Extended 4.

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Spring break - HUGE TW ED DEPICTIONS. Do not read if it may trigger you. This is a very long chapter also (11k words)

I wandered around the airport in search of something to snack on while I awaited my boarding call. I stopped at a nearby cafe and ordered myself a coffee.

My eyes were wide open, my brain felt foggy and distant.

"Lacey." The barista calls sliding an iced coffee across the bench.

"Thanks." I say with a small smile, taking the coffee gratefully as I make my way back to the gate lounge.

I walk slowly, my eyes scanning the airport. Everything was happening, but I wasn't really present. I was going home, and I felt like I'd just drunk fourteen kegs. Without the searing headache and vomiting. I hadn't actually drunk since my dad called. I spent the next week half asleep. Staying in bed.

I plonked down in my seat and sipped on my coffee carelessly. My knee tapping anxiously. My stomach an absolute mess.

The next two weeks were going to be. Interesting. To say the least.

My boarding call finally came, as I made my way to the bin and threw my empty coffee in. Before lining up to scan my ticket and board the plane.

"Seventh row, second seat on the left." The flight attendant directs me. I nod thanks and make my way to my seat.

I casually glance at the person in the window seat, next to where I was sitting and almost froze.

He's typing away on his phone, his right knee tapping anxiously. He did usually get anxious flying.

"Excuse me love your holding up the line." The man behind me says tapping me on the shoulder.

"Sorry." I apologise, shaking my head. I placed my bag into the overhead locker and sat down in the seat next to him, clipping on my seat belt.

"Hi." I say quietly. Seth's head flicks to me and his face drops. My heart wrenches at his reaction.

"Lacey." He says with a polite nod. Before returning to his phone. I flinch at the politeness.

We sit in silence. My heart beat thrumming in my ears, I'm afraid he might hear it. My brain was no longer foggy, all of my senses were heightened.

Eventually the flight begins to taxi across the runway. Seth's hand clench each other tightly at the movement.

"What is everyone going to say." I whisper, closing my eyes and pulling in a shaky voice.

"You haven't told them?" He asks me, giving me a thoughtful glance.

"No." I reply shaking my head.

"Neither." He says, letting out a sigh.

"How have you been?" I ask him cautiously. Hoping he would have felt at least half of what I was feeling.

"Well, not great. But I'm sure you already knew that." He snaps, making me flinch.

"How would I already know that?" I reply, keeping my voice quiet.

"Didn't you send Max to try talk to me? Make things better. You sent him to do damage control?" He snaps angrily. My eyebrows draw together in confusion.

"I haven't spoken to Max since that night he was comforting me. I told him specifically to leave it. So no. I didn't send him to do 'damage control.'" I retort, giving him an angry glare.

"You have no right to be mad at me." He says, responding to my glare.

"Really? Because you ended our relationship off of your insecurities. Didn't even try to listen to me. Brushed me off every time I came to sort it out. You were so set on me cheating on you that you didn't actually look to see how much your accusations fucking hurt me." I say to him, aggression and frustration building up inside me.

Seth stays silent.

"You're worse than Bea. Assuming we were together when we weren't." I snap, unclasping my hands angrily.

"Bea was right in the end though wasn't she," Seth replies, making me flinch.

"That's not what I was saying. I didn't have any feelings towards Max, we never kissed or anything. He was just being a good friend." I reply in a hushed tone, trying to smooth over the volume that had increased through our conversation. Making other passengers' heads turn our way.

"Lace," Seth says, a pained look on his face.

"What are we going to tell everyone?" I ask him quietly after a tense silence.

"That we broke up?" Seth says, my gut wrenches hearing the words again. It's still so real.

"Okay," I reply letting out a long sigh. "We took off by the way. Safely." I finish, giving him a small nod. His eyebrows raise in confusion before realisation floods his eyes.

I'd spoken to distract him. It worked. But it hurt.

Seth's mouth opens, before closing. He turns his attention away from me. I nod slowly to myself. Before settling in for the flight. Ignoring the pain that wrapped around my gut. Closing my eyes, attempting to get some sleep.

After a few minutes, I decided to take a sleeping pill, because sleeping would not be happening right now. My mind and emotions were too busy.

I unscrewed the top and shook one out, swallowing it quickly before re-screwing the lid on.

I almost see Seth flinch out of the corner of my eye.

