Trouble

Forget about me

It was a whole week after the incident and Maisie was yet to come out of her room. She was in a bad way and everyone was becoming increasingly worried. With each new day, the hope that she'd feel better got smaller and smaller.

Keira was messaging her every day but she got nothing in reply. She was feeling increasingly upset and she hated it.

She attempted to facetime her one evening and felt great joy when Maisie actually picked up.

That joy was soon gone when she saw how broken she looked.

"I don't want to talk. Please just live your life. Forget about me. I ruin everything so just carry on without me. Everything will be better for it. Trust me."

With that Maisie hung up.

Keira felt a bone-crushing sadness fall upon her. She needed Lucy.

She headed to the chill out room, trying not to break down, and poked her head around the door.

"Luce," she said. Lucy got up, knowing from the look on her face that something was wrong.

As soon as they were on their own, Keira broke down in her arms.

"She's still not seeing anyone," she stammered, "I hate it. She told me to just carry on like normal without her. I can't do that. I love her so much it hurts. I wish she could see that."

"Still not seeing anyone?" Lucy repeated, hardly believing it, "Poor baby."

"It's so horrible."

"Things will get better at some point. It won't go on like this forever."

"It better not."

***

Tracy and Peter had called for backup. They'd got nowhere and they knew that they needed some outside help.

"Morning Maisie," a voice said. The teenager was confused and groggy as she sat up.

"Miss Bisham?" she said when she saw her.

"I've come to try and get you to school. We're all really worried about you."

"I'm not coming."

"Come on my lovely you can't stay in your room forever. I know you're feeling really rough right now but I promise we can help you. I will listen to everything you have to say."

"You won't because I'm not going to say anything. Please just go away. I'm too dangerous to come to school. I'm just going to lash out and then you'll get rid of me."

"We would never get rid of you. We've made too much progress to give up now."

Miss Bisham tried to take a step closer but was instantly shut down by the fifteen-year-old.

"Please get out of my room. I'm not coming to school."

She tried some more with both Peter and Tracy trying and failing to get her out of bed and into school.

***

It was the end of camp and Keira and Lucy were heading to Peter and Tracy's to spend the night. The original plan was that they were going to fly straight back to Barcelona after camp but they'd changed their mind; they had to see Maisie.

After a bit of catching up with her parents, Keira headed up to see her sister.

"Do you want me to come?" Lucy asked.

"No it's okay. I've got this."

"Hiya mush," she said as she pushed open the door.

Maisie instantly scrambled off her bed and backed into the corner.