Audrey's POV:

I wipe at my mouth before getting off of my aching knees and flushing the toilet. With shaking hands, I wash my hands and make sure there is no traces of what just went down.

"Audrey, are you alright?" My mom asks through the door, knocking quietly.

"Yeah," I tell her, my voice becoming raspy. "I'm fine."

"Are you sick?"

My heart stops as I know for a fact she heard me. How was I going to get away with this?

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine!" I lie, rubbing my aching head. "I just had something in my throat...it wouldn't come out, but we're all good now."

She is silent for a minute, "Okay. Dessert is on the table, do you want some?"

"I'm good, mom. I am probably just going to head to bed."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure!" I snap, irritatedly.

I listen for her soft footsteps to disappear down the hall before I let myself slide to the bathroom floor.

My eyes wander over my body, every inch of it.

Too fat.

I wipe at my eyes and try to block out the whispers. I stand up hastily and lean against the bathroom counter, staring at my tired and empty eyes.

My footsteps become sluggish as I head down the hallway into my bedroom, closing the door quietly behind me.

The cold air elopes me as my feet touch the cold, wet grass. I can hear the sounds of the crickets and the wind blowing.

"Audrey...?" A familiar voice whispers to me, and I feel somebody place their hand on my shoulder.

My eyes snap open and I am terrified when I notice I am no longer asleep in my bedroom, but standing in the middle of a cemetery with the man I met earlier looking at me worriedly.

I blink constantly, trying to wrap my head around why I am here.

"What time is it?" I ask, looking over at him.

He pulls his phone out and checks the time, "3 am."

"Oh," I murmur. "Did I...sleepwalk here?"

"Seems like it, Audrey."

"What are you doing here?"

His eyes widen, "Oh...I decided to visit my mom, is all."

"Oh."

"I never got to introduce myself...my name is Zayn."

Familiarity hits me, but I decide to keep calm.

"Have we met before?" I ask, trying to figure out where I have seen him.

"We met yesterday...?" Zayn tells me, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Well, yeah, I know that. But have we ever met before yesterday? You seem..."

"Familiar? Hm, odd. I'm sure yesterday was the first time we met, but perhaps I'm wrong."

My eyes wander down to my freezing feet as I wrap my arms around myself, trying to keep warm.

"How about we get you home, Audrey?"

I look up at him and nod, "Okay."

Zayn walks me all the way up to my front door and stands silently outside with me as I try to make myself just go inside without another word to him.

"Thank you...for taking me home." I smile up at him, swallowing my nerves.

"Oh, your very welcome. I'm just glad it happened to be me and not a creep in the cemetery."

"There's a difference?" I tease, and then instantly regret it.

What if that was too mean? What if he didn't like being teased or he felt I actually meant it? What if I ended up messing this up?

He lets out a loud laugh, "I suppose not!"

I let out a nervous laugh, hoping he doesn't notice.

"I hate to leave, but I think I must go. It was very nice seeing you, Audrey, even if it happened to be under these circumstances."

"Yes...it was very nice."

"Perhaps I'll see you around!" Zayn shrugs with a small smile, backing away from my house slowly.

"Perhaps." I whisper to myself with a smile, before heading into the warm house.

I am woken up by my mother shaking me awake, "Breakfast is done."

"Ughhh," I groan, sitting up and rubbing at my eyes. "What is it?"

"Oatmeal and coffee," My mom smirks. "Your favorite."

I let out a heavy sigh, "I'll be down in a minute."

My mom leaves me be and I grab my computer and open it up to my email, checking through to see if I have anything important.

I let out a sad laugh as I look over the many unopened college acceptances filling my inbox, but I didn't want to go to any of them. I didn't want to go anywhere.

After closing my laptop, I head downstairs and join my parents sitting at the table, eating breakfast.

"Nice of you to join us, Audrey." Dad teases, taking a sip of coffee.

"I suppose. How's the oatmeal today, dad?"

"Perpetually similar to the oatmeal we had yesterday."

My mom glares at the two of us, "If you guys don't like what I make, make yourselves breakfast."

"Mom, it's not that we don't...love your oatmeal and effort to make us food..." I mumble, scooping at my cold food slowly. "It's just it would be nice to see a change on our breakfast menu, maybe?"

"Why?" She hisses. "It's not like you eat any of it anyway."

The table goes silent as I clench my jaw, unsure of what to say.

"Elizabeth," My dad gasps, eyes wide. "Was that really necessary?"

My mom rolls her eyes dramatically, "Oh, come on, Ed. Don't pretend you haven't noticed."

"At least he doesn't call his own daughter out on her mental illnesses and make her feel even shittier than she did." I say, standing up abruptly. "Now, if you will excuse me..."

I don't wait for my parents reply as I hurry up the stairs to my room, trying to get away from this madness as fast as I could.

How could I have been so stupid? I should've denied it, I should've just fucking denied it. How hard would that have been?

"What're you talking about, mom?"

But of course, I'm nothing but a fucking dumb ass.

Just fucking kill yourself.

The thoughts come rushing in all at once, and I suddenly feel overwhelmed, not sure what to do.

I take a deep breath and grab my bag before hurrying downstairs, heading out the front door into the stormy morning.

——

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