WARNING: GRAPHIC MENTIONS OF SELF HARM, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, BULLYING, MENTAL ILLNESS, SUICIDE ATTEMPTS, VIOLENCE, CHILD NEGLECT, GRAPHIC LANGUAGE, MANIPULATIONS, AND TRIGGERING IMAGERY. IF YOU ARE TRIGGERED BY THIS OR DO NOT ENJOY IT, DO NOT READ.
Chapter Sixteen.
Bella's POV:
When I finally returned to school, all eyes were on me. They knew what happened, what I tried to do. Embry dropped me off, giving me passionate kiss and hug of encouragement. I was going to need it.
I made my way to my locker, ignoring everyone's stares and whispers. It was going to be hard being the girl who tried to kill herself. Now I wasn't just zombie Bella, I was suicidal Bella. I was crazy.
"Hey, Bella." I jumped but relaxed when I saw who it was. Angela, the only girl that stayed by my side. Who hadn't spread rumors about me around the school. "How are you doing?"
"I'm better."
"That's good." I felt sick as she took in her wary eyes, full of pity. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not yet…"
"Well, when you're ready to talk, I'll be there." We made our way to class, passing by Lauren and Jessica. The former gave me a glare while the latter looked guilty.
I chose to ignore both of them and held my head high, the confidence from my therapy session still running through my veins.
I could do this, I could make it through. I am worth it.
I slipped into my desk and smiled as the words started to sink in.
I am worth it, I am worth it, I am worth it.
Lunch was awkward, to say the least. Jessica looked downright guilty while Lauren just glared. The guys felt uncomfortable and refused to meet Bella's eye, while Angela was super attentive. Bella felt like she was suffocating.
"So, is it true?" Lauren implored hotly.
"Lauren-" Jessica tried to butt in but was cut off by Lauren's glare.
"What? I'm just asking a question." My face grew hot as all eyes turned to me. "Did you do it?"
"That's none of your business." Angela snipped.
"I don't even know why she'd do it, anyway. Maybe she wants attention."
"Why are you being so cruel?" Eric exclaimed, but Lauren's eyes were shifted onto Bella's wide brown ones.
"You act like you're so innocent, but we all know what kind of person you really are, Isabella." She took a sip of her lemonade. "Edward knew, and that reservation kid knew. It's no wonder they left you behind to rot."
"You need to lay off. Seriously." Tyler snapped, and Lauren was momentarily stunned. Tyler usually kept silent during the altercations because he knew how she was, but this time he spoke up. It was a rare occurrence.
"Poor Bella always needs someone to save her! Boohoo, I'm Bella! Someone said something mean to me so I'm going to slit my wrists!"
"Stop being such a bitch, Lauren!"
"You better watch it, Angela."
"I have always been there for you through thick and thin, but I can't support you on this. I won't. Either change your attitude or I'm done being your friend."
"You see? She's splitting us apart! This was your plan all along!"
"Have you been taking your medication?" Tyler inquired.
"Fuck off."
"You promised!"
"You promised you wouldn't leave me for anyone else. Now you're all leaving me for her."
"That isn't true at all, and you know it. You're attacking her for no reason."
"Sorry I can't be here, Tyler! Sorry I have to be stupid damaged Lauren instead of lame ass Bella!"
"I don't want her, I want you!"
"Bullshit." Tyler went to grab at her and she pushed him away with angry eyes. "Don't touch me!" She ran out of the back doors of the school with a wild look in her eye. Tyler went to follow after her, but Principle Greene stopped him.
Without thinking I followed after her.
"You're so stupid, you're so stupid, why are you so fucking stupid, Lauren?" Lauren muttered to herself as she pulled at her hair, almost as if she was going to rip it out. "Idiot, idiot, idiot. No wonder he wants her. She's so much nicer and prettier and smarter than you." Her hands untangled from her scalp and suddenly she slammed her head against the wall, a cry coming from her lips. I ran towards her and pulled her away from the wall.
"Lauren, stop!" My voice must have surprised her because she froze and turned towards me with wild eyes.
"Why can't you just leave me alone? Haven't I done enough to you?"
"What?" I stepped back a few steps as she stepped forward.
"I literally pushed you to kill yourself, Bella. Maybe you should go back inside and forget what you've seen. Let me finish this."
"What? No! Why would I do that?"
"Because I was a total asshole to you for no reason?"
"Hurt people hurt people."
"You're an idiot, you know that? No wonder he likes you. No wonder everyone likes you."
"They like you too, Lauren."
"Bullshit!" Her hands wrapped around my throat and fear filled my body. "Why do you have to exist? Why do you have to make life harder for me?"
"Lauren, please-"
"I just want to be loved, is that so hard? I'm pretty, I'm popular, I'm rich! But no one wants me!" Her hands fell away and I coughed, feeling light headed. "How can I be better?"
