When a Bird Sings Chapter 3, 4 & 5

 Author's Note:  Due to the (semi subtle) mentions of self harm and eating disorders, I advise readers who are triggered to discontinue reading for their own safety. Thank you for reading :).

Chapter Three

That night Cate tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Her arms and legs ached and stung against her sweats and long sleeve shirt. She should have told him, she knew it, but she was scared.

Scared.

Cate knotted her eyebrows, that was nonsense. Michael wasn't someone to be scared of. He wouldn't hurt her, much less judge. " He... wouldn't care. Maybe he would...ughhh I don't know." She groaned, rolling over with the pillow over her head. He would look at her with a gentle face.

Gentle.

She smiled underneath the pillow. That's right, he was gentle and kind and sweet. She shook her head, sitting up. A throbbing had come up in her temples. As she massaged her forehead she came to a conclusion. Yes, she would tell him, she would have to. They were friends, maybe honesty wasn't as hard as she thought. Cate fell back against her pillow, but then again maybe it was. She groaned again, her eyes drooping. But she remembered how gentle he was and concerned. He wouldn't be a monster like the rest of them were.

....
" Do you think I care?! NO I DON'T!" He yelled and slammed the door, shaking the wood barrier at its hinges. Michael rolled his eyes as he panted, looking around his room. He growled and threw his football against the wall, making his Patriots' team picture slip to the floor and shatter the glass that covered it. Michael glared at his relflection, his shirt clinging to him. He ripped it off easily to reveal a panting and shaking chest. Veins popped from his neck and temple. He was angry, he felt like the Hulk. Michael snarled at himself in the mirror. He hated it. He hated how angry he got. He despised his voice when he yelled at his parents for fighting. His fists clenched at his sides, he paced. His tennis shoes coming loose, Michael flicked his legs angrily, sending his shoes clattering against the bed's headboard. He needed something to hurt, to punch. He wanted to shoot something. " Oh my god." He moaned, pulling at his face. Adrenaline forced by wrath made his body shake. His skin twitched, he felt it and it annoyed him even more. He grabbed something from his desk and hurled it through his window. Michael huffed and collapsed into his bed; he didn't care about what it was. He rolled over and turned the lamp off, plunging himself into darkness. He pulled his phone from his jeans to see if he had any texts. His anger plummeted and he felt weak. It was from Cate.
                                        Sleep well, Michael. Thanks for being my friend.
                                                                 Goodnight.

His eyes stung with angry tears, then regretfull ones as well. It was too late to answer, so he gently placed his phone on the nightstands and pulled the covers to his chest. How could he even be her friend if he hid such a temper from her? If he would ever... He gasped. No, she could never know about this. He would hate himself if he hurt Cate in anyway, Michael wouldn't be able to live with himself. He turned his face to the window, allowing the moonlight to filter through the curtains and onto his face. He sighed and closed his eyes, Cate could never know this about him. He shuddered...never.

Chapter Four

The morning came early for James as he staggered from his bed and stumbled to his dresser to grab some clothes for a shower. He barely remembered the night before, it was all muddled and mixed up. He yawned, Michael was too tired to really remember anything right now. He shuffled down the hall and into the bathroom to shower.
He let the cold water run down his face, washing the grogginess out of him. It was six o' clock. He had enough time to look presentable and head over to Cate's house to say goodmorning and go with her to school. He didn't feel like riding with his mom and his dad had already left for work. Riding with her would be a welcomed change to usual routine.

....
Cate picked her skinny jeans out of the drawer and slipped them on and paired them with sperrys and an oversized magenta shirt. She smoothed it out as she sat down to braid her honey colored hair. It met the small of her back, making it appear long on her short stature. Her arms were long and willowy as her thin fingers expertly braided it like Katniss Everdeen's hair in the Hunger Games. She loved the way her hair looked braided, it made her look strong. She mulled over and critiqued every bit of her still blotchy face. She nodded, make up would fix the redness, but the sharpness of her chin and face were things that she didn't like and make up couldn't fix. But luckily the gentle, caressing hazel that sketched itself in her irises' edges, made her sharp stern blue eyes and sharp face soften.
She finished with placing several bands of bracelets on her scrawny wrists and took her keys from her nightstand. Cate stepped down the stairs quietly just as her mom came up to the landing with a confused look on her face, her lips pursed.

