Broken

• Chapter 38 •

"Why haven't you been answering your phone?" dad asks as soon as I close the front door behind me.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A FAMOUS DRUGGIE WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE?" I snap, causing both him and mom to sit up in surprise on the couch. "Thanks for telling me Byrnes was my grandfather too," I mumble in fury.

"Minty wait!" mom rushes after me. "Sweetie—"

I clench my jaw, "You lied to me!"

Dad walks up beside mom and gives me a weird look, "Minty, relax. She didn't lie to you. She just didn't tell you yet, it's not that big of a deal—"

"It is! You keep hiding shit from me!" I'm seething.

"Clementine, come on... Talk to me—" mom starts, and I can't even look at her.

"I don't want to talk to you. I fucking hate you," woah, Clem. A bit dramatic, are we? I storm off to my room and slam the door shut behind me.

Dad's right, it really isn't as big a deal as I'm making it out to be. But honesty is big for me, and I'm sick of getting lied to. The built-up anger and hurt feelings over the years are making me rage. I'm angry at my mother for never being around. This is just another thing to add to the list of things she has done wrong.

This is my breaking point.

I hurt her. I could see it in her eyes when I told her I hated her. What's wrong with me? Why am I being so emotional and hormonal and angsty?

Whatever. I refuse to feel guilty about it. At least not right now. I want to hold on to the anger I'm feeling. I calm my breathing and realize my phone is buzzing in my pocket, I pull it out to see that Ashton's calling.

I answer almost immediately. "When do you want to work on the project?" he asks.

The words "Pick me up, I'm sending you my location right now. Hurry up," escape my lips without registering in my brain.

I press the home button on my phone and I find my fingers sending him my location. It's like I'm a bystander watching my life. I'm having an out-of-body experience. What am I doing?

What the hell am I doing?

He stays silent for a while, "Um, okay. I'll be there in ten," he says before hanging up.

I recklessly climb out of my window and jump down, surprised at how quickly it has gotten dark out. I stand beside a street lamp and rub my arms to warm myself, I need to get out of here and clear my head. Why didn't I bring a sweater?

I look up to my window and debate climbing back up to get a sweater when a car pulls up in front of me. Ashton comes out of his car and sighs, nodding for me to get in. Small knots begin tangling in my stomach. The adrenaline in my veins ignores every warning my brain is sending and I climb into the car with this boy—this stranger, really.

"Thanks for coming," I finally say after a few moments of silent driving.

He gives me a half-glance and nods once, returning his attention to the road. "What's up?"

I sigh, not really feeling like talking at all right now. "I just needed to get out of there, you were calling, and since my friend hasn't shipped over my baby yet I—"

"You don't need to explain, it's cool. I get it. I know a place," he cuts me off.

I look at him, and for the first time since we've started speaking, I don't hate his guts.