I woke up in my own bed with the smell of food filling my nostrils. I pulled myself up and out of bed and grabbed some clothes to take a shower. I locked the door and turned on the water so it could warm up. I stripped off my clothes and looked at my appearance in the full-length mirror that was attached to the back of the door. My body was battered with the scars of when I cut. I haven't done it in so long and with the new re-occurring thoughts of my mom leaving this world and my dad killing himself so he wouldn't have to take care of me anymore, the cutting instincts came right back making me imagine seeing the blood running off of me and down the drain. I looked into the drawers and cabinets and seen a shaving razor. I took it in my hand as I stepped into the shower. I rubbed my thumb over the blade and it cut it. It was very sharp. I brought the razor down to my shin and began slicing away the skin.

Blood seeped through the open wound and slowly rolled down to my feet where the water mixed with the blood making it disappear. I sliced the skin a few more times before washing it off. After I finished my shower, I dried off the razor and put it back into the cabinet. I dried myself off and wrapped a towel around my head so my hair would dry better. I put on a pair of skinny jeans and a Iron Maiden t-shirt before leaving the bathroom. I unwrapped my hairs from the towel and placed it into the clothes basket. I brushed through my hair and let it air-dry like always before leaving my room. I walked downstairs and was immediately suffocated by Jimmy. Val turned to him and gave him a look and he let me go.

"Good morning to you too Jimmy." I said laughing. He smiled and skipped, and I do mean skipped, into the living room.

"How did you sleep Raelyx?"

"I slept good." I said smiling. I helped Val set the table.

"Can you go get the guys? Oh and see if Zacky is up too."

"Okay." I said and I went into the living room and told the guys the food was ready. I didn't see Zacky so I guessed he was still sleeping. I walked upstairs and opened each door until I found Zacky sound asleep and spread out all over the bed. I walked over to him and shook his shoulder gently.

"Zacky? Zacky wake up?" I said but he grumbled and buried his face into the pillow.

"Zacky? Come on wake up." I said shaking him roughly. He turned his head, slightly opening his eyes and looked at me.

"What is it?"

"Val made breakfast. She told me to come and wake you." I said smiling. He sat up in bed stretching and started picking his clothes off the floor. I turned my back to him as he got dressed.

"I'll be down in a minute Rae."

"Okay." I said and I left his room. I walked back downstairs and back into the kitchen telling Val what Zacky said before I fixed me a plate. I was almost finished with breakfast when Zacky came into the kitchen.

"Finally someone graces us with his presence."

"Shut up short shit." Zacky said yawning. I shook my head as Zacky filled his plate full of food. Zacky finished and I took his plate along with everyone else's and put them into the sink.

"We'll see you girls later. I should be home around 6."

"Okay baby. Have a good day." Val said kissing Matt. Matt kissed my forehead and left with the others.

"Where they going? To the studio?" I asked.

"Yeah. They're working on their self-entitled album."

"Cool." I said smiling.

"It is pretty cool but sometimes it can get stressful."

"I bet." I said looking out the window as they left with music blaring. I shook my head at how they leave. Makes me think what the neighbors say.

"I was wondering is you'd like to go shopping? We have a wonderful mall here."

"Sure. Does it have a Hot Topic?" I asked.

"Sure does."

"Alright. When do you want to go?" I asked smiling.

"As soon as these dishes are done. Want to help?"

"Yeah." I said and we went to work. She washed them while I dried and put the dishes away and we were done in no time. I ran upstairs and put my boots on and hurried back downstairs and we left.

"After we get done at the mall, I need to run to the store and get groceries."

"Okay." I said as we pulled into a parking space. The place was huge! We walked around and got some more clothes and accessories like spiked dog-collars and spiked wristbands. We went into a few more shops and I watched Val try on swim suits, dresses, and different kinds of pants. I always told her she looked really good.

"Why don't I get you a swim suit too?"

"No...no thank you Val. I'm not a big fan of the water." I said lying. I loved the water but the scars on my legs are something I don't want anyone seeing right now.

"I can get Matt to teach you."

"No I think I'll just stick with putting my feet in the water." I said laughing and raising one hand.

"Alright but if you ever change your mind just let me know."

"I will." I said smiling.

"How about some lunch."

"Sounds good to me." I said and we exited the shop and made our way to the food court. we got our lunch and sat down at a table and began to eat.

"Val?" I said looking up at her.

"Yeah?"

