Fixing Broken Hearts

14

Warnings:
-Emotional abuse

Clay's POV

~ The Next Morning ~

My eyes felt decently heavy from tiredness as I walked through the school's corridors. I was still in a decent amount of pain, but insisted on going to school after I spent the night at Tristan's house.

I didn't want to bother his parents, but as soon as they started asking if I had anyone at home to take care of me, I acted like I was fine and decided to go to school. I was definitely not ready for it, but going home was not an option either.

I sat down on a chair in the cantina because I wasn't able to focus on class anyway. I just wanted to rest, but soon after I sat down, someone walked up to me.

'Clay, why did you not text me yesterday?' Isabella asked me with an angry expression. 'I was waiting for you all day and went to detention alone. Do you realise how much I've had to suffer?'

I nodded slowly to get over with it, but knew she wouldn't quit before making a scene again.

'My parents took my phone for the night, Clay. You think you can just casually skip school, but not everyone has it that easy at home that their parents just allow you to skip. I would lose my phone for a day if I skipped!' she exclaimed, genuinely expecting me to feel bad for her.

'Oh, what a shame,' I mumbled with a sarcastic voice. I turned my eyes down and felt my father kicked me again after making me lay in my bed without my clothes, full of shame and anger.

'Why do you not even care?' she asked. 'I get that it's easy for you, but not everyone's life is that simple and you could at least show some compassion and empathy towards others with problems.'

'Problems?' I yelled out, suddenly snapping. I jumped up and pushed her against her shoulder. 'You should sleep at night, so what are you crying about? You're literally holding your phone like it's holy to you the whole day, maybe it's good if they take it for a year so you can finally experience the real world and see what true problems are.'

'I think that's what you should do. I know what real problems are, because I had an argument with my parents after the call they got, you didn't even have to suffer!'

'Alright, and I have real friends to go to and not these fake people like you. Your world is online, you think your phone is the only way of living,' I replied coldly, walking off. I tried to walk as casually as I could, but still felt a strong pain with every step I took...

~~~

'Clay, you weren't here yesterday, but everyone made groups for a project. You've been added in the group with Sapnap and George,' the teacher explained as the class started.

I gave him a slow nod and moved my chair closer to Sapnap and George's. 'Alright, so we have to work on it quite a lot, so we can switch up to whose place we go after school. We can go to someone once or twice a week, but George is renewing his bathroom, so there's workers walking around in there.'

'My place isn't really...' I started. 'It's too small for all of us.'

They both frowned and Sapnap shrugged. 'Dude, I live in an apartment, it'll never be smaller than our house. Is everyone free tonight?'

George nodded, but I shook my head straight away. 'No, I have this thing and it's really important. Today wouldn't be a good day for me. I still feel sick and such, you know.'

'Dude, we do have to finish this project and Sapnap and I are both serious about this. We want a good grade and need you for this,' George told me with an annoyed voice. 'Is tomorrow better? We can go to your place after school and-.'

'No, I said my place isn't a good idea!' I exclaimed, hearing Sapnap sigh. I jumped up and without hesitation, I walked off from class.

~~~

I knew I had to go home one day, so I slowly had been walking there and was preparing to open the door. My hands were shaky when I did, mostly because I knew what was going to happen. I couldn't keep running and hiding, I had to face the painful truth.

The door made a creaky noise when I walked in, alarming everyone in the house someone had just come home. I gulped and snuck to the door, but my path was blocked by my father within seconds.

'Do you think you can run from me?' he asked, his voice low and too calm. I shook my head and tried to come up with an excuse as quick as I could, but he wasn't buying any of it and pushed me backwards.

At this point, I gave up and just surrendered. I knew trying to fight back woukd make it so much worse and impossible to recover from. 'Clay, you're such a failure, do you even realise that?'

'Yeah, I do. Dad, I really have to work on a project, my friends wanted to come to my place tomorrow and-.'

'And I hope you've said no,' he grumbled, making me nod my head heavily. 'Get out of my face, I don't want to see you anymore. I had been hoping you were dead, but I guess you're back again, so get away from me.'

As quick as I could, I took the chance I got and ran to the door, wanting to get away as fast as possible now I had the chance to...

'Who is there?' my mother's voice sounded.

'It's me, Clay,' I stumbled as I ignored her and walked to my room. However, she seemed to follow me and opened the door again to look at me laying on my bed.

'Why are you always making him angry, Clay?' she asked. 'Can you not behave yourself for this one time?'

I glared at her and sighed. 'You're literally just as bad as he is,' I answered. 'You always stick up for the man who is ruining my life. Clay came home three minutes later than usual? Valid reason for dad to beat me up, should have come home earlier!'

'You're always arguing with him, just be like your brother more. At least he is successful and we are so proud of him.'

I felt a deep pain in my body and looked up at her. 'I'm Clay, I'm not like him and I'll never be. If you can't be proud of me, I guess you'll have to deal with that. I won't change myself to be like someone I'm not.'

'That's the exact reason your dad doesn't like you, Clay,' she replied with a cold voice. 'And I don't know if I'm able to like you if you're staying the way you're right now.'

I turned to my side and closed my eyes. 'Leave me alone, please...'

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