Broken

Chapter 27

I flipped through the pages of my book, not really seeing the words on the page. I couldn't focus and with every turn I got more and more frustrated. I sighed and laid the crinkled pages across my stomach. Sunlight streamed through my windows and my eyes locked on to the minuscule particles of dust dancing together in the rays of light. I stretched out my finger to collect the moment of it all but as soon as my skin hit the light, everything scattered. I brought my hand back to my chest, heaving another sigh. A knock came at my door but I didn't move.

"It's open!" I yelled.

The door was pushed open and my mom walked in, leaning against the frame.

"He's here to see you." she stated.

I rolled my eyes and sat up, pushing my hair away from my face. "Tell him I'm not here." I grumbled, tugging down my shirt.

"Adelaide." she sighed, crossing her arms. "You can't hide from him forever."

"I'm not trying to."

She walked in to my room and sat down next to me on the bed, folding her hands in her lap. "He's come by four times this week and every single time I've made up some excuse to get him to leave. I'm not standing for it anymore. You will talk to him."

I groaned. "Can I just not? I never asked him to come by, he just does!"

She shook her head and stood up again. "I don't care whether you asked him to or not. I'm telling him that he can come up and see you. Be civil okay?"

"Fine." I snapped, laying back down on my bed and pushing a pillow over my face. I heard my mom telling him he could come upstairs and groaned inwardly. I heard his footsteps clomp noisily up the wooden steps and stop at the threshold of my door but I made no move to acknowledge him.

"Adelaide."

My heart constricted a little at his voice. His accent was thick, the tone deep and rich, washing over me like waves.

"What." I said, my voice muffled into the pillow.

"It's been almost a week. You've been abiding me at school the whole time. Please talk to me." he replied.

I threw the pillow off of my face and sat up. I nearly froze at the sight of him. He was wearing a black Rollings Stones shirt with the sleeves folded up slightly. Black skinny jeans hugged his legs sporting a large rip in the left knee as they seemed to melt into his black boots. A cross necklace hung from his chest and his tattoos seemed to stand out even more than usual. His hair was gelled back slightly, his eyes a bright green as they reflected the midday sun. I almost forgot why he was here for a moment before shaking my head.

"I'm sorry I made you mad." he said, tucking his hands into his pockets, his rings glinting in the sun.

My eyebrows rose and I let out a short laugh. "Made me mad? That's an understatement."

"I hired someone you didn't like, I'm sorry okay? But we needed the help." he said, walking into my room, his boots clacking across the floor.

"Harry, you hired a convicted criminal." I said, raising my hands. "I told you he wasn't a good guy but you hired him anyway. Without an interview even!"

He rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. "I know but I don't know what you wanted me to do."

"Uhm, maybe saying 'Hey, we can't hire you' would've have been the smart thing."

"Well you don't have to be a baby about it." he said. His voice began to have an edge and it just irritated me further.

"I'm being a baby now? Seriously? Me worrying about your safety is being a baby?"