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Chapter 12: Goodbye
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Bone Thin Chapter 13: Why'd You Stop
I go to school. Everyone asks how Sammy and I are feeling. Oh right, we had the "flu" yesterday."Hey, Natalie, are you okay?" Selah yells.I'm a terrible friend. I haven't told her about Collin, the divorce, or wanting to run away."I'm not okay. My parents are getting a divorce," I manage to say while choking up on my damn tears. These tears are a gift from my horrible parents."I'm sorry, anything I can do?" She asks."Gum?" I ask, holding my hand out in desperation. She hands me two packs of gum. "You need these more than I do. What are you going to do?" Selah asks."Runaway," I admit while showing her the photos of my packed bags."Shit... You can't. Stay with my family. My dad loves you," Selah says."I might take you up on that. My aunt has offered for me to move in with her. So, I have options," I say.The first bell rings, and I feel my feet dragging me to class."Miss Ashman, a word," Mr. Henry, the art teacher, says."Yes," I stop."A few weeks ago, after you left the art
Bone Thin Chapter 14: Open Up
Collin takes me home. He has put me in a good mood. I'm not sure where we stand now-no time to think about that. I'm a little annoyed to be happy. My dad will only ruin it with the "divorce" news.My dad opens the door. We don't talk about Collin. He hugs me instead."Want to go to Olive Garden?" He asks."Sure," I reply.I can eat a salad or soup. Those aren't worth a whole lot of calories. And if I feel like purging later, soup is the easiest for me to get rid of. We get in the car and don't talk. I hear the humming of the wheels beneath my feet. The air conditioning is making my goosebumps appear. I turn it off."You cold?" He asks. I roll my eyes; he knows I'm always cold. I haven't been warm in years."Sure, Dad," I say. My attitude is hard to hold back. The actress in me will be hard to summon this night.We get to Olive Garden. The first wave of breadsticks is brought out. I used to love eating them. They are a calorie stick I can't devour. My dad puts three on his plate. Disgu
Bone Thin Chapter 15: A Mother's Helper
Collin encourages me to return to his car. He hugged me for a long time. Darkness surrounds the woods. I like the dark. It's quiet, silent, and nonjudgmental. The daylight brings drama and chaos."Let's go to the tavern. Maybe I can make you a smoothie?" He says."Thanks... Sure," I reply.We get into the tacky tavern. This cheesy cafe is growing on me. Maybe it reminds me of Collin, or it's a place to let down my guard. He grabs my hand and takes me to a table. We sit down for a long time."I'll go get you a smoothie now," he says.I wait for him and turn off my phone. My parents don't deserve to get a hold of me. The clock on the wall reads 10:30 pm. I ran away from dad two hours ago. Oh well...Collin returns with a pink smoothie. There must be strawberries inside. And in his other hand, he gives me an ice pack."What's this for?" I ask."Your arm got hurt in the woods. I want to make sure it will be okay," he says.Mrs. Abernathy comes into the tavern."Hello, Natalie. Collin told
Bone Thin Chapter 16: Kindness
I wake up to the vibrations of my cell phone. Selah's name appears on my screen. I answer."Hello," I say."Natalie, where are you? We haven't seen each other in ages. Have you forgotten about me? You didn't say goodbye to me. Whose car was that anyway?" She asks.I've been a shitty friend to Selah. I deserve all these questions and ridicule."I'm sorry, Selah. It's been a hard week. I haven't felt like me for a long time. Do you remember Collin Abernathy from grade school?" I ask, knowing I don't want to tell her about him. I want Collin to be my secret life away from the world."Yes, I do. Why?" She asks."Well, the guy I kept staring at in the tavern was Collin. We've been hanging out a lot this week. And we've been catching up. It was his car I got into at school. Sorry I've been distant. It's been hard," I say."Well, I understand. So where are you now?" Selah asks."I'm at Collin's. I stayed here last night," I reply."You did what now?" Selah asks."It's no big deal, Selah. My
Bone Thin Chapter 17: What are We?
