Broken Chapter: 7

Author's note: I'm having trouble thinking of ideas for the story. Should I just stop writing this? If you have any suggestions, feel free to tell me!

It was almost a year ago when everything began. It's funny, really… I've gotten used to this pain. I'm expecting to be called nasty names, covering up bruises and hunger. Used to feeling unloved. But one night; one person changed everything. I prayed for an angel, and I was given so much more. She kind of came into my life in a strange way… she protected me from a bully, and then became my friend. I'm beginning to forget the pain I've become accustomed too. She is warming this cold heart.

Her name is Chelsea.

What would I do without her?

b…..r….o…k….e….n:

"Good morning, Vaughn! Are you ready for school?"

I slowly opened my eyes. The sun was shining brightly, and Chelsea was standing over me, smiling kindly while holding my uniform. It's only been a few days since I was "rescued" and brought to Chelsea's house, yet I feel as if I have been here for years. I groaned as I rubbed my tired eyes and rose out of bed.

"Not really. Why are you so happy to be awake, you hate school."

Chelsea blushed. "Well, I've finally gotten used to this place! I have a best friend, and I have some new friends too! What's not to be happy about?"

I chuckled… I really admire her enthusiasm.

Chelsea left the room, leaving me with my gray uniform and empty thoughts. I glanced up at the mirror… and smiled weakly. I wasn't sure what I was expecting… I'm still the pale, skinny, beat-up boy I was a few weeks ago. I sighed as I began to put the gray clothes on. All of a sudden, a painful throbbing ran up my body and settled in my head. I placed both hands on my head and cried out. Blurs of my mother came into the room. She was wearing a black, ripped wedding dress.

Soon, I was no longer in the bedroom, and I was back in that snowy place… by that dead tree. The cold was unbearable… I shivered then heard heartbreaking sobs. Mom was crying; she was a crumpled mess in a dark wedding gown. Thanks to pity, I walked over to her and placed my hand gently on her shoulder.

"Why are you crying Mom?"

Mom looked up at me, closed her eyes and began to laugh.

"Do you really believe you can escape me Vaughn? Do you really think you can find a family, leave all your horrible memories behind? Better yet, do you think you can really fall in love? No one will love you. Your own mother couldn't, so why would Chelsea?"

I clenched my fist, holding back my tears. "Chelsea's different, Mom. She… loves me..."

She laughed once more, placing her hand on the rough bark of that dead tree. "You'll ruin her before she falls in love with you. You will tear her family apart. Go. Find someone else… it would be best for both of you."

"No! I- I love her," I shouted. My voice was shaky though.

"You truly are selfish then. Just you watch… everything will fall apart. And it will all be because of you… again."

The snow began to disappear, and I was once again in Chelsea's bedroom, on the floor, sweating and panting.

"What happened," I asked myself.

I got up, took a deep breath, and went downstairs. I ate breakfast silently, listening to Chelsea chatter, wondering what my mother meant. I tried to shrug it off, but her voice, her words, still lingered in my head.

"Well, I'll see you later you guys; you ready to go Vaughn?"

I nodded, trying my best to hide the worry, and waved goodbye to Hikari and Gill. The walk to school was also silent. I could tell Chelsea was concerned. But she never asked; she just stared at me with those beautiful sapphire blue eyes, tainting them with hurt.

When we got to class, I quickly walked away from Chelsea and I sat down quietly at my desk.

"Today will be good. Just forget what you saw, Vaughn... you don't want to worry Chelsea," I whispered.

I noticed Sabrina was staring at me, and when I turned to meet her gaze, she turned bright red. I need to ask her why she does that. Man, she sure is weird.

The bell rung; signaling the beginning of recess. I sighed in relief, putting my pencil down.

Natalie walked towards my desk, then punched me roughly in the arm.

"Ow! What was that for, Natalie?"

Natalie shrugged and smiled mischievously. "No reason. That's how I greet everyone."

'A nice hello or a wave would have been just fine,' I thought.

"Come on guys, lets go play on the monkey bars before they get taken," Denny said as he ran towards the playground; Chelsea and I followed slowly behind.

Then, out of nowhere, she smacked me on the head when everyone wasn't looking. I gave her a dirty look, and rubbed my head.