" Mom, what's up?" She asked, noticing the look on her face.

" There's someone at in the living room for you. Michael from school he said." Her graying haired mother replied. Cate sighed and chuckled.

" He's legit, you didn't let a murderer in the house, mom." She replied and leaned up, kissing her mom's cheek. Her mother's face lightened.

"Oh! Well, he's in there waiting patiently for you." She answered with a wink and went down the stairs with her daughter in tow.
Cate peaked over the corner," Michael?"

" Hey Cate." He replied and stood, his voice monotone and dry. Michael stood with an unsure look on his face," Can I ride with you today? Dad's at work and Mom is... she's got a full day."
Cate grinned widely," I will gladly escort you to the torture house that is Highschool." She answered and went to the kitchen to grab her coffee and a diet Dr. Pepper. " Need anything?" She asked when she saw that he followed her into the kitchen. He shook his head.

"No I do- is that cheesecake?!" He exclaimed. Cate laughed and lifted her book sack from the table.

"Yeah, you can have some if you want. That kind is my favorite."
Michael lifted the top off the creamy dessert and took a slice, biting into it. " White chocolate raspberry! That's my favorite too!" He cried, wolfing the rest of it into his mouth and wiping his hand on his shirt. Cate chuckled and headed to the door.

" Come on, we can't be late."

"Agreed."

Cate turned her head and yelled down the hall," I'll see you after school mom!" She yelled. A mumbled 'goodbye' and ' I love you' came from the back room and the teens walked out, stepping onto the driveway.

"Thanks for taking me to school." Michael said once they started driving. Cate waved him off.

" You're welcome. I'm glad I can help." She replied. Cate looked at the dash clock, 7:55. School didn't start till 8:50, so they had time to kill.

" I... um, I'm glad that you wanted to. I've wanted to drive you for the longest time." She said, turning onto Kentucky drive. Michael looked at her in surprise.

"Really? I didn't know that." He replied, leaning against the window. Cate nodded.

" Yeah, I did. Like I almost came over to your house to get you last week, but I didn't want your parents to think I liked you or anything."

" Oh, they wouldn't have cared. It would have been a welcomed difference." He said as light as he could, but Cate could hear a hinted growl at the end. She turned to him at the red light.

" Michael, you seem on edge. Did something happen last night?"

He let out a breath, looking out the window. " Yeah, my parents and I had a disagreement last night."

She nodded in understanding," Is that why you didn't text me back last night?" He only nodded. " You know you don't have to feel bad about not texting me back. I get it."

Michael sighed, realizing he was that was one of the things making him feel so bad," Really?"
Cate laughed and turned down Mullen Blvd, five minutes away from School Campus.

"Yes, Michael. I don't care, I know that football is getting serious and you're tired. You don't need be worried about answering every single text I send."

" You have no idea how bad I felt about that once I woke up." He said, chuckling," I wanted to apologize for that."

Cate slapped his arm playfully," Silly boy! No need to apologize for that."

This earned a grin from Michael, not just her remark, but the feel of her hand on his arm. She touched him. He liked that. The brunette girl put the truck in park and turned to him. Other than her truck, there was only Mr. Rolland's Ford to the far right near the football field. She looked at her phone. " It's 8:20, what do you want to do?" Cate asked, sitting Indian style in her seat. Michael shrugged.

" I really don't know. I've never just been able to sit in the parking lot and not be late." He replied.

"Well, we could...talk? There'still a lot I don't know about you, Michael." She suggested, taking a sip of her coffee. He crossed his arms.

"I'm an open book. What do you want to know?"

Cate thought, " Favorite color?"

"Black."

"Favorite drink?"

"Mountain dew through and through."

" Favorite food?"

" Steak!" He exclaimed, licking his lips at the thought of a juicy piece of meat in front of him. Cate let out a laugh. Michael smiled watching her. Her laugh sounded like deep bells that chinked together lightly. After she stopped laughing, Cate continued.

" Birthday?"

"May 22, 2000."

" Jersey Number?"

" The number four." He said

"Favorite Book?"

