Broken

• Chapter 56 •

"Hello?"

"Where the hell have you been? Are you okay? You haven't called or texted me back since you decided you'd walk home alone! Do you know how worried I was? You haven't even shown up to school the past three days," Adrien shrills over the phone.

I cringe with guilt, "Sorry... I haven't really been checking my phone. I've been sick."

There's a pause, I hear him release a breath. "Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm fine. Thank you, Adrien... I'll see you tomorrow at school if I feel better, all right?"

Ashton walks into the room and gives me a half-glance, typing something onto his laptop. I turn my head away from him.

"Yeah, fine... See you tomorrow," his voice is cold.

Great, now I have to deal with a pissed off boyfriend.

I sigh and hang up the call. How am I going to hide the bruises? With makeup, I suppose. I can wear a turtle-neck. I'm probably behind on homework and assignments.

"Hey, did the school email you our assignments?" I turn to Ashton.

He nods and goes to his printer, pulling out a few sheets of paper. "I can do it for you if you want," he suggests.

I shake my head, "Nah, it's fine we can do it together." Homework will actually be a good distraction for once.

___________________

Come night time, we've finished all our work that we've missed the last couple of days. Dad should be coming back tomorrow.

"Minty, where are you?"

"Hey, mom... I'm—well, I'm out. Why? What's up? Are you out of the hospital?"

"Yes, I just got home and you weren't here. When will you be back?"

I chew on my lower lip nervously. I'm fine to take care of myself, now. The pain subdued slightly, I can at least walk on my own. Physically, I'm okay. Mentally? I'm not so sure.

"I don't know. I was planning on sleeping over at my friend's, but I might just come home tonight," I breathe.

"Oh, that's alright sweetie. Just let me know."

I huff as I hang up the phone. It's odd, but I'm nervous to see her. The last conversation we had, I was horrible to her, which caused her to get into a car crash and hurt her leg. How exactly do I approach her?

Hey mom, I'm sorry about being a brat and almost getting you killed. Want me to sign your cast?

Not to mention what has happened in her absence. I don't want anyone to know. Especially not her. What if she sees my bruises?

Heat creeps up my neck as the nervousness overwhelms me. I'm going to be back home, back to my own private space. I'm glad to be going back, I don't want to be any more of an imposition on Ashton. Although I know I probably would've done the same for anyone else, I can tell he wants his own life back. Who wouldn't?

Not to have to babysit me, help me walk everywhere, cook for me, stay up all night for me, skip school and sleep in a damn chair for me. It's as though I'm a newborn baby that has been abandoned on his doorstep. I'm not sure how to start thanking him for everything he has done.

As though on cue, Ashton knocks on his door and peeps his head in. "Hey, you hungry?"

I shake my head and give him a tight-lipped smile. He leans back against the door and folds his toned arms across his chest. I avert my gaze. "I uh—feel better. Going back to school tomorrow," I start.

He hesitates, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I can walk painlessly now, I just have to resist my urges and avoid getting into any fights," I attempt to lighten the mood.

He rolls his eyes and tries to hide a smile, "All right. If you're sure."

His eyebrows knit together as his phone goes off for the hundredth time, he huffs in frustration as he texts whoever it is back.

"Everything okay?" I ask as I begin folding some of my clothes to pack it up.

"Yeah," he walks over to his closet and pulls out a jacket.

He slips it on and proceeds to put his shoes on. Is he going somewhere?

"Come on."

I frown in confusion, "Huh?"

"We're going out. You've been cooped up in this house too long, we both have. I think we could use some fresh air," he tells me.

"What about the twins?"

"They're coming with. They want to get ice cream," he shrugs.

I purse my lips thoughtfully, I guess I can get him to drop me off after we get the twins ice cream.

I nod and shoo him out of the room, packing all my things into my bag and slipping a pair of thick leggings and my favorite burgundy sweater on. I brush my hair out with my hands and slip on my shoes and tie the laces.

I set the bag down beside his bed, figuring that we'd come back to drop the twins off to sleep before he would drop me off.

"No, chocolate is better!"

I shut Ashton's door behind me to find the twins fighting over which ice cream flavor is better.

"Nessa, have you ever tried strawberry? No, you haven't. Because strawberries are healthy and you hate anything that's healthy!" Zach hisses, causing me to smirk.

Vanessa's just like me. How cute.

Vanessa huffs and folds her arms across her chest angrily, frowning at her twin brother.

"Both flavors are just as good," Ashton says as he opens the front door and motions for us to exit.

I bend down and whisper, "Chocolate's better," into Vanessa's ear as we pass Ashton.

Vanessa grins and Ashton narrows his eyes at me. I smirk at his frown.