You; Deserve to Live by Kendra Hefting (romantic books to read txt) 📖

Chris seemed to be nervous so Serenity just gave him a look that clearly said ‘get on with it’.
“Franchesika said you cut yourself!”
Three Reasons

Serenity

Serenity sat there stunned. There was no way that Franchesika would say anything to anyone, Serenity understood she was mean but this was evil. What happened in Serenity's life had nothing to do with the rest of the school.
"Hello? Earth to Serenity?" Chris started to wave his hand in front of Serenity's blank face. Suddenly Serenity's hand flew up and grabbed his wrist.
"That is extremely irritating!" Her previously light violet eyes were now bubbling with annoyance and anger. Chris pulled his hand out of her grip with a almost sullen look.

"So it's true then." Chris didn't put it as a question but Serenity nodded anyway. Serenity didn't even know why she answered him; It wasn't any of his buisness and he was a 'popular' he was sure to say something to someone.
Serenity suddenly felt a hand underneath her chin lifting her head up to meet those eyes that still left her pondering which color they prefered.
"Why Serenity?" At the moment, Chris' eyes seemed to hold a dark forest floor green that was almost menacing. Serenity could tell he cared, she didn't know how but she knew he did and that was how she found herself pouring out her life's story to someone she had just met that morning.

"Do you know what it's like? To come home and know what is going on and that you can't do anything because you could get hurt? It's a helpless feeling, and it's why i started cutting because it was something i felt in control of." Serenity broke down in tears, silent sobs escaping her throat. Sometime during her meltdown, Chris had taken her hands in his and Serenity couldn't help but think it was somewhat comforting.
"Can i see you scars?" Chris asked softly. Serenity nodded and at that gesture Chris brought up her sleeve to her elbow just like Franchesika had. Even though Serenity had her eyes closed in effort to stop the flow of tears, she could feel Chris trace the trails they had left behind.
"Please stop." Chris whispered it so silently that Serenity wouldn't have heard it if she had still been crying instead she opened her eyes to meet Chris' steady gaze.
"Give me three reasons."
"What?" Chris gave her a confused look but Serenity only shook her head.
"Give me three reasons, and I mean good reasons not 'because it destroys your body' reasons, REAL reasons by the end of the school year!"

Chris

The moment Serenity fell in front of Chris, he knew she was beautiful not just outside but inside. But Chris could also tell she was broken and all Chris wanted to do was help. So naturally Chris started fussing over her when she fell down, but it was when she stood up he got a good look at her; her fiery auburn hair was pulled into two messy braids signaling she had curly hair, her eyes were a light purple so that they still soft and gentle. The girl wore a green sweatshirt with Kermit the Frog on it and worn out blue jeans. All in all Chris thought she pulled off the look really well and it made her beautiful.
But Chris' eyes made their way right back up to her eyes staring into them getting all too lost in the emotion hidden in them.
"Ahem." Chris turned to see Mark and Josh, his best friends, looking at him with a raised eyebrow. Chris just shook his head at their immaturity but when he looked back Serenity wasn't there, she was just passing him. Immediately Chris reached out to grab her arm. The girl turned to him with a look that said 'what?'
"My name's Chris." Now usually Chris would have given something cooler like 'It's Chris' or 'm'name's Chris' but he had a feeling he needed to give a proper introduction to her. The girl looked down at his arm that was still on her arm and right as Chris was about to loosen his grip she spoke, oh so quietly, "Serenity."
That name seemed to stay with him all day along with the emotion that was the definition of peace. Chris seemed at peace, at Serenity, all day like he was actually having fun at school. All day he was looking for Serenity so they could have a proper discussion so when he saw her in his Social Studies class he was over excited. But of course as soon as he started heading down the aisle towards Serenity, the teacher called him up.
"Mr. Durant i strongly advise you to find a tutor, your grades are below failing. Now if you smarten up now you just MIGHT pass this years Social Studies." This had completely brought down his mood even though he knew she was right.
"I don't need a tutor Mrs. Picket, honest I'll grow some and do the work i can seriously do this!" Mrs. Picket shook her head in disappointment then called up a student, "Serenity." That name sent a feeling through his body and he realized that if Mrs. Picket was asking what he thought she was this wouldn't be so bad a tutor lesson.

Serenity kept on asking questions about things he didn't have a clue about nor did he care about. So finnally his lack of attention won out.
"Do you wear contacts?" Serenity seemed slightly stunned he would ask that but he was still curious so when she answered "No, I don't wear contacts." He still had to verify.
"So, your eyes are naturally purple?"
"Violet!"
"What?" Chris said confused.
"My eyes are naturally Violet!" Serenity huffed. "Now are you going to answer my question or not?" Chris voted for the not because one, he didn't know, and two because he still had a question.
"Are the rumors true?" Serenity burried her head into her hands realizing no he was not going to answer the question. But then what he asked seemed to pick her intrest.
"What rumors?"
"Franchesika said that you," Chris looked up nervously from his hands. He knew he shouldn't say it, he shouldn't talk about the rumors about Serenity but the other part of him said she deserved to know.
"Franchesika said you cut yourself!"

More than a Friend

Chris

If Chris could take away all of Serenity's pain, he would have since just the look that showed on her face pained him. He could tell she had gone through a lot with no one to talk to. After their tutoring lesson, which had consisted mostly of crying and comforting, Chris had promised to walk Serenity home. Even though she had poured out all her problems on Chris he knew she was far from fixed and on top of school, tutoring and football Chris had to find three reasons for Serenity to stop cutting herself and stay.
Chris really didn't expect Serenity to admit that the rumors were real. He expected something like 'Of course she would start a rumor like that!' or 'That... i swear i'm going to kill her!' The most he got was a nod of the head and silent tears. Chris had never known anyone who cut themselves, or did anything self destructive for that matter, but after she admitted it Chris seemed to see her differently; she was no longer the quiet type of personality, but she was quiet because if she made friends she was scared they would find out. Chris understood that she didn't think any relationships were permanent and that everyone would leave at one point.
It was clear that if he wanted to help, Chris would have to go through drastic measures, which meant he couldn't just be Serenity's friend, but he had to be more. Not in the romantic way but he had to be the friends she never had, the brother she never had, the parents she never had. Their relationship had to cover all of those that had been destroyed but Chris was willing to try.
When they finally got to Serenity's house, she turned towards Chris and he was again struck by how beautiful she was when she didn't try.
"Thanks Chris, I-" Suddenly there was a thud against the door like a body had been tossed against it. Suddenly Serenity crumpled into Chris' arms and he realized it probably was a body being thrown against the door. Slowly,