Broken

• Chapter 41 •

A Few Months Ago...

- DEREK -

"You're finally getting out."

He nods at me, sliding his shoes on. A guard stands outside our cell waiting for him.

I walk over to my bed and pull out a photograph of Clementine. The last one I have. I make my way to him and grin, extending it to him.

"Find her."

___________________

- CLEMENTINE -

"Holy shit, Minty. Where have you been?" dad bellows as I shut the front door behind me.

"I'm sorry... I needed fresh air."

He sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, "Don't you ever do that again, okay? You know how your mother is. How could you freak her out like that?"

My heart collapses. I didn't really think about mom's reaction. "Okay... I'm sorry," I repeat sheepishly.

He nods. "I know you are. Better call your mom, she went out looking for you," he shakes his head at me.

I shrug and set my bag down, preparing to order myself a large pizza.

"Hey, she's home—"

Dad frowns at the phone, "What happened? Where are you? Are you okay?"

My eyebrows knit together in confusion. "Fuck, I'm on my way."

Dad hangs up the phone and rushes towards the front door, slipping his shoes on. "What's going on?" I call out after him.

"She got into a car accident," he starts. "She's fine, she thinks her leg's broken. Just... Stay here," he adds when he sees the color drain from my face.

Guilt eats me from the inside out. Great. My selfish actions and immature ass got her so freaked out and panicked she had to go out looking for me and has now ended up getting in a car crash. And probably have broken her leg.

Daughter of the year award goes to...

___________________

The door rings and I race to open it, thinking they've come home.

Nope. My heart sinks when Eric wraps his arms around me. "Eric... W-What are you doing here?"

"Your dad called me. I'm so sorry, Minty... About everything," he whispers.

What the hell? "What happened? Is mom okay?" why did dad send him here? Something must've happened!

He pulls back and frowns, "No! No, relax. She's fine, fucked up her leg. But she's just fine. Doctor said it'll recover with time. Your dad said I should keep you company tonight, he's staying with your mom in the hospital."

I cock my eyebrow. "My dad, Brandon, told you, a boy, to spend the night with me?"

He grins, "Scary, right?"

I snort, and he gives me a warm smile. "I'm always here for you, you know that, right?"

I study him and realize that I've missed him. I've missed his eyes, I've missed his hair, I've missed his face, I've missed his voice, I've missed his scent, his warmth. I've missed him.

I've missed my best friend.

Tears well in my eyes, he gives me a sad knowing smile. "Minty..."

We used to talk every day. It doesn't matter that he has a girlfriend. We broke apart because of my stubbornness and stupidity. He tried to reconnect and apologize multiple times. I was just a dick and never accepted it, or heard him out.

"I'm so sorry," I breathe as I pull him into my arms.

He squeezes me tightly, "I am, too."

After a few moments of silence, he speaks, "Harry Potter movie marathon and pizza?"

I laugh through my tears and we pull apart, he stares at me in awe. I give him a questioning look, to which he responds with a shrug. "It's been a while since I heard you laugh. It just... It's nice," he tells me with a shy smile.

My lips twitch upward, I glance down in hopes to dissipate the blush spreading through my cheeks. "Right, well... It's like three in the morning, I'm beat. You really don't have to stay if you don't want to. I'm fine," I assure him.

He nods, "I want to stay. I wanna be here for you. I know I've been a shitty friend to you... But, I miss you like hell. And I'm never gonna stop being your friend, even if you don't want me to be."

My heart skips a beat, his words bring a warmth over me. I needed to hear them and I didn't even know it.

"Okay."

He pulls me into his arms again, I inhale his scent. I give him a light squeeze and we make our way to my room. We climb onto my bed and I roll onto my side, facing away from him. He positions himself beside me and I pull the covers over us, snuggling into him.

He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me close, I sigh in relief. He strokes my hair in a comforting motion, like my mother would when I was younger.

This feels right. I feel safe.