"Hey, what was that for? Gosh, why is everyone hitting me?"

Chelsea placed her hands on her hips. "Something is obviously wrong with you. What happened this morning, why won't you talk to me?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's none of your business."

She gave me a sad look, and stopped walking.

"What's your problem now?"

"I thought we were friends. You can tell me anything, Vaughn. You know that."

Guilt washed over me, and I grinned reassuringly. "I'm sorry Chels. I just didn't get enough sleep last night, that's all. I'm ok."

Chelsea still didn't seem very convinced, but she shrugged, grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the monkey bars. We all played happily, swinging bravely on the cold metal bars. I almost forgot the vision I had this morning. After falling down for the umpteenth time, I got up and sat on the bench, totally defeated.

That girl, Sabrina, sat next to me, holding a thick book in her hands.

"Oh, hi Sabrina. How are you?"

"H-Hello Vaughn, I'm fine thank you."

We were both quiet for a moment. Sabrina began to blush once more as she played with her hair.

"Vaughn, w-w-would you like to come to my house to play?"

I smiled. "Sure! I'm sure Chelsea would love to come."

Sabrina frowned. "Oh. R-Right, Chelsea… is she umm you know? Do you like like her?"

I gave Sabrina a confused look. There's a like like? I thought you could only like someone once. Maybe when you're best friends, you're supposed to like them twice, and you're supposed to like only friends once.

"I guess so."

Sabrina stared at her shoes sadly. "Oh. I'm h-happy for her."

"I could 'like like' you too if you want," I shrugged.

Sabrina gleamed. "Ok! I'll see you after school then!"

Sabrina got up, then walked happily back to the library where she normally hangs out.

Chelsea plopped down next to me and sighed tiredly. "What was that about?"

"I don't know. But I agreed we'd go play at her house after school today."

"That was nice of you Vaughn." Chelsea said as she rested her head on my shoulder

I blushed, then smiled. Maybe I'll ask Chelsea what like like means later. I'm sure she'll know.

After school, we found Sabrina standing by the gate, smiling dreamily while she held her book. Today was rough, and honestly, I just wanted to go home. But I know it would hurt Sabrina's feeling if I left.

"Hello Vaughn! I'm so happy you're coming!"

Chelsea laughed nervously and scratched the back of her head. "Nice to see you too Sabrina."

"Hello Chelsea. I forgot you were coming along as well."

"Sure," Chelsea huffed.

I tried to enjoy the walk over, maybe relax a little, but Sabrina would not shut her trap. She went on and on about her book, and how well it was written. I don't have much interest in books; neither does Chelsea, but we both put on a fake smile, trying to seem polite. Eventually, we ended up at a huge brick mansion. Chelsea said it was like a castle, I thought it was pretty creepy. Vines crawled up the pale gray bricks, a black, metal fence wrapped around the creepy house, and a scary, skinny man that resembled a vampire stood by the wooden double doors.

"Welcome home my darling little girl. I see you brought visitors."

Jeez, the guy talks in a creepy way too.

"Father this is my new friend, Vaughn. And this is Chelsea."

I chuckled at Sabrina's introduction. I guess she doesn't really like Chelsea.

The creepy vampire-man smirked, which sent a chill up my spine. "Yes, very nice to meet you both. Please come in. But I must warn you, my house is filled with many valuable things, so don't touch anything!"

Chelsea and I nodded. Sabrina then grabbed my hand, making Chelsea grind her teeth together, and led us to her room. Her bedroom was enormous, a lot bigger than Chelsea's, that's for sure. The walls were purple, like her dress, and was filled with many expensive things and scattered with books. Chelsea was obviously annoyed with the quiet girl and her father, but she continued to smile kindly.

"So, Sabrina, would you like to hang out with us sometime at school?"

Sabrina glanced over at Chelsea. "Yes... w-will Vaughn be there," she said quietly.

Chelsea nodded angrily. "Yes. He'll be there."

I noticed the girls were glaring harshly at each other, so I stepped in between them, desperately trying to keep them from clawing each others eyes out. "So, Sabrina what game should we play?"

"Umm, how about hide and seek," she blushed.

