Broken

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Princess

I rang Johnny's doorbell. My ruse was to check up on him and be a good friend blah, blah, blah. But in my mind I kept replaying Katrina's words.

"Did you give it to him?"

I wanted to find it. Whatever it was. Maybe it had what I needed, like her contact information or a note. Or cash. (I doubted it, but cash was good.)

Johnny's house was typical, again. It was a two story brick house. There was no fence, like William's, but it had a very large front lawn. His mother opened the door. She was a small woman. Her blonde hair was thin and messy like she just got out of bed or finished a street fight and won. Her lips were almost non-existent like Johnny's and cracked. Her eyes were worn and tired but she still smiled in her pink nightgown and black robe.

"Hello, Mrs. Carter. I'm a friend of Johnny's."

"Hello!" Her chirp was fake. "It's been awhile since a friend of his came 'round. Would you like something to eat, sweetheart?" She let me in.

"No thank you, ma'am. I'd just like to check up on him. I also want to apologize."

"Well, that's very nice of you. His room is upstairs. It was nice to meet you!"

I went up the hardwood stairs. Johnny's room was the only room upstairs. He took up the entire floor. A large king-sized bed was flushed against the wall. A box television set was flashing in the corner. A large desk was on the other side. His closet door was by his bed. The rest of the room was covered in posters of actresses. The man himself was laying on the ground in front. He changed clothes and held an ice pack up to his right eye. I didn't need to see it to know that it hurt and it was swollen.

"Hey, Johnny." I said. He looked up briefly.

"If it isn't the traitor."

"I'm sorry. It was just a shock. I mean, child molesting...it's nothing to joke about. I ran into them again today. They were laughing about it. They just wanted me to turn on you." I lied. Anything to get back on his good side and snoop around.

"I told you. Up to no good." He scooted over. "Come watch. To Kill a Mockingbird is on."

So we watched for a while. (I'd seen the movie before, I was sure, because I knew all the lines by heart. Johnny started freaking out and he had to explain that it was new and there was no way I could've known the lines.) I needed him out of the room. "Are you hungry?"

"A little. Why?"

"Your mom said she had cookies and sandwiches. You think you could go down and grab some?"

"You want to come down with me?"

"Nah, man I wanna see the movie!"

He looked at me warily again, almost like he didn't trust me. (I know I was using him, but ouch.) "Fine, King." He slowly got up and left. As soon as his footsteps reached the stairs I got up.

I went through drawers and looked under his bed. I shuffled through all of his bad report cards and love letters. I checked his sheets and his underwear drawer (even for me that was a little bit gross). I opened his closet. I went through his jean pockets and his sleeves. After I scoured his entire walk-in, I got to his letterman. I reached into one of his pockets. A small piece of paper crinkled. Found it! I stuffed it into my own pocket. I checked the other pocket, just incase. A thin, black rectangle slipped out. I grabbed it. The device felt natural. It was almost made for me. I slipped it in my back pocket. Just in time, I slide myself back in place as Johnny returned.

I left right after the movie was over because of a 'date with Karen'. I walked down the block. The sun was getting lower. More people were out walking. Families had strollers. Couples held hands. The Southern breeze cooled us all.

The paper was burning my thigh in my pocket. My palms were sweaty. I couldn't wait to open it. I couldn't wait for answers. I couldn't wait for this to end. I rounded the corner and ducked into an alley. A grocery bag, still filled, was lying around.

The irony. I read her note, her pretty handwriting, in this very spot where it all started. God was funny.

I unfolded the paper delicately. Her letters were crammed into the small space and the words jumped off the page.

I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for fighting with you. I'm sorry for calling you names and not being able to be there when you woke up. I'm also sorry that Louis knocked you out. I'm sorry I'm a horrible girlfriend and we've landed in a place where people don't want us together.

But I still love you.

-Princess Katrina-

I wrapped my hand around the note. I left the alley and started walking again. The wind struck my cheeks. My strides quickened. The note I had in my pocket was going to help me find her. I was going to get my answers. It was so exciting for me. Finally, after being there clueless for weeks, I finally had proof that something was wrong here. Nothing was as it seemed.She was someone important to me, a possible partner. (Technically, looking back, I was cheating on Katrina with Karen. To be fair, I had a good reason. I'm not a jerk.) Even that kiss meant something. I knew she and I had a connection. As I walked the pain returned, but it was dulled. I wasn't crouching on the floor in pain, it was more of an annoying headache.

I saw her beautiful, smiling face. We were on the sunny beach. The sky was a watercolor painting of blues, purples, and magentas. Shells poked at my feet. A red flannel blanket was set up for a picnic of sandwiches, ice cream, and wine. She showed off her figure in a black bikini. Katrina twirled and laughed like a carefree spirit. It was so perfect; it was like a commercial. It warmed something inside me against the cold fall weather. I found myself smiling in real life, too. She sat down next to me and laid her head on my shoulder. We watched the sun set and I kissed her forehead.

"Happy six-month anniversary, Princess. I'll love you forever."