Imogen

"Good morning," Lucas said, in a disappointed tone, leaning on my door. He entered my room, with sadness written all over his face, and sat down next to me.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to get used to the bright light soaring through my windows. I was taking in the smell of the clean cotton and fabric softener. "What?" 

"Nothing," he shrugged, playing with the edges of my comforter.

"Lucas, tell me," I pleaded, reaching out to take his hand in mine. 

"Did you really kiss Drew?" I bite my lip, looking down. 

I wasn't really planning on mentioning it. I only did it because the boy was dying.. 

"How did you even find out?" I questioned.

"Drew called me this morning and kept saying Imogen kissed me, Imogen kissed me," he rolled his eyes.

"What a child," I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "I only did it because he was dying at the time. I know it makes no sense, but it didn't mean anything," I reassured.

"Mmm okay," he said, but there was still a frown plastered on his face.

"Hey, I only want to be with you. Don't forget that." I tried to lighten the mood, but he wasn't happy. I understand how it looks. Our first official day of being boyfriend and girlfriend, and I go kiss another guy behind his back. 

"You should start getting ready, it's getting late," he spoke, trying to force a smile on his face to reassure me.

----

 Lucas opened the door, waiting for me to go. After speedily putting on my shoes, we walked to one of his many families-owned cars. During the drive, my mind was flooded with thoughts. I haven't been to school in two months; it felt unnatural to go back there and I'm scared to hear what people have to say. Frankie mentioned how many rumors have been going around about me. I kept waving my hand to calm down my sweating. I guess Lucas noticed my anxiety beginning to rise and placed his hand on mine. His touch felt so comforting, but I won't have him with me all day. 

We arrived surprisingly just in time for the first period. Lucas walked me to my locker, placing a peck on my cheek causing my cheeks to burn red. He waved goodbye before walking towards his classroom. I could feel my chest becoming tight once again, struggling to take in any air. I kept trying to manage my breathing, but my anxiety was just getting worse. 

"She probably faked everything to get attention," I heard someone comment just several lockers away from mine. 

"She's just an attention whore," another spat, causing my breath to hitch.

"I heard she is dating Lucas, but is cheating on him with multiple guys," the group of girls laughed, walking down the hall. 

My eyes felt a slight sting and my lips began to quiver. My vision became blurred, eager to release the tears with every blink. But I couldn't let these idiots know that they affected me. I slammed my locker, getting ready to suck it up and go to class. 

"Imogen," I looked up to an unfamiliar group of guys. "Maybe next time you're in a coma, you should die," he put his hands out getting a high five from all his boys. I could feel the tears escaping my eyes. I dashed to the bathroom before anyone could see and locked it. My chest expanded and lowered rapidly, a result of me hyperventilating. The tears glided out of my eyes, making me look like a blubbering mess.

I went and washed the salty tears off my face. When I looked into the mirror, you could see my puffy eyes and swollen face, showing that the comments had affected me. Why is everyone talking about me? I was invisible before, but now I'm the talk of the town. I don't understand how I made people hate me this much. How did me being in a coma caused so many problems for them? I was dreaming for two months not being able to live. Now,  I want to go back to dreaming so I can escape this pain. 

"I don't understand," I whispered, feeling my eyes becoming glossy once more. My eyes glanced up, seeing a crack on the corner of the mirror. There were several shattered pieces of glass in the sink, calling my name. I always heard about people hurting themselves to relieve the pain they were in. It might just be time to try it out myself. I grabbed the biggest piece in the sink and looked at it for a while. I took a few deep breaths, getting ready to make an irrational decision. I placed the glass just inches above my skin, closing my eyes to avoid the blood that will come out.   

I glided the glass against my arm, forming a cut just under Drew's name. I whined at the feeling of sharp glass on my skin. My eyes fluttered open to see the blood dripping down my arm into the sink. Instantly, I regretted what I had just done. Making a scar on myself didn't help my pain disappear for even a second. If anything, it just made the pain more clear. I looked down at my arm, seeing the cut started to heal itself. My eyes widened. It was like nothing even happened. My arm had repaired as if it had skins under it.

"What the hell?" I whispered. I grabbed the shattered piece and glided it once again, faster this time. My skin swallowed into its self; connecting itself without stitches. The scars that would have been formed had completely vanished away. I decided I had no motivation to continue being in school. I took my phone out and texted Lucas that I was going home. I texted Frankie just in case she was in school to not expect me.

*****

Lucas came over after school and was in a better mood than before. He started acting happier after I told him what caused me to go home. He kept comforting me, telling me not to worry about them. I didn't mention my little experience in the bathroom; I know he would overreact about me hurting myself. I also had no idea how to explain the self-healing without looking insane. 

"I have to get something from my room real quick." I dashed upstairs, almost making it to my room before he called out.

"Imogen! Someone is here to see you, "Lucas's voice drifted faintly up from below.

"Okay! Coming!" I shouted, running back to him after retrieving my blanket. "Who is it ?"

"Your brother," I was taken back, stopping halfway down.

My feet slowly walked down the stairs. I saw him enter through the door. I felt my palms get all sweaty and clamming up. Maybe this could open the possibility of having someone take care of me. The day suddenly felt lightened by the news. I finally have hope again and felt like I could burst with joy any second. I looked at him and there was no question he was my brother. We looked so similar, the only difference was our height, and our genders, of course.

"Hi, I'm Imogen," I smiled lightly.

"I'm happy to finally be able to meet you," he smiled, his hand out for me to shake it, "I'm Rebel."

I awkwardly hooked his hand, "Why didn't mother mention you?"

Lucas closed the door behind us while Rebel and I walked to the island in the middle of the kitchen and sat down."She gave our sister and m-,"

"Wait, I have a sister too?" I squealed happily.  

"Yes, she's older than both of us. I haven't seen her since I was 7 I believe," he said.

"What happened?" I asked, feeling my anxiety rushing through my veins. 

"We got adopted by different foster families. I reached out to our mother a few years back when you were away. She would only let me come because you were away," he informed me, I could see the sorrow in his dark brown eyes.

"Why? I hated being the only child. I begged her to give me a sibling, or at least a dog," I laughed.

It was always lonely back then. Even now with my mother dead, nothing really changed. We hardly spoke to each other, usually only during holidays, but even then she would take on extra shifts just to afford a gift. Now knowing I could have had a sibling really changes everything.

"I think she regrets putting us into the system so maybe her way of denying the truth was by not telling you," he expressed, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his wallet. His finger unfolded his wallet, reaching into its pocket and pulling out a photo. He handed me the picture. A smile emerged on my face when I saw it was a baby picture of myself in my mother's arm.

"She gave it to me the last time I visited her. I always kept it closer, knowing one day we will reunite as a family."

"Well, I'm happy to be able to get to know my brother," I said lifting myself up from the chair and opening my arms. He lifted himself and wrapped his arms around me, while he laid his head on top of mine. It was a pretty awkward hug, but I enjoyed every second of it. I know there's a chance he could be lying to me. Maybe there's a chance he's trying to hurt me, but deep down, I can feel that he's my actual brother.

"There's something I have to mention and I don't know how to say it," he added, scratching the back of his neck. "Our family is special," I scrunched up my nose.

"What the hell does that mean?" 

I hope you enjoy this chapter. You will learn more about what special means. I hope your excited because  I am!! 

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