Shatter My Heart | J.F.

1. Heartbreak and Summer

       THERE THEY WERE, right in front of me, naked. My boyfriend- naked but not with me, no most certainly not me. I don't remember having tits or ginger hair so this means I've caught my boyfriend cheating- again. How stupid am I? How could I not see this coming?

I know he sees me, how could he not? I'm standing right in front of them and I know he's talking to me but I can't seem to comprehend what he's saying. Or more so, I don't want to comprehend what he's saying. He jumped back as soon as he saw me, he knew he messed up. Yet, how could he do this to me in the first place?

What a jackass.

"Atti, Atti, baby, let me- let me explain." Except I won't let him explain, I'll save myself from further heartbreak, from the same guy. I know I'm crying, I can easily feel the tears slide down my face at the remembrance of the sight that was just in front of me. I'm turning around as fast as I can go, storming out of the house of my ex-lover. I can feel the floor creaking as he runs after me, forcing his briefs on. "Atti, wait, you don't understand!"

I turn around for a mere second to catch a glance at the man I used to know, used to love. The man I gave up everything for. All that went through for this useless piece of shit. How could I be so naive? As I turn back around to leave, tears still spilling out of me, I feel a hand on my shoulder, a familiar hand. "Atti, please baby."

I move my shoulder, kick open the back door, and walk off, I feel as though I'm levitating, my legs are moving but I can't seem to feel it. All I feel is the way the wetness on my face makes me even madder and how I'd so much love to go back and beat the ever-loving shit out of him.

That was a week ago, a week ago I saw the man that I thought loved me fucking someone else. I guess you could say I'm not okay, I guess you could say the tears I let out every night in the silence of my room isn't healthy but honestly, I could care less.

Now, here I am in the back seat on my way to the Cousins for the summer. Mother was sitting beside me, her head resting on her hand with an awkward expression on her face. Belly was, well, Belly was being Belly upfront singing loudly while Steven scrunched up his nose at her voice. I shifted my gaze to the window staring at the fancy houses covering the town, bringing my blanket further up my body. "Can you guys turn that down a little, please?"

"Yes, please." Steven looked over as Belly turned the radio down a bit. "I want you guys to be better this summer, like don't just leave your dishes in the sink, load the dishwasher," she paused, "Not just your own Steven, I want you to be good house guests." She finished.

"Mom, Susannah has people who clean doesn't she?" A light hit on the side of Steven's face, and you could hear an 'ow'. I smiled a bit at that. "Alright, sorry."

I put my earbuds back in and tune out the world as my ex comes back into my mind. Great.

Belly, Mom, and I walk into the store, a sign above spelling out 'Russells.' The bell above the door rang as we stepped through. Mom walked to the back as I made my way to the red bull section. "Hey," I hear. "Are you new this summer?"

I -obviously- turn my head to see whos talking to my sister. "Uh me... no." The cashier? Is he flirting with Belly? "Really, thought I knew every pretty girl at Cousins," a pause. "You going to the bonfire tonight?" Just like that, I'm going there, of course grabbing salt n vinegar chips and a beef stick on the way. "Uh, maybe." Lord have mercy. "Come, I'll introduce you to some of my friends." Great, he'll 'introduce her to some of his friends.' "Maybe I will."

I brush beside Belly, throwing my crossed arms on the counter, setting my thing's on the counter. Death glaring at the guy ringing up our things as his eyes stay on my younger sister. "After I get settled, do you guys want to go to Whale of a tale with me so I can pre-sign stock before the signing tomorrow night?" Mom ruffles my hair, then lifts her hand and starts playing with Belly's ponytail. "Remember how you used to sit on my lap and do signing there?" I chuckled under my breath at that, forgetting about the cashier guy. "You insisted on drawing a little whale on every book I signed." Some sort of a snort flew out of my mouth, quickly throwing my hand up to cover my mouth, my eyes landing on Belly who's face flushed a deep red. "No, I don't remember that..." Belly shook her head, hitting my arm and letting out a nervous laugh. Then the older guy tried handing Belly our mom's credit card which mom snatched, with an "I'll take that." I slumped beside the two, walking a little way behind them. "I'll make you two a deal, I let you both pick out tonight's dessert if you come with me and keep me company." A smirk spread across my face as I knew that dude won't be seeing my sister again. "I'll see you later,"