at once. She couldn't believe that Holt wanted to, in her mind, die. Just the thought of her friend (lover? boyfriend?) leaving brought tears to her own eyes.

Holt was shaking with every sob that wracked his tired body. Frankie brushed her hands gently through his fire like hair in order to bring some sort of comfort to the music monster. Holt tried to push himself even closer to Frankie, nuzzling her neck as he tried to breathe in her scent. Ozone and flowers.

The smell was so distinctly her that Holt started to relax. Frankie made him feel so warm and at home. As Holt started to calm the sobs died off and were replaced with little puffs of air against Frankie's neck.

Holt sat up and rubbed his eyes roughly, embarrassed by his break down.

"Sorry Fine-Stein, guess I kinda lost it there for a second," Holt murmured as his cheeks colored in shame.

"Don't apologize for feeling, Holt. Everyone has the occasional break down," Frankie said gently as she rubbed her hand up and down Holt's back.

He shuddered beneath her touch and closed his eyes, taking in every sound and touch around him. He focused on his breathing. In and out. In and out. When he opened his eyes, Holt looked directly at Frankie and started to speak,

"I-I," his stuttering was interrupted by the green ghoul in front of him.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. No pressure," reassured Frankie.

"No," Holt said dejectedly, "This is something I need to get off my chest."

Frankie nodded softly, urging him to continue without words.

Holt sighed and began again to speak, fiddling with his fingers.

"It started a few months ago," he paused to breath again,"It wasn't anything sudden, it sorta gradually crept up on me. Gettin' up in the morning became a job I wasn't ready for. Breathing got...so much harder. It feels like-like an elephant is sitting on my chest," Holt gestured toward his heart lazily, "At first, I thought it was just a bad day, but the 'bad day' turned into a bad week that turned into a bad month."

Holt blinked slowly and looked down at his hands which were fidgeting nervously at his sleeves.

"Music…music can't even bring me out of-of whatever funk I'm in. Soon it got to the point were I just felt…numb. That cry babying that just happened was the first time I've felt something in months."

Frankie continued to stroke Holt's back, sometimes scratching her fingers lightly against his vertebrae.

"It had gotten so bad that one day I just- I just couldn't take it anymore. I felt worthless like-like no one would miss me if I were just….gone," Holt's breathing hitched as he remembered that awful night.

"I waited until Mom was asleep and went into the bathroom. I thought my heart was gonna explode or somethin'. Mom k-keeps r-razors under the sink," the blue skinned boy resolutely looked down as tears burned his eyes.

" I-I popped the blade out of the front and-and," Holt covered his mouth with a shaking hand and shook his head, unable to put into words the awful actions he committed.

He was ready to end it all that night but had chickened out. The thought of death frightened him a little but the pain had been welcomed. The numb feeling was replaced with a relief so great that it was almost a high.

Frankie gasped as quietly as she could so to not startle Holt. Instead of rubbing his back she quickly grasped his warm hands in hers, pulling them away from his mouth.

The two monsters locked eyes. Not a word was spoken but the question was there. Holt looked away in discomfort, but nodded his head slowly regardless.

Frankie steeled her nerves and slowly pulled up Holt's sleeves. This time, her gasp could not be held in.

On his cool blue skin there were numerous scars. Some were old, faded to almost a milky white, some were scabbing, leaving a rough texture over usually soft skin and others….others were an angry, painful red, so fresh you could almost smell the blood in that moment.

As Frankie's eyes traced over Holt's scars, a sudden beep startled the both of them. Holt wiped his eyes and gingerly grabbed his iCoffin from his pocket.

"Shit my phone's almost dead," Holt swore as he looked at the blinking battery icon.

"Guess my moping for the day is done," he tried to joke to no avail.

"Don't think you're getting out of talking about this, Holt," Frankie said resolutely, holding Holt's arms closer to her.

"Wouldn't dream of it Fine-Stein."

She pulled Holt's arms a little closer and gently pecked the still healing cuts with soft lips. Holt's eyes widened and his breathing halted.

"You are loved so so much, Holt. And a lot of people would be disappointed if you were gone."

'Including me,' Frankie thought but decided against saying out loud.

Holt chuckled sadly and clenched his jaw.

"Whatever you say, ghoul."

Frankie pulled Holt closer to her, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. Holt closed his eyes and hesitantly wrapped his arms around her as the world started to shift out of focus, signaling Jackson's return.

The last thing Holt heard was Frankie whispering something he couldn't quite grasp.

A/N: That's the end of Chapter 3! What do you think Frankie said to Holt? Maybe we'll figure it out in the next chapter, but in the mean time, review and subscribe so you won't miss an update :)

Much love xx