Collin takes me to the Penna Bakery. I've never been a cashier before. I can handle touching debit cards, checks, and cash. It's work I'm nervous about. Fortunately, I'm too young to be asked to bake or cook. Minors are only allowed to be dishwashers and cashiers. The bakery smells like salt, sugar, and flour. I want it to smell good, but it smells like things I have purged over the years. The thought of it makes me sick."Natalie, you don't have to work here," Collin says, seeing my sick expression."I need money," I say."If being around food is too much. Can you give more horseback riding lessons at your aunt's?" Collin suggests."I don't know. I will have to ask," I reply."You'd better get started. I have math to study. Gross," he yawns."Bye, Collin," I say.I kiss him, and our eyes meet. His light green eyes have cast their spell on me."Good afternoon, Natalie," Mrs. Penna says."Hello, Mrs. Penna," I say."Here's your apron and name tag," she says while handing me my new empl
Bone Thin Chapter 18: Unexpected Voice
The life I'm facing is hard. The life I'm facing has new joy. If I focus on Collin, I can be happy. If I focus on purging and divorce, I will lose myself. I open the door to my house and know I can embrace anything."Hello, Natalie," a familiar voice says. I look up."CHAD! What are you doing here? I thought you were in New York?" I say.What the hell is he doing here at my house? I don't need him dropping into my life only to ruin my new relationship with Collin. Chad and I used to be close. We used to love each other. But with Collin around, I can see Chad for what he is. A bad influence. He taught me to smoke, he taught me to shoplift, and he taught me how to break myself to my core."Chad get out?" I yell."Wait...Natalie...Hear me out? Please?" Chad begs like a dog."No, I have nothing to say to you," I groan."What happened to you? We didn't break up that long ago? What's changed, baby?" He asks."You moved...I got over you. And I'm not your baby anymore. Goodbye," I say, holdin
Bone Thin Chapter 19: The Cave
It's a Sunday morning. I hear the rain. The smell of sweet water rises to my face. I quietly leave Sammy and Selah behind me. They are dead to the world. The clock says it's 5 am. I still haven't spoken with dad since Olive Garden. I've been distant from him. Dad finds me in the kitchen making coffee."Hello, Natalie... I'm sorry I yelled the other night. It was wrong of me. I took the divorce out on you. Please forgive me...when you are ready, of course," he stops.I don't reply. The coffee timer goes off, and I pour dad a large cup."Thanks, dad. I appreciate that. I need to be with Aunt Tara," I say."I agree...and so does your mom. We will help you move there later this week, okay, sweetie?" He asks.I nod and hug dad. I don't make eye contact with him. I will only cry if I do. Crying makes me purge if I'm struck hard enough with sorrow."Thanks. I'm going to Aunt Tara's now. I'm going to ride Carmel. I need to feel the rain," I say."Have fun. You're just like your mom. She loves
Bone Thin Chapter 20: Live
The handcuffs hurt. They make me sweat. Chad, wherever you are, this is low. Beating me up and going to the cops, how manly of you.I need gum, now! I need to chew on something. I grit my teeth and clench my jaw. The bones in my jaw pop from the pressure. This anger towards Chad won't help me face an army of cops. And how the hell do I tell my parents? Fuck.The car smells like real criminals. This stench doesn't belong to me. I won't wear this odor proudly. Officer Barnes pulls the car into a parking lot. We must be at a police station.He opens my door. I decide not to talk. If I don't talk, it might be for the better. Maybe this will end faster if I do what they say. I get out of the criminal car. Officer Barnes looks at me."I knew that day in the mall that we would be crossing paths again. It was only a matter of time," Officer Barnes says.I see my reflection in the car window. Utter shit. How are they not concerned about my well-being and bruises? Oh, wait. I'm wearing makeup.
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