TW!

***

"Hey, we're here to-"

"Cut the crap" Tara appeared from behind Seb, slowly walking towards me with an accusing stare. I gulped, bracing myself for what was about to happen.

Seb had just let Austin and me into his house. I was already anxious as it is, and she comes flying out like that? I might just faint.

"Tara, I-"

"I said," She cut me off again, clenching her jaw in frustration as she came right up to my face."Cut the fucking crap, Tina!"

I shut my mouth immediately.

"Am I right?" She asked, staring deep into my terrified eyes with her angry brown ones. I nodded, not needing an explanation. I knew that she knew.

"So you just...you just decided to hide it from me?" She shook her head, ignoring the worried faces of Austin and Seb."When would you tell me? Were you even going to tell me?" She asked me, disappointed.

"Tara, I'm sorry"

"No, Tina!" She exclaimed."That's not how a promise works! That's not how it fucking works, dammit! I trusted you to be honest with me, always and forever'' She shook her head, fighting hot tears from escaping her furious eyes. ''What if you went too far?! What if I didn't find out? Would I lose you?'' She frowned at her own words, imagining everything that could've gone down. ''Do you realize that? You could've died. How could you do this? You know what the doctors told us when we got out. YOU know what they said. So, why? Because of him, really? Or is it because of Gina again? Because of your mother too? Who?! Tell me, whose fault it is! Why would you do that?! Tell me!-"

"Because of me, Tara!" I shrieked, cutting her rant off. The palms of my hands were growing sweaty and my throat was beginning to shut, but I fought through it as all my emotions came spilling out of my mouth."It's all because of me, Tara! No one else! Can't you see? I'm not okay. I never was! It was all a flipping lie! A disguise! I wanted to be like you, so desperately. I wanted to recover, I wanted to be normal again, just like you. I knew that you were okay, so I had to pretend I was too! I couldn't ruin it all for you. I couldn't. I had to shut up and smile because I knew what you went through! I didn't want you to go back to that. So I shut down my own troubles because I wanted to let you heal! I wanted to let you heal in peace, Tara'' I begged her to understand, my voice cracking as I poured my heart out to her. ''And then one day, one small thing ticked me off, and that's it! I'm back at it again. I'm back at the lowest frickin' point of my life. And I have no idea what I'm doing!"

''Tara-'' Austin tried to speak before she did.

''No, Austin, it's fine. I won't hurt your precious little Tina. At least, not like she hurt me'' Tara cut him off, still staring into my eyes through her tears. ''I need to go'' She whispered before storming out of Seb's house. He followed her, flashing us an apologetic smile.

I stared after her, through the half-open front door.

So, that's it?

That's the end?

The end of everything we went through together? 

I refused to believe it.

''She'll come around'' Austin finally spoke up, as a tear slipped down my cheek. He came closer, extending his arm to hug me. I pushed it away, refusing to look at him.

I need to be alone.

''Leave me alone, please'' I shook my head as I left the house. His footsteps followed me, making my temper rise a little more.

''Tina, please, don't do anything stupid-''

''Why the fuck not?!'' I exploded, turning around. ''Can't you fucking see?! I have nothing left to lose anymore! Nothing! Why should I try? I mean, what's the point? I managed to fuck up yet another good thing in my life!''

''Tina, you're being overdramatic-''

''Fuck you, Austin!'' I screamed, almost losing my voice as my vocal cords strained to cry and shout at the same time. ''I'm sick of this! I'm sick of these messed-up mind games. What are we doing? Tell me. Because I'm getting really fucking tired of playing cat and mouse games!''

He stared at me with emotionless grey eyes.

''What?!'' I threw my hands in the air for emphasis.

''I guess you just ruined another good thing in your life'' He spat, before getting into his car and speeding off.

I stared after him, his words cutting right through my heart.

What have I done?

***

The next week went by in an agonizingly slow manner.

I didn't attend school. I stayed wrapped up in a thousand blankets, right in my bed. I watched depressing Tv shows and desperately tried to convince myself that I still had a purpose. It was hard and barely working.

I also didn't eat anything, this entire week. Which was clearly visible on my already fragile frame. But I didn't care at all. I loved the feeling of being light. One thing I didn't love, however, was my appearance. That's why I stayed in bed all week. I couldn't stand getting up and seeing myself in the bathroom mirror. I just couldn't do it.

My mother, stepsister, and stepdad would be coming home today, which made me want to disappear from the face of the earth. But I didn't have the energy to get out of bed.

My phone had been turned off the entire week, ridding me of any communication with others. They had tried knocking on my back door, but I ignored them. They could see me from the window, but I avoided meeting their gaze. I was sure that Seb, Caleb, and Sasha had come around.

No sight of Austin or Tara, though.

I had really messed everything up this time, and I knew it.

''Richard, get my bags, alright? I'll go check on Tina'' My mother's voice met my ears. She was outside the front door.

I strained my neck, looking out the window. A limo had parked just outside my house. Richard was helping the driver take out their bags. The front door opened and I could hear my mother's heels clack against the tiled-floors.

Here we go...

''Tina Jade!?'' My mother called, before entering my bedroom.

''Hello, mother'' I croaked out weakly.

She was silent for a second, before speaking strangely, ''You don't look so well, Child'' She said simply.

''I've been sick, for about a week'' I lied.

She frowned, staring down at me.

''I've missed a week of school'' I added, not caring if she would throw a fit.

''What's the matter?'' Richard appeared in my doorway, right next to my mother. His gaze fell to me, a frown appearing on his rested face. ''Tina Jade, what's going on?'' He asked.

''Can you all just leave me alone?'' I sighed, curling the blankets tightly around myself.

''She says she's been feeling sick for a week'' My mother informed Richard.

''Have you been eating?'' He asked me, scrunching his eyebrows.

''Yes, I have. Not a lot though, I can't stomach anything'' I lied again.

''That's strange'' My mother frowned. ''Do you want anything in particular for dinner?'' She asked me, smiling slightly. What's gotten into her?

''I'd like some soup'' I muttered, ignoring her unusual kindness.

''Tomato soup, your favorite?'' She asked.

I nodded. Who knew she remembered my favorite soup?

''I have to pick up Gina from the airport in about an hour'' Richard spoke to my mother as they left my bedroom.

''Huh? Why can't our driver collect her?'' My mother wondered as they closed my door.

I strained my hearing to listen to their conversation.

''Tom has been sending her threats all this time. She's afraid of him, Elizabeth'' He informed my mother, sounding anxious. ''I waited until after the trip to tell you because I was afraid you'd be too worried to work''

Tom?

Oh my God, I completely forgot about all that.

''What is that boy up to again?'' She sighed, sounding stressed. ''We give him enough as it is. What else does he need?''

''He demands we give him this house. Otherwise, he said he would kill Tina. I'm afraid he's too far gone now. After all, this is the age his mother's illness progressed. I think it's getting worse for him now'' Richard spoke sadly.

''He'll never harm our family, Richard'' She spoke in hushed tones. ''We simply won't let him''

''Are you sure he hasn't already?'' He hinted at me. I rolled my eyes at this. Since when did he care about me being bullied? 

I listened to my mother's heels walk further from my door. ''She's feeling unwell, Richard. This has nothing to do with Tom''

''If you say so, Darling'' He sighed before following her deeper into the house.

What the hell is going on...