Chapter 34 Being Annoying

Scarlett's POV

It's Friday now and I still feel bad about what I said to Amy. But I also feel numb. I love this feeling.

I got up really early and stared out the window. When Amy woke up she saw me staring and

asked what I was doing.

"Thinking"

"About?"

"What I said to you"

"Scarlett, it's ok"

She's been saying that ever since it happened.

"I'm sorry I tried to run away"

"It's okay, just don't do it again"

She got up and went into the kitchen to eat breakfast. We don't have school today so Luna will be babysitting us. I still can't get over the fact that as a 13 year old with a babysitter. Avery and Jamie already left so it was just us three. I headed into the kitchen and Amy handed me my meds which I don't think do anything but maybe they do, I'd only know if I stopped taking them.

"So anything you two wanna do today?"

"No" I said

"Me neither, I just wanna relax"

"Ok that's cool"

We live on the 4th floor in our apartment so there's no point in trying to sneak out. I'm numb, and even though I love when I feel this way, I still wanna see Matt.

"Actually I change my mind, can we go somewhere?"

"Depends, where do you wanna go?"

"Can we go pick up Matt? He needs a ride to soccer practice"

Matt doesn't play soccer, but I needed an excuse to see him outside of school.

"Can't his parents pick him up?"

"They're busy"

Amy looked at me with this I know your lying face on.

"Luna" Amy said

Luna turned around and I started signaling her to stop talking.

"Matt is Scarlett's boyfriend. And his dad is in jail and his mom is an alcoholic"

"Seriously"

"I'm not gonna just let you lie like that"

I started scratching my neck again because I'm stressed out now.

"Scarlett, stop scratching" Luna said

I stopped and looked at her. "Come on please, you'll be there. I just wanna see him"

"That's something you'll have to take up with your sister"

"Ugh, fine"

The rest of the day we did a whole lot of nothing. After Avery and Jamie got home Luna left and it was just us four again.

"I want go see Matthew" I don't know why I said his full name like that.

"Scarlett-

"Before you answer just think about it please"

"We need to go to the police station today"

I felt my heart sink. I've been doing a pretty good job at avoiding it and blocking it out of my mind. But now I have to re-confront it.

"I- I can't"

"We have to"

I feel my heart speed up as well as my breathing. Great. Another panic attack. I got off the couch and sat on the floor and put my head in my knees.

"Scar breathe" I heard Avery say

Then my ears started ringing and I couldn't hear anything they were saying.

"Is this how Matt does it?"

"Do you have a boyfriend Scarlett?"

"Are you sexually active?"

Why didn't I run? Why didn't I just fucking scream or punch her. What the hell is wrong with me??

"What should we do?"

"She's having another panic attack"

"Scarlett!"

The ringing in my ears faded and my breathing went back normal. When I looked up they were all in the floor hovering over me. I jumped back and looked at them.

"Thank god your awake" Amy said

"What happened?"

"You had a panic attack and passed out for a second" Jamie said

"I can't go to the police. I'm not ready"

"Okay, we don't have to go today" Avery said

That made me feel a lot better.

Bzzz

I looked at my phone and it was text from Matt.

Can you come over? I need a drinking buddy;)

I smiled. I'd love to sit and drink some wine with him but I know Avery would never let me.

"Who's it from?" Avery asked

"Matt"

"What's he want?"

"He asked me to come over"

They all made the same face. I honestly couldn't tell you what they were thinking.

"Come on, he's lonely"

That made it sound a certain type of way I really don't want it to sound. I felt my cheeks heat up and face palmed myself for being so careless with my words.

"Not like that. Relax"

Don't think don't think because I know I'll say something I don't want to. I look at them and their all thinking of what to do. "I know if I tell them about the wine they'll flip their shit"

I've never wanted to throw myself down a flight of stairs more than I do in this moment.

"Hand me your phone" Avery said

"Why?"

"I wanna see what that text says"

I felt my face heat up again. "That's- Thats private! And your my older sister, that's weird"

"I'm also your legal guardian so hand it over"

Bzzz

I looked at my phone and it was another text from Matt.

Pleeeeeease, I'm hor-

I stopped reading because I knew my face would turn an even brighter shade of red. But it was too late, judging by her face, Avery was dead set on looking at my texts.

"Avery pleeeeeeease don't"

She took my phone out of my hand and clicked on Matt's texts.

