Broken

• Chapter 129 •

"Ashton almost drowned," I tell dad as I plop down on a chair in his studio. He and Ashton have been working on some track the entire day. Mom went to work.

Ashton shrugs, "It's true. If it weren't for Clementine I would probably be in the middle of the North Atlantic by now."

"Shit," dad's eyebrows knit together. Ashton gives me a thankful smile and I return it, "Just returning the favor."

"Was it a storm or?" dad inquires.

"He was rescuing someone, there was a storm, he got caught up in the waves."

"What was it like?" he stops shuffling around with the keys on the keyboard and directs his attention entirely to Ashton.

Ashton scoffs a laugh. "I... Um, well... Definitely something I never want to relive. Just felt weak and hopeless. No matter how hard I tried swimming back to the shore, the waves would just pull me right back in. It was like those nightmares you get, where you're stuck, and you're unable to do anything," Ashton's eyes darken.

My eyebrows knit together, Brandon studies him carefully.

I nudge Ashton. "Scared the shit out of me," my voice is a whisper. The events of that night play in my mind, how terrified I was that he was in there. That something bad had happened to him.

He glances at me, "I know. I'm sorry... I didn't know I'd be swept into the current."

"I know," I breathe as I look him in the eyes, "I'm just glad you're okay."

We stare at each other for God knows how long, his eyes hold the depth of one hundred untold stories. Brandon clears his throat and we both snap our heads at him sheepishly. Dad's eyebrow is cocked.

"So. Are you guys like a thing, now?" he mocks.

I bite my lip hesitantly and glance at Ashton, who looks like he's about to shit his pants. I shrug, "Maybe."

Dad remains silent for the longest time, it's beginning to make me nervous. Then, he sighs.

"Well, if you're gonna date anyone... It might as well be Ashton," he breaks into a sly smile and turns to Ashton, "Welcome to the family, son."

- ASHTON -

Those words, that are making my heart do weird things, have a quality of horror to them. I feel like I belong with them. Clementine and Brandon, at least. I've never felt more accepted than I have with them. These people are the best people I've ever met. Along with this newfound acceptance, guilt floods through my body. Would they accept me if they knew I used to work for Derek? If they knew all the horrible shit I've done?

Would Brandon still treat me like a son? Would Aurora still make me soup, despite her cautiousness towards me?

... Would Clementine be with me if she knew?

A nagging guilt prods me in the ribs. I'm terrified that I'm going to lose her. She can never find out. It seems unfair that no matter how much I strive to be the man my conscience wants me to be, it keeps taunting me with my mistakes. Each time the regrets reemerge I diligently analyze them again, hoping that this time my mind will be satisfied with my self-professed remorse, but it never is. Like an unforgiving specter, it will be back tomorrow to haunt me all over again.

"HELLO?"

I'm snapped out of my thoughts by an unfamiliar female voice.

"Emoni!" Clementine's face brightens as she rushes towards a woman with fiery hair, engulfing her in a hug.

"Is this him?" she removes her sunglasses. The woman's eyes light up as she looks at me. I press my lips into a thin line as Clementine snorts.

"Emoni, this is my boyfriend Ashton. Ashton, this... Is Emoni," she scratches the top of her head nervously.

I clear my throat. "Nice to meet you," I tell her politely.

The woman circles me like a shark, examining me like a lab-rat. "Nice. Very nice," she says behind me. Clementine pinches the bridge of her nose and I turn uncomfortably, realizing she's talking about my ass. This woman has no shame.

"Excuse me?" I blink.

She grins, "You're very hot, I approve! I'm so proud. Anyway, your siblings are standing outside."

My eyebrows knit together, "Why are they standing outside?"

She huffs, "They tried pushing me into a lake."

My eyes widen, they did what? That's so unlike them. They're usually really polite to strangers. She sighs, "So I'm punishing them. I made them hold their ears and stand facing the walls of the house."

I grimace, "What a strange punishment. Why would they try to push you into a lake, anyway? They're usually really well-behaved."

Her eyes pop, she raises her hands in surrender, "Pft, who knows? Anyway, I gotta get going now. Clary, Benji, and I are going out to dinner."

"Kiss hello to Benji for me," Clementine tells her. My eyebrows slam down abruptly, "Who's Benji?"

Clementine snorts and rolls her eyes at me, "Relax."

"My husband," the woman shrugs.

"You're married?" I mumble.

Clementine breaks into laughter and Emoni narrows her eyes at me. Okay. I'll give it to her. She's scary.

Clementine clears her throat, "He just means that you're too gorgeous and fun to be tied down by just one guy."

She rolls her eyes at us. "Yeah yeah, I know I am. Say hello to mom and dad for me. I'll see you soon," she blows us kisses and darts out the door.

I sigh deeply and face Clementine, shaking my head in exasperation, "I should probably go now. The twins have had enough torment for the week."

Clementine snorts and nods in agreement.

"Come over tomorrow?" I ask her. We still have a week of break left. She nods, "Of course. I might come later in the evening, though. Wanna spend some time with my parents."

I nod, "That's fine. I need to run errands most of the day, anyway. House is empty."

I take her face in my hands and kiss her lightly. Butterflies tickle my stomach every time my lips meet hers. I smile softly, "See you tomorrow."

- CLEMENTINE -

"Minty?"

I look up from my pizza diary at mom knocking on the door. "What's up?" I ask her.

She clears her throat as she hesitantly walks in, "I'm sorry that you had to see that... Uncomfortable exchange between your dad and I. It's not right for parents to fight in front of their kids."

I shrug, "I'm not a kid anymore, mom. It's fine, it's completely normal."

She nods slowly, "Right... Normal..."

I bite the inside of my mouth, "Is everything... Okay?"

She's hesitant. Then she shakes her head and forces a smile, "Yes. Of course. Your father has suggested we take a trip in two months. Exciting, right?"

I nod, "Yeah, it is... I think it'll be good for you. Where are you going?"

She clears her throat. "Well we can't go anywhere that involves airplanes," she gestures to her belly, "So we decided to go to Disney Land."

I offer her a kind smile, "That's great. I'm happy that you guys are working things out. You could use some time alone. You'll be fine, obviously. You guys are the most obnoxiously happy couple I know."

Her face falls slightly, her eyes are sad. My stomach clenches, "Are you sure everything's okay?"

She shakes her head and smiles, "Of course. Good night, sweetheart."

With that, she leaves me with an uneasy feeling in my stomach. She won't speak to me, she won't speak to dad, her best friend. I don't know who my mom is anymore...