Broken

Chapter 53

"Probably go easy on her for a few days."

Atlas looked up from his motorbike to Big Henry,
"What do you mean by easy?"

"Try not to go on long rides," Big Henry said, "She needs her rest."

"I was looking forward to resuming my ride around Tacoma,"

"I'm sure she can handle that," He said, "But just go easy is all, a couple of hours at most."

Atlas sighed as he looked at his motorbike and Big Henry didn't fail to notice the look on his face.

"I did warn you before you bought her."

"No, it's not that." Pause, "I just...I need a long ride today to get my mind off something."

"Something?"

Atlas looked at him and smiled, it was almost unnoticeable,
"I guess a short one would have to do."

"Just a few more weekends with me and she'll be good to go."

"Alright," Atlas mounted the motorbike, "Thanks, Henry."

"What's my name now?"

Atlas smiled, more noticeable that the last,
"Big Henry,"

"Yes, it is."

Atlas gave a soft laugh that sounded more like a huff before he rode out of the garage taking the slightly longer and more scenic route back to his apartment, a route he had recently discovered on one of his joyrides.

There were few moments in life, Atlas had let himself drift. Moments when he didn't feel the pressure of anyone or anything, he simply closed his eyes and let go of every single thing. Everything that made him who he was. In those moments, he felt human.

And not like Atlas Zervas.

Those were the moments he felt the happiest with and about himself. When he had no identity, no past to debilitate him, no future to worry and ponder about. He was simply in that moment, the present, lost in the wind, free from it all.

That's how Atlas felt about everything when he got on his motorbike. Without even trying to catch that moment of freedom, it was simply there for the taking. And take he did. He took the freedom and gave himself up.

The best transaction he ever made.

On the other side of the city, closer to college, Thea and Makenna walked down the block.

"So, we're friends now?" Thea asked,

"Don't push it,"

Thea chuckled lightly,
"I hope we do this again; it was fun."

Makenna smiled to herself,
"And I had to sit through it,"

"You were really good company,"

"Oh please, all I did was sit and listen."

"Those are pretty good qualities." Thea said, "You and Killian have that in common."

Makenna heard the hint of surprise in her voice but said nothing,
"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Just stating a fact." Thea smiled as she threw Makenna's words back at her,

They walked quietly for a moment,
"I should get to my dorm, I have tons to do."

"Alright."

"Bye." Thea said and began walking,

"Bye," Makenna said, mostly to herself,

She waited for Thea to cross to the other side before she turned and headed back to the campus. Before she met Thea at the café, she'd been planning on going to the library because she didn't want to go to her room and risk seeing anyone. But she was feeling much better after her sit down with Thea, so she didn't need to avoid anyone. Yet, here she was heading into the library.

Makenna entered the library and headed straight for the corner of the library she and Vanessa usually ended up in. Oftentimes than they preferred, the table was usually occupied, then they'd have to find somewhere else to seat. Today, was one of those days.

Makenna came to a stop when she saw the table was already occupied. The person was bent searching for something in their bag, and just as she was about to turn the person pulled up and Makenna smiled. She headed towards the table and pulled out a seat.

"Hey."

Vanessa looked up at her as she sat down and the smile left Makenna's lips.

"What happened?"

Vanessa used the tissue she'd just gotten from her bag to wipe the tears that were running down her cheeks.

"I mean, you don't have to tell me," Makenna said quickly, "It's none of my business. But are you ok?"

Vanessa smiled through her tears at the sight of Makenna at a loss of words, and shook her head,
"Not at this moment, I'm not."

Makenna wanted to find out what went wrong and see if there was any way she could help but she had to remind herself that she wasn't that girl anymore.

It was none of her business.

"It's Jeremy."

Makenna held her breath when Vanessa said.

"He..." Vanessa sniffled, "He's pulling away."

"Do you know why?" Makenna asked softly, not wanting to push her or in a hurry to find out,

"I think so," Vanessa gently patted her cheeks dry, "It's his final semester."

Ah!
Makenna thought.

"I don't know why the end of school or college has to mean the end of a relationship."

"This has happened to you before?"

Vanessa nodded,
"My school boyfriend thought it was best for us to break up before prom. He'd gotten into college on a basketball scholarship."

"And Jerry?"

Vanessa burst out into a laugh that made people around them mutter 'be quiet'.
"Sorry," Vanessa apologized to them quietly and turned to Makenna with humor in her eyes, "I've never found that name funny until now."

The corner of Makenna's mouth quirked up in a small smile, happy that she had been able to make Vanessa laugh despite her pending relationship doom.

"Jeremy has a job lined up in Seattle."

Seattle.
The name alone made Makenna's heart skip a beat, and her small smile quickly left her face.

Her hands on her thigh slowly clenched into fists as her heart began racing. Her mind slowly slipped away to that night and she tried to fight against the force that pulled her back to that night.

No.
She screamed quietly in her head.

NO!
The scream in her head grew louder.