SHATTERED

forty-nine

alex

FLASHBACK
ALEX: 16 YEARS OLD

i groaned sleepily as i was woke up to the incessant pinging of my phone. i blindly reached around for it, with my face still buried into my pillow.

once my hand grabbed my phone, i turned on my side, so that i could look at my screen. i squinted from the brightness of it. my brows furrowed as i saw a slew of text messages from devon, all asking me to let her inside. most of them had typos in them.

i checked the time before i got up. i rubbed at my eyes as i walked over to my window. i could just barely see devon through it, given how dark it was not only in my room, but also how dark it was outside. i opened the window, then walked back over to my bed, so that i could turn on the lamp that was on my nightstand.

"what are you doing here, dev? it's three in the morning," i mumbled as i walked back over to the window, which devon seemed to be struggling to crawl through. i helped her through it.

"i wanted to see you, baby," she murmured as i helped her through the window. she stumbled as she moved closer to me.

she tried to grab my waist, but i stepped back as my brows knitted together. "are you drunk?" i questioned as my eyes searched her's.

"i only drank a little bit," she hiccuped.

"you didn't drive here, did you?" i asked hesitantly.

"i couldn't just leave my car," she defended. she tried to step closer to me.

"we've talked about this; you can't drink and drive. you're gonna hurt yourself or somebody else! you know i don't like it when you do," i moved away from her once more.

"fine, i won't do it again; it's not a big deal," she threw her hand out.

"yes, it is!" my eyes widened. "what if you would've died tonight, dev? what if you would've killed someone, dev?"

"okay, okay. i get it," her brows knitted downwards, as did her lips. i turned away from her, but i didn't move when she stood behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist. "it won't happen again."

"promise?" i queried quietly.

"promise," she murmured.

she started to press kisses on my neck. i let out a quiet exhale as she did. since she was closer now, i could smell her perfume... along with another, unfamiliar scent.

i gently pulled her arms off of me, and i turned around. she looked at me with a puzzled expression on her face.

"what?" she asked with furrowed brows.

"what do i smell on you?" i slightly narrowed my eyes. "who do i smell on you?"

she let out a confused laugh. "what are you talking about?"

"i smell your perfume, and somebody else's," my jaw clenched slightly. "who's is it?"

"baby, calm down," she stepped towards me. "i had wore melissa's jacket, because it was cold at the party. her perfume must've rubbed off on me or something."

"really?" i scoffed.

"i promise," she assured as she took my hands in her's. "do you really think i would cheat on you, alex? you know i love you," her brows knitted together as she looked down at me.

i stared up at her, and i tapped my foot. my jaw was still clenched. she lifted a hand to cup my cheek. "it seems like you did."

"i'd never do that to you," she whispered as her eyes scanned mine. "you know that, love. i love you too much to hurt you like that, okay?"