"How does Matt know Miss Harding?" I asked taking a sip of my soda.

"Jo and Matt went to school together. Matt is like her big brother."

"Oh." I said.

"You miss her?"

"Very much. She's talked to me about everything. She's so cool." I said truthfully.

"I have something for you," Val searched in her purse and pulled out a phone, "Now you can keep in touch with her. I've already gave her your number and put it in there. You have all the guys numbers and the girls." Val handed me the phone and I smiled.

"Thanks Val." I said still smiling.

"No problem." We finished up our food and headed out of the mall and down the road to the grocery store. Val parked the car and we went into the store and started shopping. By the time we were finished, we had 2 carts full of food. Val paid for everything and we took it to the car.

"Damn! I forgot Matt's Peaches."

"I'll go and get them." I offered. She handed me some money and I went back into the store and loaded 3 bags of good and ripe peaches and went to pay for them. I walked back to the car and got in putting the bag in the backseat. We made out way back home and started unloading it all and putting it away. It took us about an hour but I had fun. I went upstairs and plugged my phone up so it could charge so I could call Jo later on. I went back downstairs where Val had already started on dinner.

"What are you cooking?" I asked breathing in the smell.

"Cheesy chicken and rice casserole with some mashed potatoes."

"Sounds good." I said licking my lips. "

You haven't tasted it yet." She laughed.

"If it's anything like breakfast this morning, I know I'll love it." I said smiling.

"I hope you do." I smiled and grabbed a soda from the fridge and walked into the living room to watch something while dinner was being prepared. I think I'm really going to like staying here. Val had finished the food by the time Matt pulled into the drive. The door opened and Matt walked in along with Zacky. What's he doing here? I guess he didn't want to be alone in his house. I wouldn't blame him.

"Hey Zacky." I said smiling.

"Hey how are you feeling?"

"I'm alright. I had a little headache this morning but it went away." I said as he sat down beside me.

"Good. Can I check something on TV?"

"Yeah sure." I said handing him the remote. He flipped through the channels until he came to ESPN. He watched as different baseball teams showed on the bottom of the screen before smiling.

"Something good?" I asked.

"Yeah the Angels beat the Rangers."

"Food's done!" Val yelled from the kitchen. I stood up and went into the kitchen with Zacky right behind me. I sat down and fixed me a plate of the food and took a bite.

"Good?"

"More than good Val. It's awesome." I said eating more of the wonderful meal. I finished my plate and I was stuffed to the gills. I took my plate over to the sink and washed it off before putting it into the dishwasher.

"Zacky will you be staying with us tonight?" Val asked and he shook his head yes.

"Guest bedroom is always open for you Zacky."

"I appreciate it Val." He said smiling.

"Do you want me to show him to his room?" I asked.

"Yes please." I nodded for Zacky to follow me and he did. I went upstairs and opened a door and Zacky went in.

"If you need anything, I'm right across the hall." I said and he nodded.

"Same goes for you too Rae." I smiled before leaving his room and going into my own. I shut the door behind me and went into the bathroom locking the door. I sat down on the side of the tub and rolled up my pants leg and looked at the damage I did to them. The cuts were beginning to scab over and they were still red but didn't hurt. I grabbed the razor from the cabinet before sitting back down on the side of the tub. I raked the metal across my legs bringing the blood almost instantly.

I washed off the razor and my legs and dried them off. I put my pants back down and put the razor in the cabinet before leaving the bathroom and going over to my bed. After walking all day in the mall and then going to the store and carrying all that stuff in, I was totally exhausted. I laid my head back on the pillow and closing my eyes, almost instantly going to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ZACKY'S POV~~~~~~~~~

I laid here awake like I have ever since Gena left. I haven't been able to get a good night sleep and it's really starting to bug the fuck out of me. A flash of light came through my window and shortly the sound of thunder sounded. Oh great! Now I'll never get to sleep. I looked over and seen my door open and then close quietly. I watched as someone walked over to me.

"Zacky? Are you asleep?"

"What's wrong Rae?" I asked sitting up.

"I'm afraid of thunder. Can I sleep in here?"

"Of course." I said making room for he on the bed as she laid down. Another crash of thunder sounded and Rae curled up next to me. I protectively wrapped my arm around her and she laid her head down on my chest. I rubbed her back and she slowly went back to sleep. She looked so peaceful while she slept. I laid my head back listen to the sound of her breathing and finally drifted off to sleep.

Notes

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