"Nah. How 'bout truth or dare," Chelsea suggested.

Gosh, this is so stupid. Why are they acting like this? "Ok, we'll play truth or dare first, then hide and go seek."

"Ok," They said simultaneously.

We sat down on the floor, waiting for someone to ask a question, or a dare. That's when Chelsea pursed her lips in thought, and looked towards me.

"Vaughn, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Aww, how boring. Ok, is it true that you like like someone at this school?"

Ugh. There's that like like thing again… man, girls are so confusing with their repeating words. So I shrugged.

"Yup."

"Oh, who is it?"

"I'm not telling!"

Chelsea pouted while I chuckled. Even when Chelsea is being a brat, she still looks cute.

"Alright, my t-turn. Chelsea, truth or dare?"

"Dare!"

"Ok, I dare you to umm, kiss Denny on the cheek tomorrow!"

For some reason, jealousy consumed my thoughts. I don't want her to kiss that guy!

"Ok!"

Wait, what? She'll actually do that!

"No."

Chelsea tilted her head, "Why, Vaughn?"

"Because he smells like fish."

Sabrina and Chelsea giggled and I crossed my arms. It's not fair. I'm the only one who can kiss Chelsea… wait. I am? Ahhhh what am I saying?

"Alright girls, my turn. Chelsea truth or dare?"

"Truth this time."

I thought for a moment.… "Ok, is it true YOU 'like like' someone at the school… whatever that means."

Chelsea began to blush. "Man, this game is boring. Let's go play outside now."

I knew she was ignoring the question. But I agreed this game was getting boring. I guess I'll never know who she 'like likes'. Weird girls. We all went outside, and played hide 'n go seek. We must've played for hours… by the time we had to go home, it was dark and the stars were already shining brightly in the sky. We were walking home when Chelsea stuck her hands in her pockets and frowned.

"She likes you Vaughn."

"I know. She wouldn't be my friend if she didn't."

Chelsea shook her head and laughed. "I mean she likes you more than a friend. She has a crush on you."

I blinked, "Oh. Is that why she stares at me and blushes?"

Chelsea nodded. "Yeah… Well the question is; do you have a crush on her?"

"No. Not really."

Chelsea let out a sigh in relief. I wonder why…

…broken.

We got home a few minutes later, and soon we were being tucked into bed. Hikari kissed us goodnight, leaving us in the quiet, blue room.

"Goodnight you two, I'll see you in the morning."

As I was slowly falling asleep, I noticed snow flakes falling from the ceiling. I tried to tell myself it was not there; just my imagination… But before I knew it, I was back by that old, dead tree. I couldn't see Mom though; I could only hear her voice.

"You'll ruin everything. Just you wait."

She repeated this over and over again until I couldn't take it any longer. I got out of bed, and gazed over at Chelsea. She was sleeping soundly. A tear then slipped down my pale cheek, making its way to the floor. What will happen if I stay? What will happen if I go?

I just didn't know anymore.

I opened the door, making a creaking sound echo in the dark room.

"V-Vaughn? Is that you? Where are you going?"

"You'll ruin her. Go. Just go."

"No where Chelsea…"

I slowly walked out of the room, feeling as if something was taking over my body. I was no longer in control. My legs kept moving, while my mind was screaming, telling me to go back to bed, and quit worrying Chelsea. I tried, but I knew the madness was taking over.

"In the kitchen… there's a knife. Get it."

I found my self heading towards the kitchen, digging in the drawers, and looking for a knife. Chelsea was behind me. She's scared; I can hear her heart beating….

Something was controlling me, and I don't like it. I was trying to stop myself… trying to put that knife down, but I couldn't.

"Vaughn, what are you doing?"

"Can't you see little girl? He ruined my family. He'll ruin yours. He needs to disappear."

"Vaughn… stop it! You're scaring me!"

"Vaughn? He's no longer here. He's weak… I'm in control now."

No longer myself, I lowered my head and began to laugh. I held the knife to wrists, and sliced them slowly, letting the blood trickle down my arms.

"Mom! Dad! Help!"

"No one can help him now," I smirked.

That was the last thing I remember saying before I collapsed.

…

So how was that? Tell me what you think!-forevergone123 :D