(Title Change)

Chapter 3

"Could I have it... Please? I'll buy it off ya." I stood there with one of my hands out so that he could give it back to me.

"No."

"Why not?" I frowned playfully. "I really want it... Why do you want to keep it? That's me!" I exclaimed pointing at the canvas.

"Because it's mine and it's the best that I've drawn of you."

"Wow, so you painted more of me, huh? How come I never knew?" I grinned. He ignored my comment and walked around me to put the canvas back on his desk. He took my hand and walked me over to his bed. We both sat down on the edge of the bed, our hands still interlocked.

"Should we continue the conversation from the elevator?" he asked. I swallowed the nervousness down my throat and nodded my head slowly. If I were to say no, there would be a whole new conversation about that. "Okay so... Anything going on at school.... Outside of classes?!"

"Mmm no," I nervously replied.

"Are you sure? Remember, you can tell me anything."

"Carter, I'm sure."

He sighed. "Rosie." He doesn't call me that unless he's worried about me. "I love you and you need to trust me on this." He covered his other hand with mine, holding me with both. "You can tell me what's wrong. I swear to you that I won't retaliate. And I know you too well to know that you were thinking I would hurt someone to defend you." Well, he was right. I was thinking that he would beat the living hell out anyone who would talk about me in a negative way. "Have you been harming yourself again?"

"No, I haven't," I lied as I played with my fingers. I couldn't even bare to look at him. He would immediately see the pain in my eyes that I tried desperately to hide away.

"You're lying to me. I know you too well, Rose. You play with your fingers every time you lie or get nervous. I saw your scars when you were getting dressed this morning." Oh my god. I knew this wouldn't work. He lets go of my hands in frustration. "You know what?" he continued. "I'm not having this conservation anymore. You are obviously not going to tell me, so why even bother?"

"I-I'm... I'm sorry... I just can't," I mumbled, but I guess he didn't hear me since he started walking to the door. Tears trickled down my cheeks.

"I'm gonna go downstairs to order the pizza. I'll call you down when it gets here." With that, he got up and left the room, closing the door behind him.

I heaved a sigh and looked around the room. What now? I looked at the bed closely out of curiosity. There was something under the sheets. I peeled them open to see a laptop.

I carefully read through the tabs: Carter's email, Dating app login, and Mr. Powers' Art Scholarship Event. Another tab was one of Carter's essays and the last one well... It was a page that I didn't recognize. I opened the tab to see a video:

He's seen it...

"Rosemary McAllister: The Academy's Newly Reigned Whore!"

I started to hyperventilate. I felt like I couldn't catch my breath. My chest hurt. Is this a panic attack? Heart attack... My eyes welling up with warm tears. My heart was pounding so hard, I could hear it.

*booM... boOM... BOOM*

I clicked on the video and I carefully watched.

Oh my god... I covered my mouth with my hand and stared at the screen wide eyed. What am I doing!?.... I don't remember any of this.

Uncontrollable tears were streaming down and stinging my face. I was too distraught to wipe them away.

I quickly paused the video and scrolled down to the comments. I was curious about what people thought of me. I hope what they say doesn't break me down anymore, but I highly doubt that.

Oh my god.

"She is such a whore."

"This girl goes to our school?? SMH. Didn't know the board's priorities were so low they would accept someone like this to the Academy."

"Sluttt!!!!"

"This isn't okay. WTF"

"WHORE!"

I let out a whimper as I cried harder. I continued to read. I couldn't help myself.

"She looks so easy. I would tap that FS."

"LMAOOOO"

"...KYS"

"No!!" I screamed as I slammed the laptop shut. I threw it at the mirror with so much anger, the mirror shattered into millions of pieces and the laptop broke into two. I uncontrollably sobbed through repeated screaming.

"Rose!?" I heard Carter yell from downstairs, but I ignored him.

All of the hurtful comments kept replaying in my head. "KYS," "I would tap that." Not being able to have my parents beside me for support; for love; for comfort. The night of their death constantly replaying in my head like a broken record player. The abusive my aunt endured from her ex. Being a constant let-down and not living up to Jonah's standards; being a complete and utter disappointment. The overwhelming pain I caused onto myself...

I screamed, "I can't take it! I can't anymore! I can't! I can't!"

I stormed and ran straight to the medicine cabinet. I tried to open the cabinet, but it wouldn't budge.

"Rose?!" I heard him yell again, but I ignored him.

"Leave me alone!" I screamed in between sobs. Adrenaline pumping through my veins, I grabbed an unopened shampoo bottle from the shower and smashed it through the medicine cabinet glass. Panting within cries, I carelessly grabbed the bottle of Carter's prescribed sleeping pills. Pieces of shattered glass pierced my skin, blood spewing from the deep cuts.

"Rosie!!?" I heard quick footsteps coming from the stairs.

I screamed as I couldn't get it open. It was closed so tightly that my hands turned red and burned like fire.

"Rose!" I turned around to see Carter. I screamed a 'no!!' as I turned away from him. Seeing him made me sob even harder.

I screamed again when I felt him hug me from behind.

"No! Get away from me!" I yelled as I struggled underneath him. I repeatedly elbowed his chest, but he didn't budge. "No!" I screamed when he started to try to take the medication away. " I want to die!! Please! Let Me-!" My sobs took complete control of me. I could barely catch my breath. I can't feel my legs. My body hurts. We both collapsed to the tile floors as he cradled me in his arms. Carter grabbed the pill bottle from my hands and threw it out the bathroom. My eyes were so puffy and teary I could no longer see out of them. My heart was hurting so bad. I hid my face in his chest as I continued to sob.

"Its okay," Carter reassured me. "You're going to be okay I'm here for you, Rosie. We'll get through this together." He caressed my face and ran his gentle fingers through my now detangled hair.

We stayed like that for a while. Carter continued to sooth me with words for about half an hour until I fell into a deep sleep.

*Song of the week: 

Smother by Daughter