TW!

***

I sat at the dining room table, wrapped in a big fluffy blanket to hide my body from the eyes of my family. I had an actual bird's nest on my head and my face hadn't seen the sun in a week. My mother must be appalled by my appearance.

''Dear, would you like some breadsticks with your soup? You used to like those'' She asked while pouring me a bowl of her tomato soup. I watched her back, my eyes drooping shut every so often. God, I'm just so frickin' tired...

''No, thanks'' I sighed finally. Not having any carbs, no thanks, Mother.

''Are you sure?'' She asked, still not turning to look at me.

''I am very sure'' I managed to roll my eyes. Why was she being so kind to me all of a sudden? Could it be...? Was she worried about me? That would be a shocker to the world, right?

''You need the energy'' She said simply, before turning around. Her eyes fell to my appearance, frowning. ''Are you cold?'' She asked.

I nodded, tired of speaking.

''Well, that's strange, it's quite warm in here'' She frowned.

I rolled my eyes, ''What's going on, Elizabeth?''

She seemed surprised I had used her first name. ''What do you mean?'' She frowned again.

''What are you doing?'' I sat back, relaxed in the big dining room chair. ''Why are you acting like I'm an exceptional piece of Fine China all of a sudden? I mean, I've been nothing but a paper plate to you, all my life'' I chuckled at the last part, my eyes staying emotionless nevertheless.

''That's not true, Tina Jade'' She shook her head, placing the bowl of soup in front of me.

''Just tell me'' I scoffed, tired of her lies. ''Just say it! Richard's son has gone bonkers and wants to skin me alive. Just say that'' I shrugged, not a single ounce of care in the world.

She gaped at me, taken by surprise.

''I heard you two, you know'' I rolled my eyes.

''Tina Jade, there is no reason to be scared. He is being monitored and will soon be placed in a facility. I promise you, you will be fine'' She assured me as if it was what I wanted.

''So you and Richard are just going to put a teenage boy into a nuthouse?'' I snorted.

''It's for the best, Tina Jade'' Richard walked in, Gina following close behind him. ''Trust me, I know it is''

I shook my head, appalled by them. How could they just abandon a sick kid? How could they do that to him? Perhaps, if they didn't, he wouldn't have been the way he is. ''You two are sick'' I muttered, slowly lifting a spoonful of soup to my lips. I could smell it, it made my senses go crazy. I was overwhelmed, to say the least.

''Tina, there are many things you don't understand-''

''Except, I do'' I dropped the spoon into the bowl, scowling at him as he tried to make me feel like I hadn't been through anything. ''I was once, too, a Tom'' I spat back at him.

''He bullied you, Tina Jade. He beat you, simply for being jealous that you lived here'' My mother was shocked I would be defending him.

''Maybe if you two didn't ditch a sick kid with his dying mother, he would've turned out completely different'' I argued.

''No, Tina'' Richard shook his head. ''I tried to take him with me. He didn't want me to, at the time. His mother was sick, extremely sick. The last few years of life with her were unbearable. I had to sleep in the garage most nights because she would attack me every night. Tom was, from his early childhood, a lot like her. He would hurt Gina, from the very first day she was born. I was always scared for her''

''You could've helped him'' I insisted, despite being shocked by his sincere speech.

''I tried, I really did. Don't you think it's hard for me too? For years I've been trying, in secret. He's angry at me. He thinks I hurt his mother. She was crazy, I mean sick, so she told him all kinds of ridiculous things about me. I'm afraid to imagine the things he believes I did'' Richard shook his head sadly. ''Gina is still terrified of him'' He glanced at her, sending a small smile.

Gina stared at nothing in particular, avoiding the conversation.

''Well, thanks for dinner'' I stood up, not hungry anymore.

''You haven't even tried it'' My mother spoke as I pushed the chair back into the table.

My blanket fell from my body as I turned sharply, revealing my body to the three of them. Crap.

My mother gasped, dropping her glass of water. The glass shattered into tiny pieces of expensive glass, water soaking every piece.

Richard stared at my arms, horrified. I tucked them behind my back, feeling self-conscious. Gina's eyes scanned my frame, wide-eyed. I bit back a snarky comment as we stood in silence.