Michael shrugged, " I don't read."

"WHAT! Don't tell me that." She pleaded. Michael held his hands up in surrender.

"Hey okay! Let me think..." He said, rubbing his chin. He scanned through the books in his head and shuddered when a book from British literature came up," Definitely not Emma."

"Even I agree on that one." Answered Cate, waiting for his reply.

" Ummm I'd have to say probably Hunger Games." He said, nodding," Yeah, that one."

"Favorite show?"

At this, Michael stopped," Show?"

"Yeah, show. Like television program." Cate said, pulling on her sleeve and finishing her coffee. Michael scratched the back of his neck, then eyed his phone.

"Oh will you look at the time! It's time for class." He said and jumped out. Cate rolled her eyes with a smirk.

" Oh come on, Michael! That wasn't an answer." She said as he rounded the truck, opening her door.
"Milady." He said, offering her his hand. She looked at him.

"Michael, I'm not a queen. I can get out of my own truck." She assured him, stepping onto the step.

" Just let me be a gentleman. I don't get to do it much." He said. Cate rolled her eyes in a friendly way and took his hand. It was larger than hers, much larger. It was rough and actually had defined muscles along his palms, but warm against her cold one.

"Gosh, Cate. Your hand is cold!" He explaimed, placing the other hand over hers, sandwiching her hand between his.

"They're always cold." She replied nonchalantly and walked towards the group of kids that had started to sign in.

" You sure that's normal?" Michael asked, slinging his backpack over his back. She nodded.

" I'm just like that. Yes it's normal, Mike."

"Mike?" He asked as she bent down to write her name on the sheet of paper.

"Sorry, it just sli- ow!" She cried out as one of the Seniors from the theater group slipped and caught himself, brushing against her arm. He turned with wide eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Caitlyn." He said sympatheticly and disappeared. Cate pressed the pen back into the table forcefully.
" Hey, you okay?" Michael asked, waiting for her at the door. She rubbed her arm gingerly.
She nodded, hurt tears held back.

" He didn't even get my name right." Cate groaned. But Michael didn't answer, or even seem to notice that she answered him. He grabbed her arm.

"Oh god, Cate, you're bleeding!"

"What?" She looked down, all color draining from her face.

" Your arm! Let me see." Michael said. Cate looked down to see a tiny droplets of blood running down her palm.

"No! I can take care of it." She said, keeping her voice as calm, " I'm fine. You go to class. I'll see you at lunch."  Michael looked hesitant, Cate placed her clean hand on his shoulder," Go, I'm fine." He only nodded, giving her a tight squeeze.

"See ya."

" See ya."

She watched him head towards American history and made a dash for the bathroom, going to the last stall. "No no no." She hissed, pulling up her sleeve to reveal several cuts, fresh and open to the conditions. Blood dripped steadily from the deepest of the lines that marred her arm. Tears spilled now as she held her sleeve to her arm. Panic that had filled her faded and now only pain dwelled in the space that it had occupied. Quickly she unzipped her bag to get another shirt. Cate slipped the other over her head and pulled the other one onto her body. She lifted her old shirt up to judge the damage.
Garbage worthy, too noticable for mom to even touch it. She thought, stuffing it into her bag after placing fresh thick bandaids over the cut. That'll stop the bleeding. She winced, exiting the stall and out the bathroom, heading to Ancient Literature with Mrs. Julie. She sighed, entering the class room. Being the teacher's pet helped out a lot when you're tardy. She had almost forgotten about it as she listened to Mrs. Julie go on about her favorite book of the year, The Scarlet Letter. But the stickiness of the bandaid and prickly feeling of it pulling against her skin made it all too noticable.
....
Michael pushed through the door after 2nd period and wanted to get to lunch. All of class, his mind kept drifting to Cate and the blood that had seeped into her skin. Her anxious eyes and panicked expression and her insistance on her being fine. His shoulders slumped, it just didn't add up.

" Michael."

He turned his head and faced his teacher, Mrs. Jaimie looked at him with crossed arms and a knowing smirk. " Where are you off to so quickly?"

" Umm, lunch?" He replied. She pointed to his seat.

"You're forgetting your bag."