I close my eyes, my hands clasped together as I await the effect of the drug to overcome me.

***

"Lace. We're here." A voice wakes me, tapping me into consciousness.

"I'm not getting up. I'm tired." I murmur with an annoyed sigh.

"Lace. The flight has landed." Seth says again, cooing me awake. I flinch in confusion, pulling myself off Seth's shoulder.

Oh.

Everything hits me like a ton of bricks.

"Sorry." I apologise quietly, standing and grabbing my bag quickly. Starting down the isle of the nearly empty plane.

I cross the tarmac and enter the airport, looking around for an awaiting Molly.

Instead, I see Bea.

"Lacey!" Bea exclaims starting towards me. Wrapping me up in a hug.

"Hi Bea," I say, attempting to act as excited as possible. The weight of what I had to tell her resting on my shoulders.

"Gosh you're- Are you okay?" She asks, looking me up and down.

"I'm fine. Just been a bit stressed and overwhelmed at the moment." I reply, wincing at the lie. I open my mouth to add the truth but Bea rushes past me.

"Seth!" Bea exclaims, wrapping him up in a hug.

"Hey Bea." Seth says with a half chuckle at her enthusiastic nature.

"Come on then. I'm giving you two a ride to ours. We're having dinner." Bea says nodding towards the entrance.

Seth and I immediately lock gazes. I close my eyes for a second before gathering myself. I look away and start following Bea towards the car.

She chatters away, telling us about school and everything going on between her and Luke.

"You guys are awfully quiet today? Lovers spat?" Bea asks with a teasing smile.

I open my mouth to reply, but the lump forming in my throat makes it come out as a squeak. I try again swelling down the lump in my throat, blinking back tears.

"Actually Bea-" I start before Seth interrupts me.

"Yes. Actually. So don't push it." Seth snaps towards Bea. My gaze flicks to his and he raises his eyebrows, asking me to follow along. Confusion settles on my face as we arrive at the car.

"Oh. Sorry." Bea says with an awkward grimace. I place my bag into the boot of the car before climbing into the back seat. While Seth and Bea climb into the front.

"So. How's Louisiana guys?" Bea asks us cautiously.

I shrug at her in the mirror.

"Could be better." I reply, meeting Seth's gaze in the mirror.

"Seth?" Bea asks, looking to him.

"Yeah. It's good." He replies. I wince. A small pain stabbing my heart.

It's almost like Seth's twisting the knife into the wound.

"That's good. Why could be better Lacey?" Bea asks me softly.

"Oh you know." I say waving my hands casually.

"Wait. Let me see your hands." Seth says, turning around quickly in shock. He grabs one of my hands, which I pull away quickly. The back of my hands were still healing, into dark scars, where they would eventually fade into soft pale scars, ones that would constantly remind me of this pain I hold.

"Lace." Seth says, his eyes bearing into mine. I blink away the tears that fill my eyes.

Bea watches the exchange in the mirror with confusion and concern. Seth turns back around, looking out the mirror his forehead creased with thought.

"Mom's going to throw a fit when she sees how tiny you've gotten Lacey." Bea says ignorantly. I just nod. Staring down at my hands, playing with the sleeve of my hoodie.

The car pulls up outside the Nixon household.

"I don't know what's happened. Or whatever you two fought about. But you better pull yourselves together before we go inside." Bea says looking between us, like a mother scolding her children.

I open my mouth to tell Bea the truth. But Seth interrupts me once again.

"Can I have a few minutes with Lace before we come inside?" Seth asks, his gaze dropping to his lap.

"Yeah of course." Bea says, before climbing out of the car with a small wave.

Silence fills the car. I nibble on my lip anxiously.

"We can't tell them." Seth says, breaking the silence.

"Why not?" I ask him, confusion flooding my face.

"It complicates everything. Bea would have to pick sides, your mom and dad and Molly would pick sides. It would set our entire families against each other." Seth explains, his voice catching over a few words.

"You haven't heard?" I ask him, confused.

"Heard what?" He replies, on edge.

"My parents are divorcing, my mom moved to Brazil. Or is moving. She came to see me right before I saw you at the club." I explain, a few tears dropping down my face.

"Oh." Seth replies, looking as if he was unsure what to reply.

"Anyway; We won't tell them yet." I agree with a small nod, wiping the tears away quickly. Careful not to rub my eyes in order to avoid red eyes and questions.