I saw her read the latest one and her face turned red. "Scarlett. Your 13."

"I told you not to look. Now we're both embarrassed"

"What'd it say?" Amy said. Avery showed Jamie and told Amy that she can't see it.

"Come on"

"Scarlett, we're going to have a long talk about this"

"I'm taking that as a no to going to Matt's house"

"Yeah"

***************

Saturday

I feel like I'm stalling at this point. I know I need to go to the police with this and that Avery and Jamie will be there with me but I'm still terrified. I've been blocking it out and distracting myself with Matt for awhile now and I know I can't keep it up. I'll have to go to the police eventually.

"Hey Scar"

I looked up to see Jamie in the door. Avery and Amy were in the kitchen.

"Hey Jamie"

"You up for a conversation?"

"Okay"

He came over and sat at the edge of my bed.

"I know your going through a lot right now"

I held my head down and nodded.

"I want you to know when you do decide to go to the police, me and Avery will be right there with you. I don't want you to feel alone in this"

"Thanks"

He got up and said "Breakfast is ready by the way if you want any"

I decided to eat something today. A real meal. I went into the kitchen to see Amy and Avery eating waffles and eggs and bacon.

Ok Scarlett you can do this. I thought to myself.

I grabbed a plate an put one waffle, a spoonful of eggs and two pieces of bacon on it. I started to feel anxious seeing all this food on my plate. I sat down and of course they noticed the amount of food on my plate but they didn't say anything.

I looked at it for a minute before starting.

You won't get fat from this, your underweight you need to eat more.

I took my first bite of eggs and continued until all that was left was half a waffle.

"I can't eat anymore"

"Thats ok Scar" Avery said

"You ate a lot, we're proud" Jamie said

I looked up and saw them all smiling at me. It felt strange. They're actually proud of me? I feel really good now. Jamie and Amy went out shopping for something Amy wanted, I'm not sure what though I wasn't really listening.

A few hours later I was sitting on the floor near the couch in the living room scrolling through reddit when I got a message from Matt. I looked up at Avery who was sitting on the couch watching tv, good she didn't notice.

I opened the text and it said,

Hey Scar, when can you come over? Or if you can't leave I can come over your place

I smiled at the thought of seeing Matt outside of school. When we're at school Luna is always around so we can't really talk about personal things. I'd like to at least tell him what's going on.

I have something I need to tell you

I texted back. I really need to tell him about what happened with Ms. Soyer.

What is it babe?

You know Ms Soyer the guidance counselor?

Yeah

She um, she sexually assaulted me a few days ago. I wanted to tell you sooner but my sisters think your a bad influence but I don't believe them

Really?? I am so sorry. I can go to the police with you if you haven't already gone

No it's okay, I just wanna hang out with you and not worry about all these other things going on

I can come over right now if you'd like

Avery is here with me and they don't want me to see you outside of school

Why?

Because we're both alcoholics that have a messed up family life. They want me to focus on getting better. But they don't understand that you make me happy

After a long pause he said

I'll stop drinking then

What?? No it's okay, I'll find a way to see you

Your sisters obviously don't trust me and their right. I am a bad influence on you.

No your not!

I am. But I can change that. I'll sober up so we can meet.

But I like drinking with you

I do too but, you need to get better and staying sober is part of that

Matt

Yeah?

It's really fine, I don't want anything to change between us

If that what you want Scar

It is

Okay then, let's keep things the same

Thanks Matt, I'll talk to you soon

Ok, bye

Then I turned off my phone to see Avery staring at me. I jumped a little just now realizing her looking at me. How long has she been staring at me?

"Why are you staring at me? It's fucking creepy"

"Is that Matt?" She said with her eyebrows raised

"Why?"

"Scarlett, did mom ever have...the talk with you?"

"The talk? What do you mean?"

"Like about sex and stuff"

I felt my face heat up by that and I couldn't speak.

"I'll take that as a no"

"Ok no, but I really don't need one. I know all that stuff already and it's not like I'm doing anything"

"Scarlett-

"Don't finish that sentence. I honestly don't need it"

"Un huh" she said sarcastically.

"Whatever, anyways I wanna talk to you about something"

She switched from laying in her back to on her belly facing me. She had her face resting on her hands and was waiting for me to speak.