" Oh! Yes ma'am, thank you for reminding me. No way I'll be able to eat without that." He gave a polite chuckle and walked to his seat, grabbing his black bag. Slinging it over his shoulder, he gave a wave and started walking out. He walked outside and searched for Cate carefully through the crowd, only not to see her anywhere. Had she changed eating spots? "Cate!" He called out, going to the outskirts of the Campus. No answer. He walked behind the Language hall and found her sitting there, leaning against the wall with headbuds in and eyes closed. He also noticed something was different. She had changed her shirt. He jogged over to her and kneeled beside her, tapping her shoulder. She opened her eyes calmly and looked at him with a placid smile. She removed her headbuds.

" I was hoping you would have found me." She said

" Well I did. Are you okay?"

"Yeah I am."

"Why did your arm start bleeding, is your skin really that thin?" He asked. Cate opened her Diet Dr. Pepper, avoiding the question.

"Cate, I'd like to know. " He said quietly, hoping his eyes would persuade her into opening up. He reached his hand to her arm, but she pulled away quickly.

"There's nothing to know, it's just a scrape." She assured him, giving him a smile. He eyed her warily.

"I'm trusting you're being honest with me."

"Completely."

"Good."

Cate gulped the rest of the soda and placed the cap back on the bottle. "What you get for lunch?" She asked. 

Michael rummaged through his bag," I have a ham sandwich, powerade... and Reeses." Cate perked up at the mention of the chocolate cups filled with peanut butter. Michael noticed as he threw the ziploc containing his sandich on the on grass.

" You like Reeses?"

She nodded. He handed the bright orange package to her, but Cate refused. " I can't take your candy from you. "

"Okay..." he ripped it open and gave on of the chocolates to her," We can share." Cate smiled.

"Awww, well ain't you so sweet." She replied and took it. They looked at each other and laughed at her pretend country drawl.

"Ya know, I've always wanted a friend like you." Michael said as he finished laughing. Cate only grinned and hugged knees.

" Yeah, it's good to have friends you can laugh and joke around with, isn't it?"

He took a bite of his sandwich. " It really is. " Michael answered. He lifted his head and looked at her, Cate's smile eased into a small curl as she returned his gaze. There was improvement in her, she looked stronger, braver. " Remember when we first met?"

"Yeah."

"You wouldn't even look me in the face. And now you look me in straight in the eye, unmoving."
" I guess you just have that kind affect on me." She replied. Michael's mouth spread into a wide grin.
" I'm glad I do."

Chapter Five

"Now remember," Mrs. Richerson called out above the insanely loud bell as Cate exited her seat," The quiz is tomorrow and the Test next Tuesday. Please don't forget!"
Cate eyed Alex and Mari as they pretended to be innocent. They knew that the last remark was meant for them. Cate pulled the ends of her sleeves tighter into her palm and weaved her way through the stream of snickering and joking teenagers.
"Cate, come see." Mrs. Richerson called, stopping the teenage girl dead in her tracks. A million things went over in her mind pertaining to homework. But once she turned to face her Advanced Biology teacher, she noticed that her face said nothing of the sort. " How are you doing, Cate?" She asked in a soft, inaudible voice.

Cate didn't have to ask why Mrs. Richerson asked her, she understood. " I'm okay."

The brown haired woman leaned against her desk. " There's no need to lie to me, sweetie. I'm just trying to help you." Cate sighed and sat in one of the front desks.

" Mrs. Richeron, it's hard, but there is some progress." Cate replied, squirming in her seat. The teacher's face softened.

" I know. It's going to be hard, but that's what makes it worth it."

Cate nodded then changed the subject," I've made a friend."

Mrs. Richerson raised her eyebrows and smiled," Really! Who is it?"

" Michael Winston."

" From the football team?" Her teacher asked.

" Yes Ma'am." Cate answered.

"Did I hear my name?" Said a voice as a small head peered around the door frame. Cate turned and smiled as Michael skipped in. He turned to Mrs. Richerson and bowed," Mrs. Richerson, good afternoon." She smiled.

"Good afternoon, Michael. And to what may I owe this visit?"

" My chauffer seems to be running a bit late." He said and turned to Cate, winking. Cate chuckled.

