Broken

• Chapter 74 •

- CLEMENTINE -

"Okay. Time to break up this dork-fest," I fold my arms across my chest as I watch Brandon and Ashton bond over music.

"Go away, Minty," dad frowns at me.

"Brandon, I need you," mom tells him.

"Can't Clementine help you?" he whines.

"Not with what I want," she winks at him and I grimace. Ashton presses his lips together awkwardly and Dad's eyes pop. He turns towards Ashton, "Um. Right. Nice meeting you, Ashton. Come over any time you want," and with that, he dashes towards mom, scoops her up into his arms and darts from the studio.

"Nice meeting you, Ashton!" mom calls out laughing.

Wow. Great parenting.

I shake the mental image out of my brain before gagging and turn to Ashton, who has an amused look on his face.

"Shocking turn of events..." I huff.

He snorts and rubs the back of his neck nervously. "Yeah... Your dad's cool," he gives me a sheepish shrug and a half-smile.

He shakes his head and clears his throat, "Um, anyway. It's getting late, I should go."

I nod, "Your stuff's in my room."

I make my way to my room and grab his stuff that I had organized and put back in his bag earlier. I hand it to him awkwardly and scratch the top of my head. The strange tension is back as we just stare at each other in silence. Something prods at my ribs, but I'm too afraid to ask.

He opens his mouth to say something, then decides against it. He turns on his heel, "I'll see you at school."

"Ashton?" his name falls from my lips, my throat tightens.

My heart hammers when he winces and turns, a nervous look on his face, "Yeah?"

"Um... I just—we're friends, right? I mean, we're not going to completely ignore each other now that this project's done. Right..?" something in me doesn't want to lose him. He has somehow morphed into a friend to me after everything that has happened.

Pain flashes through his features, he looks panicked. He scratches the back of his neck and shuts his eyes tightly. He remains quiet for what feels like an eternity. When he opens his eyes, he doesn't look confused or in pain at all.

He's cold and indifferent.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

My eyebrows furrow, "Huh? Why not?"

He shrugs, "I just don't. I don't want to be your friend."

My heart stings just a bit, "Oh. Y-You don't? I mean... You don't feel any type of way for me? After everything that happened, I'm just a stranger to you..?"

He clenches his jaw and stares me straight in the eyes, not hesitating before saying, "Yeah. I don't feel anything. We're partners on a project, I helped you when you needed it. That's all. I'm glad you're okay but other than that I really don't care. See you at school."

Ouch.

My jaw drops, and he simply shrugs and stalks off. Why do his words sting this much—or at all? Why wasn't I expecting this from him? I know he's cold. Wait, should I have expected this? I'm so confused. Maybe I misread everything. Maybe he really was just pitying me this entire time.

I didn't think I cared about him to the extent where he could affect my emotions. I swallow the bile and the lump rising in my throat, jumping up when my phone rings.

"Hello?"

"Clementine, hey..."

My chest deflates a bit at the sound of Adrien's voice.

"Hi..."

He groans over the phone, "Listen... About yesterday. I'm sorry, I was buzzed and feeling a bit jealous that my girlfriend was spending more time with her partner than her boyfriend..."

"Mhm..."

"... Are you mad?"

I sigh and roll my eyes. I really don't care, "I'm not. I'm just annoyed. I mean you need to respect my privacy and trust me."

He laughs bitterly, "Yeah. Like you trust me, right?"

I grimace, "Ugh... Look, that's different. I just—I don't know what to tell you, Adrien. I can't make you trust me. Just trust that I'm faithful to you, or else why are we doing this?" I can feel the irritation bubbling up in my chest.

There's a pause at the end of the line.

I can hear the panic in his voice at my almost-threat, "I'm sorry. Okay. I trust you, Clem. I just hope you can trust me back soon... Will you please come to my party tomorrow?"

I sigh and look over at my laptop, remembering Ashton's words. My heart sinks into my stomach. Maybe it's selfish, but I don't want to lose Adrien now, too.

Well, I guess I never had Ashton to begin with in order to lose him.

Wait, why am I even comparing them? Ashton is a friend. Adrien is my boyfriend. I guess I just don't want to lose someone else in general? I shake my head to myself. This has been a confusingly draining day.

"Yeah, okay. I'll see you tomorrow," I hang up the phone and sink into my bed, pushing out all thoughts an emotions coursing through my brain and heart for the night.