Broken

Chapter Nineteen: Growing Pains

(Pic of Katrina)

Another round, this time longer. I saw the girl again, she was dressed up nicely. Actually, she looked beautiful. Completely different from earlier tonight, she looked clean and rich from the looks of it. Her hair was pulled back into a neat bun and she wore a tight dress that clung to every inch of her body. But she looked stressed out.

"Damn," I slammed the door. "He's coming down the stairs."

"He can't come in without an authorized card."

"He has a gun, a card is the least of his worries." I snatched away a small, rectangular device. "Does it work?"

"I haven't tried it yet."

"Katrina I'm trying to save you! The least you can do is work with me." "I-I'm sorry I just--"

Boom!

"It needs to work," I muttered. "Why isn't it working?"

"Let me see. You watch the door." She snatched the rectangle from my hands and started tapping.

Thud! I pressed all my might against the door. I never lost her eyes as I pushed against so much pressure on the other side. I could feel the heat, the anxiety and the fear exploding from her. I pushed and pushed and pushed, she needed to be safe if it was the last thing I do.

"I love you!" She yelled, still pressing and pressing, the tablet clicking and clicking beneath her.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

"Jordan move. It's over." She said over the constant yelling and gunshots from the other side of the door.

The effort I had, the intense determination to block whatever was on the other side drained. I needed to be closer to her, not ten feet away. I pushed one more time before rushing to me. She clasped her hands behind my neck and pulled me closer. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me, lightly, then harder like she put her entire soul into mine. She broke away with wet eyes. I sniffled a little bit and a tear fell.

"I love you too, Katrina. I wish I could save you."

Back to reality and I was on the floor, sweating like an old man in a house with no heat. I gasped for air as my stomach clenched and unclenched so quickly I couldn't keep track. My eyes burned as I screamed in the middle of the restaurant.

"Can y'all go outside, he's scaring away our customers." I could faintly hear our waitress.

"Bitch." Johnny spat, and he lifted me up from the floor and into the cold night.

"What do you think is wrong with him? Do you think he'll be okay?" Karen's voice was so high I didn't recognize her for a second. They placed me on a cold, hard surface, probably a bench or something.

"Karen, honey, the day any of us become doctors is the day I stop stealing my dad's wine when I should be doing my homework." Renee chuckled.

"What do you think he wants?"

"Maybe he can sleep it off?" William suggested.

"You want him to, like, not be awake?" Linda asked.

"Linda you're an idiot," Johnny stated.

"You know what Johnny Carter--"

"Linda not now! Let the men handle this, just sit somewhere." Michael yelled. Linda's shoes loudly stomped away.

"Jordan? Jordan can you hear me?" Karen yelled in my ear. She sounded damn near tears and I was in no position to help her. I hated feeling helpless and needing taking care of. I liked it the other way around; I liked being dependable and there for others. I was sure it was one of my pet peeves.

"Karen you can have a mental breakdown somewhere else. You don't want to stress him out even more." Johnny ordered. "In fact, boys only right now."

"Excuse me, Johnny but I am unbelievably calm and ladylike in stressful situations, you asshole!" I'll give Renee credit, she didn't raise her voice at all.

"Leave."

"UGH!"

"You know Johnny, I really am starting to hate you." Nancy sneered and went clicking after her friends.

"Thank god they're gone. Jordan, what do you want to do?"

"Sleeping is a good idea, actually."

"Alright, we're getting somewhere."

"Where's your old lady?" Michael asked.

I shook my head.

"Old man?"

I shook my head again.

"I got the guy, don't worry." William stepped up. "I got bunk beds. My little brother is away with my dad."

"Great. I'll get us a cab." Michael whistled and we were off to William's house.

"I-I wish... I could... say good...bye to...Karen." I wheezed.

"Save your energy, King, we don't want to lose you. We just got you." Johnny said comfortingly. My head rested on his thigh and I was spread out in the back seat. We pulled into a nice neighborhood and William got out first. The boys had to drag me out of the back and I leaned onto William for extra support.

"We need to come in the back. My mom will get angry if I come home this late."

I nodded. A vague tugging in my head annoyed me. Stop trying to remember, it's no use. You're happy now. Karen's great. Right?

He cracked open his glass door. It was a one story house. The brightness of the wallpaper was a little harsh on my *still burning* eyes and I gasped.

"Oh, sorry. Let's just go to my room. It's... duller." He whispered.

At the end of the hallway, I could hear a television. Black and white flashing lights reflected off the walls. My mom, William mouthed. We crept into the next room over.

William's room was typical of a grown man still living with his mom. He had a bunk bed, like he promised, with gray sheets and a couple of pillows each. There was a desk with a ton of papers on it and an entire collection of pens and books and records. His clothes were littered all over the floor, apparently, William didn't believe in taking out the trash, and it had a very peculiar scent that was oddly familiar.

I liked it. And it even made me feel a little bit better. "I think I'm fine now, William."

"Are you sure?"

"Let go of me."

Reluctantly he stood me up and I leaned against his desk instead.

"Top or bottom?"

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Sorry for the delay! With the winter weather and exams looming I've been a little busy! But here's the next few chapters!
Kal xoxo