The Pain That Grows Us

Chapter Fourteen

It's just a fucking phone. But the little black box in my phone feels like it holds my whole world inside it, which I guess in a sense it does. I don't know why I let her become such a huge part of my life when I knew that I would only end up hurting her, but I did, and now I get to live with the fucking consequences.

"Staring at the phone won't do you any good." Britney whispers, closing the sliding back door behind her.

"I want to be alone." Why is that so difficult for everyone to understand?

"You have been out here for three hours. If you haven't called her by now, you aren't going to call her." She sits down on the grass in front of my wheelchair.

"Who said it was a her?" I ask, bouncing my good leg up and down.

"You don't seem like the type to like boys." she shrugs picking at the thin line of grass that is between her and the cement.

"I wouldn't peg you as someone who would like girls. So don't assume anything about me." I snap, irritated that she is here. That she couldn't just turn around and go back into the house.

Her face turns red, as if that was the last thing she expected me to say. It brings a small amount of satisfaction to my dark heart knowing that I embarrassed her, even if no one else is around to see it.

"I don't- I am not- this isn't about me." she finishes pathetically, as if she doesn't know how to insult me. Or she might not want to, because clearly I have no problem hurting her feelings.

"Why are you here Britney?" I ask, raising my eyebrow, I refuse to believe she is the only one that wanted to come out here and check on me.

"You don't own the outside Jack, and if you bothered to realize that there are other people in the house you would know that I spend most of my time outside." anger rolling off her in waves.

"Maybe I pay attention to those who are important." I bite back, but that isn't true. I haven't made any effort to know anyone besides Jason or Talia here. Not that I have much of a choice when it comes to Talia, she is like an annoying fly that buzzes around your head.

"I guess that's why you have been sitting out here staring at the phone in your hand for the past three hours." She draws her knees to her chest and wraps her arms around her, tucking her chin on top of her knees.

"Really not helping." I ground out.

"Talia all but sings your praises when you aren't around, but I am not seeing why. You are just a stuck up selfish prick. If she hasn't called you while you have been here, I think we all know she is better off without you." She stares at me with her dark green eyes, waiting for me to say something, but she is right. If Ruby really wanted to talk to me she would have called me. So why am I afraid to turn on my phone and see that the only notifications I have missed were from people that only make me want to drink.

"Ain't so tough now are you?" she asks, pushing back a lock of her dark brown hair. "If you want someone to tell you that you shit rainbows and are what the world revolves around, you came to the wrong place. We all have issues, most of the same one, which means we can see through the bullshit and know where to hurt someone the most. My point is Jack, you can keep staring at your phone until you are old and gray, or you can actually make the phone call and see if she picks up."

"Why are you here Britney?" I ask again, if she wanted to hurt me. Done. She did that.

"You looked like you needed a kick in the ass, metaphorically of course." She grins up at me.

"And you were the person to do it?" I ask, raising my eyebrow again.

"No. But I wanted to see how far I could push the infamous Jack Hathoway." her grin growing, "I saw the way you looked at Ruby at school. She is too good for Brady. Call her. I mean you are both jackasses... get it? Anyways, I would rather have you in my life than Brady Henshaw, if it's worth any consolation."