"You're good enough, Lauren. You don't need to impress people with good looks or riches. You're amazing the way you are." She started to sob and against my better judgment I pulled her into my arms and held her close.
Never would I have thought this would have happened. Me comforting my bully, the infamous poison-tongued Lauren Mallory? But life always seems to surprise me these days.
The bell rang, but she continued to cry, and I continued to hold her. The principle never came looking for us and neither did Tyler.
When she finally pulled away from me she wiped her eyes and said, "I need to get out of that house. My therapist says to stay out of toxic situations, and I can't deal with this anymore."
"What toxic situations?" But she didn't seem to hear me as she kept going on.
"I need to go to another session and go back on my meds. I can't get bad again. I can't. I refuse to."
"I'll support you, however, I can, Lauren." Her eyes turned back towards me and she nodded slowly.
"You're a good person, Bella Swan. Never change." With those words left lingering in the air she disappeared back into the school, leaving me to ponder.
What toxic situation was she in? What did she take medication for? How could I help her?
Without much else to do, I headed back into the school to my next class. My thoughts stayed on Lauren for the rest of the day.
Mike Newton's POV:
"I can't do this anymore."
"What?"
"You're not the girl I fell in love with, Jessica. I feel like I don't even know you anymore."
"I-I can change. I can do better."
"You should, but I don't think I can be a part of it." Jessica started to cry, and I felt a lump in my throat start to form. "We're over."
"Please don't do this." I leaned down pressed a kiss to her cheek.
"Live a good life, Jessie. Be the kind girl I know you can be." The bell rang, and everyone stormed from their classroom. I turned away from her and got lost in the crowd before heading to my locker. We had our last class together and I knew I wouldn't be able to look at her without trying to get her back. With my decision made I packed up my stuff and headed towards the exit.
When I made it to my car I turned it on and music blared through the speakers. The mix CD she had made me for our anniversary. Our song.
"Hey there, Delilah. Don't you worry about the distance. I'm right there if you get lonely, give this song another listen. Close your eyes. Listen to my voice, it's my disguise. I'm by your side."
Tears filled my eyes and started full out bawling in the school parking lot.
Breakups fucking sucked, let me tell you. Especially when you have to leave the person you love for yours and their benefit. Even though you wished you could run back and kiss them all over, you were unable.
Breakups? No, life fucking sucked.
I rubbed my eyes with my sleeve before pulling out of the parking lot and heading home.
Hopefully, I got over this soon or I'd be stuck heartbroken forever, I thought to myself bitterly. As the next song, One Wish by Ray J played through my speakers I started to cry again. Yeah, hopefully.
Third person POV:
"Why are you so obsessed with her? What's wrong with you?"
"I'm not obsessed with her!"
"Well, you're something! All you do is go on and on about how she's using Embry! But you have no proof what so ever!"
"I was wrong, okay? I made a mistake."
"Yeah, and a mistake… You're such a stupid sack of shit."
"Like you're any better! I don't see you apologizing to her for stealing me away." Jacob tutted at her and shook his head. "What an Emily thing to do."
"Wow, that was a low blow." Her lips pursed, and she tensed. "You know what? Get out."
"What?" He questioned softly. Without warning, Leah grabbed her ashtray from her nightstand and threw it at his head. He ducked, and it smashed to pieces on the door.
"Get out!" Jacob quickly hightailed it out of the room as she lifted a picture frame to lob at his head, body shaking. When he was gone she fell to her knees and let the tears fall.
How was it fair that she was stuck with an imprint that was in love with someone else? Was Sam falling for Emily not enough? Didn't she deserve happiness and love?
Seth slipped into the room and pulled his big sister into his arms before rocking her like a small child. His blood boiled to see her so broken again, and by none other than her soulmate.
The man that should never break her heart or make her cry.
It made Seth sick to his stomach as he thought of the boy he used to look up to and how far he had fallen. It was a damn shame.
As Leah's cries subsided and she started to fall asleep, Seth lifted her and lay her in the bed before slipping in himself. He held his sister as she fell into dreamland, only sleeping himself once he knew she was okay.
Emily Young and Sam Uley sat in their car outside of Forks Hospital. Emily cried into her fiancé's chest, her heart heavy and stomach sick. Sam felt helpless.
"What do we do, Sammy? How do we take care of a child with special needs?"
"Your parents raised Aspen just fine. We'll be able to do it, Emmy."
"I want them to have the best life and best opportunities." She wiped her eyes and looked up at him with swollen eyes. "I love them so much."
"I do too. And I know we can give them the best life and opportunities."
"How are you so sure?"
"We're Sammy and Emmy, of course, we can. We're awesome!" He kissed her scarred cheek and then captured her lips with his. When he pulled away, an excited smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you. You always know how to comfort me."
"Of course, I do. I'm your soulmate."
"Sam, we're going to be parents! Can you believe it?"
"No, it's amazing." They kissed again. "Absolutely amazing."