Broken

• Chapter 133 •

"Sweetie, you absolutely cannot miss any more school. It's been a week since school has started!"

I scoff as I put dirty laundry away and hastily pack more clothes into a duffle bag. I've been staying with Ashton for the past two weeks. He shouldn't be left alone for more than an hour, and I've been gone for at least thirty minutes. What if he falls, or Hassan comes back? I throw the bag over my shoulder and rush to the door.

"I can't leave Ashton alone," I tell my frowning mother.

She sighs and shakes her head, "I won't have it. Today's the last day you're skipping, you're going back to school tomorrow!"

I roll my eyes. She sounds just like Ashton. He's protesting that he's feeling better and that I'm stupid for skipping school to stay with him. I mean sure he can walk and dress and he claims the wounds and bruises don't hurt anymore, but I have to stay with him. I have to take the twins to school, cook for them, help them with their homework and give Ashton his medication and treat his wounds, or they'll scar. According to Dona, the cuts on his face—the one through his eyebrow, and the one on his cheek—are going to scar, but the ones on his body are supposed to heal.

Who's going to take care of that for him? Himself? Pft. I didn't think so.

"Mom, I'll think of an excuse. Ella is the principle, just tell her what's going on! She'll understand. I have to go, now."

Mom steps in front of me, "No. This is your education, Clementine. I understand you want to take care of him and make sure he's okay, but you can't miss any more school!"

"I do the work! Eric has sent me every assignment," I argue, "My education is important to me, but he's more important right now."

She studies me for a while then rolls her eyes, "Okay, tell you what. Tomorrow, you start going back to school, and you can go straight to his house after school. I will take care of him during your school hours. I have the next month off, we finished shooting season one yesterday."

I cock my eyebrow at her. She's going to take care of Ashton?

"He won't let you," I tell her, "He barely lets me take care of him."

She purses her lips, "He doesn't have a choice."

I roll my eyes. "We'll see. I gotta run," I tell her as I plant a chaste kiss on her cheek and dart out the door.

___________________

"Ashton, I'm here!" I call out as I open his bedroom door.

Ashton jerks back, he was staring at his bruises and cuts in the mirror. He flushes and clenches his jaw, "Can you pass me my shirt?"

I cock my head at him and walk up to him, gently placing my hands on his chest. He flinches but doesn't move.

"Does it hurt?"

His eyes bore into mine, he shakes his head, "No."

I nod as my hands run up his neck, to his face, thumb stroking the scar on his cheek softly. His eyebrows furrow, he looks down at me with a pained expression. He steps back and reaches for a shirt, quickly pulling it on and clearing his throat. I purse my lips at his distant actions. It's like he's embarrassed at what happened.

My phone goes off.

"Hello?"

"Minty, I'm coming by for dinner. Should I pick up some pizza or are you cooking?" dad asks me.