"Do I have to keep meeting with Ms. Diane twice a week? I'd prefer it to be only once a week. Her questions are tiring and I don't wanna keep going twice every week"

She thought for a minute before speaking.

"I think you should keep going twice a week. Especially after what happened"

"Ugh. But I don't wanna"

"Well you need to. It's for your own good. Even I see a therapist, and so does Amy and Jamie. And you need it the most, so you'll keep going as regular as you do"

I sighed and got up and went to the kitchen. Avery sat up and watched me.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing"

To be completely honest I wasn't planning on doing anything, but now I just wanna fuck with her.

I opened the drawer and grabbed a fork. Then I looked at the wall outlet. Then at Avery, then back at the outlet and started walking towards it. Her eyes went wide and she got up and took the fork from me.

"What I'm not allowed to use forks now?"

"You were about to put it into the wall outlet"

"No I wasn't" I said with a confused smile.

"Sigh, whatever come sit on the couch where I can see you"

"Whatever"

We walked over to the couch and I sat on one end crisscross applesauce while she rested her hand on the arm and her head on her hand with her feet pointed towards me.

I started poking her with my finger until she finally acknowledged me.

"What?" She said annoyed

"Nothing" I said and continued to poke her

"Can you stop"

"No" I said and continued poking.

After about 10 minutes of this she finally snapped.

"Oh my god stop!!"

"Jeez fine. So overreactive"

She gave me this dirty look and started watching tv again. I started tapping my hands on my lap in random rhythms.

"I know what your doing and it's not gonna work"

I stopped tapping and picked up my phone. I texted Matt and told him I was trying to bother my sister and I need him to play along. He agreed and I went to Matt's contact and called him. I held my phone in front of me not on speaker but loud enough for Avery to be able to hear. I turned around so that it wasn't completely obvious I was doing this on purpose and we started.

"Hey babe, whatcha doin?" I asked.

I told Matt to be as cheesy as possible during this.

"Thinking about you"

"I'm thinking about you too. Guess what"

"What?"

"I saw this new thing on Reddit, it's for couples in long distance relationships"

"Well since we're kind of like that, I'd like to hear what it is"

I could feel Avery's stare on the back of my head. I had to hold back my laughter because I know I was getting to her.

"It's called sexting I think. You like pretend to do it with each over the phone. We can even you know, like touch ourselves why we do it so it's more authentic" I said whispering but I know Avery heard me, I felt her shift positions on the couch and I already know she was getting ready to lecture me. This'll be fun.

"What about right now baby, I am kind of horny"

"Me too, but my sister Avery is right here. I hope she can't hear us, that'd be embarrassing"

"It sure would. You should go somewhere more private"

"Your right, I'll be right back" I said and hung up. I got up and turned around to see Avery red in the face. I could see pure annoyance, embarrassment, and anger. I held back my laugh and continued with this gag.

I started walking to our room when Avery stopped me.

"There is no way I'm gonna let you do that" Avery said

I pretended to be embarrassed. "You heard all that?" I said in a high pitch squeaky tone

"Yes. And I'm not letting you do it"

"Don't be a buzz kill Avery" I said and kept walking towards my room.

"Give me your phone"

"But why?"

"Because your not sexting Matt. Your too young for that"

"But Avery, you heard him. He needs this. And so do I"

"No. Now hand me your phone"

"Only if you can catch me!" I said as I started running. She chased me and eventually caught up to me. I think now would be a good time to end this charade.

"Get off me!" I said laughing

"Hand me your phone!" She said very mad

"I was joking, I'm not gonna sext Matt. Relax I was just fucking with you"

"Ughhhh you're so fucking annoying"

"I try" I said still smiling

Just then Amy and Jamie came in to see Avery on top of me looking annoyed as hell.

"Oh hey Amy! Hey Jamie!" I said smiling at them.

"What are you two doing?" Amy said

Avery got up and looked at them still mad at me. I'm sorry but it was too easy to get her annoyed.

"While you two were gone, Scarlett was being a brat. She called Matt and pretended like she was gonna sext him and she tried to put a fork in an outlet"

"Seriously Scar" Amy said

"What?" I said smiling"

"Why do you feel the need to do that?" She said looking at me. I stood up and smiled. "Cause it's funny"

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Ik this chapter was like suuuuuuuuper long but it's cool, hope you enjoyed, bai😉