This certainly boosts my confidence...not.

''Tina Jade...'' My mother began, completely speechless. ''It's only been 2 weeks! What has happened?'' She shook her head, trying to make sense of it all. ''You were better...you were fine. The doctors said that you were good to go. I d-don't understand...''

I shrugged, ''Well, looks like I wasn't good to go after all, huh?''

Richard shook his head before dragging a hand down his face. ''Then you will go back'' He stated. ''You will go to a better one. You will go and get better, understand?''

I laughed humorlessly as they all stared at me as if I were crazy. ''It doesn't work that way, Richard'' I informed him. ''I was never better to start with. I was faking it, ignoring it, pretending it never happened. It was only a matter of time before it came barging back into my life''

''But, how could this be?'' My mother was still in shock.

''I'm not what you want me to be, okay?!'' I lost it. ''I'm not Gina or any other model-child you've seen your friends have. I'm Tina fucking Jade White. I grew up in a tiny apartment with my Grandmother, who tried her best to give me everything I needed. Who died giving me her best. I had no parents throughout the length of my life. No one there for me. Just myself. So I'm sorry, for not being okay. I'm sorry, Mom. But this is the way I am''

They all stared at me, speechless.

''I'll leave you to talk crap about me while I hibernate in my bedroom'' I excused myself, a cynical chuckle leaving my mouth as I pushed past them to leave the dining room.

Feels good, to finally give her a piece of my mind. To finally be honest.

***

''Tina Jade, your friend is here'' My mother called from outside my bedroom door. I had locked it after our little confrontation in the dining room.

''Tell them to leave'' I waved her off, before putting my earphones back in my ears. I was watching yet another TV show, completely losing myself to the plot.

My bedroom door suddenly opened, revealing my mother and Tara. I sat up in my bed, confused and shocked.

''I made a spare, for emergencies'' Tara showed me the key. She looked different. Her eyes were bloodshot, tired, lifeless. Her hair wasn't as put-together as it usually was. She was wearing her pajamas, despite being outside of her house.

My mother slowly left us, glancing at me ever so often as he walked away.

''Come in, I guess'' I spoke to Tara, unsure of the reason she was here.

She slowly entered the room, closing the door behind her. I watched as her eyes trailed over my messy room, before landing on me. Her eyes filled with tears as they examined my appearance. ''Tina, please, stop'' She begged without an explanation. But I didn't need one. I knew what she meant. I knew exactly what she meant.

''I wish I could'' I shrugged, biting my tongue to stop the tears from coming.

''You can'' She assured me, still standing by the door. ''If you try hard enough, you can do it. Please, Tina. I love you so much. I can't lose you. You can't do that to me. You can't!''

I failed to hold back the tears.

''Listen to me,'' She raced towards me, desperate to convince me. I watched as he kneeled on the floor next to my bed, grabbing my face in her hands. She hadn't been sleeping well in a while, I could tell by her eyebags. ''I love you, just the way you are. We all love you, exactly the way you are! Don't listen to her, don't listen to Gina, don't listen to anyone that harms you! We, your friends, love you! That's all that matters. To us, you are perfect. You always were and always will be. Understand?''

I nodded, sobs shaking my body.

''I'm going to help you through this'' She whispered, holding my face gently in her soft hands. ''We will all help you. Even Austin. We will all help you through this'' She nodded, smiling at me as I let out all my built-up feelings.

''He won't'' I shook my head, crying my eyes out.

 ''He will, Tina. He's been so worried about you, he really has been. He called me every day, asking if I had any news about you. He was afraid to come by. He thinks you hate him now'' She explained. ''And I was afraid to come too. I was afraid you didn't want to see me. I thought it was the end, Tina''

I looked into her eyes, struggling to see her through my tears. ''So did I. I thought it was t-the end too. I hated myself for ruining everything. I wanted to k-''

''Don't'' She cut me off, terrified. ''Don't you dare say it!''

''I'm sorry!'' I sobbed.

''I'm sorry too, Tina'' She pulled me into a tight hug, her own body shaking with sobs too. ''You'll be okay, I promise. Do you hear me? You'll be okay''