Broken

Chapter 34

"Adelaide! Come on in!"

I smiled at Jean and walked past her into the house, clutching the tub to my stomach.

"I brought popcorn." I said, motioning to the tub.

"Score!" she replied with a laugh. "I'll go get some bowls."

I watched her disappear into the kitchen and I looked around the room. The furniture was really outdated, with weird patterns and colors covering the material. The hardwood floors were worn but beautiful, with intricate detail carved into the surface. Picture frames hung on the wall over the couch and I stepped forward to look at them. Most of then featured Jean and her grandmother, though a few were of her and Harry. I smiled slightly to myself, taking in that his hair was shorter back then, his face a little but more childish than it was now, even though it was only a year ago or so since the photograph was taken.

Jean had invited me over to watch a movie with her and I had jumped at the chance. We never saw much of each other anymore and it seemed our only connection was Harry. It was the end of June and we had hung out a grand total of once since the summer started. And to be honest, I missed her.

"Alright, here we go." she said, coming back out. She was clutching two blue bowls to her chest, her face lit up with a smile. Her red hair was swept up into a high ponytail on her head, the ends still reaching her back. Her brown eyes sparkled and she looked happy, relaxed.

"Thanks." I replied, taking one bowl from her hand and setting down my bag before sitting on the couch. I slipped off my flip flops and crossed my feet at the ankles, shoveling some pop corn into the bowl as Jean got the movie ready. "What are we watching?"

Jean was crouched in front of the DVD player. She turned around and held up the case. On the front it said The Princess Bride. "Only my favorite movie in the history of ever." she said, putting it in and grabbing the remote. She came to sit down next to me, tucking her legs under her.

"I don't think I've ever seen it." I replied, munching on a handful of popcorn.

She put some into her own bowl, her eyes on the screen. "It's a great movie." she told me. "And Wesley is pretty hot if you ask me."

I laughed. "Well, that's good. I like hot guys."

"Obviously, you're dating Michael with a brother like Ryder."

I frowned a bit. "Yeah, about that," I started. "we aren't together anymore."

She looked over at me, surprise on her face. "Really?" she asked. "Why not?"

I fiddled with the edge of my bowl. "It just didn't work out." I said. "He was too controlling all the time and one night I snapped and was fed up with it."

She nodded understandingly. "I get it. It's good you got out of that. Emotional abuse is just as bad as physical."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"What about Ryder?" she asked.

I drew my eye brows together, missing the point of this. "What about him?"

She shrugged, chewing and swallowing before answering me. "You could date him. That guy is super attractive and I bet he's great in bed too."

My mouth fell open. "Jean!" I exclaimed, throwing a handful of popcorn at her. She raised her palms towards me and laughed.

"Sorry, sorry. Bad idea." she giggled. "I just don't want you to be lonely."

"I'm not lonely." I reassured her. "I'll be okay. How are you and Harry?"