Seth nods. I open the door and begin to make my way inside, after grabbing my bag from the boot, bringing the conversation to a stop.

***

"No way!" Trina exclaims with a laugh as Bea tells a story about her uni activities.

"I know!" Bea says grinning.

"Seth, how has school been for you?" Bradley asks, cutting up a slice of steak.

"It's been okay." Seth replies with a slow nod, as he takes a nibble of a roast potato.

"How about you Lacey?" Bradley nods to me.

"I.. uh.. actually am currently on a mental health break," I announce, My father freezes, halfway to putting a bean in his mouth while Seth's gaze shifts to me in confusion.

"I didn't know that?" My dad asks me.

"I tried to tell you, but my phone was broken so I couldn't. I must have forgotten to mention it when we talked." I reply with a shrug.

"Lacey's phone was broken for weeks." Dad says with a small shake of his head, answering the confused faces. "How long have you been on a mental health break?" My dad asks me. I think to myself for a while.

The only answer I can think of is a week after Seth and I broke up, but I couldn't tell you when that was. Maybe a few weeks ago, maybe months. That time had become one massive lump.

"I don't know exactly. Couple months?" I answer, swerving around the edge of the question. I can feel Seth's eyes burning into me.

I pick at the food on my plate. While the room lapses into silence. I can feel eyes on me.

"If it's okay. I'm going to go have a shower." I say as I stand. The lump in my throat returned.

"That's okay love. We will save your food for later." Trina says softly. I nod and make my way upstairs, towards Bea's shower. I grab a towel and close the door behind me. Immediately falling against it.

I was failing. Failing at being okay, failing at being my dad's bubbly girl. I was failing. And I couldn't help it. Where was the numbness when you needed it?

I stand slowly and pull off my T-shirt. Revealing my tiny frame. I flinched in the reflection. Tears pouring out of my eyes.

There's a soft knock at the door, and thinking it's Bea I pull it open. Not bothering with covering up.

"They wanted me to check on you," Seth says, his sentence trailing off as his eyes run down my body. "Jesus Christ, I'm killing you, Lace." Seth says, gulping.

I shake my head, pulling my lips into a thin line.

"No you're not." I sob, shaking my head vigorously.

"Fucking hell." Seth says running a hand through his hair. He steps into the bathroom and pulls me into a hug, closing the door with his other arm.

I fall against him, a sobbing mess. Moments go by before the pain in me, begins to ignite, transforming into a festering rage. I push away from Seth. Wiping my tears, ignoring the flush of embarrassment and rage spreading through my cheeks.

"Get out." I say after a few moments, he had done enough damage. I didn't need him.

He looked down at me pleadingly, his hands loosening around me. He steppped back, a sharp stabbing pain shot through my stomach. I knew this was the right decision. He couldn't just have me back. He destroyed me with his own insecurity. And perhaps I destroyed him with mine..

"Lace." I could see the pain written across his face. He was begging.

"Get." I started, pointing away.

With that, his entire body slumped and he left the room. I heard the door click shut and instantly my knees buckled and I fell to the ground. Tears streaming down my cheeks.

I had to clasp my hand over my mouth so not to let the sound of my misery escape into the hallway where my family was peacefully at dinner.

After a while where the tears had slowed and I began to compose myself, there was a second gentle knock at the door.

It wasn't Seth's knock, his knock was more abrupt, this was a much softer, more elegant knock.

"Come in." I reply, wiping away the tears from my eyes one last time. Trina walks in, immediately wrapping her arms around me.

"You guys going through a rough patch huh?" She asks softly, cradling me and gently squeezing my shoulders.

"Yeah." I croak out. I didn't have any tears left.

"I'm sorry. You two will work it out, even if you think you might not." She says, pulling back and running her hands up and down my arms. "You're freezing let's get you wrapped up in something warm hey."

I nod and follow her out. She picks through the draws and lays a couple items on the bed for me, before closing the bedroom door behind her. I slowly change.

After a couple minutes, of staring at nothingness. She comes back in. I barely notice her fuss about, and feel bristles begin to run through my damp hair. My eyes shoot up as I watch Trina in the mirror.

She looks like she's a caring mother, looking after her sick child. The sight of me is pathetic. My head snaps away as I return my gaze to the floor.

