Broken

• Chapter 90 •

"So, what exactly happened last night?"

I turn around to see mom leaning against the kitchen doorway, raising her eyebrows expectedly. I roll my eyes and continue loading the dishwasher, "Nothing, really."

She's silent for a while, I turn my head to see her expression. She seems conflicted, "Sweetie listen... I don't like that boy. He just... He seems off. Has he ever shown any real emotion?"

My eyebrows knit together, enough with the judgment.

"Ashton is a good person."

She groans, "You don't even know him! Honey all I've seen with that boy is he has a sob story for a background and he's too attractive for any sensible girl. He'll break your heart, he'll—"

"Mom! He's NOT Derek!" I snap.

Her eyes pop, then she looks down at the floor sheepishly. I click my tongue in irritation, "Besides. It's not like I'm dating him, cool off will you?"

We remain in awkward silence for a while.

"You know... It's okay to be confused about your feelings."

"I'm not confused about anything," I tell her without glancing back.

I hear her sigh, "Anyway. Your father and I have an event tonight. Won't be back until late. No funny business, okay? You're grounded."

"Me? Never," I bat my eyelashes innocently.

She rolls her eyes at me, "Bye."

I have the entire house to myself. I can have a Harry Potter movie marathon!

Pathetic. I'm pathetic.

___________________

"No Elena! Can't you see? You're meant to be with Damon!"

I jump up and throw popcorn in the air when my phone buzzes on my lap. I've been binge-watching The Vampire Diaries for a few hours.

"Hello?"

"Clem! Please tell me you're free right now."

"Hey, Aya. What's up?" I sigh and pause on Damon Salvatore's beautiful face.

"I need you. Meet me at the mall in thirty minutes."

"I'm grounded, I can't—"

"It's an emergency! I need you. Please come."

I purse my lips, not liking the idea of disrespecting my parents. But my friend needs me. Agh, "Okay. But I can only stay a little while."

___________________

"What's wrong?" I walk up to Aya, who's getting a pedicure.

She sighs deeply and pulls out her phone in fury, gulping shit down from a flask.

"So. You know my ex Hassan, right?"

I nod. The creepy Santa dude who gave me bad vibes. Chills run down my spine at the thought of him.

"Well! I was stalking his Instagram and I found a picture of him AND ANOTHER GIRL!" she's furious.

I frown, "But didn't you guys break up..?"

"Yeah, so?"

"So... You're pissed off because your ex was hanging out with another girl and posted a picture of them together... Even though you're broken up..?"

"CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT ASSHOLE?" she downs more of whatever it is she brought.

A pretty employee walks up to us, "Excuse me. No drinking allowed until after six pm," she tells Aya.

Aya huffs, "Well isn't it AFTER six pm in Korea?"

I face-palm as the girl scoffs, "I don't know. I'll call my grandmother in JAPAN and ask her if she knows any KOREANS."

Aya just rolls her eyes and takes another swig. "Sorry, she's just going through some stuff," I tell the girl.

"Jibun seik ikimasu, bitch!" the girl tells Aya before sashaying away.

Aya's mouth drops, "Did she just call me a bitch?"

"You deserved it."

Aya shoves her phone in my face, "Anyway. Look at her. I'm so much prettier, right?"

My heart plummets to the floor with such a force that I feel dizzy. The air is punched out of me as I look at the picture of her ex. There's no way it can't be him.

"T-this is your ex?"

"Yeah," she goes off on a rant about the girl, but my hearing has suddenly faded.

The room starts spinning and I drop her phone, clenching my stomach to keep from spilling my guts. Does she know who he is? A disgusting, pathetic excuse for a human who preys on innocent girls?

No wonder I got such horrible vibes when I saw him. It all makes sense. I feel like I should've put the pieces together. His laugh, his vibe, his voice. If only he hadn't worn sunglasses. I would've recognized those eyes.

I can't believe Aya's ex is the man who assaulted me outside Ashton's house.