" I'm his ride home." The girl explained, the Teacher nodded in understanding.

" I won't keep you then, I'll see you tomorrow." Mrs. Richerson said with a smile and ushered them out," Oh Cate."

"Yes ma'am?" Cate asked quietly, stopping near the door.

"Proud of you." She said. Cate grinned.

" Thank you, Mrs. Richerson." She answered quietly with a proud smile and jogged up the hall to catch up with Michael.

"What was that about?" Michael asked as they plodded along towards Cate's truck.

"Oh nothin', just going over some stuff." Cate said and jumped into the driver's seat and turned the key in the ignition.

"For the test?"

" Yeah." She answered, pulling out onto the road. She knew that was a lie, but she had no other choice. Michael leaned into his seat and sighed, turning to his friend.

"I'm glad you're okay."

"What do you mean?" Cate asked.

" From today. You were really hurting." Michael replied. Cate smiled.

" Yes, Michael. I am utterly fine. But thank you for watching out for me."

"It's what friends are for." Michael said and went into a trance, gazing out the passenger side window.

"You never answered my question this morning." Cate told him, turning down Langston Dr.

" Hm?" Michael grunted, fully awake now from his dozing.

" Your favorite show."

"Oh, yeah." Michael said with a pink blush coming up his neck, "That."

"Well?"

Michael mumbled under his breath a slur of words. Cate giggled," Michael, what is it!"

"My Little Pony!" He blurted out, clasping his hand over his mouth in embarassment. Cate busted out in laughter.

" Are you serious?!" She wiped her eyes, clenching the steering wheel," You're a brony?"

"Ugh, yes!" Michael groaned then pointed at her with a stern finger," This gets out and the guys will kill me, KILL me!"

Cate gave him a wicked grin," So, I've got material to blackmail you with." Michael cried out in aggravation.

"No! I swear if you do-"

"Don't worry. I won't go telling your secrets." She assured him. He sighed, crossing his arms.

" You're a sneaky little stinker, Cate."

" That's why we're friends, Michael." She told him and he nodded.

"Exactly. Oh, by the way, did you call me Mike earlier today?"

" Yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't know if you liked that and it just slipped. I meant to ask you at lunch if that was okay."

" Okay?" He huffed," I love it! But only under one condition."

" And that is?"

" That I can have a nickname for you." He said. Cate shrugged.

" Go for it! What ya thinking?"

Michael started to think. What would be a good name? " What are you usually called?" He asked, stumped.

" Well, I'm called a lot of things: Sweetie, sweetheart... lots of things." Michael shook his head.

" They don't sound good enough." Then it hit him. " Hey! What about Sissy?"

"Sissy?" She asked, " Why that?"

" I don't know, you're just like family to me now. I just thought it might stick if I tried it."

Cate beamed," I like it. No one's ever called me Sissy before- not even my siblings."

"Well, I'm glad you like it. I think it fits." He replied.

"So do I.'" She said, pulling into her neighborhood," Where is your house?"

Michael shook his head," You don't need to bring me home. I can walk over."

" No I insist, let me bring you all the way home." Cate said, turning to him. Michael looked at her and was shocked. Her face was more gaunt than it had been last month and her clothes hung even looser.

" What's wrong, Mike? You're staring at me."

" I'm staring 'cause you're beautiful and you deserved to be called so."

She stopped and looked at him questioningly and Michael swore he saw a tear in her usually happy eye. Cate composed herself quickly and smiled," Oh stop flirting, Michael." She laughed," Now, tell me where your house is."
....
" Thanks for bringing me home, Sissy. I'll see you tomorrow." Michael said, leaning over the center console and giving his friend a tender hug.

" See you tomorrow, Bubba."

He looked at her," Bubba?"

" Sounds better than Mike and I like it more." Cate explained, messing with his black locks. He laughed.

" I'll text you later." He said, grabbing his back pack and going into the front door. Cate waved and backed out, heading home. She let out a breath as she turned left at a stop sign. His words echoed through her mind redundantly.

I'm staring 'cause you're beautiful

"Beautiful. He called me beautiful." She whispered, pulling into her own driveway and just sitting there for a minute, his voice and that word continuing in her mind.