"Want to make a promise to me?" Trina asks  after a while. I catch her gaze in the mirror and nod.

She takes a breath, like it pains her to say whatever's playing on her mind. "You need to stop punishing yourself." She says.

I thought I didn't have any tears left. But my vision became blurred within seconds. I fall against Trina as she lays me in her lap.

She rocks me gently, and between my tears, I watched her wipe her own eyes.

One my tears subside I slowly sit up. Give Trina a hug and offer out my pinky.

"Promise." I reply, my voice hoarse from the amount of tears that my body had produced today.

"Thank you. I've missed you Lacey." She replies, before sighing and walking out.

I climb into bed, and text my dad that I'm feeling super exhausted and probably just stay in bed tonight.

My phone dings, and Seth's name pops up on my phone. My stomach twists.

Did you tell my mom?

No.

Well she just told me to talk to you.

I'm fine. And I didn't tell her.

Right. Talk tomorrow?

I left it on seen. I didn't have an answer. I wasn't sure if I could face him tomorrow.

The night was long, but somewhere between the birds chirping and the tickle of light in the sky, I began to drift into a hazy broken sleep.

I woke to a knock on the door, sun tore through Bea's window.

She hasn't slept here and I figured she had gone to Luke's after dinner last night.

"Lacey." My dads voice calls out. I roll over and stretch, my eyes slowly straining open, the sun sending a sharp pain through my temples.

"Morning Dad." I reply, slowly my eyes adjust to the light.

Dad smiles, looking at me softly.

"It's nearly one, Trina didn't want to wake you. But just wanted you to come have some lunch. It's your favourite, bolognaise." Dad speaks, his voice soft and calm.

"Okay I'll be right there." I say rubbing my face roughly. I needed to get up.

Dad clicked the door shut behind him. I dragged myself out of bed, slowly. Pulling my hair into a ponytail, and splashing my face in the sink to get rid of some of the puffiness.

I looked a right mess. My eyes and cheeks were swollen, and red. I hoped the water helped, and that my dad assumes it's from the sleep.

I made my way downstairs, my stomach twisting at the sound of a voice trickling up the stairs.

I had to face it. I had to get used to this. I couldn't let it get in the way of our families.

I repeated it to myself over and over, preparing myself. Before stepping down the rest of the stairs.

"Morning." I croak as I step into the kitchen, heading towards the barstools where Trina, My dad and Seth are gathered. Molly, Bea and Grant nowhere to be seen.

"More like afternoon now." Trina jokes, giving me a wink. I climb up onto the barstool next to Seth, propping my elbow on the bench to rest my head. I couldn't pretend like he was the devil of earth for much longer. Trina already noticed and we had barely been home for an hour.

"Morning Lace." Seth says cheerfully, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and placing a kiss on the top of my head.

"Morning." I reply leaning into it. I avoided his eyes. One look and he would see every tear that tore down my cheeks last night.

Trina slid me a bowl of bolognaise, topped with basil and Parmesan. It was a big bowl, and a little overwhelming. But I began to dig in.

My dad chatted away with Seth for a while, as Trina busied herself throughout the kitchen.

I focused myself on getting through my food. I got about halfway through my bowl before I felt nauseas. Pushing it away I reached for a paper towel.

"You've got to finish it." My dad says, quietly yet firm. I look at him confused.

"I'm full." I reply with a casual shrug. He's never cared about that kinda thing before. Dad looks at Trina uncertainly.

Trina nods and takes over.

"Lacey, we know you might have stuff going on, but we just want to make sure that while you're here your eating enough." Trina says. "I measured out a portion, it's not heaps. So I'm really going to need you to finish it."

My mouth almost drops open, my eyes widening as I look between them. I look at Seth next to me but his eyes bore into the bench, I could see his jaw twitching. Clenched.

"Okay." I reply. "But I am full so can I finish it soon?"

"Yeah whenever you're ready. Just hangout for a bit until you get through it." Dad says, gesturing to the couch. I get up, bringing my bowl with me.

I turn on the TV and relax onto the couch. Dad drops a kiss onto my head and squeezes my shoulder.

"I'm heading in to do some work, but I'll only be a couple hours then we can hangout okay." He says. I lean back and smile at him.

"See ya dad." I say quietly, feeling a little awkward at the intervention that had been sprung on me. As

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net