Struggling with more Ways than one

"I'm Fletcher." I say as I shake Kat's hand. She slides a pack of Marlboro's out from her pocket and raises her eyebrows at me, asking me if I want one. I shake my head but I offer to go out with her. She nods and we walk outside together.
"So what's your deal kid?" she asks as we sit at the school's patio, Kat puts her feet up on the table and leans back in the steel chair. I sift nervously, debating whether or not to tell my new friend about my habits.
"You a cutter?" she says leaning in incase I have something to say. I bite my lip and try not to cry as I nod, only to no avail.
"Aww c'mere dude, don't cry." She says putting her cigarette on the table and taking me into a warm hug. I sob into her neck as she strokes my hair softly, like my mother used to do when I was a little girl when I scraped my knees.
~Flash Back~
It was a humid summer days and I was outside playing with my little brother Matty. He had spotted a butterfly and we were chasing after it. Matty toddled on his chubby legs chasing after the winged creature as I trailed happily behind. The warm summer air caressed my face and everything was innocent. I didn't see a root that jutted out from the huckleberry bush and soon fell on my face, getting scrapes all over. I cried and ran back to my mother who was observing from a far Matty and I's shenanigans. She took me into a caring hug and then assessed my cuts. She went inside quickly and grabbed a wet rag and some Band-Aids. I cried when it stung but my mother held me close and calmed me down.
"Shush Fletcher, everything's okay." I nuzzled myself into her golden locks and wanted to stay in her loving hold forever, but that didn't last long because Matty was sad and I needed to comfort him; he had lost the butterfly. I promised we could find another and it wasn't long until we saw another monarch flying amongst the low clouds. We ran after it again and got lost in young wonder.
~End Flashback~
"It's okay Fletch, I used to do that shit too, but I got through it see?" She says rolling up her sleeves to reveal myriads of scars. I gasp and she grimaces but then makes a laugh at herself.
"Yeah I was a little fucker back then, but aren't we all?" She smiles, I laugh and her smile grows larger.
"Well off'a that topic, you got any Family bud?" I shake my head.
"I'm real sorry for you man, I kinda know how it feels."
I look her in the eyes as a signal for her to continue, she does.
"When I was young my father left us, my mother came down with leukemia and didn't make it, my older brother was old enough to take care of me at the time so he did. A few years ago my father wanted to come back into my life and there was this big shit sandwich in court which only proved the same result my father had when he left our lives; he didn't get to be apart of them. So in all I have my older brother Jake, or Jakey as he lets me call him and a small circle of friends."
She begins to count her fingers and then stops saying she was kidding, I laugh at this knowing I would have done the same thing too.
"I only have my mom, but she's long gone now... It's kind of like she's on life support." Kat's face falls and leans in so I know she's listening. I bit my tongue to keep from crying, I want to get through as much as my childhood story as I can before letting the tears fall.
"My life has always been broken, and same as your father did, my dad left us but at the worst time. He left after my little sister was run over in the street. My mother became a recluse and my brother thought he was at fault so he committed suicide, and that made me feel like I have nothing left to live for. So I started my self destruction. I began to cut and this year I was positive that it was the end, infact I remember a while back I said to myself on new years I was going to take my life." I look up to see Kat's face covered in tears, her makeup going everywhere. Her mouth hangs open and nothing comes out until:
"DUDE COME HERE I NEED TO GIVE YOU THE BEST BEAR HUG EVER!!!" she sobs and throws me into a crushing hug. She wipes her eyes and smothers her cigarette in the ash tray the school provides since they got tired of the butts being everywhere.
"Remind me to buy you a fucking birthday and or early Christmas present since I'm sure you haven't had one in forever!" I frown knowing her sentence is true then tell her she doesnt have to, but as all good friends do she insists so I let her after telling her my birthday.
"April 9th."
"Nice mine's Noveember 23rd."
"Hey that's coming up maybe I'll get you a band teeshirt or something."
After I say that we catapult into a whole fangirling session about the boybands we like, we both like all the same ones. Oh gawd how can this day get any better. Then I found out.
"Where you heading boo?" Kat asks as we pack up our stuff heading to last period.
"Art."
Her face lights up like a Christmas tree.
"ME TOO!" She screams in glee and jumps on my shoulder.
We laugh and chat the whole way there and I'm surprised to see Gerard not outside his classroom door, or at his desk either. It isn't until the bell rings and a few moments afterwards does he emerge from the back room. As soon as he does my heart shatters. His eyes are red puffy and swollen, his nose looks like Rudolph's, I can see the tear stains on his cheeks. I want to run up and hug him, comfort him, tell him everything's fine. But I don't know if it is or not, plus I can't do it here or now so what's the point. I get Kat started on the project and work in my sketchbook, checking several times to see if Gerard is better. One time we contact eyes and Gerard just bites his lip and looks away. I'm dying to figure out what's been up with him lately and after the bell rings I say goodbye to Kat and try to find out.
I go over to Gerard and put a hand on his shoulder, his head is down on his desk, I can hear him sobbing.
"Gerard what's wrong?" I whisper. It's a few moments before he responds but when he does my heart shatters.
"It's Mikey."

Notes

HOORAY FOR KAT! She's going to become sort of a big sister figure to Fletch :) AND HOORAY FOR FLASHBACKS & BACKSTORIES!!! I had a lot of fun writing this chapter :D. aand another cliffhanger :3 ooooohh
As always your ideas and feedback are always appreciated!!!
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