Broken

Chapter 42

"So how many people usually enter into this thing?"

I looked over at Keely and tapped my fingers against my knee as we drove. She shrugged, clicking on her blinker.

"A couple dozen." she replied. "This is a pretty small town so not a lot usually enter."

I nodded. "That makes sense."

She flipped her hair over her shoulders, the tips now black as if they soaked up the night straight from the sky.

"I honestly haven't ever been before." she replied. "But since Harry entered this year, I might as well go see it."

I smiled, chewing on my thumb nail, my eyes scanning the city skyline as we drove along. The sun was slung low in the sky, the afternoon gaze making invisible waves along the black pavement. The buildings seemed to wilt slightly in the summer heat as the rays beat down mercilessly on the small town.

"If he wins, he'll go to LA right?" I asked, looking over at her.

"Right." she replied glancing at me from the corner of her eye. "Are you okay with that?"

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, fiddling with my fingers in my lap.

"I'm not sure, honestly." I said. "I think having him gone once was nerve wracking enough."

"It's cute you know."

I glanced up, my eyes furrowing in confusion. "What's cute?"

"The way you guys worry about each other." she replied. "Like you've been together for years. It's just a natural connection."

I grinned, a blush creeping along my cheeks. "I guess." I said.

"Harry," I continued, taking a moment to collect my thoughts. "gosh, he's amazing Keels. Everything about him is just perfect. The way he smiles, the way he laughs, the way he puts others before himself. I could talk for hours and he'll sit there and just listen the whole time, not trying to interrupt. That head is full of so many thoughts I wish I could pluck out and look at. He's so open but a mystery at the same time. And I don't understand the way he makes me feel but I'm starting to wonder if that's the way it's supposed to feel. You know, not knowing. Having things always moving and changing."

I stopped, cutting off my rambling and taking a breath, my lungs expanding in relief. I could visualize all my thoughts suspended in front of me in a tangled heap and my mouth curved as the darkened lines shifted and morphed until he was looking back at me.

Keely pulled into the parking lot and turned off the car.

"Then why don't you tell him that?"

I shrugged. "I'm just scared."

She looked at me, her eyes attentive and searching. "Scared of being with him?" she paused. "Or scared of being without him?"

The weight in the car doubled and I choked on my breath, the questions branding themselves on the front of my mind. Which one was it?

"Come on." she said, tipping her head and opening the door. "Let's go see this."

I nodded without saying anything and climbed out of the car. The heat hit me in waves and I squeezed my eyes shut as it made my skin prickle. We walked into the building, the blast of cool air making goosebumps appear on my skin.

It lead to this giant room full of tables. The tables were cluttered with collages and drawings and paintings and pictures. The room was awash in color and my eyes bounced around from table to table, trying to take it all in. I ran my fingers across the surface of the tables and I slowly made my way down the isles, giving each project a piece of my time. Keely walked in front of me, searching for Harry's.